New York- Where Dreams are Made

Chapter 112- Glee

"Get up you little bitch."

If I'm going to die here, might as well have some fun.

"Make me."

His fist slams into my jaw. The cuts he made last night reopen. Blood flows down my neck.

"I don't have time for this."

He flips my chair over until I'm lying on my back.

Don't give up Charlotte. Fight back. Do it for Addie. Do it for Darren. Do it for Mom. Do it for Katie. Do it for everyone.

"You don't scare me."

He smiles, lifting my chair back up.

"I bet I can make you scared. Didn't you see the news? Bomb in the Richard Rodgers Theater. Want to know how it got there?"

I ground my teeth together.

"You're lying."

He shrugs, holding up a New York Times.

The heading make tears spring to my eyes.

Entire cast and 3 audience members dead.

It's not real.

It can't be real.

No.

He unties my hands. I punch him square in the face.

I don't notice his knife until it finds its way into my shoulder.

I scream in pain.

I curse.

I kick.

I close my eyes.

I try to bring myself to a place before this.

Before things turned bad.

Before I was married.

Before everyone dies.

Before New York.

......

I jolt awake.

The heart rate monitor blasts.

Darren shoots up from his seat, dropping his phone in the process.

I breathe quickly.

"Charlotte what's wrong?"

I reach up and hug his neck, ignoring the awful pain in my shoulder.

He is taken back for a moment.

"Char-"

"Shut up for a second."

I wipe hot tears on his jacket.

He hugs me tight.

....

Addie comes in, faking a smile.

"Morning sunshine."

She smiles again weakly.

"Feeling better Char?"

"Yes. Lots."

I lie.

She smiles.

A real smile this time.

"Good."

The room is silent.

Someone coughs in he hallway.

"Charlotte, you can't keep acting like this didn't happen."

She is stern.

"I'm trying not to actually. I'm trying to pretend it didn't happen. I can't stand the fact that I couldn't do anything about it."

Darren leaves.

"I'm going to get coffee."

"You can't live everyday like it's an episode of Glee."

I need to catch up on Glee.

"Wake up Charlotte."

It seems like I've been told that a lot lately.

"You've been telling me that a lot lately." I think out loud.

She sighs.

"I'm just worried about you Charlotte. You think everyone is good. Not everyone is great like you think they are."

I smirk.

"I was right about you. I followed my heart. And you know what it said?"

She wiped a little tear from her face.

"It said 'Charlotte. I've got a good feeling about this one'."

She laughed weakly.

"I'm not lying."

She smiles.

"I would hug you but..."

I shrug.

"Who cares? Get in here."

She smiles and hugs me gently.

I clench my teeth.

You're fine.

I am fine.