Chapter 21

Damien gasped awake as thunder shook the room, he scrambled backwards until his back hit the wall, his eyes searched the room frantically, the floor was deserted and the door still locked. He breathed a sigh of release when his eyes found Reyna and Hazel on the double bed, both still sleeping peacefully.

He stood slowly, but his legs were weak, his hands gripped the small table for balance, he took in deep breaths, tears stung his eyes as he felt a tightening in his chest. Carefully he moved so he could see Reyna's face as she slept, he needed to be sure she was okay, her skin was smooth, unhindered by the worry lines she normally bore. He revelled in her beauty for a moment, before flashes of his nightmare forced him to look away, he stood and made his way quietly to the bathroom and closing the door behind him.

He braced himself against the sink, inhaling deeply and breathing out slowly, he kept seeing it over and over again, his hands around her neck, watching as the life drained from her eyes, not caring that he had done so. He had even attacked Hazel, someone who had never been in his tortuous dreams before, Elliot was beginning to get smarter with the scenes he created in is twisted mind, making Damien believe he was waking and rip his world away. He looked up into his own reflection, how could he be sure that this was real? He had been tricked before, he could not allow this to happen.

He began to search the bathroom for anything he could use, but the room was empty, he needed to know now. He went back out into the bedroom area and looked at the bed, both girls still sleeping unaware of his crisis of the mind, he scrawled down a note on a piece of paper and left it by Reyna before leaving the room.

He stumbled down the hallway and down the stairs, the storm still raging outside, it must have been late because there was no one else around, luckily the motel was only small and he easily found the lobby, the guy behind the desk fast asleep. Damien made his way closer and looked behind the desk, his eyes finding the stationary pot and inside was a pair of scissors, he paused for a moment before reaching for them and backing away

He stood there for a moment with the blade in his hand, he remembered what Reyna had said, the way she looked when she knew he had hurt himself just to know if he was awake or dreaming, he stared at his reflection in the blade, he dropped it and it clattered to the floor, he squeezed his eyes shut and scrunched his fingers in his hair, he dug his nails into his scalp trying to ground himself.

He did not hear the footsteps approach or feel it when someone sat beside him, only when arms slid around his neck and pulled him close. He jerked away at first then he saw Reyna's eyes filled with sorrow, he wanted to pull away to keep her safe, but feeling her arms around him he found he couldn't move away from her, instead he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.

"Thank you" she whispered

A lump formed in Damien's throat, he made a habit not to show weakness, even when he was being tortured by Elliot and his cronies, but hearing Reyna's voice like that and feeling her warmth around him when he needed it most broke him more than anything else he had experienced.

"I don't know what's real Reyna" he admitted, taking deep breaths through gritted teeth

There was a moment of silence before she spoke again "Take my hand Damien" she offered it to him

He took it without hesitation and their fingers entwined, his eyes flickered up to Reyna's face, her eyes were closed and concentration covered her face. Damien looked confusingly at her until he felt it, it was small at first barely noticeable but it grew stronger and stronger. He felt his body growing stronger and mind becoming clearer, he felt refreshed, something he had not felt in months.

Reyna gasped suddenly, her hands trembling, eyes widening to look at him

"Reyna?" Damien grasped her hand tighter, the other going to her cheek "Reyna are you okay?"

"I didn't know… I thought I might but…" she rambled her eyes meeting his, tears stained her cheeks "I'm so sorry"

Damien wiped them away "What do you mean?"

"Qué estás hacienda"

The voice startled them, both whirling around to see the sleepy guy behind the desk now awake and coming towards them not looking too happy

"Nada señor, me caí y mi amigo me está ayudando a volver a la habitación" Reyna said back "Help me up" she whispered to Damien

He complied instantly as the man kept spilling out Spanish and waving his hands, Reyna snapped back, Damien had no idea what was being said but he got from the volume that it was now an argument.

He walked with Reyna to the stairs and up, leaving the yelling man behind

"We have over stayed our welcome" She said as they made their way back to the room "Babuino sudoroso" she added under her breath, making Damien believe it was some sort of insult to the man

"Y'know" he started "You're gonna have to teach me Spanish" he grinned at her

She returned the smile "Maybe one day, but for now we have to leave before he calls the police"

Damien frowned "What does he think we did?" he asked

Reyna shook her head "They don't like gringos much down here"

"Well I don't care for him much either" Damien's smile broadened

Even though she smiled she seemed weaker, more tired, dark rings forming around her eyes, leaning on Damien a lot more than he expected

"Hey" he said stopping them in their tracks in the hallway "What happened? What did you do?"

Reyna caressed his cheek, though she dropped her hand quickly, realising what she was doing "We don't have time for it now, but I will explain everything if we survive Danny Trejo down there"

She was trying to dodge the question but Damien was worried about her as she swayed slightly in his grip

"Reyna.." he began but was cut off by more Spanish being yelled up at them

"We have to go now" she turned and opened the door to the room, waking Hazel up as she did "We're leaving"

Hazel sat up and moved her wild hair from her face, her golden eyes finding Damien

"What did you do now?"

"Me?" Damien thought for a moment "Yer, you're right, get up" he grabbed his rucksack and took Reyna's from her, she look like she was going argue but then gave up as she realised he was right, she leant on Hazel, the younger girl seeming to understand instantly what was going on with her.

They were met with more shouting as they passed the man to get to the exit, he seemed to be directing it at Reyna seeming to know that she was the only one who could understand her, he tried to grab her wrist, Hazel grabbed it and twisted it so the man buckled to his knees, he looked shocked at the tiny girl

The man fell silent and backed away holding his wrist, it didn't to be badly damaged, just enough to shock him. Damien grinned to Hazel who winked back.