COME UP FOR AIR | ongoing

ACT I SCENE III | 3

ACT I SCENE III | 3

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A good night's sleep was a distant dream during war and, as Pierce learned, well after war too.

It wasn't that he didn't want to sleep, it was more of how he couldn't sleep... and even on nights where he miraculously managed to escape the clutches of his soul-crushing insomnia, his dreams were far less than pretty.

Unless you'd call the gory spoils of war pretty.

So he loaded up on pills and he drank until he couldn't anymore, just for two or three hours of slipping in and out of consciousness. It was better than nothing.

Only this time, instead of being awoken by his basic survival instincts, the bloodcurdling screams of Reign Everly were what had his sharp green eyes darting open bright and early at three in the morning.

He jolted awake, preparing to pounce on any intruder, but paused upon realising that there was nobody in the room with them.

Reign's body was sheathed in sweat, convulsing in such a way that he was certain the stitches he had just applied mere hours ago had already been ripped open.

Her eyes were closed and her elongated talons scratched at nothing but the open air ahead as she screamed and tried to defend herself.

'Leave me alone!' She cried out, hot tears streaming down her warm toned cheeks.

Pierce had seen enough at this point and shook her awake but she fought him too, scratching at his skin with her sharp claws. 'Everly! Wake up!' He desperately grasped onto her, ignoring the scratches she made on his pale skin.

Finally, her vacant, brown eyes darted open, pupils contracting as she stared out into the distance, breathing heavily.

'They are here for me – they...' she sucked in a deep breath, scratching at her own skin now until gashes of blood opened, 'hide!' she murmured, shaking with her hands trying to pull her hair out.

'Hey! You're safe now, snap out of it!' Pierce pleaded with her, emerald eyes wide in concern.

It was only when his hands grazed her soft tear-soaked cheeks, and when her brown eyes made contact with his piercing green ones, did she finally manage to steady her breathing.

It was like she had been under some kind of spell and he had somehow managed to break it. 'I – I'm sorry I thought... I could have sworn...' she sank back into the bed, pulling the covers over her trembling body.

She slept on her side, the one that was in the least pain.

Pierce didn't know what to do. It was strange having somebody with him because aside from the frequent and pestilent visits from his younger sister and acquaintances from work, he had nobody.

She screwed her eyes shut as more tears poured down her balmy cheeks, murmuring something that sounded like 'I'm okay' under her breath.

He too, sank back into the bed and waited until she slipped back into a light sleep. Which, after long hours of muttering to herself under her breath, she finally did.

It was morning and he left her alone under the covers, fast asleep to rush to Tenebris Tower.

He, along with all the other betas, gathered around the table with the alpha seated on the highest chair. Pierce was his right hand.