The Mafia's Daughter

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

They were tied to chairs and gagged, my grandparents. I tried to call out to them but my voice was gone. I couldn't move either. I had been chained to a wall. I watched as they poured gasoline on my grandparents. Two men. I thrashed against the wall, hopeless. I couldn't see faces. Only black shadows under their hoods. I felt a sharp pain in my leg suddenly. When I looked down a huge rat was picking a cut that wasn't there before. It was eating me alive, its face coated with my blood and flesh. I couldn't scream... couldn't move. My eyes glued on the two men as one lit a match as he neared my grandparents. His turned to me and though I couldn't see his face, there was no mistaking the sick smile he shot me as he threw the match at my grandparents. His laugh echoed through my head... taunting...

"No!" I screamed sitting up. I was breathing heavy and sweat dampened my borrowed t- shirt. I glanced out at the clock. It was 1:13am. My throat was hurting. I got out the bed and dragged myself to the kitchen.

The nightmares were getting worse.

It's been two days since the fire. Two days since the nightmares began... two days since I broke one of my grandfather's rules and shed a tear for the first time in years... two days since I moved in temporarily with Caden.

I wiped sweat from my forehead and opened the fridge for some water. The images were still haunting me. I involuntarily shuddered and looked around for a glass in the dark.

Caden gave me his room and said he would sleep in his oldest brother's room. I still haven't met them even though I haven't left the apartment since arriving. They worked really irregular hours for Anne. Not that I really minded anyway.

I finally found a cup. The water slid down my sore throat, cooling some of the pain. I was about to drink another cup when I noticed a person watching me. I let out another scream for the night and dropped the cup of water. I flinched as they turned on the light.

Caden stood there watching me. He was shirtless, only wearing some basketball shorts. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. He had faint shadows under his eyes and I instantly felt bad. My screaming probably woke him up. I cleaned up the mess quickly and put the water back in the fridge. I walked around the kitchen island and stood in front of him.

"I'm sorry for waking you up." I muttered, my voice thick with exhaustion.

"Another nightmare?" he asked, his voice deeper than usual. It made the feelings in my gut appear again.

The past two nights Caden has been there to try and help me get through everything. I didn't push him away like I normally would either. Strangely enough I wanted him near me. I felt some sort of peace around him. We have been getting to know each other too...well more like I've been getting to know him. It still felt really nice and I appreciated it.

"Yeah. Pretty bad one." I rubbed my arms feeling the chills of the nightmare.

"Wanna talk about?" he asked gently.

I nodded and he took my hand and guided me over to the couch. I sat curled up in his lap listening to his heartbeat as I relayed the dream to him. I felt him make soft circular motions with his thumb on my back. It felt relaxing.