SECURED

HER PROTECTOR.

•RAY•

I was about to head to bed after finishing up some paperwork, feeling the weight of the day on my shoulders. As I stretched and got ready to turn off the light, I heard a noise from the room beside mine. My chest tightened. It was Ciya's room-my baby sister.

At first, I tried to convince myself it was nothing, maybe just her shifting in her sleep, but the sound came again-louder this time. It was a thud, like something falling. Instinct kicked in, and before I could even think, I was out of bed and heading for her door.

I knocked softly, trying not to panic. "Ciya? Are you awake?"

Silence.

My heart was racing now, and another sound from inside her room made me move faster. I opened the door and stepped in, immediately scanning the room in the dim light. She was tangled in her blankets, her body trembling, her face pale and tight with fear.

She was having another nightmare.

My heart sink at the sight in front of me. Ciya was thrashing in her sleep, caught in the grip of another nightmare. Her face was twisted in fear, and tears were already streaming down her cheeks. I rushed to her bed, kneeling beside her, . my hands gently shaking her shoulders.

"Ciya," I said, my voice firm but soft, trying to wake her. "Ciya, wake up, it's just a dream."

"Come on, Ciya, wake up," I whispered, my voice urgent but gentle. I shook her more firmly this time, and after a few long seconds, her eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she didn't recognize me. Her wide, terrified eyes looked through me, as if she was still trapped in her nightmare, still in that place where she felt unsafe.

Tears continued to spill from her eyes, her cheeks wet with fear. As I reached for her again, she jerked back, brushing my hands off her shoulders. The movement startled me, and for a split second, I felt a pang in my chest-my baby sister, pulling away from me. But then I realized-she wasn't pulling away from me. She was still lost in her flashbacks.

I softened my expression, my voice low and calm. "Ciya, it's me. It's Ray, princess. You don't have to be afraid. Not of me."

Those words felt heavy on my tongue. It hurt me to say them, hurt me to even think that Ciya could be afraid of me. She had always been the one who ran to me when something was wrong, always found comfort in my arms. Seeing her back away now, as if I was part of her fear, was like a knife to my heart.

For a moment, Ciya just stared at me, her breathing still uneven, her eyes still filled with uncertainty. But then, something shifted. Her gaze softened, recognition washing over her. She whispered called my name, "Ray," and in that instant, she threw herself into my arms, hugging me tightly.

I was momentarily stunned. It had been so long since she had hugged me like this-since she had come to me for comfort like she used to, before all the years of distance. I barely had time to process the rush of emotions before my instincts kicked in, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly. I would never let go.

She sobbed against my chest, her small frame trembling in my arms. I stroke her hair gently, resting my chin on top of her head, whispering softly. "It's okay. I've got you. You're safe."

As I hold her, My heart ached, not just for the fear she had been carrying, but for the years they had lost. But now, in this moment, all I could focus on was being there for her. Ciya, my baby sister, had chosen my arms to hide in from the world, and I would never let anything or anyone hurt her again.

"I'm right here, Ciya. Always." I whispered, holding her a little tighter.

Ciya was still in my arms, but the tears had stopped. Her small form nestled against my chest, her breathing steadier now. I gently stroked her hair, feeling the soft rise and fall of her back.