Solitude

Part Fifteen

That night, Adlyn slept fitfully. She slept with her mom, but insisting on having Eve sleep in the same room, too. And every time Adlyn woke up, it was with a gasp, and she would cry in fear. Every time it happened, Alia and Eve assured Adlyn that she was okay. The second time, Alia needed to run to the restroom, and Eve took the chance to ask, "Adlyn, what's wrong?"

"He's going to find me," she wailed. "I keep having nightmares where he finds me and he beats me to death!"

"He won't," Eve said. She wrapped her arms around Adlyn as she leaned forward and buried her face in Eve's shoulder.

"But I can't shake the feeling," she sobbed. "What if he comes in and kills you and Timiteo and Mom and keeps me and abuses me for the rest of my life and everyone who tries to help gets killed by him?"

"Oh, Adlyn....I promise...I promise that won't happen!"

"But how do you know?!"

"Adlyn..." Eve didn't know what to say. But this was crazy! Adlyn being too scared to sleep...She needed help... Help that Eve didn't know how to give.