CHAPTER 7: A SCARRED MIND

ELLIOT'S POINT OF VIEW

(2 HOUR TIME-JUMP) ELLIOT'S APARTMENT - LATER

I stand in the doorway of the guestroom, watching as she sleeps. After the announcement, she suddenly decided to go sleep. The moonlight filters through the window, casting a soft glow over her.

ELLIOT (V.O.) I can't believe she's really here.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the past and the hope for the future.

ELLIOT (V.O.) We've been given a second chance. I won't waste it.

I close the door gently and head to my own room, feeling a sense of peace I haven't felt in years.

OLIVIA'S POINT OF VIEW

After watching the news, Olivia lost her appetite. The weight of the day pressed heavily on her, and she turned to Elliot. "I'm going to bed," she said softly, the exhaustion evident in her voice.

Elliot looked at her with concern but nodded. "Alright, Liv. If you need anything, I'll be right here."

She forced a small smile and headed to the guest bedroom, the events of the day replaying in her mind like a broken record. She changed into the clothes Elliot had given her, the familiar NYPD shirt and sweatpants providing a small comfort. She lay down on the bed, but sleep was elusive.

As she closed her eyes, memories of her assault flooded back with brutal clarity. The darkness of her apartment, the fear that gripped her as William Lewis held her at gunpoint. The feel of the cold metal bed frame against her skin, the sound of his taunts, the smell of blood and sweat. She remembered the searing pain, the helplessness, and the rage. Her body trembled at the recollection, and she felt the bile rise in her throat.

The memories came in relentless waves:

Lewis's cruel smile as he bound her to the chair, the sharp sting of the gun's butt against her face. The phone call, the despair when he told her that her boyfriend wasn't coming, and the crushing blow that followed, plunging her into darkness.

She remembered the cabin near the beach, the woman and her daughter taken hostage. The desperate strength she found to pry the metal bar loose and subdue Lewis. The rage and helplessness as she stood over him, contemplating ending his life. The taunts about his father's horrific acts, his twisted joy in recounting his past.

The horror of realizing he would survive, the trauma of his words mingling with her own memories. Her mother's scent, the fleeting moments of warmth amid a lifetime of pain.

The aftermath was a blur of nightmares, flashbacks, and paranoia. The hospital stay, sedated to stave off the worst of it. Brian taking care of her, using up his sick days, the plan to escape the city and her own mind. Jamaica, the temporary solace it provided, and the cruel twist of fate that brought her back to this moment, in this room, trying to find sleep in the home of a man who had abandoned her.

Her body was exhausted, but her mind was in chaos. She felt the weight of the years, the trauma, and the unresolved feelings for Elliot pressing down on her. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to breathe through the memories. The suffocating fear of being trapped, the helplessness, and the sheer terror that had gripped her when she was under Lewis's control. It felt like a vice tightening around her chest, squeezing the air from her lungs.

It felt like an eternity before she slipped into a restless sleep, only to be jolted awake by the nightmares that had become all too familiar. She screamed, the terror gripping her as if she were back in that cabin with Lewis. Her body shook, drenched in cold sweat, as she tried to distinguish reality from the remnants of her dreams.

Elliot burst into the room, his face a mask of panic and concern. "Olivia!" he called out, rushing to her side. "It's okay, Liv. It's just a nightmare."

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with fear. She was still trembling, her mind trapped in the horrors of her past. Elliot's presence was a lifeline, his voice a beacon guiding her back to the present. His steady, calming voice broke through the haze of terror, pulling her back to the here and now.

"Can I stay with you?" he asked, desperate to help, his eyes pleading for her to let him in.

She nodded, too shaken to speak. The thought of being alone was unbearable.

"ok, wait a second, I left my phone in my bedroom" he say, practically running out the room and coming back soon after with his phone and charger.

"It died, as soon as we got in my car and forgot to charge it" he plugged the device while talking to her.

Elliot climbed into the bed beside her, careful not to touch her too much, knowing how fragile she was in this state. He stayed close, offering silent support, his presence a comforting anchor.

Olivia closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart. She focused on Elliot's steady breathing, the warmth of his body next to hers. Slowly, the tremors subsided, and the fear receded enough for her to start drifting back to sleep. But even as she did, the memories lingered at the edges of her consciousness, threatening to pull her back into the darkness.

Elliot lay beside her, his heart breaking at the sight of her so vulnerable, so broken. He wanted to take her pain away, to make everything right, but he knew he could only be there for her, to offer what comfort he could. He watched her as she struggled to find peace, his own thoughts a tumultuous mix of guilt and helplessness.

As Olivia slipped into a fitful sleep, Elliot stayed awake, watching over her, ready to soothe her if the nightmares returned. The night stretched on, filled with unspoken words and the lingering shadows of the past. But in that shared silence, there was a flicker of hope that maybe, together, they could begin to heal. The weight of her trauma pressed down on him, and he vowed silently that he would do whatever it took to help her find her way back to some semblance of peace.

Olivia's sleep was restless, punctuated by jolts and whimpers as the nightmares continued to plague her. Each time she stirred, Elliot was there, his presence a steady reassurance that she was not alone. He kept his distance, mindful not to touch her in a way that might trigger another flashback, but his proximity was a silent promise of his support.

As the night wore on, Olivia's breathing finally evened out, her body finding a temporary reprieve from the torment of her memories. Elliot watched her, his eyes heavy with unshed tears. He knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but he was determined to walk it with her, every step of the way.