The Hollows Of Hiraeth (✔️) | 'Hollows' Book I

Chapter Forty-Two

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T h e   H o l l o w s O f
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"Shit, sorry." Jameson was quick to apologise as he cleaned my wound with a cloth and I had hissed in pain. Back in the corridor, Jameson had wound his arm around my waist and we had walked back to our room. It wasn't a long walk, thankfully, as I had already made it halfway to my destination. Then a stranger had attacked me. For Christmas I want an attack free life.

Jameson finished cleaning the wound and started to wrap a bandage around my arm.

"My motto should be: 'injuries everyday'." I joked, waving my hand in the air to fake present my new found motto. Jameson barely smiled at my remark and I rolled my eyes at his dour mood as he put a damper on my playful atmosphere.

I pouted but shut up as he finished dressing my wound, however, when he was finished, he didn't move. I brought my gaze up from where I was looking at my fingers on my lap and gazed up at him. Our eyes immediately met and I felt a gasp come to my lips at the change in his eyes.

It was different. I don't know.

Jameson sighed as he reached out for my hand, our fingers interlocking.

"You have no idea how worried I was when I woke up and you weren't here." Jameson's voice was strained, stressed. Yes, maybe the sleep had done him some good, but then waking up to finding me gone? Wow, great move, Sky.

I averted my eyes, feeling guilty for his stress. Then Jameson raised his hand. My eyes widened as I felt him cup my cheek. Well, this is new.

"Sky, you don't even know how–" He paused, thinking of his words. He shifted closer to me and I meekly observed our sudden proximity.

Jameson shook his head, possibly losing his words in the moment. Though, he started a new sentence. "You're always worrying me, Sky, I can never let go of the feeling that something bad will happen to you." His words were soft and hit me straight in the heart.

I squeezed his hand, probably more of a comfort for me than what I intended for him.

"I promise to drag you everywhere I go," I assured him, using a soft tone too. "Except for the toilet." I joked and small smile appeared on Jameson's lips before it disappeared.

Jameson opened his mouth to talk and I was still listening intently, hanging onto every syllable he produced. However, we were interrupted by a knock at the door.

As if a spell cast upon us had just been undone, we jumped away from each other as if the other had some infectious, fatal disease. I don't know about Jameson, but as soon as I fled his touch, I felt the cold embrace me—it wasn't a nice embrace.

Jameson cleared his throat and stood up, walking to the door to meet the human definition of an interruption. Once the door was open, Jameson and the human interruption began to have a conversation.

Surprisingly, I decided to not eavesdrop and instead waited for the conversation to end as politely and patiently as I could. Jameson closed the door and sighed, running a hand over his face. I stood up, worry coursing throughout my veins.