Out From the Shadows

Chapter 4

Running into the room leaves me breathless, but not as breathless as seeing her in torment. She screams while helpers and I close in on her to see what's wrong. I was the one to first hear her screams, my parents and I in the midst of a heated discussion. I took off in the direction of the stairs and screamed for some help. I took the stairs two steps at a time. I scrambled up the last remaining stairs after tripping and threw open her door.

The medic comes in a little bit later and sedates her. Her screams end suddenly and her body stills. Tears glisten on her cheeks. I wipe away the last one that still is sliding with my finger. Her chest rises and falls evenly and I can only guess that she has finally fallen asleep. 

Everyone clears out except the medic; who tells me that she should feel alright in the morning but will need to rest all of tomorrow. Once he leaves, I blink with relief and a tear rolls out. I let it fall to the floor and thank the gods that she's alright. I lower myself onto the bed carefully with out disturbing her. She is absolutely motionless. I examine her face for any left over signs over her pain, and every once in a while her eyebrows clench together. She's either having a nightmare or is still hurting. Neither choice is good.

I lay next to her, above the covers, still in my formal blue pants and cream shirt. My head is propped up on  my hand and I watch her. People may consider our relationship to be moving to fast, but I already love her. She isn't like the other girls father has introduced to me. They are loyal to a fault; ready to obey my every command. Almarie, on the other hand, is the opposite and is full of surprises. It makes me love her more. I admire her now as she sleeps. The way she her lips form a  small smile and it disappears a second later. Her nose wrinkles briefly, then relaxes. Everything about her makes my heart beat faster. My eyes slowly droop and I don't fight the drowsiness. I fall asleep to her breathing.

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I wake up to a high-pitched scream in my ear. I jolt awake and sit up quickly, not knowing where I am. I look over to my left and remember. Almarie. Screaming. Pain. She is sitting up now, alert, staring at me with wide eyes. The covers are pulled up to cover her, showing only her head and hands. The scream must have come from her.

"Why in the.." She begins, stupefied, but I cut her off. "I'm sorry. You had a strenuous night and I wanted to make sure you were okay and had help immediately if needed."

Her eyes squint, as if she can tell if I'm lying or not. She isn't buying my story. She doesn't relax her shoulders and posture until I get up from the bed.

"Don't ever get that close to me again," she growls. "You don't own me. I'm not property or a doll." She lets the cover fall down and jumps up from the bed. Her nightgown falls above her knees and fits her frame perfectly. It's a stunning sight. She runs her hands from her shoulders down to her knees in mid-air.

"This is not okay! I'm certainly not okay! My head almost exploded last night and now I'm dressed like a prostitute!" She says speedily, not quite angry.

"I'm sorry. I'm not accustomed to what women like to wear or how to comfort them. Service dropped off some new clothes, they are hung up in the bathroom behind the door now," I tell her, letting some of my own anger leak into my voice. I hate admitting that I'm not acquainted with very many women.

She crosses her arms and storms off into the bathroom. The door slams behind her and I take my leave. Before I walk through the doorway, My ears pick up a muffled sound coming from the bathroom door. Crying.