Cadestelle

A warrior with hope

I woke up sobbing. My face was hot and salty from my recent shedding of tears. Opening my eyes I still managed to let a few tears fall shamefully down my face. I could barely remember anything before last night's fiasco of memories. Were they memories? I thought. I sat up from the bed I was lying down on. The place was vaguely familiar. I remembered it as Rider's room. I didn't recall coming back to Rider's house, much less his own room. A soft shift in movement caught my attention. I darted my eyes to the right, bracing myself for whatever danger lay beside me. 

I was relieved to find a sleeping Rider slouched on a neighboring chair. His head was perched against the side of the bed, his hair toussled and standing up in a disheveled manner. His light breathing was slightly muffled from his mouth being buried under some sheets. I went to get up from his bed, not wanting to bother his peaceful sleep, but was kept back by something holding my hand. I peered down and slowly peeled back the sheets that was cloaking my view from my own hand. I  smiled spontaneously at what I saw. 

Rider's long slender fingers were intertwined with mine. His large hands seemed to envelope my own small ones. I brushed the hair that fell lightly on his face with my free hand and nestled back into his bed. I stayed like that for awhile, stroking his hair lightly as we held hands tightly. The rising and falling of his chest calmed me throughout the moments that we sat together. He brought my mind off of the vivid images from last night. The comfort of knowing that I still had a trace of having a normal life was brought up when I saw Rider. 

His body shifted on his chair. It couldn't be comfortable sitting there overnight. Had it been overnight? My self conscience pushed. It scared me now to realize that I really didn't know of anything that was going on. My Aunt must be worried sick at finding an empty room where her neice should be staying in safely. The guilt built up even more inside me as the nausea waved over. 

" You alright?" A husky voice asked me. I looked over at a now awake Rider, his hand still cradling mine. 

" I-" I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how much he knew of last night, if anything at all. I looked up nervously into his eyes, unable to compehend as to what I should say. His eyes were condoling and I was glad he didn't push it.

" Hey it's okay, last night was a rush. Just relax for now." He murmured in a raspy morning voice. His weak smile comforted me instantly. He looked down at our connected hands and his face took over with shock. He scrambled out of his chair, kicking it behind him, resulting in a large crash. He jerked away his hand from our grasp and looked frantically at me. His wild eyes met my own shocked ones as he backed away slowly. His hair stood up as it normally did, but moments earlier it had been flopping in his face. It gave the look as if he had just been electrocuted.

" I'm sorry." I muttered embarrassed. I didn't know what I had done wrong, but he obviously didn't want much to do with me. I got up slowly from the bed and detangled myself from the sheets. " Thanks for letting me stay. I've got to go, my Aunt must be worried sick." I said shortly. At this point my thoughts were too clouded to remember or frankly care about last night's fiasco. I was just near the door when I felt a hand grip my wrist. A shock of electricity similar to the one I felt last night shuddere throughout my body. I jolted and released my grip on the door, willing my knees not to buckle this time.

" Damn it. Nadia are you okay?" Rider asked me. His grip left as soon as the electricity left my system. I looked scared at what I just experienced. I backed away from him terrified at what just happened. 

" Nadia, please don't be scared. It's just me." He pleaded. His grey eyes were full of life, just like the man's eyes I had seen last night. 

" I- Rider what was that?" I accused. My hands were shaking uncontrollably, and I hid them from his view, not wanting him to see what he had caused. He sighed deeply and cursed at himslef, looking up once more to peer at my worried gaze. He gingerly brought up his hand to my face and gently brushed the skin of my cheek. I was a statue under his touch. I held my breath, worried another jolt would course throughout my body, but nothing happened. He lightly continued to stroke my cheek until progressing to cupping both hands delicately as if I were a fragile china piece.