Afterlight ✔️

chapter nineteen

— Jay Bieber

It was the crack of dawn, and my eyelids were heavy from the lack of sleep. During the night, Chloe was having trouble sleeping, whimpering and mumbling random words, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. I pulled her into my arms, not knowing what I was supposed to do with her being in this state. But as I wrapped my arm around her, I earned a sigh from her, causing her muscles to relax. She looked so beautiful in my arms, her silky, wavy hair spread across my chest. Her jasmine scent filled my nostrils and her full, soft lips parted.

I cringed at the bruises on her face, the cut going down her arm. She needed a break from it all, she deserved it. Sighing, I checked my phone to see the clock. It was only 5:03AM but I needed to get her to my place before the sun started to rise. The air was cool, dew was thinly layered on the grass, the birds were starting to chirp.

I leveled my mouth down to her ear, still shirtless from last night when I wrapped her arm with my tank top. "Chloe, it's time to wake up."

"Hmm." She murmured, still half asleep. She looked so cute. Her hair was everywhere, her cheeks slightly red, and her tiny body under my blanket was my actual weakness.

"Wake up, Chloe. We have to get out of this forest." I told her, caressing her cheek with my fingers.

"Ten more minutes, Brad." She mumbled half asleep, covering her face.

"What? No, it's me." I tugged on her shoulders gingerly, trying my best to wake her up.

"Justin?" She bucked her face up, rubbing at her eyes. She looked so beautiful, and I couldn't count the times I've thought that about her in every goddamn situation.

"It's time for us to go home." I offered her my hand as I stood up.

"Home?" She opened her eyes fully, giving me a nice view of her incredible greyish blue pools. If she only knew how fascinating it was to look into her eyes.

"Yes, home." I chuckled at her dumbfoundedness.

She stood up on her feet, holding her stomach with her left hand and top of her head with her right hand. She looked so tired, and I wanted nothing more than go back to Dean and shoot his head off for bringing Chloe into this fucking mess.

"It sounded like you were having nightmares." I told her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She assured me, staring down at the ground, behaving unusually. I knew something was off, but at the same time, maybe it was just because she has been through so much shit lately.

"You sure?" I stepped closer to her, like I was dawn to her. "You were shaking and whimpering, despite my efforts to keep you warm and comfy."

"I swear, I'm fine." She held her hand up in objection. "Thank you." She offered me a small smile.

I could tell by her body language, she wasn't fine. The lack of sleep wasn't the only thing nagging on her, I could see the worry in her eyes, her hands were still shaking, and it was obvious she has lost some pounds during the trip here because her clothes were a tad too big. It was all too obvious, and it was making me so fucking angry. It was going to take a lot for her to get over what had happened, but I was going to be there for her, I promised her. I knew she was a strong girl, though. She was going to make it through this, I had no doubt.