A Howling in the Hills (Prev. Adjusting) (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 15 - Conscious

I can't remember most of what happened while I was healing. I assume that I slept the majority of the time. I can remember small snippets, but attempting to force my memory only causes a long-lasting headache that harms more than helps. What I can remember isn't much of anything, either. A few times, I felt something - the rustle of blankets around me, being moved to a more comfortable position, a hand on my own. Sometimes, I heard things - low murmurings, distant arguments, soft crying. And, occasionally, I saw something - blurs of blues, flashes of white, and, sporadically, a pair of soft, brown eyes.

But, mostly, I just slept.

This was unfortunate for me.

Though I can't remember the fine details, I do remember the terror I felt in my frequent nightmares. Usually, I was trying to run, going nowhere fast. By the end of my dream, a monster had captured me with the intent to harm, if not kill.

The monster didn't have a face, but he didn't really need one. He exuded evil, even though whenever I tried to pinpoint what exactly he looked like, his figure and looks vanished.

I suppose it didn't matter what the monster in my life looked like. Just add it to the ever growing list of people wanting to hurt me.

Usually, my nightmare ended with the monster catching me. It would tackle me to the ground, attacking me from behind so my face was shoved into the dirt. Then, I would suddenly be on my back, and I'd see the monster lean over me before coming closer. Its rank breath would permeate the air and I would see long, sharp teeth.

Then, it was over. Either I'd become partially awake or I would only see blackness until something else changed.

One of my nightmares, though, didn't end so typically. Instead, as I saw the monster's wicked teeth, it didn't stop. Its sharp claws wrapped around my throat. I frantically grabbed at its hands as the claws dug into my skin, drawing blood.

It slightly loosened its grip before bringing its head down to my ear. I heard it licking its lips before smacking them and getting even closer.

I felt its breath on my ear when it spoke in a deep, raspy voice.

"No one will ever love you."

It nuzzled against my ear for a moment.

"No one, except me."

It slowly drew its tongue from the bottom of the lob to the top of the cartilage on my ear.

"I will always find you. And you will always be mine."

My eyes opened. A gasp escaped my mouth.

A bumpy, white ceiling, covered in shadows, lay above me.

My eyes closed.

I could feel my jackhammering heart begin to slow down as my breathing evened out. My nightmare flashed behind my eyelids and I quickly opened them again to rid myself of the image.

After a few moments of just lying there and counting the bumps on the ceiling - four, five, six, why are there bumps on the ceiling?, seven eight, nine - I sat up in my bed.

I was back in my bedroom in the pack house.

Can I still call this "my room"? Will I be blamed for Alex's actions?

When the scent of flowers tickled my nose, I looked toward the nightstands on either side of the bed. Mixed bouquets of carnations, asters, daisies and lilies were on both nightstands, illuminated only by the moonlight from the uncovered windows, making my brow furrow in confusion.

Deciding to figure out what was going on, I hung my feet off the right side of the bed and let them rest on the floor. After a brief moment's hesitation, I pulled myself off the bed and into a standing position, wincing slightly as sore injuries pulled.