Shadow Wood

Chapter Eighteen

"Alex!"

I awoke with a jump, heart pounding like a machine gun, arms flailing and lungs gasping for air. An arm pulled against me securely from behind. I should have recognized that arm, but I was too engrossed in fear to register anything else. My fight or flight instincts took over, and it was definitely fight over flight, as I elbowed and thrashed against the one holding me. Oh hell no! Not today! Alex is not going down without a fight!

"Alex!" That voice. I knew that voice. "Ssssh. Alex! It's me. It's Petr!" Petr?

I slowly stopped struggling and was able to take in the scenery around me. I was on a soft, canopy style bed, my shirtless body half covered in a white down comforter; with tons of pillows surrounding me. There was a fireplace opposite the foot of the bed, and the room was filled with sunlight that poured in through two windows to my right.

Where am I? What just happened?! I was just someplace else; somewhere dark and cold. People were trying to kill me! It was all so fresh in my mind, as if it only happened a few moments ago. I reached up violently for the blindfold covering my eyes, as if it were still there. Was it just another dream?

Petr continued to hold me securely from behind, his head near my center of my back. No doubt to protect himself from my thrashing. My heart continued to beat wildly as everything came flooding back – the lightning storm that woke me up, the disappearing men outside the house, going to the kitchen, awaking bound and blindfolded on a cold surface, the ritual sacrifice!

"Alex. . . Alex, its ok. I've got you. I've got you."

I wasn't sure if he was saying this more for my benefit or his own. I couldn't hear him very clearly. His voice was muffled behind me.

"I'm here Alex. We almost lost you. I was so scared and mad at myself when they took you. From my own house! We were careful to put every ward in place before you got there; but we must have missed something. They got through and they took you."

I couldn't tell if he was crying or trembling. Judging by the lack of moisture on my back, I would have to go for the latter. I slowly brought my hands up to his arms, hugging him against me, in my attempt to console him. Petr must have been sitting next to the bed, as there was a chair pulled up nearby; actually, there were two empty chairs nearby. I wonder who else was here.

"They tried to kill you Alex. I couldn't find you. I tried and tried, but couldn't find you." He remained behind me, his face now  buried towards my neck; wrapping both arms and legs around me securely. I instinctively leaned back into his embrace, as he rocked us side to side; as if he was afraid I would disappear again.

"All of it was real?" I gasped, but I could hardly hear my voice.

Petr nodded, not saying a word; he just continued to hold me tightly. I opened my mouth to speak, unable to form words at the moment. There were too many pieces floating within my mind, and I couldn't put them together into the proper order; at least not the important pieces. As if sensing my chaotic thoughts, Petr shook his head against me.

"No Alex. Don't speak. Not yet. Just let me hold you for a while; make you feel safe again. But I promise. I promise to tell you everything."

And so I let him.

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Author's Note:  Well, this is almost the end; with one Chapter remaining.  Stay tuned for the conclusion of Shadow Wood, Book One.