Tooth and Nail (Draft In Progress - Book One)

Chapter 6 - Hold Me Close

The 2nd Night

Jezebel tossed in her bed, and her hair knotted and choked her tighter each time she rolled over, clinging tightly around her sweaty neck. Her breathing grew labored as she turned, cocooning in her khaki satin sheets, and sweat dampened the comforter around her. Her pillow was becoming a sponge for her violent drooling, and the gross-smelling liquid was causing small breakout spots on her cheeks to form. She, in her unconscious state, didn't know that her nightmares were causing her to drool and the discomfort of sleeping in a puddle of her own spit was causing her tossing and turning and in turn, causing the increased discomfort she felt in her head, resulting in the intensity rising in her nightmares. A deadly cycle that was slowly causing her hair to strangle her. Fortunately for her, she wasn't sleeping alone.

Beside her, Allen was waking up from his own nightmare because of the unsteady state of the mattress he slept on. Opening his eyes and becoming conscious, he became aware of the violent condition his girlfriend was in. He sat upright and stretched over her to the lamp on the bedside table, then leaned back onto the wall his side of the bed was against. Slowly, Jezebel's frantic movement slowed and she rubbed her eyes, waking up. "Allen?"

He leaned forward and put his hands on her shoulders, rolling her onto her back and to face him. "I'm here, Jessie. You okay?" His face twisted with concern and his eyebrows almost met in the middle. She nodded slowly, then jump-turned to fully be looking his direction. "You were having a nightmare."

She snorted. "I was having several." Allen cocked his head in confusion, and she sat upright.

Allen stared at Jezebel with tired, dazed, and sympathetic eyes. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I would have woken you up sooner, but you told me last time I woke you up that it was about to get better and to not to next time."

"Yeah, well, you should never listen to me," She joked, a smile creeping onto her exhausted face.  "If I look like I'm in pain, poke me til I'm awake."  Allen leaned forward and opened up his arms for a hug. Jezebel fell right into his warm embrace and let him hold her for a few moments before his grip relaxed and she moved back enough to look at him, but still close enough to be holding each other.  Allen had fallen asleep. Jezebel envied him, but soon her own eyes began to droop again. But before she could drift off, tired whispers slipped off her lips.

"Do you think he's still alive?" Her voice cracked. "I thought that call today was him but..."

"Jezebel," Allen cut her off, waking up. "I thought it was him too. But I really don't know. It could have been anyone who picked up his phone. Maybe it was that Zack kid you were saying he went with. I'm sorry but I really don't know."

"I didn't ask if he is alive." She said. "I asked if you think he is."

Allen sighed and leaned up against his wall. Jezebel brought her knees up to her chest. "Do you want the truth?"

"The whole truth, and nothing but the truth." She said, waiting patiently for Allen to find the words she knew he was looking for.

He shook his head and looked away from her, desperately trying to find a way to say it just the right way that she won't be upset by what she has asked for. "No. I don't think he made it." Jezebel's face fell. She knew it was coming. She had asked him to say it and yet, her muscles went slack, and her eyes drooped. Allen hated to see her face this way, and he immediately knelt forward with his hand out in a 'No, please don't cry' way that halted her coming tears. "I think he made a valiant attempt. I think he made it off the campus. But no, I don't think he's still alive."

Jezebel nodded. "Okay. Thank you." She rested her head back down on her pillow, which had become surprisingly cold from being blown by the ceiling fan. Allen moved to lie against her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She sank into his side and sobbed. Jezebel sobbed and sobbed until the sun rose, and Tamerlyn could be heard in the kitchen.