It wasn't at first sight

Chapter 27

Some hours after going to sleep, Hanna wakes up. She doesn't feel Caleb's arms around her anymore and she is facing away now, so she rolls over, seeking that comforting physical contact with him. Although it's dark, she opens her eyes and manages to see that he is no longer in the bed. His side of the bed is empty. She can't think straight because she just woke up from a deep sleep. All of a sudden, she gets frightened. Her anxiety raises from one moment to another, she starts to hyperventilate and her heart races. She sits up, but when she is about to get up from the bed, she freezes because her fear is too strong, so she just remains sitting in bed and brings her legs to her chest, embracing them with both her arms.

Hanna "Caleb!" she calls for him with all her strength.

Caleb gets there in no time. He storms into the bedroom in a rush since Hanna's shout sounded more like a desperate cry for help. By the time he turns the bedside lamp on, climbs on the bed and takes her in his arms, Hanna's face is already soaked by her tears.

Caleb "What's wrong? Are you okay?" he asks her at feeling her body trembling in his arms.

But Hanna doesn't answer so he just tries to comfort her by rubbing his hand on her back gently. "It's okay, babe... I'm here"

Hanna "Where were you?" she asks him a few minutes later when she is calmer.

Caleb "I just went downstairs, for a glass of water"

He lies to her. He didn't go for a glass of water. He was watching TV in the living room. He has been there for the last two hours. Only an hour after going to bed, he started to have nightmares, all of them related to what happened to Hanna, but unlike how it happened in reality, none of his nightmares ended well. He just can't get out of his mind the picture of Hanna lying on the ground in the woods, she really looked like dead, and so she was in his nightmares. Anyway, after having the third nightmare in a row, and waking up soaked with sweat, he decided that it was enough. He didn't want to wake Hanna up because the last thing she needs is to find out that Caleb is worried and kind of fearful for what happened to her too. So that's why he left the bed, that's why he lies to her now.

Caleb "Are you okay?" he asks her again.

Hanna "Yes, I'm sorry. I don't know why I reacted like this"

Caleb "It's okay... I guess it's normal. I mean, after all you just went through..."

Hanna pulls away from his arms and wipes her tears away. "I don't want to be like this anymore"

Caleb "Hey..." he tells her softly. "It hasn't been even a day yet. I told you, it will get better with time"

Hanna "I just want to feel safe in my own house again" she says and lies down in the bed.

Caleb lies down on his back next to her too and remains silent, staring at the ceiling.

Hanna "What are you thinking about?" she asks him after a short while.

Caleb looks at her. "I think we should go to the police tomorrow and tell them what actually happened. The truth"

Hanna "No. That's not happening. I'm just gonna tell them that I got lost myself"

Caleb "Look... I didn't care about it before, because I was pretty angry at the Rosewood Police for not paying attention to us last night, well, I still am. But now I think you should report what really happened. You have nothing to lose. The worst that could happen is that they don't figure it out. But what if they do? I think you would feel much safer that way... knowing the truth, getting some answers..."

Hanna "I don't think it's worth it. They are gonna ask many questions, personal questions, that I don't feel like answering. Also, I'm sure they will want to talk to you, and probably to the guys as well. I don't want it. I don't want them to open any investigation"