Yours to Hold

5 - Lillith

The room was dark... Completely pitch black. I was blinded by the darkness, which made me feel small and helpless. I felt like a little child that was locked up in a place that no one would reach. I was alone. Or was I...? I heard crying, a small child crying. I could feel my vision adapt to the darkness, and to my surprise, I saw blood. Blood splattered on the floor and on the walls around me.

I felt sick. Kneeling over, I held my stomach and covered my mouth to hold back the vomit. The feeling subsided as the crying grew louder. I lifted my head to see a small boy, curled up in a corner crying his small eyes out. In front of him, were a couple. A man and woman lying motionless in a pool of blood. I instantly came to the conclusion that they were this boy's parents. I felt sympathy for him, my gaze turning soft and slowly trodding towards him.

I wanted to comfort this boy... I wanted to ask him what had happened and reassure him that he would be okay. That he was safe from harm. Reaching my hand out to him, I froze to see him look up at me with a twisted and disturbing grin on his face. I felt the tip of a gun touch my forehead. I couldn't move; I told my legs to run and get away as fast as I could. But I wasn't able to. His finger touch the trigger, and began to pull it ever so slowly. Before I could hear the blast...

I awoke with a scream, and found my face covered in cold sweat. The living room was dark, but it was illuminated by the moon's glow. I sighed in relief, sitting up slowly and placed a hand over my heart to hopefully slow down its pace. It was a dream... Nothing but a dream. I suddenly heard the door knob move, swiftly turning to see it open. It was only Officer Cain.

I growled, picking up a couch pillow and threw it down the stairs, hitting his head. "Damn it! You scared me!" I shouted, breathing heavily as I tried to slow down my heart rate again.

He just laughed at me, picking up the pillow from the floor. "Sorry, Lillith... I worked the late shift." He said. Crossing my arms, I gave him a forgiving smile, a smile that only I allowed him to see.

"What took you so long?" I asked, then received my answer when I saw him appear from behind the elder man. "You?!" I shouted, then instantly went into concern mode when I saw blood from the corner of his lip. "What the hell happened?!" I cried, rushing towards the stairs and immediately by his side.

"Some idiots ganged up on him... Got there just in time to stop it." Officer Cain told me.

"Damn.... You look awful." I told Andrew, examining the condition he was in.

"No shit, sherlock." He grunted, holding his head.

Glaring, I punched his arm hard, earning a groan in response. Cain placed a hand on my shoulder. "He's staying with us for a few nights. Make sure to make him feel welcome." he told me.

Oh, hell no. That was the first thing that came to mind. The new kid from my school is staying with us?! I looked towards the beat-upp Andrew, then back at my foster father. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" I said, trying to avoid yelling as much as I could.

Cain directed his gaze at me, a hint of seriousness and sympathy. "He doesn't have anywhere else to go." He stated simply, then retreated up the stairs to get a cup of coffee.

I sighed, realizing that I had no choice but to accept the face that Andrew would be staying at my place for a while. I had to stay calm; I had to make him feel welcome. That was how people treated their guests, right? Turning to him, I did my very best to smile. It wasn't very pleasant though.

"We should probably clean the blood off you." I offered, reaching out to grab his arm but he yanked it away from my grip.

"Don't touch me... I don't want nor need your help." He snapped, eyes emotionless and hard as stone.

I was frozen stiff under his stare. I regained my composure, grabbing his arm anyway and dragging him down the stairs. "Look, whether you like it or not, this is my house. I'm in charge here, as well as Officer Cain. You abide by our rules, got it?" I hissed, sensing his silent shock.

I smirked to myself. Grabbing a washcloth from the near by bathroom across from the stairs, I ran it under warm water, making Andrew sit on the edge of the stairs and knelt down to his level. I glared at him, making sure he stayed put.

"Hold still... This may sting." I warned, then dabbed the wet cloth on his face, cleaning up the blood from his cut open lip.

How could anyone beat up on him? He did nothing wrong to them, I think. He just stared at me, eyes still icy cold. I gave him a slight glare, silently telling him to get over it. He sighed in defeat, then averted his gaze away from mine.

"Thanks..." I heard him murmur under his breath, catching me by surprise. I couldn't help but smile, a half-smile but a smile none the less.

"You're welcome..." I replied, dabbing the washcloth on his face still. This was going to be so awkward living in the same house with some guy I hardly know. But I'll get over it.