Saving Natasha

PART 83: STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT

AVAS POV

"IM DONE! THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW AVA. YOUVE BROKEN TOO MANY RULES. IM LEAVING. YOU CLEARLY DONT LOVE ME ENOUGH TO BEHAVE. THEYRE SIMPLE RULES AVA WHY CANT JUST OBEY THESE SIMPLE RULES"

"I-I-I-I-I-I'm sorry. I do l-l-love you. P-p-p-ple-ase, d-d-d-d-dont le-ave me" I fell to the floor by his feet once he let go of my throat. I begged him to stay. He walked into the kitchen and I quickly scurried after him.

"Please evan, I-I'm sorry. Its all my f-f-fault"

"YES! It is all your fault. You seem to forget that sometimes" he pulled a small, sharp steak knife from the knife block and ran his finger along the edge. He turned to look at me, an evil smirk on his face.

"Its all your fault" he pointed the knife at me, I nodded.

"M-m-my fault"

He reached out an arm and took my hand.

"I can forgive you....if you stay quiet.....dont make a sound....or I'll walk out that door right now" I nodded again, grateful that he would forgive me again.

He pulled me closer and lay my arm across the counter. He took the knife and plunged it into my arm.

I was about to scream before I realised I wasn't allowed to. I clamped my hand over my mouth as he began to carve my arm.

He threw the knife onto the counter, grinning down at my arm.

"Now you'll never forget" he let go of my arm and walked out. I rushed to the sink and rinsed my arm. As the heavy blood started to wash away, I saw that he had carved words into my arm.

Its my fault

I woke suddenly, gasping for air, covered in a thin layer of sweat. My face was covered in tears and my throat was sore, as if I'd been screaming.

My fault

It took me a few minutes to realise I was no longer laying in bed, I was being cradled, and rocked.

My fault

"Shh shh shh, its ok, your ok, your safe, its ok, shh shh shh" I looked up to see who was holding me, but I couldn't see them. My curtains were closed and the lights were off. I didnt really care who it was. It didn't matter to me at all. They made me feel safe. For the first time in a long time. I grabbed a handful of their shirt and buried my face in their neck. I stayed in their arms and cried while they continued to rock and soothe me. Tracing patterns on my back and playing with my hair.

"Star light, star bright,
The first star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight." She sung quietly.

I recognised the slight lilt of a Sokovian accent. It was Wanda. I remembered falling asleep in her arms, and asking her to stay with me. I was overcome by sudden embarrassment, it was brief, fleeting, quickly pushed away by more tears. I nuzzled further into her shoulder, seeking any extra comfort.

She noticed i was awake and moved me onto her lap properly. I didnt resist, she sat up properly and held my head on her shoulder, patting my back softly. After a while, my sobs turned into hiccups. She shifted again, i moved to look up at her, i still couldn't see her.

"You're ok. It was just a bad dream" she hugged me close. I sniffled and gratefully accepted the hug.

"You are ok? Right?"

"I'm f-ine" I was interrupted by a yawn. I heard her chuckle and she lay down, I was still on top of her. I rested my head on her chest and shifted my weight slightly. My hip lay on the bed, but my arm was still wrapped around her waist and my feet were tangled with hers. She draped her arms around me in a protective hug.

"A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep" she began to sing to me again.

I nuzzled further into her hold, feeling safe and protected. I fell asleep quickly to her soft singing and the steady beat of her heart under my head.