The Leverage

Chapter Four

I wake to the paralyzing sense of fear, a surging emotion so strong, my body shakes into an upright position, as if ready to fight off any person lingering in the shadows of the dark room awaiting an attack.

Gasping slightly as I take in the fact that the source of fear I feel had been only generated from a nightmare of a dream, I remind myself that I am safely tucked away into Trevor's bed in his apartment, with the man himself asleep soundly beside me.

Convincing myself that there is no longer a reason to be afraid, I sink back down into the mattress and shield my trembling body with the thick sheets that offer my only protection against the darkest corners of my mind. Racing thoughts of the recollections of my dream drift through like scenes of a film in my head, playing a terrible movie that is currently stuck on repeat.

My deceased mother had played the lead role in my dream, her angelic voice promising words to me in a melodic whisper for only me to hear. Her familiar yet fading face had been so clear and real, it was as if the memory of the dream were one of reality. My mother had assured me that she would see me soon, her lips had twitched into a smile as she had tucked me into my childhood bed. Her bright blonde hair that resembles mine but only a few inches shorter had tickled my cheeks, and I remember my dream-self giggling under her smile as she wished me good night.

In the dream, I had called out to my mother, as if realizing that I knew that I had been witnessing a ghost. She would see me soon? As if hinting to my death?

And then the hell broke loose as I screamed for my mother, who had disappeared and it felt as though her spirit had been ripped from me all over again, as if I couldn't cling to her haunting figure and she was gone forever.

"Ally? It's okay, wake up."

I don't realize I'm shaking with quiet sobs until my gorgeous kidnapper is tapping me awake. I sit up again, this time forcing the dream from my mind as I furiously wipe at the tears that had leaked down my cheeks as I missed my mother.

"What's wrong?" Trevor asks me, sitting up beside me as well, concern lacing his voice.

"Bad dream," I attempt to shrug it off, though my voice cracks. I sigh as I feel Trevor's hands rubbing gentle and assuring circles into my back, the simple touch relieving any aches my poor sleep caused. I can hear his light breathing near my ear, and the feel of his hot breath smoothing into my burning cheeks. The closeness between us forces the misery my nightmare had left away, and for that, I'm thankful.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Trevor asks me in a soothing voice, leaning forward so that his forehead nearly touches mine. "Sometimes that can help."

"I dreamed of my mother," I explain tiredly, the feel of Trevor's working hands massaging my back nearly lulling me to sleep. "I just really miss her, Trevor. When I dream of her, the only thing I can think about is wanting to give anything to see her again, and to make sure that she doesn't leave."

Trevor doesn't reply for a moment, as his moving hands slow. "I understand."

I recall the fact that Trevor has lost his mother too, so he must know the feeling. Even more so, since he lost his brother as well. And his sister has been locked away since he was sixteen, so losing her qualifies to a degree.

"You lost your mother, too," I state, not really sure why, but I seek comfort in the fact that I'm not alone in the lonely feeling of missing someone.

"I did," he confirms. "The pain of it never really goes away."

"It fades," I admit, "but it's still there."

"You'll see your mother again," Trevor assures me softly, the massage of my muscles under his fingers making them melt in pleasure.