Bonded by the Blues | A Sander Sides Book

Chapter 7 - Lost in a Big Blue Hall: Part 3

I'm back!

-- Virgil --

I don't dream nightmares in colour. At least, I don't think so. I sometimes remember bits and pieces in colour. Does that mean I dream in colour? Colour or not, a sharp jab on my shoulder jolted me out of restless sleep. I was conscious before my eyes opened. My senses kicked into overdrive.

A towering shadow. Focus. A large hand. Raised at me. A punch?

Run.

I can't. My legs were asleep.

Hit back.

Not worth it. They're always too strong

I did the next best thing. I curled up into a ball. I was safe now, and safe is good. Now is good. But the threat was still here.

"GET AWAY FROM ME."

I added a please in my head.

Silence. I heard silence crescendo round me. All eyes were on me. A hall full of eyes staring at me. Unblinking. Horrified. By me.

Black curtains in my mind. Blood rushing in my ear. Hold my hands in front of my face.

"Please." A whisper escaped my dry lips.

I just need some time. It'll end soon. Soon.

A gigantic ornate clock above the stage ticked away the seconds.

I felt a calm, composed and confident voice fill the room: "It's alright, everyone. My friend got a bit of a scare. Just a joke gone wrong. I've got this."

And just like that panic loosened his grip on me. That was fast. Who was the owner of this soothing voice?

"Hey – are you okay?" The voice sounded... uncertain? Seemed to genuinely care though. No, really.

I felt the chair next to me creak slightly as he sat down. Don't get too close, please. I raised my hood to my hairline and gave a slight nod.

"Oh thank goodness, I was worried there for a while. You scared me! What was that all about?"

I stared back at him. I scared him? The nerve, the lumbering dolt charged into my personal space.

"Uh... do you talk? Wait that was incredibly rude – I didn't know..."

"I talk. I just told you to get lost." I kept my voice low and guarded. He was, after all, a stranger. Strangers had the power to make fear take control of me.

"Yeah you did shout at me!" he gave a goofy grin.

"But I would be quite offended if I couldn't talk."

"Well lucky me!"

My eyes glinted.

"Whoops, sorry!" he raised up his palms in surrender. "You've got lovely eyes, by the way. I've never seen purple before. Except on Elizabeth Taylor."

My expression didn't change. That was who he chose to compare me to? Heh.

"And shiny too!" he offered. Clearly an olive branch. One that would make a distinctly unessential oil, but a peace offering nonetheless.

"They're shiny because they glare at insufferable fools."

"Wow. Harsh." He scratched the back of his neck. "Started off with the wrong foot, didn't I? I'm sorry I disturbed you. The name's Roman, by the way." He extended his hand with a winning smile.

I ignored it. "How loud was I? When I shouted?"

"Oh, don't worry about that! Hardly anyone noticed. Feeling better now?"