Somniphobia

Chapter 4. Best sleep ever

Caleb POV
We got back to Andrew's house, and I was already getting irritated with him and his wife. They still hadn't returned the money they owed me. I walked upstairs to the bedroom they'd given me to sleep in while I was here.

I opened the door, walking inside exhaustedly. I took off my shoes and coat so I could lie in the bed and take a nap. That's when I heard a soft whimper coming from my bed, making me look toward it.

Someone was lying there, covered by the thick blanket. I walked closer as I heard the soft little whimpers coming from Andrew and Elizabeth's daughter.

She whimpered softly in her sleep, snuggled up in my blanket like it was her own bed. Her face looked scared, and I could tell she was exhausted — the dark circles under her eyes told me that much.

I lay down beside her, keeping my distance so I wouldn't touch her — and more importantly, so she wouldn't touch me. I didn't like being touched by anyone.

I closed my eyes, ready to fall asleep, when suddenly she snuggled her face into my neck, practically lying on top of me. She tangled her feet with mine while half her body rested across my chest.

I closed my eyes in frustration, trying to control myself as she whimpered softly into my neck. I sighed, too tired to even yell at her for touching me.

I knew she was asleep and had no idea what she was doing, so it wasn't her fault she'd crawled into my bed. I still didn't understand how she got in here in the first place.

I kept my eyes shut and forced myself to sleep despite how close she was. I was too lazy to take her back to her room, and I didn't want to wake her when she clearly needed the rest.

⸻

Aaron POV
I'd forgotten my charger in Caleb's room before we left this morning. I walked down the hall and knocked on his door so I could grab it quickly.

I knocked again but got no response. I opened the door slowly, knowing he was probably asleep already. I walked over to the small table by his bed to get my charger.

Then I heard a soft whimper from the bed — definitely not Caleb. It sounded feminine. I looked over and saw Aria sleeping snuggled up in his arms.

My eyes widened. Caleb hated being touched, so seeing this girl we barely knew cuddling with him like that shocked me.

I knew he liked her — he just didn't want to admit it.

I walked out quietly and shut the door behind me. I was definitely telling Zane about this.

⸻

Later that night...

Caleb POV
I woke up to the sound of soft crying next to me. I opened my eyes slowly and sat up as the small girl beside me whimpered.

Her cries grew louder and more intense the longer she slept. She was clearly having a nightmare and struggling to wake up, like she was trapped in it.

She muttered things under her breath as tears rolled down her cheeks. She gripped my shirt tightly, sobbing, until a loud scream tore out of her.

I shook her, tapping her cheek. She opened her eyes immediately, gasping for air as if someone had been choking her in her sleep. She crawled straight into my lap without thinking.

I held her close as she trembled in my arms. I didn't know what was wrong, but she was scared — and I didn't like that.

"Shh, it's okay. Deep breaths," I whispered as she cried into my chest. She clutched my shirt with her small hands like she was afraid someone would take me away.