By Day, By Night || Caleb Finn & Noen Eubanks (UNDER EDITING)

22. "Ella.."

Caleb Finn

I move a little bit but, I feel weirded out that I'm not on my stomach. I slowly open my eyes to see Ella sitting next to me. She smiles at me as I study her. Was she really here?

"Hey," Ella greeted me quietly. I wanted to caress her injured cheek but, I physically couldn't. Apart of me was very tired still.

"What time is it?" I asked her. I looked at myself to see I had some type of wrap around my entire body. I was able to lie on my back. Wow, she really did take care of my wound. I guess the Witch was kind after all. Ella looked back at me.

"It's one thirty in the morning," She says quietly. I nod as she uses her left hand to caress my cheek.

"Are we able to go home?" I asked her. She shook her head, no. She took in a slow deep breath and I realize she and I are the only ones in the room. All of a sudden her eyes began to water. Her lips began to quiver and I sat up immediately wanting to know what's wrong. I use my left hand to have her look at me.
I saw the tears escape and slowly run down her cheeks. Then, more came out as I realized something did happen. Something I had truly no idea about.

"After you two left... He attacked me, I fought back as much as I could. I kneed him in the area which got him to the ground. The police showed up ... he somehow managed to get up ..." She stopped and began sobbing more. I mumbled 'breathe' as she cried. I used as much strength as I can to pull her close to me as I let her cry in my arms.

"He held a knife at my neck ... And, the police were pointing their guns at him... One of the officers shot him twice just as he was about to slit it open ... I held my hands up until the police ran over to us... Ashton died ... It all happened so quickly it felt like a blur ... Afterwards they searched my house and I got taken to the hospital ... Caleb, I felt so numb I ..." I hushed her as I pulled her in for a hug. I let her cry until she stopped.

-

We both lied there wide awake. I was rubbing her back as her head rested on my chest. We both were staring at the ceiling thinking. I had processed that Ashton was no longer alive meaning all of the chaos was over. I feel very ... relieved that almost all of this is over with.
This time with Ella everything felt different. I knew she would need to heal from all that trauma that had happened. Also, the time she almost got kidnapped. I knew that still gave her nightmares. Noen would tell me her nightmares, every single one she had. He also wrote them down too.
All of a sudden I sensed she wanted to ask me something. So, I look at her to see her sigh then turn to me.

"When do you think that injury would heal?" She asked me. I took in a deep breath then slowly exhaled.

"Two and a half more days. It'll just appear as a scratch," She nods as she pulls the blankets over us.

"Let's try and get some sleep please?" She sounded quiet and desperate for it. I nodded as I got comfy and we both ended up falling asleep.