Page 76 of Freeing Emily
Nikolai.
No. No, he’s dead.
Isn’t he?
“Did you really think you’d be free of this place,Kukla?” he laughs.
I whimper and feel my bottom lip quiver.
The feel of his hand sliding up my thigh sends another wave of terror through my system.
My screams are muffled but still, I scream and scream. I continue to thrash my head. My heart beats against my chest and the sound is like a sledgehammer in my ears.
This isn’t real. This isn’t real. It’s just my mind playing a sick and twisted game.
But it feels so fucking real.
Large hands grip onto my face and this time, I let out a shriek.
“Hey, hey, it’s me. It’s Liam, baby.”
My vision clears. I’m still in my room. Only this time, it’s not dark. I’m not alone. Nikolai is dead.
A thick layer of sweat covers every surface of my skin. My breaths are shallow, and my eyes are wide with fear.
“You’re okay, it’s okay,” Liam whispers and I finally focus my eyes on him. He hovers above me. His eyes are filled with concern, panic, and sadness. His fingers swipe at the tears that haven’t stopped flowing from my eyes.
My entire body is shaking as though I’ve been in sub-zero temperatures. My teeth chatter violently against each other.
Liam wraps his fingers around my hand and brings it to his lips. He places gentle kisses on my skin and then places my palm against his heart. It pounds against my hand.
“I’m here. This is real. Not what you saw or felt in your mind. What you’re feelin’ now is real, Emily.”
I don’t fight the sob that climbs up my throat. It bursts through me with such force that I swear the house shudders.
Liam sits on the bed and pulls me into his arms. He gently rocks us as he strokes my hair.
“P- please don’t leave,” I cry.
“I’m not goin’ anywhere.” He tightens his hold and presses his lips to my head.
I sit with my back pressed against the headboard and watch the steady rise and fall of Emily’s chest as she sleeps. Her lips are slightly parted, hair mess of red tangles. Her fingers clutch onto the blanket as though it’ll be ripped away from her.
It took several hours for her to finally fall back asleep after waking from her nightmare. I lied awake until the sun rose, and when it shone through the window, I pulled the curtains to leave the room dark, aside from the lamp that sits on her nightstand.
My thoughts race as I try to come up with a way to help her sleep without resorting to medication. She hasn’t started to show any signs of withdrawal, but I know it’s coming soon.
I need to be prepared for it.
Leaning forward, I push away the hair from her forehead and press a light kiss to her skin before rising.
I need to go change before she wakes and sees me gone.
Swiftly and quietly, I exit her room.
As I make my way toward the front door, I’m stopped by the sound of Declan calling my name.
Stopping at the base of the staircase, I wait as he saunters over.