Two Souls, One Fate | CS AU

Chapter 15 ~ Just Friends

Look who's posting early💁

(Emma's POV)
I was trapped, in the memory that haunted me the most. That continues to haunt me through my dreams, well, nightmares. I try to scream, to call out, to move, but I can't do anything. And so it begins.

I stand frozen as I'm forced to watch the scene play out as I know it does. Tears stream down my face and I can feel my knees wanting to give in but due to my frozen state, I remain standing. I can't even shut my eyes, cover my ears, do anything to block out the world. Fear along with deep sadness fills me. There's nothing worse than knowing the outcome and being powerless to change it.

Tears turn to sobs and I try to yell out 'I'm sorry! It should be me!...This is all my fault' but my voice box has been stolen. The memory before me stops and freezes, remaining in one moment. I have nowhere to look but the horrid scene. I try with everything I am to wiggle free from my invisible bonds, to claim back my voice, even to use my magic. My efforts are futile.

This is how it always goes. Nothing ever changes, not even my reaction. Except for I become more desperate.

Suddenly, something that has never happened before, happens. I hear my name. Someone saying my name. But I don't know who. I try to call out 'Who's there?!'

The voice becomes louder and I can feel myself being released. My eyes are still drilled on the scene that lays before me, tears still flow down my face as frequent and as fast as a waterfall.

I begin to feel myself being pulled further and further away from the scene. And I'm not sure whether I feel relieved or disappointed, which is odd because I want nothing more than to escape this hellish nightmare.

With a jolt, I'm suddenly upright on the bed, panting and shaking. My eyes move wildly, scanning nearly every inch of the place I'm in until I remember I'm in a hotel room. I look down at the sheets I was gripping and realize I burned them. Not enough to set them ablaze, but enough to leave two black spots on the once nice white sheets.

"Emma? Are you alright?" A concerned voice asks. I turn to my left to face Killian, worry written across his features. He kneels before me, his hand on the bed. I suddenly recognize his as the voice from my nightmare. The nightmare. I shudder as I realize that I should've taken advantage of being rid of them, only if it was for two nights. Then again, they have been worse.

Realizing I haven't answered so I try to nod my head 'yes' as to reassure him that I was fine, steadying my breathing, but he sees right through that. I couldn't find it in me to speak, even though I was begging for that privilege only moments ago in my own nightmare prison.

"Did you have a nightmare?" I nod my head and he sighs. "Do you...do you want to talk about it?" I shake my head and he seems to understand. He sits on the side of the bed, right next to me. "That's alright, I understand. I have nightmares too, sometimes." His eyes take on a hint of fear and sadness before he blinks them away. He knows how I feel, I think and even though it's probably not the same, I feel reassured.

He looks up at me and lifts his left hand. He swiftly and carefully wipes away my tears. I hadn't even noticed I was still crying until now. But I know that after that, no more tears fall. I thank him with a smile which he accepts. I simply stare into those big blue eyes and realize that I am no longer shaking of fear and my breathing has gone back to normal.

He's the first to look away, maintaining his title as a gentleman, before looking back up again. "Are you sure you're alright?" He asks, confirming. I simply give him a nod and he slowly stands up. "Alright, well, try to get some rest, love."