Bound by Law

Bound by Law || 24- He's Stone-Hearted

"Jai?" I whispered, knocking on the door softly. It was 5 in the morning and I was out his door, shivering.

My hands were shaking and a shudder of chills was sent down my spine, all I longed for was warm covers to bundle myself up with.

I felt ashamed as the door opened and Jai appeared on the other side, his eyes droopy and squinty due to sleep and his forehead crinkling in confusion at the sight of me.

"Karishma?" His voice was deep and raspy as his sleep-filled eyes focused on me, standing in front of him hopelessly.

My cheeks were dry with tears and I hiccuped as I tried to speak.

"I had another nightmare a-and I–"

Jai heaved an exasperated sigh, lifting one of his hands to rub his nose and eyes roughly in an exhausted motion.

The action made me feel guilty for waking him up at an odd hour. I realised just how much of a mistake this was as soon as he opened his eyes again, his amber eyes almost glowing in the dark.

"Sorry for waking you up. I don't know why I came here so I'll just go back to my room." He was wide awake now and I tore my gaze away. "You can go back to sleep, I didn't mean to disturb you," I said, turning back around.

"Karishma."

I hesitantly turned around, only to find Jai towering over my small stature. My head was forced to tilt back in order to meet his eyes and gulping, I instinctively took a step back. Jai looked menacing as he bent, his shoulders hunching in order to meet my height.

"Don't come to me when you have a fucking nightmare. What do I look like to you, your babysitter?" he sneered and I flinched, my bottom lip trembling as he glared at me, his icy stare paralysing.

"What?"

"You heard me. If you want someone that badly, go running to Gavin. I'm sure he'd be happy to accompany you in bed."

His tone was bitter and his words were said in a way as if he was insinuating something. It didn't sit well with me at all.

My confusion turned into frustration as my eyebrows pulled down.

"What are you trying to say, Jai? I just need someone next to me because I-I can't get rid of these ni–"

"You were perfectly fine when we went camping," he said curtly. "If this is an excuse to try and get into bed with me, then that's not going to fucking happen."

I was stumped at that. He was right, I was perfectly fine when we were camping, but I didn't know why.

Maybe it was because my mind knew that I was surrounded by other people and so nothing would happen, and even if something was to happen, then I'd be saved.

"That—" I racked my brain for something to say that didn't give anything away or didn't make me break down in tears, but there was nothing. "It's something about the room, it's just—"

"Don't tell me you're going to say it's haunted. Come on Karishma," he said, his words almost taunting and his eyes indifferent, "grow up."

It took all my will-power to not let the tears that were blurring up my vision to break through. I let out a shuddering breath, making eye contact with a stony-faced Jai.

"The atmosphere here is different, Jai. I'm all alone. Please, understand."

I couldn't tell him the real reason about my fear of being alone in a dark room.

It brought back memories and nightmares of a past I'd buried deep and it was not something I wanted to dig back up.

I could hear Jai scoff from above me and I looked up.