Song of the Sabotaged

Part 4

I could hear him walk, almost silently, in the other room. He was pacing.

His footsteps stopped, and when he began moving again, they were much softer than before. I gathered the idea he took off his shoes.

Holding my breath and pinching my eyes closed, I listened as hard as I could.

Where could he be walking to now?

Who was he?

The breath hitched in my throat as I suddenly heard the footsteps walking this way, towards this room.

Please don't come in here, please don't notice me, please don't... I willed desperately.

The footsteps stopped in the doorway, and the curious side of me got the better of my mind. Cracking my eyes opened slightly, I could see his silhouette. The stranger hadn't noticed me yet, and was taking off a jacket.

He opened his closet, and dropped his jacket in a hamper. I could make out the perfect outfits lined up row after row.

The man turned around and froze.

He noticed me.

I slowly twisted to sit up, looking right back at him.

I was struggling to swallow my heart back down.

He seemed frozen.

The darkness covered his face, and I couldn't make out his features at all. The moonlight barely slipping through the window was brushing his head and figure.

The man stepped closer, and suddenly my heart snapped deep down in my gut, panic licking my nerves.

He stopped at the edge of the bed.

Light glinted across his glasses.

Wait... glasses?

"Miss Sorenson?"

And with those words, my numb senses seemed to snap back at me.

Blinking, I looked closer, my eyes finally connecting dots.

"Mr. Blackbourne?"

I knew it was him, and launched myself from the bed closer to him.

My heart felt ready to tear in half with the fear suddenly leaving me.

I wrapped my arms around him, despite my mind chastising me.

He slowly wrapped me into his embrace. His spring soup filled my senses.

"What are you doing here? It's quite a surprise, I might say."

I pulled back, realizing what I did, and my face heating up. "I... I don't know."

He looked at me, the light bouncing off his glasses again, and his facial features softened. I could see that even though he tried to hide it, his eyes were tired, and his face was strained.

"Why don't you tell me what you do know."

Swallowing the thick spot in my throat, I rubbing my hands together.

"Nathan woke me up, said it was an emergency, and he ran us through the forest. He met up with Luke and Sean. Luke carried me for... who knows how long. I fell asleep. I think Sean switched places with Gabriel. I'm not sure. Next thing I knew, I awoke up here... alone..."

My voice was soft.

Mr. Blackbourne nodded. "We can deal with this tomorrow. Why don't you climb under the comforter and go back asleep."

"But... is this your house?"

He nodded. "Yes. It is my house."

I bit my lip. "Well... I don't want to take your bed. And you look tired..." I shuffled on my feet.

He gently put his hand on my arm, and put little effort into making me sit on his bed.

"Are you suggesting we share a bed, Miss Sang Sorenson?"

That hadn't been what I meant at all. My eyes sagged shut as my shoulders dropped. I forced my eyes to open. 

"I mean. It's not that weird..." I tried saying. My mouth wasn't working properly.

I saw the tug of his lips.

"Lay down."

"You need to, too." I tried to argue, though I followed his gentle order.

He grabbed clothes, and I closed my eyes, nodding off.

Suddenly, I felt the other end of the bed dipping, and warmth as spring soup surrounded me. I sighed happily.