Terrorized By Love [ON HOLD]

Chapter 6: Nightmare of the Past

Aditya froze as he felt Mahima's shaking hands on the nape of his neck, as she held him for what seemed like her dear life. He could sense her fear and longing to be comforted. Reluctantly, Aditya lifted his hand and placed it on her back, his heart sinking a little.

What was he doing? He couldn't let himself be fooled by a woman's emotions. The only reason he defended her was because Vijith was seriously losing focus over their mission, and not because he had any desire to preserve her dignity.

He brought his hands to her arms and unwrapped them from his neck, pulling her fragile body off. She was still shivering fearfully.

"Sleep here," he ordered, pointing to the corner that she had been sleeping in. "Don't be scared of him."

Mahima nodded and looked up at him, still fearful.

"Sleep," he repeated.

She nodded again and laid down on the bed, closing her eyes. Aditya was about to move away from the bed, when Mahima grabbed his hand and refused to let him go.

A little irritated, he sat down next to her, wondering how she could trust him.

Then he laid down and she fell asleep, breathing deeply, still clutching his hand.

Aditya somehow fell asleep too.

The two of them had a nightmare that night. The nightmare was the same for both of them, although they weren't aware of how connected their dreams were.

--

"Adi, Mahima, go under the bed," a stout lady pushed her son and daughter towards the bed.

Aditya took Mahima's tiny hand and they both went under the bed, following his mother's instructions.

"I'm scared," Mahima whispered, sounding frightened, holding on to Aditya's hand tightly.

"Don't be scared Mahima," Aditya whispered. "I will always protect you."

They quietly watched as three men barged into the house, breaking the door. Aditya covered Mahima's eyes, and he himself watched as the three men brutally shot their mother over and over again.

Tears filled his eyes, and Mahima let out a sob.

The three men froze and started to approach the bed.

"I'll be back," he murmured under his breath and let go of Mahima's hand.

Fearfully, Aditya slipped out from under the bed, trying hard not to look at his mother's body. He started to sob uncontrollably too, as the men grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him out of the house.

--

Mahima's nightmare ended here, but Aditya's continued.

--

"You will be one of us," one of the men said.

"I don't want to be like one of you," Aditya sobbed.

"You will want to when you find out about what your mother and people like her have done," the man answered. "Your mom killed your dad."

"H - how do you know?" Aditya asked with disbelief.

"Karan was his name right?" the man asked.

Aditya nodded.

--

The nightmare ended and the two of them woke up shivering fearfully. They turned to look at each other and Mahima grabbed his shirt, pressing her face into his arm, trying to cover her eyes.

Aditya held her hand, scared himself, but trying to make it seem like he was comforting her.

"D - don't leave me," Mahima stammered. "I - I'm scared."

Aditya ignored her and just squeezed her hand, knowing full well that it was wrong to succumb to emotions.