The Zenith

Chapter 3: Rose

The stone that the builders tossed aside will be made the cornerstone.

Chapter 3: Rose

"To survive we have to trust each other."

I wake up to the sound of my own screams.

"It's okay, it's okay," Grey whispers in my ear as he hugs me tight. I am breathing hard. It hurts to breathe. My chest is burning. My face is wet. Everything is blurry.

The cold stone walls feel colder through my wet shirt. I can't see all that much, except for some soup cans against the other wall and Grey's shoulder. I hug him tighter. I am really scared. I am really cold. I am really scared. If I repeat that in my head, I can be okay.

I suddenly realize that I am shaking. I don't know why I am shaking.

"It's just another nightmare. You're going to be okay," Grey soothes. I don't believe him. This has happened before, and I hate it. But, he tells me that to survive we have to trust each other. I am trying to trust him. He is trying to lean on me. He does most of the work. I am weak. I am ruined. He is strong. He is whole. He has memories.

I am so jealous.

Bit by bit, I can start to remember little pieces of my dream. I'm awake now. I can separate my dreams from what's real. But this felt really real. It's scary.

My body aches all over. My voice is raw as I try to say, "Grey, it was...it was them. Them again."

He stiffens his back a little and starts to look serious. "Them?"

I wet my lips and start to speak. "Their white coats. Their cold hands. They scare me, Grey. Help. Help!"

He squeezes his arms around me, and he is warm. He is safe. I hug back, huddling in his safe embrace.