"Are you alright?" You spoke softly as you brushed your fingers across Taylor's cheeks.
The adoring gaze that you looked at her with along with the sweet smile on your face made her heart swell as she tried to ignore the thoughts in the back of her mind.
"Yeah, great." She said before kissing your cheek. "Come on, let's finish this and then head back to the hotel."
You nodded and took her hand into yours again before you continued the hike.
You and Taylor needed to take a little vacation to get away from the stresses and anxieties that were getting quite intense for both of you lately.
So she planned what she thought would be the perfect trip to a place that had many activities for you to do together, including going for a hike in this breathtaking forest.
The leaves were just turning colors on the branches, making it even more gorgeous.
You were enjoying every second of it and Taylor felt so good seeing you so happy as you swung your intertwined hands back and forth with every step and talked about the different animals and critters that you saw along the way.
But... something didn't feel right.
This was a popular place but there weren't many people on the path you and Taylor decided to go down.
You both agreed to this one for some privacy.
But you weren't alone.
There was someone following you both.
Taylor tried to brush it off as nothing; maybe this man was just wanting to enjoy a nice hike in this beautiful forest like the two of you.
But if that was the case... why was he following every step you both took?
Why did he stop when you and Taylor stopped?
Why was he staring at you both to the point that it was making her feel uncomfortable?
Why was she hearing clicks like the sound of pictures being taken on someone's iPhone?
She didn't have a good feeling and it was just getting worse and worse.
"Hey, we should head back." She said as she squeezed your hand. "We have that thing with that couple we met last night? They wanted to meet up at seven and it's a few minutes after six. We should head back now before it gets too dark or we end up being late."
You furrowed your eyebrows because, at first, you had no idea what she was talking about.
But when you watched her look from the corner of her eyes multiple times at the man approaching you both, you caught on to what she was doing.
"Oh, shoot. I forgot about that. Is it that late already?" You asked.
"Yeah, and they know we're here so they can always meet us at the bottom of the path if we want to." She said loudly on purpose, hoping it would make the man apprehensive if he had anything up his sleeve. "But why wait? Let's just head back, okay?"
"Okay." You said with a nervous smile as you began to feel just as creeped out and uncomfortable upon realizing that the man had been following you both for some time now.
You both turned around and a yelp left your lips upon seeing that the man was now standing right there in front of you.
"Hi, ladies." He said with an uncomfortable smile. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know how long this path goes on for, would ya? I have a map but I think I'm lost."
"No, sorry. We have to head back." Taylor said.
But instead of pulling out a map, your heart dropped as the man pulled out a gun.
"Okay, there's no need for that," Taylor said with a shaky breath. "Put the gun away."
He pointed it at you, almost pressing it against your forehead, causing a gasp to leave your lips.
"Don't hurt her," Taylor said as she stepped in front of you. "Please, don't hurt her."
"Walk." He ordered.
In terror, you and Taylor turned back around and walked forward.
You kept walking for a few minutes as he spoke demandingly.
Taylor tried to comfort you but you were both so terrified to speak, so scared that one tiny thing would set him off.
"Right here." He said. "Stop."
You both quit walking and what was ahead had your blood running cold and made a shiver run down your spine.
It was a cliff.
A very high cliff several thousand feet above the ground.
Before you could say anything, a hand pushed at your back and you were stumbling forward until you fell off the edge.
"No!" Taylor yelled as she tried to reach for you.
But she couldn't catch you in time; you had fallen too fast.
She turned around to face the man who had pushed you off, the look in her eyes full of rage and anger.
"Say bye-bye," He said before she, too, went over the edge.
But it was strange... it almost felt as though she was falling in slow motion.
It didn't happen quickly, not at all.
She figured she'd hit the ground hard and with a terrible and loud crunching sound before her eyes would slip shut and darkness would take over.
But it was as if she was falling so slowly.
She closed her eyes as a scream left her lips and when she opened her eyes again, she looked down and saw that she was getting close to the ground.
However, when she hit it, rather than everything being over, she woke up.
She sat up in bed with a gasp as sweat poured down her skin and she gasped for air.
Reaching over, she turned the light on and then looked around to find that she was safe and sound in bed... next to you.
She could hear your soft breaths and she could see your back rising and falling.
There wasn't a single scratch on your body or hers either as she looked at herself, checking to make sure she was okay.
She was fine.
It must've just been a bad dream.
It was different than anything she'd ever dreamt before but it was so scary that it left her shaking and caused tears to fill her eyes.
Because though it hadn't been real, it sure felt as though it was.
As a tear fell down her cheek, the fear continued to rush through her veins and she realized just how much she needed to hold you.
So she reached over and gently shook you awake.
"Y/N? Y/N, wake up, please," She pleaded through her tears.
You rolled over with a groan before rubbing your eyes.
Upon hearing her sniffle, you sat up as it sank into your very groggy brain that something was very wrong.
"Tay? Baby, are you okay?" You asked.
But she didn't say a word.
Instead, a sob left her lips as she pulled you into her arms and held you tight.
"Oh," You chuckled upon feeling her squeeze you tight. "Baby, I can barely breathe." You teased.
"I'm sorry." She said as she pulled away slightly.
Her blue eyes locked with yours and she put her forehead against your own with a shaky breath.
"I had a terrible nightmare." She spoke. "We were on vacation and we were going for a hike and this weird guy was following us. We tried to leave when he pulled out a gun and led us to this cliff and he pushed you off before I could stop him. I couldn't catch you when you fell. I tried to reach for you but I couldn't, it was too late-"
"Shh, baby, breathe." You interrupted as she rambled in a panic. "It's okay. It was just a bad dream, my love. It wasn't real."
She closed her eyes and nodded as another shaky breath left her lips.
"I know. I was just so terrified. I had to wake you up and hold you. I needed to know you're safe."
"I'm safe, baby. I'm okay and so are you." You spoke softly as you brushed your fingertips across her arms. "It's alright. Take a breath."
She took a few deep breaths as a huge weight lifted from her shoulders.
"I was so scared."
"It sounds like a very scary dream so that's understandable." You said. "But that's all it was, baby; a very scary dream. It's not real, not at all."
"Okay." She said as she kissed your forehead. "Just promise me something."
"Anything, baby."
"Next trip we take together, we don't go hiking."
You laughed before nodding in agreement and kissing her lips softly.
"I promise. We'll just go to some place with clear blue waters and sandy beaches."
"Perfect." She said before kissing you again, a small smile pulling at her lips. "I need some cuddles but I don't think I'm going to get back to sleep for a while... or at all tonight."
You looked at the clock and saw that it was after four am.
"That's alright. Neither of us has anywhere to be tomorrow. Let's just cuddle and watch some TV." You smiled and kissed her temple softly.
She smiled as she laid back down and pulled you into her arms.
You turned the TV on, trying to find a very happy and comforting show that would keep her mind off of the terrible nightmare she'd had.
But she had you; she's holding you, keeping you safe and warm, and she knows that you're both okay.
At the end of the day, she doesn't need anything else to help her forget about that nightmare.
You're here and that's all she could ever need.