only HIS

Chapter 24 : Whispers in the Dark

Abhishek's eyes shot open, a suffocating weight pressing down on his chest. The coldness of the nightmare still gripped him, and for a moment, he could barely breathe, his mind struggling to process reality from the remnants of his dream. His hands felt damp, clammy, as though he was still drowning in that vast ocean, Sofia's voice echoing around him, *"Drown with me, Abhi."*

His gaze darted around the unfamiliar room, eyes wide and unfocused as he took in the shadows dancing across the walls. Each flicker of light, each shadowy outline of furniture seemed foreign, sinister. The dim lighting only heightened the disorientation, and for a sickening moment, he felt like he was still underwater, unable to find the surface. His heart hammered, an erratic beat that felt like it would tear through his chest at any moment. But slowly he remembered the events of last night and squeezed his eyes shut, willing his body to relax, feeling the initial wave of his panic beginning to recede. His breaths grew steadier, slower....

But then, he saw her.

Sofia lay just a few feet away, her expression soft and serene in sleep, her chest rising and falling in steady breaths. She was the same Sofia he'd fought to protect, the woman who, in his nightmare, had lured him into the water's deadly embrace. But here she was, unthreatening and vulnerable. And yet, it didn't quell the panic that clawed at his insides. Instantly, the remnants of fear surged within him, stronger and more uncontrollable than before, as if seeing her face alone had awakened all the chaos within him.

Why did his mind bring her into his nightmares, dragging him into those depths, forcing him to relive the helplessness that had plagued him since childhood?

He had to get out. The walls seemed to close in, the air thick and heavy as if he were still drowning, still trapped in that ocean. Moving as quietly as he could, he stumbled to his feet. His breathing quickened, and his vision blurred around the edges as he staggered out of the room, gripping the doorframe for support before finally making his way down the stairs.

Each step felt heavier than the last, his mind racing, chest tight with memories he had tried so hard to bury. He stumbled down the stairs, barely aware of where he was going, but finally spotted the bathroom door off the living room and slipped inside, locking the door behind him, as though he could lock out the memories trying to tear him apart. He sank to the floor, pressing his back against the cool tile wall, his head resting against his knees. The cold of the tiles seeped into his skin, but it wasn't enough to pull him from the storm swirling inside.

He tried to breathe, but each inhale was short and shallow, his body refusing to obey the command. His heart pounded erratically, sweat slicking his forehead, and a buzzing filled his ears. The nightmare played on a loop in his mind: the chilling calm of the ocean, the rising tide, the icy water, and the look in Sofia's eyes as she asked him to drown with her. He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself as he fought to steady his breaths.

And then his mind drifted back, unwillingly, to the memory of a different kind of nightmare.

He was nine years old again, crouched behind a tree, frozen with fear, head tucked against his knees, his small hands clamped tightly over his ears trying to block out the deafening sounds of violence, the blood, the cries of men fighting for his life. The chaos raged around him, but all he could hear was his own heartbeat, loud and terrified, drowning out everything else. It was the first time he'd ever been thrown into the world of violence his father inhabited, the first time he'd seen the consequences of his family's dangerous existence.

But more than anything, he remembered Freddy.

Fred had been his personal bodyguard, assigned to Abhishek from an early age, a towering man who had been both intimidating and protective. With his world so full of training to become the next mafia leader, Abhishek never had time to make friends as a child, and Freddy—despite his reluctance—had become the closest thing he'd had to one. They would spend hours together, Freddy trailing him wherever he went, grumbling about the nickname Abhishek had insisted on giving him. "Freddy" had hated it, but he had always tolerated Abhishek's antics, always been there during the brief hours Abhishek managed to escape his father's expectations and have some free time.

It was one of those nights, them coming back from the park when the attack happened. Freddy had shielded him with his life, taking the bullet that had been meant for Abhishek. While he had watched, his small frame shaking as he saw the life drain from Freddy's eyes, the friend he'd spent so many stolen hours with, now gone forever because of him, leaving him alone, helpless, and shattered. That was the night he had learned what sacrifice meant. It was also the night his world became haunted by panic and nightmares, the weight of guilt pressing down on him, knowing that Freddy had died because of him.

Abhishek's breaths quickened again, his nails digging into his palms as he tried to push the memories away. He could feel his heart racing uncontrollably, the panic flaring back up as if the weight of those years had never left him. His palms were damp with sweat, his vision blurry with the sting of unshed tears. The ghost of the nightmare, of Sofia's voice asking him to drown, images of Fred's face, melded with the pain of that night, the helplessness of watching someone he cared for disappear forever.

*This is not real. You're safe.* But the reassurance felt hollow. He couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability, the icy grip of the water in his dream, the helplessness he had felt in reality all those years ago.

Slowly, Abhishek raised his head and forced himself to stand, gripping the edge of the sink for balance. He let out a slow, shuddering breath, feeling his hands begin to steady. He willed himself to push the memories back, to bury them as he'd done so many times before.

His gaze locked onto his reflection, his green eyes deadened by the armor he'd constructed over the years. *You're still that scared kid,* a voice whispered in the back of his mind, *the one who couldn't save the people he cared about.*

He ignored the voice and reminded himself,*Don't let them see you fall apart. Don't let anyone see you break,*. He took in a shuddering breath, trying to regain control. But his hands continued to shake as he gripped the edge of the sink, his eyes locked on his reflection, searching for the man he once was.

And all he saw was emptiness.

He stared for what felt like an eternity, studying the lifeless expression, the coldness in his eyes, a reminder of all he had endured, of everything he had lost. Those green eyes—once filled with warmth, laughter, and life—had become mirrors of his soul, deadened by years of pain, betrayal, and emptiness. He had become the very thing he'd once feared—a man so devoid of emotion that even the sight of his own suffering barely registered.

Abhishek leaned closer to the mirror, his eyes narrowing as he took in the dark circles under his eyes, the tension etched into his face. *This is who you are now,* he reminded himself, and the thought made his stomach twist. There was no going back, no escape from the shadows that clung to him, the darkness that had taken root in his soul.

But he couldn't fall apart. Not here, not now. *Bury it.* He took another deep breath, steadying himself, willing the panic to fade completely. He took one final deep breath, forcing himself to let go of the past, the weight of Freddy's death, the guilt, the pain. 

With a steadying exhale, he straightened, his eyes hardening into their usual steely resolve. This was who he had become—cold, detached, untouched by the pain that had once nearly broken him. He had vowed to never let anyone see him like this again, vulnerable, fractured, and no matter how deeply Sofia got under his skin, he would never allow her—or anyone else—to see the scars he had spent a lifetime hiding.

Turning from the mirror, he unlocked the door and stepped out of the bathroom, his movements slow and measured. He paused at the base of the stairs, his gaze drifting upwards to where Sofia slept. The nightmare still clung to him, her voice from his dream haunting him, but he forced it away. He couldn't afford to let her or anyone else pull him back into that darkness.

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Thoughts???

also shoutout to @abhisheknigambliss on insta divya ji! who wrote the dream sequence of the last chapter and is helping me with the story so much.<33

thats why its taking so long for me to update!