The wind lashes at me, whipping my hair behind me in black ribbons. I scramble up the rocky slope, my knees bleeding against the loose stones. They fall, and like silver handcuffs, they clink against the cliff as they tumble far below.
He chases me and I run.
His laughter reaches me through the thunder, cutting, slicing like his blade. I don’t look back.
Lightning flashes in the night sky, illuminating the sharp borders of the plateau. I race against the biting wind, wet sand crumbling under my toes.
At the edge, I leap.
The abyss envelops me, surrounding me with black, with dark. Pria awaits, and I find her as I plummet, taking her with me towards the dirt, towards the desert.
Towards our deaths.
But ruthless hands yank me from the air and slam me into the cliffside.
Into the bed.
“Kay. Kay, wake up.”
I shudder, my pulse pounding. Derek’s weight pushes me into the mattress, his fingers curled tightly around my wrists. He’s inches above me, and as I find his eyes in the dim light, he slowly exhales.
He asks, “Are you okay?”
Oh god.
“I . . . I’m sorry.”
“Shhh. It’s all right, you’re awake now.”
I shake my head, against him, against the tears starting to form. I won’t cry, not like this. Not where he can see.
He releases me, shifting onto his elbow alongside me. I try to turn away, but he stops me with a hand placed softly on my cheek.
“Kay, tell me what you dream.”
The tears come. Unbidden. Cursed. I shake my head again.
I am not weak.
“Kay . . . .” His thumb caresses an errant droplet away from my cheek. “Please.”