Bad Dreams | Newt x Reader (Being Edited)

Chapter 67-Ignoring an Ominous Summoning, #YOLO

Warnings: grief, unintentional self inflicted injury, descriptions of blood and pain.

"Nik?" I croaked, shooting upright.

Sunlight stung my eyes, aggravating my headache even further than movement alone. Quiet chatter washed over the calm, leaving me with a surreal feeling burrowing into my heart.

The memory of what had happened was already a blur, like it had happened to someone else. In the space of a minute, my world was turned upside down and torn apart.

I reached into the void and pulled Élliot's jacket from it before setting out to see what I missed. Eyes followed me, staring with a variety of anger and pity. Inside my pockets, my hands scrunched until my nails dug into my palms, keeping me grounded and easing the urge to cry.

'We should leave now,' the Wraith hissed, igniting my blood with fury. 'I want their heads.'

'I'm tired.'

Pain flared in my hand, causing me to rip it from my pocket just as electricity sparked off it, searing the flesh of my hand. Hot stabs shot from the jagged burns as I grappled for control.

'You won't get revenge hiding here,' the Wraith snarled, trying to drag me under. 'I know you hunger for it as much as I do.'

Drawing together the energy I had left, I knocked her down. I'd doubled over, wrist gripped in my other hand. Blood trickled down my fingers, staring the dirt.

Alex, appearing my side and taking my arm, began to heal me.

Bruises under his stood out against the pale shade of his face. Bloodshot eyes met mine for the shortest second before he continued focusing on my arm. The second he was done he walked away.

"Alex?" I tried to call but my voice failed me, ending up a whimper.

"Y/n?" Brenda asked, coming up behind me. "How about you come sit with us?"

I stared at her, searching for any sign of a trap or mockery. There was none. Brenda offered me a calloused hand, her brown eyes full of the same sickening pity. Her mouth grimaced as I took her hand and let her lead me to where she and her friends were sitting.

The others looked up as we drew nearer. Newt, inched forward on his seat, his hand sliding to grip his knee. Without needing to search his mind, I knew he believed I hurt myself for attention.

"Have some food," Brenda said and offered me her bowl.

I took it gratefully and began to force spoonfuls of stew down my throat.

Everyone was watching me, their eyes crawling over my skin.

"Stop looking at me!" I snapped finally and suddenly the ground became very interesting. "Thank you."

Aaliyah creeped over a moment later, crouching next to me. Brenda took the bowl from my hand as I let Aaliyah crawl into my arms. Her small body curled against mine, leaning and sinking into my embrace. I closed my eyes, pressing my cheek to her head and pretending I was two years in the past.

Dreams haunted by my family chased me out of sleep. The memory played over and over in painstaking detail. Every little mistake I made that could have been avoided. I jolted awake and for an awful second, Lillian lay dead in my arms. After a blink, it was Aaliyah sleeping there.

It was late, likely early morning. Cool air brushed against my cheeks as I pushed the tent flaps aside. Around one of the small fires was Newt and some of the others. He caught my gaze as I passed by heading for where one of the camp guards were.