AN: Cri percant is french for Piercing Scream... you have been warned....
Chapter 7: Cri percant
Daylight had begun to dwindle as twilight set in, the sun vanished below the horizon to create a new day somewhere else. And slowly, the stars became visible, their never-failing light a distant reminder that the Earth was not alone in the Universe.
It just felt that way because the distances were so great.
She let herself sink down under the covers and curl herself up against Matt's warm body, his warm arm draped over her waist as his sleepy voice whispered into her ear, "Love you,"
That was the last thing she heard before drifting off into a restless slumber.
--- ---
The feeling is bad but the fear is worse. The feeling she can deal with.
Fear, though…
Fear eats away at you.
Fear erodes your sense of self until you're nothing more than a clot of emotions run amok, panic eating away at logic until all the neurons in your brain misfire and spark off random lines of adrenaline and denial and terror and confusion, until you're not you anymore, not unique, just joined inseparably with everyone else drenched in fear, just one, giant, terror conformation.
'The human body is not equipped to handle this,' Jennifer thinks blindly as the cold blade of the knife runs down her cheek almost lovingly, tenderly, sending cold chills down her spine.
She has to tune out the feeling. She feels almost guilty for doing so, because she's going to go insane if she doesn't block the feeling out.
So she disconnects, pretends she is not here, not anywhere. Pretends that she is safe in Matt's warm, tender, loving arms, but even as she dreams in her dream, the Shadow Man still haunts her, taunts her, tortures her and keeps her from waking herself up from this horrible nightmare.
"No matter where you go, Jennifer, I will always find you..." he lent in closer, so close that she could feel his warm breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "Even when you dream in your dreams... you can... never... hide... from me."
She was well and truly frightened out of her skin now as the knife in his hand glinted in the light.
"PLEASE! NO DON'T HURT ME!" She sobbed, the tears falling down her cheeks.
She could see only a part of his face a he grinned evilly as the knife sliced across her flesh, leaving deep dark cuts on her skin causing her to scream out in pain.
She screamed again, tears cascading down her cheeks as he ran the knife across her stomach, blood dripping off the blade.
Her screams were now filled with such pure and desperate pain in what could be her final hours as the Shadow Man tortured her.
--- ---
Sometime around 3:30am, Matt was jerked from his peaceful slumber by a piercing scream from Jennifer. She was tossing in bed, tears streamed down her face, as she begged with an unknown assailant, "No, Please don't hurt me."
He called her name trying to rouse from the hellish nightmare. "Jen, sweetheart, wake up. It's only a dream. I'm here, Jen. Shhhh." Then he gathered her into his arms, gently pinning her hands against his chest.
"Jennifer, you're safe with me." His hands stroked her back in an effort to calm the terror that had her in its grip. She struggled in his arms, unable to grasp the reality that she was in no danger. He cuddled her even closer and let his lips graze her ear and spoke warmly to her.
gJennifer, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you." He whispered in a soothing tone, rocking her gently, until finally his soft words began to penetrate her senses. She grew still in his arms and stopped trying to resist him. Her cries faded to soft, tentative sobs. Her heartbeat slowly returned to normal, and her ragged, gasping breaths became calmer.
gMatt…" she whispered, through her tears.
gShh, Jen. You're with me…you're safe…" He said as her sobs subsided to tiny whimpers.
gShhh, Jen, its ok now, you're safe."
Her eyes fluttered. She was fighting the effects of the lingering traces of adrenalin.
His eyes never left hers as he gently laid them both down and pulled the blankets up around them. She nestled against him, her head resting against his chest, her hair spread out over his shoulder. Carefully he snuggled her close and whispered softly, "Sleep now, Jen. You're safe in my arms. Sleep."
Matt's voice took on an intimate, soothing tone. "Sleep honey, I've got you."
Finally the tiredness was more than she could fight and with a soft sigh, she let herself drift off to sleep, nestled in Matt's protective embrace.
--- ---
Matt lay awake after Jennifer had fallen asleep, stroking her hair slowly. Her head was resting on his chest, he'd have to remove it to get any sleep, but he didn't really want to move her. So he stayed awake, looking at her.
She seemed so innocent when she slept, the defenses she constructed so carefully through the day were all gone. She seemed happy too, it warmed his heart to know he could make her happy.
And he was going to continue making her happy, he vowed to himself. She snuggled closer in her sleep and he kissed her forehead gently.
Carefully he reached over into the night stand draw and pulled out a small velvet box.
Carefully he opened the box, inside is a white gold diamond studded engagement ring that sparkled in the soft moonlight that was streaming in through the curtains.
He had bought the ring a few weeks ago, but he wanted to wait for the perfect time to propose, he didn't want to rush into it, they had only been together for about 4 months, he wanted it to be perfect.
He slipped the box back into the draw underneath some book he had in there and quietly closed the draw.
--- ---
Jennifer walked along the corridor of the offices briskly, like a woman on a mission. With a stack of papers in hand, and a purposeful stride. She was so focused on the matter that was grasped in her hands, she didn't notice the footsteps behind her, approaching her. Suddenly, a hand came around her mouth, stifling any potential screams, and taking the rest of her body with his other hand, then was forced into the supply closet.
"Good morning." He grinned, giving her a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Don't you ever do that to me again Matt!" Jennifer threatened, giving him a whack with her papers.
His lips soon found hers, and he kissed her passionately. She momentarily forgot the rule they had made about fooling around at work and gave into the kiss.
"What was that for?" she asked when they broke apart.
"Well, you left kind of early this morning."
"Yeah, sorry, but you know. Work and all." Jennifer straightened up Matt's tie for him.
"You're just paranoid." Matt muttered.
Jennifer stared at him for a few moments, wondering how he could be so relaxed.
"They won't find out." Matt promised.
Jennifer gave an exasperated glance at the wall of the supply cupboard before looking back at Matt.
"We better get back to the office before someone gets suspicious."
"Okay." Matt muttered, then casually walked out.
Jennifer gave him thirty seconds, then followed him into the office.
tbc...
