Wishing on you

Chapter 11

Harper pov

I woke up to the sound of someone yelling, my heart racing as I tried to process what was happening. The voice seemed distant, but it sent a wave of panic through me. Then, I felt a gentle touch on my back, and a soothing voice whispered in my ear. "It's okay, Harper." I recognized the voice as Greyson's, and his calm tone helped to ease my panic.

As he continued to rub my back, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me. He shifted positions, standing up and gently rocking me back and forth. I looked up, and Blake's smiling face greeted me. "Blakey," I said softly, and she replied, "Hi, Harper."

Blake's expression turned slightly nervous as she glanced over her shoulder. "Can I introduce you to someone?" she asked, her voice hesitant. My mind began to spin with worst-case scenarios. Was she going to hand me over to someone who would hurt me? I felt a surge of fear, and Greyson's reassuring grip on me tightened.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Greyson said softly. "They're nice people. You can trust me, you know I would never do anything bad to you, right?" Blake's eyes met mine, filled with a deep sincerity. I searched her face, trying to gauge her intentions. Could I trust her?

"I do, but I'm scared," I admitted, feeling a bit vulnerable. I probably sounded like a baby, but I couldn't help it. Blake's expression softened, and she nodded understandingly. "I know you are, but if you get overwhelmed, I'm here. You can tell me, and we can stop, alright?" Her words were reassuring, and I nodded, feeling a tiny bit better.

As I lifted my head off Greyson's shoulder, I realized how heavy it felt. My exhaustion was still catching up with me. Blake noticed and asked, "You still tired?" I nodded, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand. That's when I heard the "awwws" and "how cutes" coming from behind Blake. I couldn't see who was making the noises, but it made me wonder who else was there.

I looked up at Greyson, seeking reassurance. "It's okay, you knew them when you were little," he said softly. "Maybe you'll recognize them." I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Can you still hold me?" I asked, feeling a bit vulnerable. Greyson smiled and replied, "Of course. When you're ready, I'll let you go."

I nodded at Blake, and she stepped forward, introducing me to the group. As she moved aside, I saw six people standing near the door. Two of them looked like twins, and one of them had white powder on him. I tilted my head, curious about the powder. "Does he do drugs?" I wondered. Greyson followed my gaze and whispered, "He was probably baking something."

The man with the powder smiled and explained, "Baking is like cooking, but you make sweet treats like cookies or cake." I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease.

As I looked around the room, I saw a boy hiding behind the man with the powder. "Elliot, you can come out from behind me," he said. Elliot emerged, holding a teddy bear in his hand. Suddenly, memories flooded my mind. "Do you remember that teddy bear?" Greyson asked, and I nodded. "My dreams," I said softly.

Elliot came over to me, and I wasn't scared of him. He handed me the teddy bear, and I took it, feeling a sense of familiarity. As I looked around the room again, my eyes landed on a taller man with a familiar smile. "Teddy," I whispered, and his eyes widened in surprise.

Tony quickly closed the distance between us and wrapped me in a warm hug. I melted into his chest, feeling a sense of comfort and recognition. "You know me," he said, his voice filled with emotion. I nodded, unsure of what to say.

As they introduced themselves, I learned that Tony was the man I had called "Teddy" when I was little. I recognized Elliot and Tony, but the others were less familiar. Maybe I remembered Carter a little, but not much.

Tony pov

Stella remembers me. She was 4, how does she remember me?

I look down at her leaning on my chest.