Twisted Devotion

Thirty Seven

The stillness of the morning wrapped around them like the snowfall, each breath of cold air an anchor that kept Ava grounded in this surreal reality. She wasn't sure what to make of Dominic's words, nor the uncharacteristic gentleness that surfaced in him every now and then, fleeting but unmistakable. She watched as he moved through the motions of his work, his strength evident but his expression unreadable. This was the man who had taken her, but there was something else—something deeply buried under layers of guarded silence and cold resolve.

After finishing her coffee, Ava retreated back into the cabin, giving Dominic his space while the warmth from the stove began to chase the chill from her bones. Her knee throbbed slightly as she moved, reminding her that she needed to be cautious. She found herself pacing, restless despite the quiet peace of the morning, her mind swirling with questions she hadn't dared to ask aloud.

After a while, Dominic came inside, stomping the snow off his boots and placing the chopped wood in a pile by the stove. Ava looked up from where she sat by the fire, her gaze following him as he shed his coat and gloves, rubbing his hands together to chase away the cold.

"Need anything else?" she ventured, unsure if she was crossing an invisible line by offering.

He shook his head, though his gaze lingered on her briefly. "Just... keep resting."

There was an awkwardness in the air, a hesitation that felt almost unnatural for a man like him. Ava shifted on the couch, wondering if this odd rhythm between them was something she'd simply have to grow accustomed to—or if it was something that would break as quickly as it had started.

But the day moved on, quietly, with Ava watching the snowfall from the small window, the world outside painted in shades of gray and white. Occasionally, Dominic would glance her way, catching her gaze before she quickly looked away. They moved around each other, not speaking much, yet somehow connected by the silence and the shared warmth of the cabin.

By evening, as the temperature dropped once more, Dominic went about stoking the fire and preparing another meal. Ava observed him, noting the way he moved with practiced efficiency, his focus on even the smallest of tasks. There was a strange comfort in the way he looked after their shared space, almost as though he were as much a captive to the routine as she was.

As they ate, the crackling of the fire filling the space between them, Ava felt a soft warmth settle over her. She hadn't felt this way in a long time—safe, if only for the briefest of moments. And as the last traces of light faded from the window, she allowed herself to believe, just a little, that this strange world they shared might hold more than just survival.

They tidied up in silence, their movements synchronized without the need for words. Finally, when the last dish was set aside, Ava glanced at the cough, feeling an urge to be close to Dominic, close to the warmth of the fire. It felt like the only place in this entire cabin where the coldness of reality didn't pierce so deeply.

"Is it... okay if I sit next to you?" she asked softly, her voice barely breaking the stillness.

Dominic looked at her, his expression unreadable but his gaze holding a trace of something she couldn't quite place. He simply nodded, and she settled herself onto the couch, curling up against the armrest with her book. Dominic sat beside her, closer than before, though they both seemed content to focus on the pages in front of them rather than the proximity between them.

As the fire crackled, casting warm shadows across the room, Ava felt her eyelids growing heavy. Her body relaxed, sinking further into the sofa, her head drifting until it rested against Dominic's shoulder. She didn't register the moment she drifted off, but in her sleep, she felt the faintest touch—a hand brushing against her hair, a gesture that seemed almost tender.

When morning broke again, Ava opened her eyes to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the window, the world still wrapped in a layer of fresh snow. She stirred, feeling the weight of a blanket draped over her, and glanced up to find Dominic already moving around the cabin, his familiar footsteps quiet but steady.

There was no mention of the night before, no acknowledgment of the soft moments shared under the dim light of the fire. Yet, as Ava watched him, a flicker of warmth ignited within her—a warmth that, even in the coldest of winters, somehow managed to make her feel more alive than she had in years.