The Story of Midnight

Chapter 13

This chapter is dedicated to paige_turners for the amazing cover!

"Your past is always your past. Even if you forget it, it remembers you."

― Sarah Dessen, What Happened to Goodbye

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It was strange seeing someone else that knew of my phobia. Someone cared enough to tell me that it would be alright. Dawn knew about my fear and she tried to consult me about it but I never gave her the information she wanted. Still she continued to pester me about it hoping my annoyance would reach its boiling point enough to lead me to reveal something, but I never said anything. It's strange for me to find hope in such a hateful world.

I thought back to my life before I was put in Silent Edge Prison. The freedom of doing anything you wanted, the magic of nature surrounding you, the calmness of the wilderness. It was all suddenly taken away from me. It felt like a huge part of me was missing and I wanted it back. Is it ever going to be replaced? I was like one of those birds of prey that I heard so much about, but not being able to take flight into the skies where I was most comfortable with. I'm being forced to adapt to a world where there's a sky and forced live in it like it doesn't exist.

I sighed and made myself as comfortable as the stone floor would let me. Slowly, I closed my eyes. The sound of Lynx's heartbeat lulled me to sleep. The last thing I thought of before I gave in to the dark was: did Lynx just get a bit closer to me?

My mind took its time waking up. I noticed I wasn't leaning against the wall but against something that was breathing. My body tensed as my heart gave an alarmed lurch. Instinctively, I pushed myself away from him; my breathing coming in sharp gasps. I'm still not used to waking up to people around me, especially so close.

"Mornin', well not exactly, more like late afternoon." Again, I blushed deeply at how close we were not too long ago but as Lynx said, there wasn't much light in this place so I was thankful for that.

He didn't seem bothered that I moved away from him almost like he was on fire and I just got burned, instead, I think he was expecting that to happen.

"Do you always have to do that?" I hissed.

"Do what? " He asked innocently. I could literally hear the grin in his voice.

I sighed in defeat but smiled slightly despite the fact that I really wanted to punch his face and make him bleed.

The sounds of whispering and talking filled my ears again.

After a few minutes, I asked, curiously, "Did you sleep at all?"

"No, I couldn't. I was too busy trying to make you comfortable since you decided to use me as a makeshift pillow."

My eyes widened slightly; the heat in my cheeks returned; spreading in all directions. I noticed that he got close to me again but this time I was caged in. Well, I could just stand up and walk away but I willed my body to stay put. I needed to get over this. His frame shook with gentle laughter as he placed his arm around my shoulders. I couldn't help but jump at his touch. I'm trying so hard not to move and accept this normal behavior that was so foreign to me.

"I would love to see your reaction right now; priceless."

He continued to laugh, referring to my flustered expression, not the fear I was fighting inside, which only made my face feel like the sun was directly in front of me. I punched him on his shoulder as my embarrassment grew. I was still trying to grow accustomed to his arm being across my shoulders. He didn't seem fazed by the hit.

"What?" he said playfully.

He was trying to hold back his laughter.

"I'll make you pay for this." I hissed.