The House of Sorrows

Chapter 36: "Sleep"

"Okay, we're all set up now. You should get some sleep and relax, we're just gonna be upstairs." Lockwood said with a smile.

He turned to go to the door but I caught his hand.

"Wait. Could you stay here? I don't want to be alone." I spoke fast, hoping he would agree.

I then got nervous that I overstepped or asked for too much and quickly revised my statement.

"You don't have too, really—" I started to say again but Lockwood interrupted me.

"Of course, I wanted to in the first place but I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable or anything." He said with a grin and a nod.

However I didn't hear him saying anything, I was too wrapped up in my own worries, and overthinking everything.

"Lucy. Yes. I will stay in here with you, I will be wherever you want me to be." He looked at my eyes and for a moment I thought I saw something familiar, but I shook it off.

I smiled and felt my cheeks blush lightly, I pointed to the chair across from his bed. He walked over and sat down, made himself comfy as I laid in bed. I felt safe, I knew he wouldn't let anything else happen to me. That is sort of what worries me. But I soon felt myself get more and more tired, the last thing I remember before drifting off to sleep was the sound of Lockwood's breathing and a bit of the sun shining through his black out curtains. Then I was off, to a peaceful sleep. At some point during my extended nap Lockwood had moved his chair closer to his bed so he could be nearer to me. He watched how my chest rose and fell with each breath, how my lips parted when I was speaking in a dream, how my hair fell into my face when I turned.

Lockwood caught himself thinking things that no boss should be thinking about their employees, how soft my lips must be, how beautiful I was, and whether I loved him like he loved me. The only reason he took back his earlier statement of "I love you" was that he thought I could never love him back. He was Lockwood. Broken, cold, Lockwood, and I was Lucy. Beautiful, smart, talented Lucy. Way out of his league. He never would've wanted me to feel pressured, I mean he's my boss and landlord as well.

My sleep was better during that brief nap than it had been for the last two months. I felt like there was a guardian angel watching over me, in a way, there was. He was. He sat and watched, he guarded me from anyone or thing that could even wish to do me harm. He was my own personal dream catcher. Warning away the nightmares that threatened to invade my sleep, and boy did they try. Yet every time, he was there, rubbing my arm, reminding me that I was safe.

Two or so hours passed by while I was in a deep sleep, it was curious, how although we'd just discovered something awful and horrifying, I felt okay. I felt for the first time in a long time, that everything was okay. Lockwood wasn't in danger, he was right beside me, my friends were okay, and we were going to catch Freddy. It was going to be alright, so I let myself rest.

While I was peacefully unaware in my sleep upstairs George and Holly were downstairs scheming away.

"I'm gonna kill him, I'm going to sic the skull on him if I ever see him again. I won't even feel bad. I might smile, actually I will. I'll smile with my teeth while I bash his in." George huffed out while looking at newspaper clippings that have mentioned Freddy before, Holly looked mildly concerned at George's violent comments, however justified they may be.

I woke up and sure enough Lockwood was right beside me, ensuring that no harm would come to me, whether said harm was Freddy, or a spider with the ill intentions of biting me. It comforted me to know that although I am not perfect, far from it even, I didn't need to be to have Lockwood, George, Holly, and even Kipps by my side. It was so different from my childhood, I was never enough then, I was weak, annoying, scared, Lucy. Now—now I don't even really know who I am, but I know that I'm loved and that's enough. But now it was time for me to join in on the plans, how to take down Freddy. For good.