Echoes of Wonderland

Running up that hill

Chloe's POV

The tremors in my hands are barely noticeable now, but the echoes of Red's outburst still reverberate through me. Her anger had been a storm, fierce and unrelenting, and while I'd stood in its path, trying to calm the tempest, I could feel the storm's impact deep inside. I'm still trying to process everything, still trying to catch my breath. It's not just the fear for myself—it's the fear for her, for what this rage means for the woman I love.

I don't dare tell Red how scared I was. Not because I'm afraid of what she might do, but because I know how deeply she feels everything. Her fear that she might hurt me—that's what's been driving her madness. I can see it in her eyes, the way they dart around as if searching for an escape from the chaos she's caught in. If I tell her that her rage frightened me, she'll take it as a reflection of her own failures, a confirmation of her worst fears. And that could push her even further into the dark hole she's desperately trying to escape.

Red's eyes are locked on mine, their intensity piercing through the heavy silence that has settled between us. I see the depth of her regret and the struggle she's having with her own emotions. The realization of how close she came to losing control is evident on her face, and it's what seems to pull her back from the brink. I can almost see the gears in her mind grinding as she tries to piece herself back together.

- I'm sorry, Chlo. - Her voice is a trembling whisper, each word laced with fragile remorse. - I would never hurt you. This... this is just too much. I don't know how to handle any of this.

The sincerity in her voice hits me like a wave, knocking me off balance. Her apology isn't just words—it's a raw, unfiltered expression of the torment she's feeling. I can see the strain in her eyes, the way her shoulders sag with exhaustion. Her admission that she doesn't know how to handle everything is a sign of how lost she truly feels, and it breaks my heart to witness it. I need to offer her something solid, something to ground her. As much as I'm struggling to hold myself together, I need to be the anchor for both of us. My heart aches with the realization that the person I've always relied on for strength is now in desperate need of it herself.

- I know you would never hurt me. - I say softly, trying to convey the depth of my understanding. - I'm here for you. We need to find a way to get through this, one step at a time.

Her eyes soften, the fierce edge of her earlier fury melting into a more subdued vulnerability. The fear I had felt begins to ebb away as I see her struggling to regain control. The night is pressing in around us, dark and relentless, and it's clear that we need to find a place to rest. We can't continue like this, wandering through the darkness with our emotions in disarray.As we walk, the moonlight casts long, ghostly shadows on the ground, and the chill in the air is a stark contrast to the warmth of our shared pain. The cold bites at my skin, but it's a minor discomfort compared to the heavy dread that weighs on my heart. I feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world with each step, my heart aching for Red and for the uncertain path ahead.

- Red... - I begin, my voice trembling with the weight of everything I'm feeling. - I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things worse.

The silence that follows is heavy, almost tangible. I move closer to her, drawn by an instinct to offer comfort. Her gaze is distant, lost in the tumult of her own emotions. Seeing her so broken, so exposed, is almost unbearable. The strength she always showed is gone, replaced by a fragility that tugs at every part of me. Red stops abruptly, her body quaking as she faces me. Her tears fall freely, each drop a testament to her internal battle. Her voice is barely more than a whisper, each word trembling with the effort to speak.

- I don't— - she stammers, her voice breaking. - I don't know what came over me. I... I couldn't stop my mind from taking over.

Her words are a painful admission of her struggle, and I can see the depths of her vulnerability. Her rage was a shield, but now it's shattered, leaving behind the raw, aching core of her hurt. The sight of her breaking down is almost more than I can bear.