Woah! That's the longest I've ever gone without updating a story. Major writer's block that I am still trying to get past… this story isn't getting a lot of feedback at all, and it's really putting a damper in my progress. Your reviews keep me going! So please don't be afraid to leave any critique! My most recent chapter didn't get a single review and I'm really curious to know how well that did! Anyways… from here on out comes the fluff. Feel free to PM me ideas on where you'd like to see the story go because I'm still not sure.
"Oh my God. Aelita… Oh, Aelita…"
Jeremie sat on the bed, watching the tormented woman's body tremble; her eyes overflowing with glistening droplets. He felt is very heart break into two pieces that tumbled into his stomach. He even began to feel water collecting in his own eyes.
"And I tried to tell him to stop but he didn't listen and he just kept going and it hurt so much… Oh, Jeremie it hurt so much…" Aelita's sobbed her story through her shuddering voice and Jeremie instantly pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he could as her entire body shook in his grasp. Her weeping echoed throughout the entire room, and Jeremie was sure at some point, somebody would hear.
"Shhh…" Jeremie softly whispered against her ear lobes, tenderly rubbing his hand up and down her back. Aelita gripped her tiny arms around Jeremie with all of her might, burrowing her face into his sweater as the tears poured out of her eyes and drenched his clothing. "It's okay, Aelita. It's okay…"
"How c-can y-y-you say t-that!" she stuttered through her never-ending stream of sorrow.
"Because Aelita," Jeremie gently spoke as he rested his cheeks against her soft head of luscious pink hair. "Now that you've told me, we can do something abou-"
"NO!" Aelita angrily shouted as she shot her head up and glared at Jeremie. "You can't tell anyone else! You swore you wouldn't!"
"Aelita, we have to get you help…"
"NO! If you tell then who knows what he'll do!?"
"If we contact the authorities, then we can make sure he doesn't do anything, Aelita…"
Aelita stared at Jeremie quietly before erupting into tears once again. "Bu-but he'll find you! He knows Jeremie! He's been wa-watching me! I saw him at my wi-window today and he said that if I told he'd hurt my f-friends and-and…"
"Okay, okay okay okay… Shhhh, just calm down, Aelita…" Jeremie gently took Aelita back into his arms as she continued her tearful fit. "Shhhh… Everything is going to be alright, 'Lita. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again."
Aelita slowly lifted her head upwards from the comfort and warmth of Jeremie's blue sweater. Upon his caring face she gazed with her sorrowful eyes, glossed over with tears; yet also containing the faintest shimmer of hope. "You promise?" she whispered, followed by a gentle sniffle. Jeremie wiped away a drop as it trickled down her cheek and smiled at her.
"I promise."
She let out a gentle sigh full of contentment and nuzzled her head against his chest, loosening her grip and relaxing her body. Jeremie pulled the blanket that rested on the edge of bed upwards, entangling himself and Aelita in it's embrace. As she drifted away in his arms, he harshly stared at the wall and brushed his fingers through her silky pink mane, deep in thought. Who was after her and why? How did he even know who she was, or who Jeremie was? How did he know about the supercomputer? More importantly, why did he call her Aelita Schaeffer? Or mention Aelita's mother and father? Whoever this person is, he's up to no good. Jeremie had to do something about it… but the challenge was initiating action. Especially with Aelita pleading to him to not tell a soul. What terrified Jeremie the most was knowing that he was still out there, and now he was following Aelita.
He looked toward the blinds that gently rattled against the glass window as the cold air swept out of the vent and brushed against it. The sun was gradually settling beyond the horizon and it's sparkling orange rays were sneaking through the creases of the shutters. The warmth of the beams rested upon his face and brought light into the darkness that filled the room. Aelita stirred slightly in her sleep, her eyes tightly twitching and her lips curling into a frown. She began to mutter the words "no" and "stop," soft cries escaping from her quaking lips. Immediately, Jeremie pushed against her shoulders.
"Aelita," he whispered. "Aelita, wake up."
"Hmm?" she groaned as she forced her body upwards, the blanket sliding off of her back. She rubbed her tired eyes and pressed her hand against her forehead.
"You were having a nightmare, 'Lita."
"Oh… yeah," she mumbled, her eyes fixed into space.
"Are you okay?"
"I don't feel so good."
Jeremie rested his palm against her forehead, slightly glistening with beads of sweat. "You're warm," he confirmed. Aelita threw herself backwards onto the bed, grunting as she pulled her knees toward her chest and held her abdomen. Nervously, he scrambled to her side.
"I feel like I'm going to throw up," Aelita gritted through her teeth. Jeremie felt her forehead again; his eyebrows quirked up at the amount of warmth festering inside her, the heat radiating off of her temples and almost burning his palms.
"You are really warm, Aelita," Jeremie tensely muttered. Uneasy about Aelita's condition, he walked over to her desk and brought around the trashcan that sat underneath it, placing it by her side. In response, Aelita continued to groan and clutched the blanket between her fingers. The worried blonde walked over to the door, causing the ill pinkette to jump up in her bed.
"Jeremie, no! Please don't leave me!" she cried out, extending her hand towards the door. He closed his eyes and smiled at her, wrapping his fingers around the cold metal of the door's handle.
"Don't worry, I'm coming right back," Jeremie soothingly reassured as he tenderly shut the door behind him. Aelita fretfully stared at the spot he once stood before her stomach began to churn again, distracting her from her daze. She dropped to the floor and hovered over the trash can, anxiously waiting for release. Overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, tension and nausea, her sweating body quivered over the waste basket and her fever sprinted throughout her veins.
Where had Jeremie gone? Aelita began to think. Her mind was getting the best out of her. How long was he going to take? What if he didn't come back at all? What if the man in black was standing out there and captured him? No, now you're just being silly. Her thoughts were soon interrupted by the bile that had riled inside her stomach making it's escape from her body.The feeling of a hand on her back startled her.
"See? I told you I'd be right back." Jeremie happily smiled down at her, and she heaved a sigh of relief before leaning against her bed. "I brought you this for your fever." He took the cool rag he had soaked with icy water and pressed it against her forehead. The numbing sensation melted away the heat that pulsated in her head, and she closed her eyes and delighted in the sensation.
"Thank you," she silently uttered. "I was… kind of afraid that you wouldn't come back."
"Why wouldn't I?" Jeremie said, a bit taken aback, as he dabbed the sweat away from her neck.
"I just don't want to be alone ever again."
"Okay," Jeremie agreed. "Then I promise I'll never let you be left alone." He caringly smiled at her and brought her into his arms again. "Aelita?"
"Hmm?" She mumbled into his shoulder.
"How long have you been feeling sick?"
"I don't know. I guess since… since…" She stared at the floor and let her words trail off, not wanting to go any further.
"It's okay, you don't have to say it." Jeremie constrained his fist against his lips as he furrowed his brows together in deep contemplation, his eyes avoiding the gaze of Aelita as she curiously looked at him.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"No… I'm sure it's nothing." He let his fist fall from his mouth and reassured Aelita, but she did not appear convinced. "I just think… maybe another trip to the Hermitage wouldn't hurt."