章節 14: chapter 14
Sierra pov...
Ever since I started living with Henry, I'd felt something I hadn't felt in so long—peace. He had taken such good care of me, giving me a safe place to stay, a bed to sleep in, and more kindness than I ever thought possible.
It was nighttime, and though I lay on the bed he had offered me, a cold chill ran through me. Somehow, deep down, I knew this peace wouldn't last forever. It was just the beginning.
As I closed my eyes, trying to find sleep, the memories of him—the beast—haunted me. His touch, his voice, his presence clung to me like a shadow, even in my dreams. I couldn't escape him.
Restless, I got up. Would he come for me? I didn't know, but the fear gnawed at me. Quietly, I left the room and made my way downstairs.
There he was—Henry—sleeping on the couch. He'd been so kind to give me his room and sleep here instead. I stood there, watching him sleep. He looked so peaceful, so calm. I wished I could feel the same.
I don't know how long I stood there, but eventually, he stirred, his eyes blinking open to find me standing over him. At first, he looked startled, but then he relaxed, recognizing me.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern filling his voice.
I could only stare at him, fear gripping me. His question lingered in the air as I remained silent, frozen.
He sat up, his eyes scanning my face. "Are you okay?" he repeated, this time getting up and placing his hands on my shoulders.
The moment he touched me, I trembled. Fear surged through me, and I stared up at him, unable to find the words I needed. Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them.
Henry gently cupped my face, guiding me to sit beside him on the couch. Even in the darkness, I could feel the warmth of his gaze.
"Why can't you sleep? Is something wrong?" he asked softly, his voice filled with genuine concern.
I nodded, looking down at my trembling hands. The fear was so intense it felt like it would consume me whole. I couldn't stop thinking about the beast. He would find me—he always found me.
I wiped away my tears, my voice shaky as I spoke. "Every time I close my eyes, I see him. I feel his touch. Do you think he'll come for me?"
Henry didn't respond right away. Instead, he took my hands in his, pulling me close until my head rested on his shoulder. His embrace was so comforting, so safe, yet the fear still clawed at me.
"It's okay," he whispered. "You're safe here."
I wanted to believe him, but the tension in my chest wouldn't go away. Still, I clung to him, holding on tightly as if he were the only thing keeping me grounded.
"Thank you," I whispered, barely able to get the words out through my tears.
The next morning, I woke to an eerie silence. The house was empty. Where had Henry gone? Why hadn't he woken me?
As I wandered through the house, a wave of hunger hit me. I couldn't believe I'd actually fallen asleep after last night. Maybe it was because of him—because I had someone to lean on.
A small sense of embarrassment crept in as I remembered resting my head on his shoulder. I didn't know why, but the thought made my cheeks warm.
I walked into the kitchen and found a plate of food on the table. There was a note beside it. Henry had gone to work on his farm and would return late. He'd made me breakfast before he left.
A smile tugged at my lips as I read the note. Uncovering the plate, I found a simple meal waiting for me, just as he'd promised.
I didn't waste any time devouring it. It wasn't much, but it was enough to satisfy my gnawing hunger.
After eating, I busied myself with cleaning the house, hoping to make it feel more like a home. Once everything was tidy, I headed for the bathroom and decided to take a bath. It had been days since I last felt the relief of warm water on my skin.
Once clean and dressed, I wandered to the window, gazing out into the world beyond. I longed to see my mother, to know she was okay. But I knew I couldn't leave. If I did, he would find me, and I'd be dragged back to that nightmare.
Frustration bubbled up inside me. I slammed my fist against the wall in anger, the pain throbbing through my hand. I collapsed onto the bed, feeling the weight of sadness settle over me.
All I wanted was to see my mother one more time, even if it meant risking everything.
Suddenly, a knock at the door shattered my thoughts. My heart jumped into my throat. Who could it be? Henry wasn't supposed to be back until later.
I moved cautiously toward the door, fear creeping up my spine. Another knock echoed, followed by a voice.
"Is anyone here?"
That wasn't Henry's voice. I froze. It couldn't be…
I peeked through the small crack in the door, my breath catching in my throat.
It was him. The beast.
He had found me. My body trembled, my mind racing. How had he found me? How had he tracked me here?
Panic surged through me as I whispered to myself, my hands shaking violently. "He's here… he's really here." The nightmare I'd feared had come true.
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