Knock Knock... Don't Invite Me In

Chapter 10: Warmth

I was panicking, I didn't know what to do. No matter how hard I tried to stop, I couldn't overpower the demon inside me. The tears fell as I felt Caleb going limp in my hands. If he died, I would never forgive myself. I would be a murderer of the boy who has just tried to be there for me. I don't understand why I pushed him away so much. I thought it was best because of my love for Jake, but that's not the truth. The truth is, I pushed him away because I was afraid of my love... For him.

I felt a warmth spread through my body and felt my strength going back. Admitting that I loved Caleb seemed to be working! Now that the power was weaker, I pushed with all my might and Caleb slipped through my fingers, collapsing on the grass next to me. I breathed a sigh of relief but once I saw that he was out cold, I began to panic again so I pulled out my phone and dialed 911. I explained that a boy had been attacked and was knocked out, needing medical attention. I squeezed his hand and whispered sorry over and over until I heard the sirens in the distance.

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I sat in the room, listening to the beeping of the heart monitor and waiting for Caleb to wake up. I was nervous for what he would say, how he would react. I tried to kill him, how would he ever forgive me?

"Kar...? Is that you?" I heard him whisper and my eyes shot up. His voice was hardly recognizable and his eyes barely open.

"Oh Caleb, I'm so sorry. I don't know what got into me, I'm so so sorry. I totally understand if you can never forgive me." I said, tears streaming down my face. Caleb reached over and grabbed my hand.

"Karoline, is it really you?" He asked, searching my face for a sign of the inner demon.

"Yes, it's me I promise." I said, forcing a smile.

"Good, I believe you. I had another dream about you but this time, you had a light around you. The coolest part was, Jake was there, watching over you. He told me he wants you to be happy." I smiled and squeezed his hand, another tear trying to escape.

"By the way, you look so much better without all the black around your eyes." He said, brushing his thumb against my cheek softly, sending the chills up my spine. Before he had woken up, I had scrubbed my face in the bathroom trying to get rid of the black. It felt so fake, it didn't feel like me. I didn't feel like hiding my face anymore. "What about the voice? Is it gone"

"Yeah... When I was holding you under, I finally admitted something to myself and that thought helped me in fighting the demon away. I think it's gone for good.." I said, smiling but it soon turned into a frown. "I can't forgive myself Caleb, I nearly killed you. You're lucky the knife didn't hit anything inside your body otherwise I don't think you'd be here right now."

"Karoline, it wasn't the real you. I have seen the real you in your eyes since the day we first met, and I have been head over heels in love with you since." He smiled and pulled me towards him, crushing his lips against mine. I felt him smile against me, the happiness radiating off of us. When he pulled away, I felt a warm breeze pass through the room, and somehow I knew that was Jake giving his approval. Caleb squeezed me tight and I knew he felt it too.