Iron Dad's Daughter

Chapter 15

The weeks that followed after the events scared me, my head was all dazed and confused, but also full of sadness and sorrow. My heart was breaking still unsure of what had actually happened to the children. I started cutting myself off from the world, isolating myself in my room away from everyone. The nightmares continued unsure of what half of them meant, were they more warnings or just my mind playing sick games on me.

Dad had made numerous attempts to draw me out of my room. The girl he had contact to help me control my magic arrived a week or so ago, but I hadn't met her yet, I hadn't left my room since the day the team came over. I was worried something similar might happen and I cant always be known as the girl whose dreams come true, because they weren't dreams, they were nightmares. I avoided looking at the news anymore trying to block out that it had ever happened. But the nightmares are a constant reminder of what happened.

Days turned into weeks, and my room became my sanctuary. The walls, once comforting, now felt like a cage. I couldn't shake the feeling that the children's spirits were still with me, pleading for justice, for peace. I felt their sorrow, their desperation, and it weighed heavily on me. I could barely sleep, and when I did, the nightmares returned with a vengeance.

One night, I woke up drenched in sweat, my heart pounding. I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to understand, to find a way to make peace with what happened. I had to face whatever it was that haunted me.

I got out of bed and walked to my door, my hand hesitating on the handle. Taking a deep breath, I opened it and stepped into the hallway. The house was silent, dad assumingly asleep. I made my way downstairs, my footsteps echoing softly.

In the living room, Dad was sitting on the couch, a book in his hands. He looked up as I entered, his eyes widening in surprise.

"April?" he said softly, setting the book aside. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head, tears welling up in my eyes. "I can't do this anymore, Dad. The nightmares... they won't stop. I need to understand what's happening to me." I cry. "Make it stop, please make it stop." I pull at the sides of my hair pushing myself up against the wall sliding down it sobbing. "Please make it stop!" I scream between sobs.

Dad jumps off the sofa rushing over to me, kneeling down in front of me. "April, listen to me kid." He speaks his tone softer than usual; he pried my hands away from my hair taking them in his own.

"I'm here," he said gently, looking into my eyes. "We will get through this. You are not alone in this, April. We will figure it out together. But you have to trust me."

I nodded, my breath hitching. "I-I don't know what to do. It's like I'm losing my mind."

He pulled me into a tight hug, his warmth and strength grounding me. "We'll find a way to make it stop. I'll be with you every step of the way."

After a few minutes, I calmed down enough to sit back and breathe more steadily. Dad looked at me with determination. "I think it's time you met Wanda. She might be able to help you understand and control what's happening."

I nod sighing just wanting all of this to be over. Dad stands up holding his hand out to help me up. I take it and he pulls me to my feel, making me feel slightly off balance. I stand still for a few seconds feeling my head spinning, as the head rush wares off.

"Come on, lets get you up to bed." Dad smiles at me, I just look away as he helps me up the stairs leading me to my bedroom. I sit on the edge of the bed, to afraid to lay down in fear of falling asleep and the nightmares returning. "I have an idea." Dad huffs "I'll be back in a few minutes." He says before walking out of the room.

I look around the room shadows from the window dance in the darkness, frightening me into turning on the light. The shadows reminding me of the whole ordeal, scaring me into thinking whatever I did to help find the children wasn't enough. I try to push the thoughts from my head but its no use, questions fly through my mind. Did I do enough? What could I have done different? Could I have saved them? I just put my head in my hands and let my emotions close in on me, tears streaming down my face.

Dad walked back into the room noticing my current state and quickly rushes over to sit beside me, pulling me close to him letting me cry into his chest. Stroking my hair softly keeping me tightly wrapped in his arms.

After a while I hear footsteps approach the room quickly making my head turn towards the door, panic running through my body as the footsteps got closer and closer. I pull myself away from dads embrace slowly forcing my body to move back until my back hits the headboard of the bed, not allowing my body to move any further back. I watch at the door opens a little wider than it had already been.

Loki's head appears from behind the door, glancing between me and my dad his green eyes landing on my stance on the bed. "I'm going to go and get something to eat." Dad says getting off of the bed. "You know where I am if you need me kiddo." He smiles slightly before leaving.

"Hello darling." Loki's voice purrs at me. I stare at him eyes as wide as flying saucers as he steps closer and closer. "That's close enough!" I bark, he gets the hint and stays where he is making no attempt to push my boundaries. He puts his hands up "Okay love no closer than this, I understand." He says his voice calm and steady. I say nothing else to him and look down at my hands fiddling with my thumbs.

"Talk to me darling." He pleads I can feel his eyes on me. "I have nothing to say." I mumble keeping my eyes on my hands. "Come on love, you've been locked in this bedroom for weeks, refusing to see or talk to anyone. Please let me in, you don't have to talk to me. Let me into you head." He sighs. "Are you insane?!" I yell "Let you into my head? Why would I let anyone in? You'd all just think I was fucking insane!" I continued, turning my head to look in his direction.

"Darling I would never think your insane, not now, not ever. I understand you have seen some awful things recently. Please let me lessen your burdens." He speaks calmly and softly. I question if I should let him in, my gut begging me to let him do it but my head telling me that he would tell everyone I'm crazy. My eyes soften looking at him, I sigh and nod allowing him to come over to me. As he stands, I flinch a little trying to steady my head, knowing he isn't going to hurt me.

He climbs onto the bed with me, sitting beside me. "Lay down my love I can do it while your sleeping, hopefully giving you enough time to rest and get a good night sleep. I will stay by your side as long as you need me." He says gently coaxing me to lie down. He gently places the blanket over me. "Close your eyes my love, I will be right here when you wake up, I promise." He smiles looking me in the eye. I do as he says closing my eyes and let myself drift off to sleep.