Sealed and Silenced (Watty Awards 2012)

Sealed and Silenced: Chapter 8

| A/N: OMG!! It has been so long since I wrote let alone posted on SAS!!!! Well, that time is over. I really hope you guys like it. There is a little more romance in this chapter. And Chap 8 is pretty short but Chapter 9 totally makes for that!! I have evil plans :P Please comment or vote or even fan! |

I snuggled closer to Carter. My face felt stiff and dry from crying, my thoughts were empty. The man who held me stroked my arm and held me tight. I had never really cried like I did last night. I also didn’t have anyone to comfort me until now. But surely Carter wouldn’t stay with me forever; I was just the girl he made friends with in a bad situation.

I knew I was stuck here until I passed, but I hoped that I wouldn’t be here alone. I dreamed that I could have someone beside me, who could share my pain. I wished I would have someone to sleep beside at night. I didn’t want to be alone. Not anymore. I curled tighter into Carter.

“Adalyn?” Carter’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up into Carter’s crystal blue eyes. My throat hurt from talking too much the day before. Not to mention the hours of crying I did last night.

“I...I... I mean... do you... never mind.” He stuttered.

“Wh-at is it?” I placed my hand on Carter’s rock hard abs. He was warm under my touch. It felt good to have him so close.

“It’s just...” Carter took a deep breath and my head moved with his lungs. “Last night, I was just thinking, and I don’t know if it’s just this situation or you, but –” Carter stopped abruptly.

“Ireallylikeyou.” My thoughts froze. Did Carter just say what I think he just said? Butterflies erupted in my stomach. My gosh, did he really like me? Did someone finally care about me, after all this time? But what if that’s not what he said? It all came out in one breath.

“Sworry?” I asked. Carter took a deep breath.

“I really like you.” My mouth felt like it dropped open. How did I reply? Joyous panic started to spread. This was weird. I hadn’t experienced this kind of ordeal in years. It felt, for lack of a better word, awesome.

“I like you too.” My voice was quite and shook, but the sentence still gilded easily from my mouth. How strange.

“I don’t want you to feel alone, or hurt, or scared. I want to protect you, Addie. I want to be the one you confide in. For once ever since I got here, I feel okay. Like I’m alright down here. It’s because of you, Adalyn. I think,” Carter paused again and took another deep breath. “I think I’m in love. Does that sound ridiculous?” Inside, my body started to shake. Was this really happening? Were some of my prayers being answered? I never knew I could feel this way.

I still didn’t know how to respond. That might come in time, but what mattered was now. I put my delicate palm against Carter’s cheek.

“I think I’m in love too and it does not sound ridic-ulous.” I stared into Carter’s beautiful blue eyes once more before I wrapped my skinny arms around him.

Even though he had been holding me all night, it felt wonderful to actually hug Carter. His breath was on my neck and his own arms wrapped around my back. My head nuzzled into his shoulder and Carter let out a breath.

As I settled back down into Carter’s chest, question after question flew by in my head. What if I got hurt, again? What if he abused me? What if he didn’t stand with me when I needed him most? What if our quick friendship turned awkward? And how could such a wonderful man like, let alone love, someone as broken and sickly as me? This could be pointless, risky, and impossible.

But I ignored every question and apprehension. I felt Carters warm embrace. I heard his gentle yet fluttering heart beat. I was going to follow my heart. And I was going to like it.

Moments of silence followed, quite, blissful silence. I was happy being held in Carters arms...again. I was happy he cared, I was happy because I think I found someone I could love and who could love me back. Magical.

“Addie, can I ask you something?” Carter broke into thought process. I nodded in reply.

“Why were you crying last night? I don’t mean to pry or anything.” He said. I knew I should tell him my reasons. They seemed silly really, but they were all too true.

"I cry” I pause. This is okay, I told myself. “I cry because, I am a vic-tum." my voice cracked. My voice sounded rough and dry, unappealing in every way. "I miss my family. My mom, my dad, my sister. We were very...ah...close. I miss freedom and friends. I miss a real life. And I ha-te what my life has be...come." I looked up at Carter and he looked down.

"I'm so sorry Addie. I promise, one day, we will be free. And we will get out of here. We will live a good life, a happy life. Together.” I couldn’t help but smile.

"You promise?"

He nodded, "I promise."

For once in a very long time, I was at peace. It didn’t matter that I was still stuck in a cellar in God knows where. I was getting parts of my life back that hadn't been here for years. Love was back, my voice was back. Happiness was back.

For right now, I didn't care that I was trapped in a dark cellar with a hundred other people. I didn't care that I might die tomorrow. All I wanted was holding me in his arms.

I took a heavy sigh. Dreamy peace. Another smile.

And my heavy eyelids shut once more.