The Worst Drug

•Change Of Heart?•

                          {•Unedited•}
                             ~Vina's POV~

      The sound of a scream wakes me up. My eyes shoot open, immediately looking towards Idris who's surprisingly still knocked out; he's usually the first one to wake up at the smallest sound. Prying myself from his arms I throw the blankets off and get out of bed, my feet meeting the cold floor. I put on Idris's sweater that's on top of the dresser before walking out of the room, tugging on the sleeves to cover my freezing hands.
    Walking down the hall to Ez's room, the sound of trashing comes from around the corner inside. I push the door open some more and peak in, my eyes widening when they don't find Cass laying on the floor. I relax though seeing him asleep sitting up in the chair in the corner. He's not covered or even in the pajamas Idris brought him to wear like he fell asleep without realizing. His small body moves around in the rocking chair, tears escaping his sleeping eyes.
    "Dad," he cries, his shoulders shaking. His arms wrap around his knees, pulling them into his chest. "It hurts. Stop!" Grabbing his arm, I shake him awake, his frail body jointing upwards. I'm surprised Idris hasn't woken up. Sitting on my knees, he sits back and brushes his fingers through his hair. Before Idris and I laid down he said he wanted to give him a hair cut tomorrow, probably just shave it to start all over.
"Are you okay?" I ask. He lets out a broken breath, gulping. His eyes bug out of his head, looking around everywhere as if to prove to himself where he is. "Should I get Idris?"
"N-no, it's f-fine," he says, picking up the cup on the nightstand next to him. He quickly gulps it down, wiping the straw water from his chin. The room is silent expect for the sound of his rapid breathing.
"Do you get dreams a lot?" I ask. He nods his nods, hair falling back in front of his eyes. Ez turns in her sleep, tucking her hands deeper under her pillow. "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?" Again, he shakes his head.
"You-you aren't going to laugh?" I shake my head. "Tell me I'm a coward?"
"My goodness, no," I say, standing back up. He's damp with sweat, his tan skin red from panic. "I was just making sure you were okay. I could hear you freaking out." He looks surprised to hear I'm concerned. He woke up screaming for goodness sakes, of course I would be worried.
"I'm okay," he says assures me breathlessly. He looks at the floor and his blanket. "Can...can you please stay in here until I fall asleep? It'll be easier." He looks embarrassed to ask such an innocent thing. I nod, closing the door behind me, quickly reaching behind me to push the door shut. It doesn't click but once he knocks out I'll go back to bed with Idris anyways. Cass stands up from the chair and grabs the pillow on the ground I laid out for him when making a makeshift bed.
"You can lay there," he says, pointing to the chair. I open my mouth to object. "You're not supposed to let the lady sleep on the floor. Please, Corvina." Although his father was a horrible abusive man, he somehow did a great job at teaching this little boy manners. Not wanting to waste more of his sleep, I sit down on her chair for him. Smiling, he lays down on the bed I made him earlier and flips onto his side opposite of me. "Thank you, Vina. Goodnight."
"You're welcome. Goodnight, Cass."
•••••••