"Blackmail" An Austin Butler Fanfiction

Nightmares and Reality

The night was still and quiet, the soft hum of the city outside their window a comforting backdrop to the silence of their bedroom. Austin held Emma close, their bodies intertwined in a protective embrace. Sleep had finally claimed them both, bringing a temporary reprieve from the horrors of the day.

But Emma's sleep was far from peaceful. Shadows danced behind her closed eyelids, the trauma of her ordeal seeping into her dreams. She was back in the warehouse, the cold metal of the chair biting into her skin, ropes digging into her wrists. Olivia's voice echoed around her, taunting and cruel.

"You thought you could escape me?" Olivia's face loomed in the darkness, her eyes glinting with malice. "You'll never be safe, Emma. Never."

Emma struggled against her bonds, panic rising in her chest. She called out for Austin, but her voice was swallowed by the void. The fear was suffocating, crushing her, until she couldn't breathe.

Suddenly, she jolted awake, a scream tearing from her throat. "No! Please, no!"

Austin was up in an instant, his arms around her, his voice soothing. "Emma, it's okay. You're safe. I'm here."

Her eyes were wild with fear as she looked around, disoriented. The familiar surroundings of their bedroom slowly came into focus, the nightmare fading but the fear lingering. She clung to Austin, her body trembling.

"It was just a dream," he whispered, stroking her hair. "You're safe now. Olivia can't hurt you here."

Emma buried her face in his chest, her sobs muffled by his shirt. "It felt so real," she whimpered. "I was back there, and she... she..."

"I know," Austin said softly, his heart aching for her. "But it was just a dream. She can't hurt you anymore. Not while I'm here."

He held her tightly, rocking her gently as her sobs subsided. The terror of the nightmare slowly ebbed away, replaced by the comforting warmth of Austin's embrace. She took deep, shaky breaths, trying to calm her racing heart.

"I'm sorry," she murmured after a while, her voice hoarse.

"Don't be," Austin replied, lifting her chin to meet her eyes. "You have nothing to apologize for. What you went through was terrifying. It's okay to be scared."

She nodded, leaning into his touch. "Thank you. For everything."

He kissed her forehead, a gesture of reassurance and love. "We'll get through this together," he promised. "One step at a time."

They lay back down, Austin keeping her close. The rhythmic sound of his heartbeat gradually calmed her, the warmth of his body a shield against the lingering chill of her nightmare. She closed her eyes, focusing on the steady rise and fall of his chest.

"Try to get some rest," he said softly. "I'll be right here."

Emma nodded, her exhaustion catching up with her. The nightmare had shaken her, but being in Austin's arms made her feel safe again. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with him by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope.

As she drifted back to sleep, Austin remained vigilant, his thoughts drifting back to Olivia. He knew the threat wasn't over, and he would have to stay alert. But for now, all that mattered was Emma. He would protect her, no matter the cost.

With that resolve, he held her a little tighter, determined to keep the nightmares - both real and imagined - at bay.