Legends of Darkstalkers and Nightriders

Capter 14: Trust Issues

Sadie’s POV

I heard Emma move back over to Blaze and closed my eyes.

“You don’t have to give her the third degree like that,” Emma said after a few minutes of silence, probably thinking I was asleep.

“Then how else will I know if I can trust her or not, Emma?” Blaze replied. “I’m just protecting you.”

“Would you please let me make up my own mind? I’m not oblivious to the risks, I’m being careful, but I do trust her. And you should try to as well, for me.”

Blaze sighed. “But she lied to us about something really big, Emma.”

“I know, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me angry, but honestly, if Alvin was our uncle would that be something you’d be eager to share?”

Silence for a moment. “No, I suppose not,” he said finally.

I released a breath. At least they understood a little bit.

She'll betray you eventually, a voice whispered in the back of my mind.

No, she won't, I thought, pushing it away. Emma’s better than that……..I think.

I fell asleep, dreaming of my parents. In my dream, I was playing in a field of flowers, and I looked back at them, where they stood watching me with smiles on their faces. Suddenly Alvin appeared behind them with a sword and I tried to call out to them, to warn them, but they couldn't hear me. Alvin sneered at me as he killed them both and I woke up.

“No!” I cried out, sitting up. I looked around. It was still dark, Emma and Blaze lay sound asleep nearby and I sighed, rubbing my face as I stared into the dying embers of the fire.

I piled some more wood on, making a signal to Stardancer and she lit it again.

Emma stirred and opened her eyes before sitting up, raking a hand through her plum-tinted hair. She looked over at me. “Sadie? Are you okay?”

I stared into the flames. “Yes,” I said, then stopped. “No.”

Emma studied me, taking in the distressed look that must have been on my face. “Did you have a nightmare?” she asked.

I nodded. “It's not a big deal,” I said with a shrug. “It happens all the time.”

“Alright..,” she said. “If you decide you want to talk about it… I’m here.”

I looked up at her, my thoughts drifting to the auburn haired Viking that had said much the same thing only the day before. “I know,” I said. “I think I'll go for a flight, clear my head before I go back to sleep.”

Emma nodded. “Okay.”

I got to my feet and took off, flying out over the water back toward Berk. When I got there, I headed straight for the chief’s house, landing on the roof and peering through the upstairs window.

Hiccup slept soundly right below it and I studied him. Did I really want to open up to and trust a Viking I barely knew instead of my only friend?

I hesitated before lightly tapping on the window.

Hiccup stirred, but didn't wake up. Toothless did, though and he looked up at me, his big green eyes shining in the darkness.

I tapped again, a little harder this time and he woke up, looking up at me. He stood on his bed and opened the window. “Sadie?” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“You said if I ever wanted to talk and needed someone to listen, to come find you,” I said, sitting down with my knees pulled up to my chest. “And I couldn't sleep. Or I did, but then I had a nightmare.”

He climbed out and sat beside me, careful to put some space between us. “Wanna talk about it?”

“Not really,” I replied quietly.

“Well what did you want to talk about?” he asked curiously.

I hesitated. “Have you ever….wanted to trust someone, I mean completely trust them, but you can't ever bring yourself to do it?”

He considered the question. “Depends what the reason behind it is.”

“The fear that if you do, they'll eventually hurt you.”

“Ah,” he said. “No, I can't say that I've been in a situation like that before.”

I sighed and rested my head on my knees. “It’s just so frustrating,” I said. “After everything we've been though I still can't bring myself to trust her, not completely.”

Hiccup stayed quiet for a moment. “You mean Emma?”

I nodded.

“What are you afraid of?” he asked. “Besides getting hurt?”

I shrugged. “I don't know. Losing her. I'm afraid Blaze will convince her she can't trust me, that she'll leave.”

He fell silent again. “Have you tried talking to her about it?”

I shook my head.

“Why not?”

“Because it would bring up so many questions I couldn't answer,” I said softly.

Hiccup didn't press further, as though he sensed I couldn't tell him anymore.

“If she's really your friend, Sadie,” he said after a moment. “She'll be your friend regardless. Just think about it.”

I sighed and nodded. “I will,” I said. “Thanks for listening.”

“Anytime,” he replied. “If you ever wanna talk more, you know where to find me.”

I nodded and took off again, heading back to rejoin Blaze and Emma. When I got back, I laid down next to Stardancer again and looked up at the stars until I fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning to find Blaze standing over me. “Where's Emma?” I asked.

“Getting breakfast,” he replied. “Where were you last night?”

“I went for a flight because I needed to clear my head,” I answered, which was partially true.

“For over an hour?”

“If you must know,” I said, getting to my feet as I glared at him, “I had a nightmare last night.”

“Sounds awful,” he retorted, not believing me for a second.

I rolled my eyes. “Think what you want,” I muttered, heading into the trees.

“Where are you going?”

“To talk to Drago,” I said. I looked back at him to find him staring at me, stunned.

“Joking, Blaze,” I said shaking my head. “Joking. I'm going to practice.”

Written by: Ultimate_Dreamer7