A Few Days Later
I am in bed next to Keifer. I look over and see him sleeping peacefully, his lips soft and puckered out a little as his face smooshes into the pillow. I smile lightly brushing some hair out of his face. His eyes snap open causing me to jump. But his eyes...aren't his eyes. They're a dark yellow. He jumps up and pins me down, his hands around me throat. I blink my eyes as a I struggle and all of a sudden I am standing looking down the barrel of Mr. Bauer's gun.
"Its all your fault." I hear as he pulls the trigger. The bullet, in slow motion, comes down the barrel and flies closer and closer as if its going to hit me right in the head. I begin to scream.
My bedroom door slams open as I jump up. I still hear screaming and it takes a moment to realize its me.
"Kristina!" Michael yells bursting in. "What's wrong?"
The scream catches in my throat and I look at Michael with wide, terrified eyes. "K-keifer and M-mr. B-b-bauer." Michael pulls me into his chest, smoothing down my hair. My chest ceases to puff in and out so harshly as I feel the security of Michael's arms around me. Slowly, I become still. Michael pulls away, brushing my hair out of my eyes and drying away some tears with his thumb.
"Wanna talk about it?" he asks.
"How are you so calm?" I ask him.
"You're the one who just had a nightmare."
"No. Michael, I don't know how you can be like this. We almost died!"
"Maybe I'm already too messed up for it to bother me."
"Messed up, how?" I ask.
"Don't worry about me, Kristina-"
"Is it because of Pentenville?"
He freezes and I can see him mentally leave for a moment.
"What happened in Pentenville, Michael?"
"You know," he begins quietly shifting on the side of my bed. "It was a pretty scary place sometimes. Before Jason got there at least. There was this inmate Carter who I didn't get along with too well."
"Did he hurt you?"
He nods. "But that's why I can see in your eyes how scared you are right now."
"Michael, don't turn this back to me."
"Kristina. I've dealt with my pain. Just, listen" he says firmly, then softens again. "After everything happened in prison, I couldn't sleep."
"Because of Carter."
"Yes. Because of Carter. So I know what its like to feel so scared and alone. And you feel like you might never sleep again."
My bottom lip trembles as I nod. "I'm not. I'm not ever going to be able to sleep."
Michael draws me into his chest. "You will, Krissie. You'll sleep again. It just takes time."
"I don't know how much longer I can go like this."
"I think you should think about talking to someone. Like a professional."
"Okay," I whisper.
"Okay?" Michael repeats releasing the hug and holding on to my shoulders. "And one more thing."
"What's that?"
"When this happens," he continues. "You call me. You come to my room. Wake me up. I don't care what time it is. And I'll come and stay with you until you fall asleep."
I nod.
"Promise me?"
"I promise."
"Now come here." Michael says drawing me into his arms once again. I lean against his chest as he rubs his hand up and down my back. I listen to his tender heart beat in his chest, its rhythm like a lullaby.
"I love you, Michael." I say, feeling drowsy.
"I love you, too Krissie." he replies.
The soothing rhythm of his heart with his protective, brotherly arms around me slowly sends me to sleep.
Maybe I will be okay. I think just before I fall asleep.