Trained One ✓

Chapter 28

Travis.

Everywhere I looked, there was fire as I sat on the ground, buried in concrete blocks that used to make up the stairs. Smoke surrounded me, dark and choking. I pushed away block after block but as soon as I removed one, it would come back right on top of my legs, trapping, pining me. The air suffocated me, burning my eyes. Sweat stuck to my head, dripping down my nose.

Brick after brick, I couldn’t get my legs free. My arms were shaking. Not from fright, from strain as they moved pieces in a futile attempt to get out of the burning building. My hands were raw, red. The smoke enveloped me as I coughed, my eyes straining.

And just as a piece of the concrete slipped out of my hands, a calmness washed over me.

Just lie down, my mind coaxed, take a break.

So I did it.

I gave up on trying to free myself and leaned back all the way until my back hit the concrete floor I was situated on. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. Heat licked my skin and then it was gone. I felt nothing.

No, that wasn’t true. I focused more - cold. Why was I cold?

I opened my eyes and saw nothing but the dark sky, filled with stars overhead. I went to sit up, but I couldn’t move. I cast my eyes down my body and nothing was holding me down. I took a ragged breath in, trying to summon the strength to move but nothing happened.

Sleep, the voice in my head whispered.

No, not yet. I turned my head, the only thing I seemed to be able to do and looked at the ground around me.

It was red. Blood. My blood? It was too much, judging by how far the red stretched.

Dizziness washed over me, urging me to close my eyes just for a little bit.

I needed to get up but I couldn’t remember why.

My chest ached as I took a deep breath in, protesting against any movement at all. After a moment’s concentration, I tried again to move.

And I woke up.

The first thought was always confusion as I worked to get my bearings.

Where was I? Hotel room. Lacey was here.

I could hear her breathing softly as I looked at the ceiling. It was white. No stars.

I could feel the bed sheets against my skin. No concrete. No blood.

I laid motionless in the bed, looking around the room. Duffle bags were thrown on the desk in the corner. Dozens of candy wrappers were on the nightstand next to me from last night. No fire. No smoke.

It was just another dream. But that didn’t calm my heart rapidly beating. That didn’t stop the tremor I could feel in my arms, in my chest.

They were reoccurring dreams, two of many that haunted my sleep now.

I turned my head to the side to look at Lacey. She was still asleep and I was glad I didn’t disturb her this time. I stayed where I was, not willing to move, as if still paralyzed by the dream and observed her.

Lacey, who’d come back for me. Who traded in her freedom to be with me. Who said she wasn’t afraid of the danger that lurked in the shadows anymore. Who had her knife on the nightstand next to her side of the bed.

But despite all of that, when I looked at her I couldn’t help but want to protect her. Hide her away from the danger so nothing touched her. So nothing caused her to frown. So nothing tainted the bit of gold I’d managed to find for myself in this grey city.