Chapter 10
The footsteps seem like a faraway dream. Just as suddenly as they start, they stop and everything is silent. She feels something metal slip around her wrist. It's cold, Anna furrows her brow; her limbs don't want to listen to her mental commands to move, to push herself up.
"Anna?"
Anna's eyelids flutter and slowly open.
"Anna? Please wake up..."
Everything's a blur; her head feels heavy, as though she's been drugged. All she can make out is red. Soft glowing red: so close, so intense. Anna's eyes cross as his eyes come into focus.
Her eyes widen and suddenly Anna is awake and pushing herself up off the concrete floor, scurrying backwards to the corner where she finds some pathetic sense of security. She feels grounded from the pressure of the familiar walls against her back. She takes a few deep breaths and closes her eyes, trying to wake up.
It seems so real this time. She could feel his breath on her face, smell tobacco and cloves on his body, feel the heat that electrified the air between them.
Anna turns her head slowly, afraid to open her eyes. Afraid that he'll still be sitting before her. Even more afraid that he won't be.
"Anna, open your eyes chere."
His voice; his smooth Cajun voice, forces her to open her green eyes, one at a time, and stare at him in awe. He crouches where she had been sleeping only seconds before. Almost everything about him is different; he's older, leaner, taller than she remembers. The only thing that's familiar; that she can find comfort in, are his eyes, burning like embers in the night, so full of concern.
"Ya'll ain't real..." Anna's voice is shaky, wavering in conviction. Her eyes dart around the cell, trying to recognize Dani's power signature; trying to find the shimmering ends of the illusion.
Remy tilts his head to one side, smiles a sad smile.
"I be real, Anna. I be so sorry I left ya here, in dis horrible place for so long, but Remy ain't imaginary." He reaches out to Anna slowly, but she just shakes her head and closes her eyes once more.
"No, this is Dani's power, Ah cain't control it. Ya'll ain't real. Ah killed ya a long time ago."
Tears slip from beneath Anna's closed lids and her whole body begins trembling as she covers her ears with her palms, trying to drown out everything around her.
Emma's voice whispers to her in her mind.
He's not an illusion Anna.
Anna feels his hand rest of her shoulder and she looks up. Remy is suddenly sitting right next to her. He gathers her into his arms and closes the gap between them, hugging her to his body as though he never wants to let her go. She struggles against him at first, but he doesn't release her from his grip. He gently rocks her back and forth as her body goes still and her breathing becomes steadier.
He's real. She can feel his heart beating next to hers and she's left speechless.
"Remy ain't ever gonna let ya go again Anna. Ain't never gonna leave you behind, chere."
Anna looks at him up with huge emerald eyes.
"Ya promise meh Remy?"
He tucks away wisps of white behind Anna's ear and smiles, his red on black eyes glowing.
"Oui, Remy promise."
Anna lets out a breath she isn't aware she has been holding and closes her eyes as she settles her head against Remy's chest, listening to the comforting sound of his heart.
"Ah love ya Remy LeBeau."
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