Chapter 9 Fighting back
Dust
I struggle against the suffocating weight pressed against my face, panic clawing at my insides. My heart races, thundering against my ribcage as I flail my arms wildly. My fingers brush against something sharp on the bedside table… a pen, maybe? A shard of glass? I don’t care; I just need to escape this prison of softness.
Grasping the object, I swing it blindly, adrenaline pumping through my veins like fire. I feel a sudden resistance, then a scream pierces the haze, high and panicked, echoing in the confines of my mind. The pressure on my face loosens, and I gasp for air, drawing in the sweet, life-giving oxygen that feels like a gift after the suffocation.
I see a figure dart away, their shadow disappearing into the doorway, and I’m left trembling in the dim light of the room. My heart thuds erratically as I sit up, my mind racing to process what just happened. Who attacked me? Why? My fingers tremble around the makeshift weapon as I glance around, desperate for answers but too disoriented to think straight.
“Dust!” A voice calls, and I don’t recognize it,but the warmth of it is breaking through my fear. The door swings open again, and a woman rushes in, her face a mask of concern. “What happened? Are you okay?” She moves closer, her eyes scanning my face, filled with a motherly worry that calms my racing heart just a little.
“I… ” I stammer, trying to find my words as I gasp for breath. “Someone… someone attacked me!” I point to the door, my voice trembling. “They were trying to smother me! I fought back, but I don’t know who it was!”
The woman’s face pales, and she moves closer, kneeling beside me. “You’re safe now, Dust. I promise.” Her soothing tone wraps around me like a protective blanket. “I’ll get River. Stay right here.”
Before I can respond, she’s off, sprinting towards the door. I glance at the space where the attacker vanished, fear clenching at my stomach. The sharp object I used slips from my fingers and clatters to the floor, forgotten. I’m still shaking, adrenaline coursing through my body, leaving me feeling both electrified and utterly drained.
“Dust!” River’s voice booms from down the hall, and I can hear his hurried footsteps approaching. The sound sends a rush of relief flooding through me, but it’s quickly overshadowed by the fear of what just happened. What if they come back? What if they try again?
As River bursts into the room, his eyes widen at the sight of me. “Dust!” He rushes to my side, his hands gripping my shoulders, grounding me in the chaos. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
I shake my head, my breath still coming in shaky gasps. “I’m fine, I just… I was attacked.” The words tumble out, each one heavy with the weight of reality. “I couldn’t see who it was, but they tried to suffocate me. I fought back, and I think I hurt them.”
His expression darkens, and I can see the fury igniting in his eyes. “Who? Where did they go?” His voice is low, dangerous, and I can’t help but feel a flutter of fear… not for myself, but for whoever dared to attack me.
“I don’t know!” I reply, my voice rising in desperation. “They just… disappeared.”
River’s jaw tightens, and the protective energy radiating from him wraps around me like a shield. “Stay here,” he commands, urgency fueling his tone. “I’ll find them, and I swear I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
Before I can protest, he’s out the door, a whirlwind of determination. I want to follow him, to help, but I feel rooted to the spot, paralyzed by the aftershock of what just happened. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to fend off the chill that creeps into my bones.
Moments stretch into an eternity as I sit alone, the silence in the room oppressive and heavy. I replay the attack in my mind… the darkness, the panic, the fleeting shadow of the assailant. My heart races again as I think about how close I came to losing everything.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on the present. I’m alive. I fought back, and I survived. The bond between River and me may be strained, but it’s still there, flickering like a candle in the dark.
Just as I begin to gather my thoughts, the door swings open once more, and River rushes back in, his expression fierce but softened by relief as he finds me unharmed. “You okay?” he asks, scanning my face.
“I’m fine,” I assure him, though my hands still tremble. “Did you find them?”
He shakes his head, frustration etched into his features. “No. They’re gone. But I swear I’ll find out who did this, Dust. You have my word.”
“River, I…”
“Not now,” he interrupts, his voice firm but gentle. “Right now, I need you to focus on healing. We’ll figure this out together.”
His words wrap around me like a balm, soothing the frayed edges of my nerves. I nod, feeling the bond between us flicker stronger, if only for a moment. “Okay.”
“Good.” He takes a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing just a bit. “I’ll arrange for extra patrols around the house and a guard outside the door. No one will get to you again.”
“Promise?” I ask, my voice small.
“Promise,” he replies, his gaze unwavering. “Now, let’s get you some water and rest. I’ll be right here.”
As he moves to fetch me a glass, I can’t help but feel a sense of determination rising within me. Whatever challenges lie ahead, I’m not going to let them break me. I will stand by River’s side, and together, we will face whatever darkness dares to threaten our bond.