Week 240 – Heart pounding, body shaking uncontrollably

Something slammed into the side of his head.

Pain bloomed.

Heart pounding, body shaking uncontrollably, Adam sunk to his knees.

Beside him something also clunked to the ground.

No not something. Someone.

Oh no. 

Zara.

Adam blinked and his worst nightmare was confirmed. Zara sat before him, her back pressed against the wall, knees drawn up to her chest, one arm was wrapped around them as though she needed to hold herself together, her other hand was caressing her neck. 

Had he …?

It was all a blur. He’d been sleeping, then he’d heard something, he’d thought he was awake but now that he was looking at Zara’s huddled form he knew he’d been dreaming.

Again.

Stricken he stared at the terrified woman. He’d known hiring her would turn out to be a mistake but he hadn’t been able to help himself. There has been something about her that had drawn him in and now because of his weakness she was suffering.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, already trying to stand.

Zara shuffled closer. She lifted a tentative hand and reached for him, lightly touching his cheek. “You were dreaming. I’m sorry, I didn’t know how else to stop you, I hope it wasn’t valuable.” She nodded to something beside them and he saw a shattered vase. That must have been why his head had hurt, she’d hit him to wake her up. 

“Actually it was,” he said hoarsely. 

“I’m sorry.” Zara snatched her hand back and went to shuffle away from him. 

Without thinking he snapped out his hand and caught her wrist. “I don’t care about the vase, Zara. I’m so sorry I put you in that position.” He reached out and tugged her hand from her neck. There were angry red marks there which would be horrible mottled mess of black and blue by morning. Adam swore and released her abruptly like she’d burned him. 

Again Zara stopped him when he would have fled to his room where he would have spent the night berating himself for his mistake. “You had a nightmare, its not your fault. You’re bleeding.”

He touched a hand to his head, it came away sticky. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Its okay, I can do it,” Zara said softly. 

Why was she being so nice to him? So understanding? He could have killed her. “I can do it myself,” he growled, needing to get away from her before he hurt her again.

Zara flinched at his harsh tone but she didn’t back down. Her eyes met his, her skin glowing white in the moonlight, her long hair loose around her shoulders. “I want to help, I’m the one who hit you. I’m not afraid of you, Adam,” she said softly. 

Stupid woman. 

Stupid, stupid woman. 

She had no idea what he’d done, what he was capable of doing. 

Adam met her gaze just as squarely. “You should be.”