𝓗𝓪𝓻𝓿𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓷 (Joel Miller x Fem OC)

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒱𝐼**

**SMUT WARNING**

I hesitate for a moment on the step, my back still facing Joel and my breath hitching at his command. I was taken aback by how stern he sounded, it was like I was in trouble but I couldn't figure out what I'd done. It was that kind of 'come here' your parents would say when you did something wrong. I slowly turned in place, catching Joel's stare as I took my time down the stairs. He didn't look angry, but his face was as tough as it usually was. I walked closer and Joel's eyes followed, moving from my eyes and down my body, slowly examining me before making eye contact once more. I stopped just a few feet before him and stiffened by back, "I thought you didn't want me to stay? I thought once we got here, it was the end of the r-"

"That dress is real pretty on you."

My eyes widen and my heart stops for a moment at his words, fully taken aback by what he just said. He had lowered his voice which caused my body to tense up even more and a heat began to rise within me. His eyes had moved to my body once again, and he wasn't even trying to hide the fact that he was staring at the way the dress hung on me. Still unable to process his words, I was speechless. After what felt like an eternity he finally looked away, setting his gun and his backpack on the dining room chair before walking past me and up the staircase. I turned to watch him, my face scrunched in confusion at the interaction. I never knew Joel Miller was capable of a compliment like that... especially to me, and why did he sound so serious when he walked in, and how has he just brushed off the fact that he let me stay here?

I close my eyes and try to shake off my bewilderment before I hear the shower turn on upstairs. I'd be lying if this whole time I hadn't thought about Joel... in that way. He was rugged and tough, and yet so charming and he definitely had his looks. The age difference was also an exciting thought - being with a man much older felt almost dangerous and taboo, which should deter me, but it was kind of rousing in a way. I have no idea how long I was stuck on that thought until I heard the shower turn off. I brought myself back to reality with a deep breath and a tight scrunching of my eyes, before rushing up the stairs and into my room with a soft shutting of my door. My bed bounced a few times as I slammed my body into it, letting the pillows caress my head and absorb every thought in my mind. I don't know why I'm still here, why Joel let me stay after insisting I was simply 'cargo', and why he would all of a sudden take notice of me. It was almost unnerving, but I let the thoughts continue until I eventually drifted off.

--

I'm alone. It's only me in this cold, desolate forest. I can hear sounds of clicking from multiple directions but I'm defenceless. I'm frozen in place and unable to breathe. The clicking gets closer and closer. I'm screaming but nothing is coming out. My heart begins to beat faster and the urge to run is strong but I can't. I can't move.

I gasp, eyes shooting open as I blink a few times to adjust to the pitch-black room. A fucking nightmare. I sit up and try to calm myself down, catching my breath and pushing my hands through my hair while laughing in annoyance. It's been so long since I've had a nightmare but when it does happen, I'm always unable to fall back asleep without someone else comforting me. Usually it was my mom, or Bill and Frank making me a tea to get me tired again. Unfortunately for me, the only other person nearby is Joel. I bite my lip as I contemplate going to him - no way he'd let me stay with him until I fell asleep... right? I start to get frustrated by how tired I am but also by how scared I am to fall back asleep alone. Childish, I know... but it's always just been the thing. I've never been good at soothing myself.

I eventually push myself to get out of bed and quietly walk over to Joel's door. I stand in front, hesitating to knock as I don't want to disturb him. I take a deep breath and quietly knock on the wood, surprisingly hearing a tired 'come in' in return. I slowly open the door to a dark room, the faint outline of Joel laying in the bed made my anxiety rise slightly.