Deep Dark Blues

Chapter 9- Ebb and Flow

Disclaimer! This chapter contains depictions of abuse!

Reed did not sleep well the night she had a visitor beneath her window, her mind not allowing itself to rest until the dark depths around them changed into the shade of deep blue. She had eventually given up on all chances of slumber and venturing out of her room. She had collected her daily portion of breakfast, feeling somewhat relieved that the menu changed for the day, the last portion of porridge was too bland for her taste.

Reed sat down in the common room, opting to rest on the couch instead of taking her place by the table. She scarfed down her food, having been starving for the past couple of hours. After the last bite of food was gone, her belly full and nerves soothed, Reed looked up. Just as on her first day, the dome above her head was breathtaking, the blue hues of the ocean above her a welcome change from the dark abyss of the night. She could have sworn there was a pod of big fish swimming above the Vault, distant black dots floating through the surrounding blue. Sitting around a quiet Vault felt peaceful, with no soul in sight. She expected that she would be free to enjoy the Vault on her own for the next few hours. She put the tray on the floor, dishes clinging, before laying on her back on the sofa. Her head hit the soft red cushions, feeling as if she was merging with the couch...

She was floating, vast cold blue surrounding her from all sides. There was no up or down, left or right, no point in looking for directions. There was just her and the oblivion, snag and comfortable around her body like a freshly washed blanket. Her vision blurred, eyes hazy and unfocused at the serenity around her. She smiled slightly, taking note of the iridescent bubbles escaping her mouth and floating off into the ether.

It was safe...

Cosy even... An oasis of solitude she'd been craving this whole time. She closed her eyes, drinking in the radiant calmness of the place. The gentle tide brushed over her skin, and her heart slowed down until her thoughts came to a halt.

Suddenly she felt movement around her, as something big and strong leaped by, the speed of the water hitting her chest with a full blast.

You are not alone here...

She opened her eyes, blood pumping in her veins due to an adrenaline surge.

I am not alone here...

But... There was nothing, just blackness. There was no difference between opening and closing her eyes, all resulting in the same overwhelming feeling...

You are out in the open...

I can see you so well...

Something... Someone was in the deep with her.

Her eyes flew open, scanning the surrounding area. The common room was still empty, not a trace of others having woken. She sat up, rubbing her face tiredly before pulling out her phone. Although the dream felt like it had been dragging on for hours, Reed had merely slept through thirty minutes. She didn't really know why she even kept charging her phone, the device utterly useless for the most part, but some habits die hard.

The woosh of the tap being turned on, brought her eyes towards the makeshift kitchen, eyes widening to the sight of Ryan busying himself with cleaning the dishes. Her hand instinctively travelled towards the abandoned food tray she left on the floor, however, upon impact her fingers slid across the cold metal of the floor, the tray missing.

"You took my tray..." She muttered, making Ryan jump up in surprise, eyes wide as if caught with his hand in a cookie jar.

"Um... Yeah..." He answered sheepishly. Reed sighed, a tired smile stretching her features as she rose from the couch.