Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bleach original Characters; they are all thanks to Kubo for my being able to write about them. Enjoy!
Impossible.
Orihime lay wide awake, unable to sleep after what had happened. Even with Tatsuki sleeping next to her, even with the doors and windows firmly shut and locked, even with everything that was supposed to be able to protect her, sleep stubbornly eluded her. She trembled beneath the blankets, unable to close her eyes for fear that those tight, choking hands would return. What would she do if they did? She'd tried fighting the mysterious attacker, but for all her kicking and flailing she only managed to tire herself out. Would she be able to use the Shun Shun Rika if she couldn't speak?
Rolling over she turned away from where she was facing the door, burrowing deeper into her little cocoon of warmth. Orihime couldn't stop shaking, but it was from more than just the cold. Could it really be just a bad dream? Did by some odd chance her hands actually wrap around her own throat while she was caught in that nightmare? No, I wouldn't do that to myself... Would I? Her thoughts continuously plagued her, imagination making every little rattle and bump out to be someone trying to get inside.
Was that a shadow of someone in the kitchen? What was that tapping sound outside? Did she just see something out the window? No, calm down Orihime.. No one is out there. Relax. Curling into a ball beneath the blankets, she squeezed her eyes shut. Its all in you head. She repeated over and over again, her voice a ghost of a whisper. Maybe if she made herself believe it was true..
"Orihime"
Terror clawed icily at her spine, her eyes widening as she whipped her head around, both hands on her Shun Shun Rika. Orihime was bursting to her feet when she saw.. Nothing. There was no one there- monster, Hollow, Shinigami or otherwise. She looked out the window, nothing. She quietly checked the other rooms to find, still, nothing. Confused, she went to investigate the locks on all the windows and doors. They appeared untouched. What's going on? she wondered, am I losing my mind? Has everything I've seen until now finally caught up with me?
Was it really all in her head?
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Posted: 8-28-12