No One

LAKE

My eyes are dry and tired, but my mind is awake. While Lucy sleeps in the cot across the tent from me, I’ve been tossing and turning since sunset.

I groan and crawl out of bed. The camp is silent tonight as I walk the trails. It’s peaceful for once.

I come to a clearing between two trees and decide to climb up to the top of the canopy. The night sky is filled with glittering stars and a shining half-moon.

I sit on a fairly large branch, admire the atmosphere, and close my eyes. My body is able to relax as a breeze picks up. I take in a deep breath, and I’m finally able to get to sleep.

~“You can’t run forever!” a voice tells me as I tirelessly run through the forest. My arms and legs are full of scars and open wounds.~

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~I try to shift, but Lynne isn’t there. She hasn’t been for a while.~

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~Tears streak my cheeks as my foot twists on a tree root. I land on the ground harshly. A sharp spear impales my legs. I feel a rib crack.~

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~He planned for this.~

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~“Oh…my Moonlight…” I desperately try to stand and run, but my body is exhausted. I’m not going anywhere.~

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~A gleeful glint shines in his eyes as I’m shoved to the ground. His long hair sways slightly as he ties my feet with a chain as if I’m a piece of livestock.~

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~“You’re hurt. Let’s fix you.”~

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~“No!” I cry. “Anything but that!”~

~

My body is shaking as I wake. Tears are hot down my face as I look around me. I’m still on the branch in the same position I was in last night.

The sun is starting to rise. The sky is a beautiful medley of red with hints of purple. A few clouds go by peacefully.

I try to ground myself as I descend the tree. My limbs feel limp from the adrenaline being flushed out of my system.

I finally get to the ground, but my body isn’t working right. My breathing is uneven, and my rib cage feels like it’s going to break.

I lean on the tree and grab my chest. My lungs and throat feel nonexistent. My legs give out from underneath me. My body instinctively goes into a fetal position.

~Everything is too close.~

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“Lake?”

~Your breath is too slow.~

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“Lake! What’s wrong?!”

~They’re going to kill you.~

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My eyes are shut tightly as my hands form fists on either side of my head. I wail at the voices in my head.

“Firefly…”

~Run! It’s him!~

~

A pair of strong arms gently pull me into their grasp. At first, I fight against the calloused hands, my heart rocketing out of control. Lynne tries to soothe me enough to stop and pull me back down.

My wolf is able to calm me down enough to not fight anymore.

My body naturally presses itself against the one holding me. My arms and legs shake as I take in the scent of lavender and citrus.

~Derrick.~

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“P—please…,” I choke out, “D—don’t let h—him take m—me…”

“Shh…” Derrick puts his head on top of mine and gently rocks back and forth. “While I’m still breathing, no one is ever going to take you from me.”

I don’t reply. My body is just relieved to be in his arms.

I’m relieved to be in his arms.