How He Broke

Keeping My Promise (Tate's POV)

Sage and I had decided to go to the beach again, the weather warm enough to be out.

We were sitting on the sand, staring out at the water before us.

"Hey, Sage?" I finally spoke.

"Yeah?" She answered, leaning her head against my shoulder.

"What was your nightmare about?" I asked, not fully sure if I wanted to know.

She hesitated.

"It... was about you." She finally answered.

My spine straightened, muscles tightening.

"What about me?" I asked, "What did I do to you in the dream?"

I already knew I had done something bad to her in it. Why else would it be a nightmare if I hadn't.

"It wasn't you." She corrected, "It was... him."

I inhaled sharply.

She was afraid of him. Terrified of what he could do to her and I didn't blame her. Even I'm afraid of him sometimes. Afraid of what he's capable of. Everytime he takes over I'm worried that'll be the last time. That from now on he's in control of what we do. What we say, and how we act. Everyday I'm worried that he'll win. But I can't let him. I can't let him hurt Sage.

"What did he do to you?" I asked, preparing myself.

"He... He pretended to be you." She answered, "He lured me into a false sense of security."

I could feel Sage's body start to shake as she relieved her nightmare.

"He said he was saving me.. That he didn't want to but he knew it was the only way to protect me." She explained, "I tried to protect myself... I found a knife and I-" She stopped, tears spilling from her eyes.

"What did you do, Sage?" I asked.

"I... I stabbed you." She answered, "He had a knife to my throat and I panicked."

I sighed, wrapping an arm around her. "Hey.." I silenced her, "It's okay. You did what you had to do to protect yourself."

"But I didn't want to hurt you, Tate!" She cried, pulling away to look in my eyes, "I didn't want to hurt you because I knew it wasn't you that was attacking me."

I bit my lip, cupping her cheek in my hand as I dried her tears.

"If that ever happened, Sage, I want you to know that it's okay." I said, "It's okay. Do whatever you need to do to stop him from hurting you even if that means blowing my brains out."

She shook her head, "No. No I can't do that."

"Yes you can, Sage." I reassured her, taking her hands in my own as I looked deep within her eyes. "If at the end of the day it means saving your own life I want you to do whatever it takes. Because he won't stop until he believes he's saved you."

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

"Did he end up hurting you, Sage?" I asked, remaining calm.

She didn't answer, tears streaming down her face.

"Sage, I need you to tell me, in the dream did he hurt you?" I asked again, my tone serious.

"Yes." She cried. "He stabbed me. Tate, it felt so real. I was so scared, I'm so sorry." She apologized, collapsing into my chest.

I wrapped my arms around her, kissing the top of her head.

"It's okay, Sage." I whispered, "I'm never going to let that happen. I promise... I'll get rid of him... I'll protect you."

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