Chapter 47
Irene’s POV
It felt like a primal instinct. Like a flight or fight situation. And since I could take the flight option, I knew I had to fight with all I had. I have to protect myself at all costs.
The man standing before me was a monster and if I didn’t fight to stay alive, so he would devour me.
“Irene, it’s me. I won’t hurt you. Please calm down and trust me. His voice said to me, it was soft like a plea. It was probably supposed to make me let my guard down then he would devourme.
A monster can be very cunning. Sweet–talking was its special skill and it was yielding it so well.
“Don’t come near me. Don’t come near me.” Was all I kept repeating like a mantra, and as if it was a shield that could protect me from the attacks of the wicked.
I stayed crouched to the floor with my hands covering my ears, quivering and dwindling fear until I saw Delores taking careful steps toward me with a warm smile.
“Irene darling, what’s wrong?” She asked and crouched to my level.
“1-1“Istuttered and couldn’t find the words to explain my emotions and exactly what I was scared of. I was unable to express myself and tell her what was wrong.
“Easy.” She said and slowly grabbed my hands. And the moment I felt her physical touch, a clash of emotions occurred within me in a whirlwind manner. The tears that gushed out of my eyes immediately and the fatigue that consumed me, made me sit on the floor and cry so hard.
“I’m here for you, Irene. No one is going to hurt you. No one will harm you.” She said in soft whispers into my ear and pulled me into a hug, patting my back and swaying my body slightly. She pulled me into her lap and cradled me like a child.
“Cry it out.” She rasped. “Let it all out” She said and I kept letting it all out. My pains, my fears, my misery. I kept on crying it out. It felt like a salty wash that my soul needed. It felt like the only outlet I had so I could feel lighter.
And I couldn’t tell for how long I was in that state, crying so hard. Crying as if it was the only language I could speak, as though it was the only sort of action I could do.
Delores didn’t stop talking to me in soft whispers that caressed my soul and comforted my being. She was like the stronghold that I had, and held on tightly to her like she was my only saving grace.
By the time my tears eventually ceased, my eyelids already felt heavy and I knew the next thing that was about to claim me was sleep.
“I’m scared, Delores,” I said with my already shut eyes.
“Why, Irene?” She asked with that same soft voice that had done nothing but soothe my entirety.
“I’m scared to sleep. The monsters will come for me again. I’m scared that this time, they will be able to catch me and hurt me.” I expressed, but I could already feel slumber tethering at the crevice of my mind, aiming to take over and pull me into that nightmare.
If it was just going to be oblivion, I would be okay with falling asleep. But knowing that those monsters were going to be always waiting for me on the other side made me too scared to let go and let sleep envelop my wholeness.
Will you drink tea then? Something to keep you awake?” She asked but I was already dozing off
“And if you really can’t fight it, let go. I’ll be here watching you and protecting you so any monster won’t come for you.” She
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Chapter 47
said, her soft tone lulling me further to sleep.
By the time I opened my eyes I realized that I had truly fallen asleep.
“Awake,” Delores said and I looked up and saw that I was still laying on her lap and she was still watching over me like she promised.
“Delores,” I called and sat up, it was then I slowly realized that I hadn’t seen Damien or my son. And I really hoped my screams didn’t wake him and he saw all that happened.
“How are you feeling now?” She asked, watching me intently.
“Better than before. I just feel tired.” I answered. “Where is Charlie?”
“He is still sleeping. Lenora was with him throughout, but I don’t think he heard anything.” Delores replied.
“What about Damien? I haven’t seen him.” I inquired, wondering if he had left last night after we slept because of an emergency at work.
“You don’t remember what transpired this morning?” She asked with a surprised expression.
“Did anything happen that I can’t remember? I questioned and she nodded.
“What was that?” I queried, wanting to know exactly what happened.
“You are traumatized, Irene. And this trauma makes you see Damien as one of the bad guys.” She replied as she was trying to be careful with her choice of words.
And even if I heard what she had just said, I actually don’t believe that would think that way towards Damien. Not when he and I had something intimate that night at the hospital. Not when I’ve been sleeping on the same bed with him, cuddling up to him. There was no fucking way I would think Damien is also the bad guy.
“No, that’s not possible,” I said to Delores, hoping she heard how odd that sounded to the ears.
“You didn’t mean it. But your mind was plagued by the nightmare you had. This means you would feel the same way to any man even if it’s not Damien. So Damien just happened to be the male in the room and you considered him one of those bad men.” Delores explained and it was as if she was breaking down my dilemma for me.
And guilt enveloped as the memories of this morning flashed through a
“I called him a monster. Oh no.”
