The Darkness Gets Bigger

14. Tonight, It's Just Fire Alarms and Losing You

Cat's POV:

I awoke with a gasp from a nightmare. I was sweating and my clothes clung to me, as I moved. I wiped my tear streaked cheeks and held my head in my hands.

Night terrors were becoming less and less uncommon, all of them featuring Patrick. All saying the same thing.

"Why did you let me die, Cat?"

A vixen popped her head out from the bunk below me, her blonde hair in a messy bun. Well, I say messy, but it looked pretty perfect to me for someone who had been asleep for hours.

"Are you feelin' alright?"she whispered at me "I could hear you panting from down here."

I cleared my throat and prepared myself to reply. When I opened my mouth, a sob hiccuped out, much to my embarrassment. I sunk lower into the mattress and covered my face with my hands, crying erratically.

I heard her mumble something before getting out of her bunk.

Shortly afterwards, she returned with someone else this time. I heard them softly conferring, but I couldn't make out any particulars. Finally, they stopped talking, and I heard footsteps approach me.

"Cat? It's me Xavier," he said softly.

The last voice I wanted to hear. I pulled the covers tighter around me, hoping he would take that as a sign to leave me alone.

"I just want to make sure you're okay." He added.

"Go away."

"I'm coming in."

Before I could protest, I felt a weight behind me and a body pressed on my back. I rolled over to see him lying there, in the dark, facing me with a worried expression.

"Get out!" I shrieked, pushing away from him.

"I heard you had a nightmare." He said, completely ignoring my outburst.

"And I heard it was weird to spontaneously climb into bed with someone!" I grumbled.

In the dark, I could make out the shadow of a smirk on his face. He sighed a little, and then wrapped his arm around my waist, nuzzling against my back. I lay there silent for about 15 seconds before whispering:

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Shut up," he mumbled, squeezing me slightly.

And I did shut up. Because it was hard to admit, but I liked having his arms around me. He felt familiar and warm against my skin. Eventually, I relaxed, and allowed my eyes to close.

"I'm sorry." He whispered into my hair.

"Are you?" I replied, not really expecting an answer.

"I am. I'll fix this. I'll help you be with him if that makes you happy, even though I hate him."

My eyes snapped open.

"What?"

"It will take a while, but I'll do it. You can both escape together, out of the country and I'll tell Courtney you killed yourselves."

"You mean that?" I questioned.

"As much as it pains me to say it."

A tear rolled down my cheek, for the first time in the while, it was a happy sort of tear.

"Thank you."

"Whatever," he mumbled into the dark.

I let out a small laugh, and curled my legs upwards, allowing sleep to take over me. Before I was completely unconscious, I heard him whisper