𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒: 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊 | 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬

[ 028 ]

⚠️trigger warning: panic attack⚠️

'Bad dreams are ghosts of our fears and worries, haunting us while we sleep.'
- Maria V. Snyder

It was the middle of the night when Luise jumped out of bed, screaming and drenched in sweat, and was caught by two strong arms before she panicked even more.

She tried to twist out of the grip. She tried with all her strength to resist the strong arms that were holding her. But she didn't succeed.

He grabbed her wrists and pushed them down before putting his hands around her face.

"It's me." She recognized Lando's voice, recognized his dark curls in the dark. His beautiful, shining eyes examined her with concern.

He gently pulled her into a tight embrace. He wrapped his powerful upper arms around her sleep-drunk body, which was still in a state of panic.

"Shhh." He buried his long fingers in her hair and pulled her so tightly against him that she felt Lando's upper body.

His naked torso was so warm that she felt somewhat safe and secure. She clung powerlessly to the twenty-two-year-old's chest. As if he could save her from a fall.

She breathed in the air far too quickly, smelling Lando's extraordinary scent. This time he didn't just smell like mint, but also like an expensive men's perfume. Her heart was beating as if she had just run a marathon and her mind was playing tricks on her.

Her panic was so intense that she had the feeling that one of her rapists was waiting in every corner. Waiting for Lando to disappear and commit another crime.

Her breathing became even shallower, even faster at the thought of the nightmare she had just experienced. Why she had woken up so drenched in sweat.

Tears burned on her cheek. She sobbed as she pulled herself even closer to Lando, who let it wash over him and tried to comfort her by stroking her back.

"You're safe, okay?" he whispered, rocking her back and forth. While she tried not to panic any further.

As she slowly calmed down with Lando's regular heartbeat, her body began to calm down. Her body registered that the supposed danger was over. That she was safe with Lando. Her body trembled so much that Lando pulled her even tighter against his chest, forcing her body to calm down.

Her thoughts raced. The nightmare. The two men in the nightmare. Their statements that she was worth nothing. That she didn't deserve it.

But at the same time, she felt bad that she had put Lando through such a situation after he had shown her that intimate moments could also be beautiful. She held on tightly in panic. She barely let him breathe. What must he think of her?

As her breathing moved closer and closer to normal, Lando's arms loosened around her body and out of reflex she pulled herself even closer to his glowing chest.

"Please!" she said more panicked and hectic than she would have liked, "Don't go."

"Okay." His hand was on the back of her head again, calming her with slow strokes over her hair that gave her goose bumps, "I'm not going, Luise."

Lando took a deep breath before slowly laying himself and Luise back down on the pillow. His arms did not leave her upper body in order not to break his promise. Lando pulled her close to him and laid his head on hers.

Luise placed his hands between them, trying not to touch his chest and let her head fall against his chest at the same time. They had never been this close before, not even when he had touched her in her most intimate place earlier. But she felt safe. Felt invincible. As if Lando could push all her fears and worries aside.