Gracie

Chapter 23 - Part 2 - Burned

Liam's POV:

Gracie never slept well, she would spend the night tossing and turning, whimpering and talking, occasionally she would sleep walk. She was haunted by the dark images from her past, which very often caused Gracie to wake up in a state.

After Zayn had placed Gracie into bed, We stepped outside the room to join the others in the hotels corridor. Zayn, Louis, Harry and a few others from the tour all had the same thing on our minds. It was to do with Gracie. We were trying to decide if bringing in professional help would help, but the conversation was cut short. Loud screams came echoing out the hotel room.

Louis POV:

Liam had disappeared into the room before it even registered to me and the others what was going on. I ran in after Liam, what greeted me was upsetting. Gracie was curled into a tight ball, Liam was trying to pull Gracie in a hug but she fought against him, fought him like he was the nightmare after her. I could see the fear in Liam's eyes, he tried several times pulling Gracie out of the nightmare. Her hair was damp to her forehead with sweat, she couldn't sit still, she was fighting someone.

Gracie's screams turned into pleas

"Please. No no. Help me. Get off me, please please."

As I glanced back to Zayn I could see it was tearing at his heart, he couldn't hide his emotions when it came to Gracie.

After a while Gracie's body fell back to the sheets. Liam instantly pulled Gracie to his bare chest, enclosing her tiny body complete in his arms.

"Gracie? Gracie Sweetheart?" He called gently.

"Wake up, wake up Gracie."

As Liam pulled back to look down at Gracie's eyes, tears streamed down her soft cheeks. Liam gently pulled Gracie back into his arms, humming softly into her hair. Gracie buried her head into his neck, continuing to cry.

"shh-shh" he cooed softly,

"Your safe now. I'm here. I've got you. It's okay sweetie."

Liam began to rock back and fourth holding Gracie in his lap, rubbing circles into her back.

Gracie's sobs disappeared. Liam looked back to me and nodded, that was the cue for us to leave them alone.

Liam's POV:

It was pointless asking Gracie if she had nightmare, it would be stating the obvious, she didn't need that.

Rubbing my hand against her back, I softly asked

"do you want to tell me"

She pressed her head harder into my chest

"They burned him, they burned him and his fur fell off, he barked and barked I loved him, I begged them to leave him I did I did but they wouldn't" she choked.

"Who burned who sweetie" I questioned.

"Mommy- Mommy burned, she burned Benny. It smelt" she cried.

"Who's Benny Gracie's, who's Benny?" I stuttered.

"My dog" she choked.

I remember thinking is there anything which those monster didn't put Gracie through. Pushing my thoughts aside I had to calm Gracie down.

"Sweetie they will never hurt you again, or hurt anyone or anything you love. Gracie I won't let them."

Gracie:

Dad (Liam) wiped my eyes and placed a kiss to my cheek.

I knew it was an old memory but it was like it was happening again, I could smell the burning, I could see the fur, just like it was real. I couldn't wake up from it. I sniffled and wiggled out of dads (Liam) arms.

"Come here, I'll hold you" dad said as he pulled me back into his arms.

He stroked back my damp hair and placed a kiss to my nose lightly.

Liam's POV:

It was 9 in the morning on a Wednesday. Gracie was sleeping peacefully, wrapped up in my arms.

"Sweetie, open your eyes" I cooed while rustling Gracie's hair.

I was shocked when a small groan said

"No".

I knew Gracie had suffered but I didn't want her to sleep away the pain.

"Yes sweetheart. Come on open your eyes" I tried again lightly shaking her.

I watched as Gracie's beautiful blue eyes finally fluttered open, searching for mine. I placed a few kisses to Gracie's forehead, as I pulled her closer to me. Still sleepy her head rested on my chest. We remained like that for a short while. I decided to get a move on and I jumped out of bed to the bathroom. When I returned to the room dressed, Gracie had hidden herself under the covers.

"Gracie. Come on. Get up now" I said a little more firmly.

I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled back the covers too see Gracie curled up. I pulled her on to my lap. Placing a few more kisses to her head, she wriggled to avoid them and then buried her head into my neck.

"come on Sweetie, you can't sleep" I laughed.

She clung on to me like a monkey. I stood up and carried her to the bathroom.

"Your dressing yourself, you have the energy to be a monkey" I laughed.

Over night Gracie had became very attached to me. Before she would hardly accept or give such affection. It was new, it melted my heart, but it wasn't going to gain Gracie a day in bed, so she could fall depressed about what had happened. She needed to be occupied, doing things to divert her thoughts to something good.

Gracie decided to grace me with her presence just minutes after I had left the bathroom.

"Gracie why aren't you dressed?" I asked.

I stood waiting for an answer as Gracie's head hung low

"I-I. Can we stay in?" She quietly stuttered.

I never expected Gracie to want to leave the hotel, but I wanted her dressed.

"We can stay in, but I want you to get dressed for me" I said.

She headed back off into the bathroom.