Changing You ✦ 𝑍.𝐷.𝐻.

Chapter 9 {R}

"Ri," echoed through my mind.

"Riley, wake up. Hey, Ri, come on, wake up."

As someone shook my shoulder a little bit rougher than before, my eyes flew open and I immediately shot up.

My whole body was covered in sweat; my hair sticking to my forehead and my clothes sticking to my skin. I was breathing heavily, heart beating at its maximum speed.

"Hey, hey, hey, you're okay, it was just a dream," Jack's calm voice sounded through my ears, his hands moving from my shoulders to my cheeks, making me turn to him.

My bewildered eyes landed on his face. Tears started building up as I locked eyes with his.

A breath of relief escaped my lips, a heavy weight falling off my shoulders.

It had been a nightmare. Jack was fine.

Taking him by surprise, I wrapped my trembling arms around his neck, burying my head in his shoulder.

"Shh, hey, it's okay, it's over," he cooed softly into my ear, stroking my back up and down comfortingly.

Slowly, I started calming down. Nevertheless, I couldn't bring myself to let go if him. He swayed me from side to side gently.

"How did you know?" I asked him after a few minutes of silence, leaning my chin on his shoulder.

"I couldn't sleep," he answered. "Then I heard your heartbeat." He pulled back and scanned my face up and down, concern lacing his eyes. "It was going crazy, Ri. What happened? What did you dream about?"

I turned my gaze down to my hands, which I started to fiddle with as the scene replayed in my mind. "The hunters, they... they killed you."

"Oh... hey, but Riles, look at me." At his words I lifted my head up again.

He smiled softly. "I'm still here," he gestured towards himself. "And I'm not going anywhere."

I nodded faintly. "But it seemed so real."

He pulled me to his chest once again. "It wasn't." He went with his hand through my hair in a calming way. "And I promise you it's not going to be real."

"You can't make a promise about something that you can't control, Jack," I told him softly.

"Okay, let me reword my promise then," he answered. "I promise you that I'll be with you. Even when you can't see me." He kissed the top of my head softly. "I'll always be there for my baby sister."

I chuckled softly, even though my eyes were tearing up at his words.

"One year."

"And five months," he corrected me, an amused tone in his voice.

"Shhh. Nobody gotta know."

~ ☾~

"Other hunters?!"

All six of us shushed Daniel as his exclamation could be heard on the other side of the cafeteria.