Underground

24

Estelle
"Really?" It was a stunned answer, his eyes widening. 
I nod. "They feel  so real, like, I can feel myself drowning."
He sits next to me. "You have to tell me this stuff, like immediately." 
"I would've, but we were fighting and then after the fight you were so happy, and I just didn't want to ruin that." I reply. 
"I don't care if you ruin anything." He says. "I just want to help." 
I feel tears come to my eyes, so I break our eye contact, even though his eyes on mine is what I want the most. "I just want to feel strong again." 
"You are strong, most people wouldn't be able to handle this." He says, kneading his hands in mine. 
"I feel so weak and damaged Aug, I don't know how much longer I can take it." I say, letting a tear fall from my eye. 
"I told you that I'll help with anything you need." He rushes out. 
More tears flood out of my eyes. "Great, I'm crying for no reason again." I murmur, standing to get out of his range. 
"Hey, hey, hey." August says, standing to get back into my range. "It's okay for you to cry." 
I spin, so I'm not facing him. "I think I'm just going to go to bed." 
"E-" He says, reaching toward me. 
"Night Aug." I say, walking out of the room, slamming the door behind me. 
***
Thank the core that the doors have locks.
When I get back to the guest room, I lock the door sliding down against it. 
I could hear footsteps behind me, along with the door rattling. "Estelle, I want to help." 
"Go away." I say, trying to make it sound like I wasn't crying. 
"Are you crying?" He asks. "Let me in!" 
A soft sob involuntarily escapes my lips. "August please."
"Oh my God, E, let me in before I kick down the door and let myself in." He says. 
I sigh sadly, walking over to the bed. "I told you August, I'm just going to sleep." 
Then silence. 
I lay down, letting the white pillow hold my head as if it were a baby. I wish the ceiling were more interesting, then I'd have something to stare at hopelessly. 
A small click fills the room, then the door opens. 
I act asleep, or dead, either works. 
"I know you're not asleep." August says. 
I decide not to move, and to lay there. 
"Or maybe you are asleep." He questions, walking into the room.
A tear escapes my eye. God, why do I have to be so emotional? 
"Estelle?" He asks, walking into the room. 
I feel a sob coming up my throat, I try to hold it in. Try being the key word. 
"Are you okay?" He asks, kneeling in front of my fake-sleeping body. 
The sob comes out of my lips, louder than expected. 
I feel his hand in mine, then a kiss on my thumb. "I know you're not going to talk to me, but I'm going to talk anyway." 
A pause. 
"I know you are a strong, diligent woman, and most importantly just a grand person to be around. You're funny, nice, and smart. I know you are going to make it through this even if you were to run for your life away from me." He pauses. "I love you." 
Earlier, I didn't want to move, but now I need to. 
I sit up and wrap my arms around his neck, letting my never ending flow of tears fall into his hair. He gets up and sits on the bed, picking me up and setting me into his lap. 
I cry into the crook of his neck, my back bumping up and down because of the intensity of the sobs. 
"It's alright." He coos. "You're going to be okay." 
"I'm such a weakling." I get out between sobs, not wanting to drop the idea about me being weak. 
"You're a strong girl, you know this." He says. 
I just go with it and cry until I fall asleep.
***
I was above-ground in this nightmare, but everything is twisted to look terrifying. 
"These are my nightmares, welcome." A familiar voice says behind me. 
I twirl around, seeing the one, the only, Luca. "Luca, Oh my god." I run towards him and throw my arms around him.  
"Hey Estelle." He says, wrapping his arms around me. 
"Is this real? Are you actually in my dreams?" I ask. 
He nods. "They tied our dreams, we'll always see each other if we're asleep at the same time." 
"Really?" I ask. "How'd you time it right?"
"I didn't, I've been in here for like 3 hours." He says. "What's with the holdup Esty?" 
"Sorry, I was a little busy." I say. 
Luca's eyes fly to the forest behind me. "Duck." 
I fall to my hands and knees. Blood covered bats fly over us, darting downward hoping for a bite. 
"What was that?" I ask. 
He shrugs. "One of my fears, I hate both blood and bats." 
"Fun fact." I say. "If this is supposed to be based off our fears I should start drowning anytime now."
"I didn't know you're biggest fear was drowning." Luca quips. 
I shrug. "They locked me in the water chamber once and I haven't gotten over it." 
"That's too bad." He looks around, at the dully painted houses, and the tall pokie fences. 
"How's your mom?" I ask, walking next to him. 
He shrugs. "Turns out she's a frail old woman now, Fizzy and I have been taking care of her." 
"You and Felicity?" I repeat. 
He nods. "I like her, a lot." 
"Are you guys like a thing?" I ask, realizing how teenage girl that was of me to ask. 
He smiles. "We're a couple, if that's what you're wondering." 
"Aw, I'm so happy for you!" I smile. "Huh, this nightmare isn't too bad." 
Luca shakes his head. "It's terrible." 
"Why?" I ask. 
He smiles. "Just realized my nightmares aren't as intense as your's." 
"You've been in my nightmares?" I ask. 
He laughs. "Every time you sleep." 
"Wow, that's awkward." I laugh. 
Luca shrugs. "They were terrifying." 
"Does Fizz know we can communicate like this?" I ask. 
He shakes his head. "I don't think I will tell her either." 
"Should I tell Aug--" 
"No. Don't tell anybody, they'll call us crazy." His eyes go to my forehead. "That healed nicely." 
"Thanks." I say. 
Luca stands still staring forward, before snapping back to me. "I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow." 
And everything went back, and I slept dreamlessly for the remainder of the night.