Blood Ties

Disturbed Sleep

The cave was quiet, save for the distant, steady drip of water and the soft breathing of the Lost Boys scattered around. The moon had slipped lower in the sky, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls, but inside, everything was still.

Until it wasn't.

Ava's dream had started innocently enough. She was walking through the boardwalk, the lights flashing around her, laughter in the distance. But suddenly, the lights began to flicker and fade, one by one, plunging everything into darkness. She was alone. The crowds disappeared, her brothers gone—no Paul, no Marko, no Dwayne, no David. Just silence. The overwhelming sense of abandonment clutched her chest, and then, in the suffocating black, something moved. Cold, dark tendrils reached for her, pulling her deeper into the void. She tried to scream, but no sound came. She was sinking, sinking—

Her eyes snapped open, her heart hammering in her chest. For a moment, the darkness of the cave felt too close, too much like the dream. She gasped for air, her hands clutching the blankets, pulling them tight around herself. Panic gripped her, the nightmare still clawing at her mind.

She felt a solid weight shift beside her. Dwayne.

"Ava?" His deep voice was groggy but filled with immediate concern. He sat up, instantly alert despite having just been asleep. His hand found her shoulder, steady and reassuring in the darkness. "You okay?"

Ava tried to calm her breathing, but her heart was still racing, her mind unable to shake the fear. She hated this—hated feeling weak, vulnerable, like she couldn't control herself. She didn't want to wake them up, didn't want to be a burden. But Dwayne was already awake, and in a matter of seconds, the others would be too.

"It was just a dream," she whispered, her voice shaky.

Dwayne's hand moved gently to her back, rubbing slow circles. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe. We're right here."

A soft rustling came from the couch, where Paul had been sleeping. "Ava?" His voice was soft but immediately concerned. "You alright?"

Ava closed her eyes, trying to push the nightmare out of her mind. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice betrayed her. She didn't want to worry them, but she knew her brothers could always tell when something was wrong.

David appeared at her side, moving with the quiet grace he always carried, his icy eyes full of concern. "What happened?" he asked, his voice low, meant just for her.

"It was just a nightmare," she repeated, shaking her head as if to brush it off. "I'm okay now."

Marko stirred from his corner, pushing his curls out of his face. "Nightmare?" he asked, his voice still heavy with sleep but tinged with worry. "You want me to kick its ass?"

Despite everything, Ava managed a small laugh. Marko always knew how to lighten the mood. "I'll let you know if it shows up again."

David's gaze stayed fixed on her, assessing. His fingers brushed against her hair. "You're safe here, Ava. You know that, right?"

She nodded, swallowing hard. "I know."

Paul got up from the couch and shuffled over, plopping down on the other side of her, making the nest feel even cozier. "I hate nightmares," he said, pulling a blanket over his head dramatically, then peeking out. "But you got all of us here, so no need to be scared."

She smiled, the warmth of their presence slowly driving away the lingering fear from the dream. They always knew how to make her feel safe, even when her own mind betrayed her.

Dwayne's arm was still draped around her, solid and comforting. "You want to talk about it?" he asked gently.

Ava shook her head. "It was just... I was alone. You guys were gone, and I couldn't find you."

David frowned slightly, his expression darkening. "That's never going to happen."

"I know," she whispered, though the nightmare had felt so real. "I just—"

"You're not getting rid of us that easily," Marko chimed in with a grin. "We're like... vampire glue. Super hard to shake."

Paul leaned in closer, his voice softer this time. "We'd never leave you, Ava. You know that, right? You're stuck with us forever."

David's hand rested on her shoulder, his touch grounding her. "You're not alone. Not now, not ever. We've got you."

Ava took a deep breath, the weight in her chest slowly lifting. Her brothers' familiar banter and reassurances were enough to calm her, pulling her out of the nightmare's grasp. She was home. She was safe.

Dwayne gave her one last squeeze. "Think you can get back to sleep?"

Ava nodded, feeling the warmth of her family around her. "Yeah," she said softly. "I think I can."

Paul leaned in, pressing a playful kiss to the top of her head before flopping back dramatically. "Good. Because if that nightmare comes back, it's gonna have to answer to all four of us."

Marko laughed. "And I've been dying to beat something up tonight."

David, ever the calm leader, gave her a final, reassuring look. "Rest, Ava. We'll be right here."

With her brothers close, Ava allowed herself to relax again, the nest warm and secure. The nightmare was already fading into the background as she nestled deeper into the blankets. Dwayne shifted beside her, making sure she was comfortable before settling down himself.

As her eyelids grew heavy once more, Ava felt the last remnants of fear slip away, replaced by the quiet comfort of knowing she was exactly where she belonged—with her family, forever by her side.

And with that, she drifted back to sleep, safe in the knowledge that she would never be alone.