Haunted - Sanders Sides

Chapter Four

The hours pass by, and before I know it, I hear the guest bedroom door open.

"You're up early," Roman says as he enters the living room.

"Yeah," I say just loud enough he can hear me.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"I'm fine. I was thinking that maybe it's best if you go home," I straight up tell him as I set my laptop aside.

I sit crisscrossed. He looks at me with an expression I can't quite place.

"I'll go if you want me to. May I ask why now, though? I told you I'd stay a few days," he responds.

I look at him.

"I don't want you to go," I admit.

"Okay," he says but I continue before he can.

"It's not safe for you here, though," I tell him.

"How so?" he asks, sitting next to me.

I hesitate to explain.

"Did something happen?" he asks.

"I did something in my sleep. I did something that could have hurt you. Something wanted me to hurt you," I admit despite knowing he'll leave.

Even though I don't want him to, I know it's for the best.

I just hope he doesn't decide he doesn't want to be my friend anymore.

"What exactly did you do?" he asks.

I lower my head and don't respond. I can't. I can't tell him I almost killed him and probably would've if Eveline hadn't made me wake up.

"If it's okay with you. I'd like to stay," he says.

I look up at him, surprised.

"But I-" I start, but he cuts me off.

"I heard what you said. I'm not going to leave you to deal with this alone, though. So, unless you want me to leave, I'd like to stay," he tells me.

I open my mouth to tell him to leave, but nothing comes out. I don't want to do this alone.

"You lock your door from now on," I tell him firmly.

"Alright," he says.

"Thank you for staying. It means a lot," I say softly.

"Anything for you," he says.

My eyes widen slightly.

"I texted my brother last night," he goes on before I can say anything.

"What did he say?" I ask despite wanting to address the other thing he said.

"He and Janus will be coming by later today with a friend of theirs that he said could help," he says.

"When will they get here?" I ask him.

Hope is evident in my voice.

"I'll text my brother once I get back from work," he says.

I let out a sigh of relief.

"Hopefully, they'll be able to help," he adds as he grabs my hand.

"Thanks," I tell him.

He squeezes my hand. He looks down at our hands and smiles softly.

"Roman?" I ask, and he looks up at me.

"I gotta get going," he says as he pulls his hand back.

"Right. I'll see you later," I say with a small smile.