Twisted

Chapter 19: Trauma

I slowly woke up. My head was hurting, but for the first time I wasn't woken up by Magnus banging on the door. Then why did I wake up? Before my eyelids opened I heard breathing. My body instantly froze. My heart beat missed a beat. My mouth went dry and my muscles tensed. I tried not to breathe too loudly. My hand slid quietly and clamped over my own mouth.

Tears pricked my eyes, and slid down my temples into my hair. Who was breathing beside me? What happened? Did Janson finally do the unimaginable? Maybe Rex isn't actually dead.

Shuck shuck shuck.

My chest was rising and falling too fast. I couldn't breathe properly, but if I let my hand go he was going to hear. I couldn't even move, his arm was draped over my hip. The tears came fast, sliding from my clamped eyelashes, when I felt him stir.

I was biting my lip so hard to keep quiet, I was tasting blood. I sniffled and flinched hard when he moved again and I stifled a sob when his arm slid over my waist

"Hey Morning Baby." A deep voice whispered, but it shifted into worry and I felt them sit up quickly.

"Charlie? Charlie, what's wrong? Tell me!"

I just shook my head, squeezing my eyes tighter, the tears came faster and I was clamping my mouth so hard to keep the sobs inside and quiet. Because I knew Janson didn't like crying. He didn't like loud noises...it would make the punishments worse.

"I can't help you if you don't tell me." His voice was gentle, not like Janson's.

I felt a hand on my wrist, I flinched, when it pried it off my mouth. Another hand touched my face, it was warm and callased, but it was gentle, even when I flinched away. I felt a thumb gently running over my cheek bone.

"Charlie, Sweetie, open your eyes. Your safe. I promise!"

I slowly and carefully blinked open my eyes. Blue worried eyes looked down at me. Not wild dark angry ones.

"Hi." He whispered a small worried smile on his lips, "Good morning."

I stifled another sob.

Gally.

"Will you tell me what happened? And how can I help you next time?" He asked gently.

"I...I don't know! I...my brain panicked when I heard someone else beside me. Minho was always awake when Magnus banged on the door. And...I ... I never got to wake up...on my own."

He frowned.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I won't do it again!" I whispered quickly, feeling the worry in his face, making the panic come back.

"Hey! Stop. There is no reason to be sorry! You're okay. I'm okay. We'll be okay." Gally said gently. "I'm sorry I scared you. Is there something I can do right now for you?"

I had to think for a moment. No one had asked me in so long what I wanted, how they could make me feel better.

"Can...can you..come back?" I whispered, almost scared with his reaction.

He smiled gently and lay back down beside me. With much wincing and moaning in pain I rolled onto my side, and he slid closer, so my back was pressed into his chest. He slipped an arm over me and hugged me close.

I could feel his heartbeat in my back. And I just lay still, just being still and quiet for the first time in a long time. My eyes slowly got heavier. His steady heart beat and breathing. He was drawing circles in the palm of my hand, it tickled slightly but it was gentle.

"Thank you." I whispered as my eyelids lost the battle and slid shut.

"I love you, Charlie."

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