Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 29: Trust

I leave Toms room and go to the common room with Kim. I realise that I was gone for about 5 hours. Kim must be worried about me. "Kim, I'm sorry I was gone for so long.."
Kim looks up at me now as I sit down in the common room, and I speak to her, and she seems a bit worried now.
Kim: "Lucia?? You were gone for quite a few hours! I've been really worried about you. Is everything okay?"
I see her start to calm down now as she speaks to me, but I can definitely still notice a small trace of worry and concern in her voice and face. She seems relieved that I'm finally back in the common room and safe now. I tell her the whole story. Me being unconcious and waking up in the chamber of secrets with a basilisk and Tom saving me. "And then it just came over me, and I kissed him..and then he kissed me back and it was .. amazing.." I say, ending my story waiting for her reaction. I see Kim look at me for a few seconds before she speaks up in response to what I told her now.
Kim: "Lucia, I never thought I'd see the day where Tom Riddle... would ever feel so much emotion towards someone... and you're saying he kissed you back?!" she says with a surprised and questioning tone of voice now, as if she is just trying to grasp and understand what I just told her now.

"Yes, I mean.. he saved my life, and then he.. he kissed me back even more powerful than I could have imagined." I look at her,"the only thing that..bothers me. As soon as Tom was with me in the chamber, the basilisk was slowly leaving. I don't know how he did that. "
Kim's eyes are wide with intrigue as I explain this to her, and as I mention to her that Tom's kiss was powerful, I can see the look of surprise on her face grow even bigger now.
Kim: "What do you mean by that?" she says. She sounds both puzzled and intrigued now, as if she's truly trying to make sense of what I just told her regarding Tom and the basilisk.
"I don't know, I mean I had my eyes closed..." I think for a moment, then Kim hugs me. Kim wraps her arms around me now, and she holds me close in a tight embrace for a few moments. I feel like my heart is beating so fast now, but I'm also feeling a sense of comfort and warmth in Kim's arms.
Kim: "I'm so glad you're okay now. I was really worried about you." she says to me as she pulls away from the hug, and then she looks down at me with a smile on her face. She seems very glad that nothing bad happened to me.
"I'm glad too." I sigh and look at her again. "What should I do now? We haven't talked about that kiss or why he saved me.."

Kim thinks about my question for a moment, and she looks at me with a thoughtful expression on her face. A moment later, she speaks to me once more.
Kim: "I can already tell that there's more to the story about you and Tom than I know...and about him saving you... If I tell you what I think I know about all of it, do you promise to keep an open mind and to trust me on this?" she says to me. It seems like whatever she's going to tell me, it might be a bit hard to accept or to take in at first.
"Yes, be honest with me. What are you thinking?" Im a bit scared of what she will say now. Her opinion is really important to me
Kim looks down for a few moments, and then she speaks to me with a serious tone of voice now.
Kim: "Alright, well... I know this is hard to believe... And I know you might not believe me... But I have reason to believe... that Tom actually summoned the basilisk, and he is the one who attacked you in the chamber."
I'm stunned to hear this, as I don't know what to think right now. Tom is responsible for that attack? Could it really be true?
"No. Why should he attack me and then save me? That doesn't make sense, Kim.."I look at her, almost joking
Kim: "I-I know it sounds crazy. But you don't need to believe me. Just talk to Tom right now. Ask him what exactly happened in the chamber."
I can see Kim's expression go back to being concerned, as if she's worried about my safety around Tom right now.
"I know, you don't trust him, but Kim, please trust me.." I touch her shoulder and look with a kind face at her.
She looks back at me, and she studies me for a moment, and then she speaks to me again now.
Kim: "I trust you, of course. I'm just concerned for your safety. I know you trust Tom. He seems like a nice guy to you. But I'm just curious, okay? "
"I will have my eye on him, I promise." I smile at her.
A look of understanding and reassurance crosses Kim's face now when I speak to her, and she smiles back at me.
Kim: "Good. Thank you."