Alrighty, here's chapter 5! Apologies for the lateness. Enjoy
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Erik POV
Three days. She had been sleeping for 3 days .
The first night of watching over her was the worst, it left me second guessing my decision not to fetch a doctor. Although if I had, it would be hard to convince a doctor to follow a masked stranger into a hidden dark passage which led to a secret lair. There was no sound from her, the only movement was the rise and fall of her chest. I refused to move from my perch at her side, constantly checking her pulse which remained weak. I lost track of the hours I sat there, my back sore and stiff from the chair. Eventually I began to tire, and sleep overtook me.
When I awoke the next morning, I felt more confident in my decision to keep her here. As her color was starting to return and her pulse was much stronger. Throughout the day I was able to wake her enough to drink some water. She was able to keep it all down, not once throwing up. It was enough to convince me that she could handle soup, it would help hopefully speed up the recovery.
Leaving her side, I walked to the kitchen to start preparing the soup. It would have to be light, as not to upset her stomach. My mind was so pre-occupied with thinking of what I could teach Christine during our next meeting, that the ear piercing scream that echoed through the cavern startled me enough to drop the spoon into the soup. Cursing, I grabbed the soup and set it on the counter before rushing off to the stranger's room.
She was thrashing on the bed, clawing and screaming at an unseen force. Her eyes were open and unfocused, with tears pouring down from them. I doubt she was actually looking at anything. Her cheeks were flushed, the fever at its peak and causing her to be delirious. Grabbing her flailing arms, I lowered them to her sides and held them down.
"Calm down, ma petite. You are safe now." I sang softly to her, willing her to calm down. I repeatedly sang this over and over until the fight left her body.
Finally she was sleeping peacefully again, the tears drying on her cheeks. Releasing her arms, I checked over her wounds to make sure none of them had re-opened. There was some light bleeding, so I replaced the bandages on her wrists. Once that was done, I checked on the soup; which had finished cooking while I was tending to the stranger. Filling the bowl only half way, I sat at her bedside and fed her slowly. She looked as if she had been starving for a while, the effects obvious on her small frame. I would need to work up her tolerance for food slowly but surely for her to be a proper weight again. With these thoughts, I grabbed the empty bowl and left the room.
Sitting at my organ, I could not bring myself to play anything just yet. My thoughts were confusing and disturbing, I struggled to make sense of them.
This woman, or is it girl, definitely young either way. Looking as if she had been through hell and back. How could you ever accept the help from the likes of me? A demon. A monster. Even while hidden beneath the bruises and malnourishment, your beauty and innocence shine through. Like a beautiful untouched rose, rich and vibrant. To touch you feels like a crime, punishable by death. The monstrosity that is me should not even be in your presence. I am sorry that I am all that you have right now. I have yet to hear your voice, I imagine it is an beautiful as you. How could anyone do this to you? How could anyone do this at all? To abuse, torture, starve, hold captive! When I find the monsters who did this, I will show them how it feels. They will regret the day they decided this was acceptable. I will avenge you, I will make them pay for you. You will not be harmed again. Beautiful stranger, how do you do this to me..? We have not even had a single conversation.
Her screams broke me out of my thoughts, my head turning toward the sound. It was then that I realized I was clenching my fists and jaw, tense and angry. Sighing I went to be by her side, her fever had broken a couple hours before. Which meant this was a nightmare, a powerful one it seemed. The tears were back, causing my heart to clench in pain. She flailed her arms out, fighting off an invisible force. Her fingers then started clawing at her legs and arms, so I quickly held her down. She would surely hurt herself if she continued this way. I sang to her softly until her nightmare was gone and she was peaceful once more.
I stared at her for a couple minutes, debating whether I would need to restrain her. I hated to do it but I knew it was the only way to stop her from harming herself in her fits. I found a large black piece of silk, which I ripped into 3 smaller pieces. Gently I tied a strip to each wrist over the bandages, loose as to not dig in and make the injuries worse. Grabbing a couple rocks from near the water, I used them to weigh the straps down. Her arms could be by her side at least, not awkwardly tied up at the bedposts. The thicker strap was used to secure her legs down, placed just above her knees. I felt sick to my stomach to have to tie her down.
This poor angel had probably been tied up for years, and now I do the same. I am just like them. No, never like them. This is for your own good. I tried to convince myself, but it didn't help the act feel less disgusting. These nightmares are only reminders that you have survived. Your body will survive, but will your mind? Or did they completely destroy you...
She had two more nightmares throughout the night, each time her screams and tears felt like physical blows to my body. I sat by her side, singing to her softly. She would calm after a couple minutes, and return to a peaceful sleep. I stayed awake, fighting off sleep, refusing to let her fight her nightmares alone.
On the third day, I had hoped she would be awake already. The longer she slept, the more I worried she would never awake. Finally the restlessness was too much and I retreated to my organ. Playing whatever came to mind, anything to distract me from the mysterious stranger.
The screaming had begun again, probably another nightmare. It pained me to see her in such pain, even in her sleep. I prepared for her cries of terror and tears. However I was not prepared to see her awake when I pulled the curtains back. I was frozen in shock, watching her cry and yank at her restraints.
Her eyes were as beautiful as I imagined, if only they weren't filled with fear. She stared at me, her eyes wide and confused. The tears a never ending flow. I moved to wipe them away and she cringed away in fear. The rejection causing a deep ache in my chest. Quickly I looked away from her face and released the restraints. Her small hand flew up to her throat, clawing for air. Her face as turning a deep shade of red, most likely due to her rapid shallow breaths.
She cannot breathe! She's panicking! I went to move closer, before hesitating. I do not wish her to be more afraid. She is scared at just the sight of me, how can I calm her? If I touch her, she may panic more. Yet laying down is only making it harder for her to breathe. Damn!
Cursing myself, I yanked her into a sitting position. She fought hard against me, when I pulled her to my chest.
"Calm down, you are going to hurt yourself more!" I spoke harshly, to which she cringed away. I immediately felt bad. Her hands continued to push at my chest, yet I refused to let her go. Her tears soaked my shirt, hot on my chest. I held her tightly with one arm, using my other to rub circles on her back. To be breathing like this and then to be sitting, must be awfully painful for her bruised and broken ribs.
"Breathe. Calm down ma petite. You must breathe," I spoke gently near her ear, though I was unsure if she could even hear me over. She may break her bruised ribs if she does not calm down, or at the very least make them more worse.
"Deep breaths. Focus on me, my words. Breathe in, breathe out. Listen to me!" I demanded, beginning to get frustrated. If she does not listen to me, I may have to knock her out. I thought grimly.
"Listen to me! Breathe in, now out. Focus only on me. That's it ma petite. Breathe in, now out..." I sang softly, she always calmed from her nightmares when I sang to her. Soon her hands were grasping at my shirt, bunching it up in her fists. All the fight in her was gone, replaced with a broken sobbing woman. I have you now...you will be alright ma petite..
Slowly her breathing calmed, becoming even and deep. I knew she was alright, yet I could not bring myself to pull her away from my chest, afraid of what might happen now. After all she was awake, and now calm. The stiffening of her body and release of her hands on my shirt, alerted me to her discomfort. The hands that held me so tightly, were now pushing me away. Though she did not know it, the action stung. Caring for her these last few days, it seems I have gotten a bit attached. She pushed once again, harder this time. I instantly let go.
She threw herself back against the headboard, causing the sheet to fall away from her body, leaving her exposed. I refused to let my eyes leave hers. The fear, pain, and humiliation shone clearly in them. Only to be replaced with disgust. At me? Then all at once, everything disappeared. The tears stopped flowing down her face in streams, leaving a blank void expression. She was shutting down, closing herself away from me, hiding.
Her body was tense, poised to flee. Those grey eyes glared at me with determination, daring me to go near her again. Holding my hands out with my palms upward, I backed up slowly. Trying to show her I meant no harm. As if I would ever harm you.. Then her gaze faltered, as if just noticing my features. As if just noticing..
...my mask.
Finally the meeting! Felt like it took me forever to get to this point, now I'm super excited to write the next chapter! xD =D
Sorry about any mistakes you may find, I tried my best. Review, follow, or favorite!
xBeautifullyxxShatteredx