Adorably Abducted ✧ Sparklington/SyndiSparklez

Her Screams

Beads of sweat rolled down my face, as I sipped from a glass of water. My heart was still beating out of my chest. I took in a deep breath, hoping I hadn't woken up Ingrid with my screams. Another stupid nightmare. At this point, it was exhausting to sleep. I couldn't close my eyes without having another nightmare.

I covered my shoulders with the fuzzy blanket Ingrid had given to me. She was so sweet to let me stay here, even if I was staying on the couch.

My heavy eyelids finally drifted shut again, as I focused on sleep.

A soft light from the streetlights outside poured into the windows. I checked my phone, hoping to see a text from Tom, or something, but there was nothing there.

I knew I shouldn't, but I unlocked the screen to text him something. Anything.

"I'm so sorry Tom, I love you so much, you do so much for me and-"

Delete.

"Tom, I'm sorry for the way I acted tonight. I shouldn't have yelled at you, and it's not your fault-"

Delete.

"Tom-"

A high-pitched screech interrupted my thoughts.

My body jolted up. I threw my phone down on the coffee table, rushing around the unfamiliar house.

The loud screams continued, getting louder and louder as I rushed down the hall.

"Ingrid?" I called out, trying to find which door led to her bedroom.

Another scream. It sounded like she was in pain, like she was dying.

"Ingrid!" I yelled, pushing through a door.

Then I saw her. An image that was immediately burned into my brain, something I would never forget.

Ingrid was struggling against an invisible force, tears streaming down her face, her blankets entangling around her legs.

"Get off me," she screamed, her eyes shut tight.

"Ingrid?" I whispered, inching closer to her.

"Please, stop!"

"I-Ingrid?"

"You're hurting me," she sobbed.

I slowly reached out, grabbing ahold of her wrist.

"Ingrid!"

Her eyes peeled apart, as she let out a gasp for air.

She struggled against me, pushing me away.

"It's me, it's Jordan!" I yelled, trying to calm her down.

The horror in her eyes slowly drained away, her regular self returning.

She reached into her bedside table, grabbing a tissue.

"I'm sorry about that, I hope I didn't wake you," she croaked out, wiping away at tears.

I didn't know what to say. What was happening, what was going on?

"I-It's okay..." I mumbled, slowly reaching out to rub her back. I didn't know what else to do.

She sat quietly for a moment, before letting out a heavy sigh.

"You deserve to know what all that was about," she laughed. "Um... Where do I begin?"

I sat quietly, thoughts coming to my mind quickly. What the hell was she having nightmares about?

"I, um... I had this boyfriend, Oliver..." she began to explain, wiping at her nose. I reached over to grab her another tissue.

"We, uh... We didn't get along so well, and by we, I mean... It was an abusive relationship. I didn't even realize it was that bad until I met someone who actually treated me with respect, ya know?"

I quietly nodded.

"I had just gotten so used to being treated like shit, I thought I had deserved it... But I didn't. I had just forgotten what it was like to be respected, a-an-and I forgot what it was like to be loved, and hugged, and kissed, a-and talked to as if I was an actual person and not just a punching bag... Ya know?"

"Yeah," I whispered, carefully wrapping my fingers around hers. I had no idea.

"It was... It was Ethan who made me realize I was being treated that way..." she mumbled. "I would come into work with bruises and bags under my eyes. I would wear cardigans to hide them, but there wasn't enough makeup in the world to cover up my black eyes. Ethan was there to protect me when I broke up with him. Oliver would've killed me if it weren't for Ethan."

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Don't be, it's not like it was your fault. It happened two years ago... I'm so pathetic, I haven't been able to be in a relationship since," she murmured.

"You're not pathetic, you're strong," I whispered, pulling her in for a hug.

"You're strong too," she said, giving me a soft kiss on the cheek. "Again, I'm sorry for waking you up."

"I was already up," I mumbled. She rested her head against my chest, letting out a shaky breath.

"Hey Jordan?" Ingrid whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you... For putting up with me."

I couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you for putting up with me, too."

I hesitantly pulled away from her, starting towards the door.

"Hey... Jordan?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you, um... I mean, I just feel better with someone else in the room... Would you mind sleeping in here?"

"I'll be right in."