Heavy is the Crown

6

Anetra was awoken to the sound of scared whimpering in the bedroom and loud roaring thunder and wind outside. She sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes to try to get them to adjust to the dark. But she didn't have to see to know who was upset.

"Shh, you're alright." Irene's voice was uncharacteristically soft and comforting, coming from the other end of the room. Anetra lit the candle that sat on her bedside table, illuminating the room just a bit.

Loosey was curled up tightly between Irene and Luxx, her body trembling and scared whines escaping her lips. Even with Luxx stroking her hair and Irene keeping her close, she still jumped and flinched at the noise and the flashes of lightning from outside the window.

"Is she awake or still dreaming?" Anetra asked quietly. This wasn't an unusual occurrence.

"I'm not sure. She's opening her eyes a little but keeps closing them after." Irene sighed, laying her head on top of the whimpering girl's.

"Like whatever she's dreaming about won't let her wake up." Luxx whispered, pulling the blanket closer over Loosey and wrapping her arms protectively around her torso.

Anetra watched. There was nothing she could do but watch. It wasn't easy to wake Loosey up from her nightmares. It didn't help that the girl refused to tell them what they were about, but it wasn't hard to guess. Her childhood was filled with pain and darkness, and it left lasting effects in the form of this. It sucked to have to sit back and watch it, but all the other girls could do was comfort her and wait until whatever was happening in her dream stopped.

More lightning flashed and was followed by loud thunder. Crying filtered in from the other bedroom down the hall, immediately alerting Irene. She stood up from Loosey's bed. "That's Bosco, I need to-"

She was interrupted by Loosey's terrified scream when Irene pulled away from her. Her eyes snapped open, her shaking arms desperately reaching out for the other girl. "N-No!" She cried. "D-Don't leave me, p-please don't leave me..."

Irene and Luxx froze. Loosey hadn't ever cried out like that before. Irene slowly sank back down on the bed, letting the blonde pull herself against her chest as one hand kept a tight grip on Luxx's. "Okay, I'm not leaving you..."

"I'll go get Bosco." Anetra said quietly, pulling herself out of her bed. "You and Luxx focus on calming her."

Irene nodded, quietly thanking her as she left the room. Sometimes Anetra was thankful she didn't have memories of her childhood. Because she would hate to have to go through what Loosey was dealing with.

The crying grew louder. Anetra quietly nudged open the door to the second bedroom. There she found Sasha desperately trying to soothe both Kerri and Bosco as the storm continued on outside.

"Sasha?" She said softly. "Do you need help?"

Sasha looked up at her through tired eyes, sighing before nodding a little. "Yes please..."

Anetra walked over to the bed, gently lifting up a whimpering Bosco who had been clinging tightly to Sasha's side. The young girl was startled for a moment before seeing it was Anetra. She grabbed onto her as tightly as her little hands would allow. "W-Where's Re?" She whined.

"She's taking care of Loosey right now, hun." Anetra carried her over to the rocking chair in the corner of Sasha's room, sitting with her and letting her snuggle close. She might've been a little too old for it by now, but it was all she could think of using to help calm her. "But it's alright, I can help."

Bosco's grip only tightened as Anetra started rocking back and forth. "Loosey okay?" Bosco whispered, sniffling quietly and rubbing her eyes.

"She will be. She just needs some extra attention right now." Anetra whispered, watching as Bosco laid her head against her shoulder and avoided looking out the window.