#us60

Shane pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed.

“You don’t have to do this,” Najia muttered.

“Harvey says you need to be monitored.”

“Whatever.” She sighed and attempted to settle into the bed. Despite her exhaustion, her mind seemed to be on full alert. Her pulse felt uneven and anxiety twisted in her chest. Her fingers scratched at the sheets until Shane’s hand found hers.

“Am I doing the right thing?” she asked softly.

Shane hesitated. “I don’t think I can give you an unbiased answer. Everything you do is stupid to me.”

Najia turned her gaze to the ceiling. “It’s been six months since the invasion, and I’m still waiting to wake up from this nightmare. It just keeps getting worse.”

“You’ll just have to stop leaving the valley.”

“And let you guys have all the fun?” She forced a smile.

“Let me know when the fun starts,” he muttered.

“If you take away the darkness, the war, and the possibility of death constantly at your doorstep, it has been kind of fun. Like a road trip across the country.”

“A road trip with a really annoying stranger.” Shane returned her smile.

“You said you wouldn’t change any of it.”

Shane pinched his lips together as he considered this. “Maybe some of it.” He hesitated. “I could have really done without the Taylor Swift songs.”

Najia rolled onto her side. Her smile disappeared. “I wish I knew what to do. I wish someone could tell me what to do.”

“Not getting killed is a good start,” Shane said.

Najia shrugged. “I’ll try.”

“Najia.” Shane hesitated.

“You should go home,” she said quickly.

Shane shook his head. “You know I’m not doing that.”

“You’re going to say something stupid again.”

“I don’t say stupid things,” Shane growled.

“You do all the time.”

“Why do you have to be so difficult?”

“Because,” Najia said. She hesitated. “Because-”

Shane pressed his lips against hers. Najia’s heart lept in her throat as he lingered against her for a moment.

“What was that for?” she asked softly when he pulled away.

“To shut you up.”

Najia sighed softly through her nose and closed her eyes. “I’m too tired to argue with you.”

*****

A chilling sensation moved over her skin, seeping through and touching her bones. It grew quickly colder as it seemed to deepen inside of her, moving through her body and freezing her organs in its wake. The cold clutched at her heart like boney fingers. It squeezed at her lungs until they ached painfully in her chest. Her breathing grew short and forced until she was left gasping for air that wasn’t there.

She watched herself collapse to the floor, alone in the darkest darkness she had ever endured. A single trail of blood fell from her eye like a tear as she continued to gasp on the floor. Her fingers reached and scratched at the surface in an attempt to pull her out of the danger she was in. Najia watched the creature dying on the ground with cold, dead eyes. She felt nothing as she watched and waited.

“Kill her,” Nox whispered in her ear. His voice shot a calming wave through her body and she sighed.

“Kill her.”

Najia lifted the seemingly weightless sword with one hand. She caught her own fearful gaze, pleading with herself. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the sword in both hands and stepped over her target. She brought the sword down hard into her chest, holding her gaze, watching as her eyes darkened.

Something was restraining her. She couldn’t move. And there was something loud. Very loud.

She opened her eyes and it was quiet. Her screaming stopped. Shane’s strong arms wrapped around her as she panted. Her hair was drenched with sweat. Her fingers clutched at his hands, her nails digging into her palms until they started to bleed. She looked down at the tiny drops of blood and pulled her hands away violently, gasping.

“What-what happened?” she sobbed.

“Hey,” Shane whispered to her. “I’m here. I’m here.”

Najia’s eyes darted around the dark room as her heart raced slowed. She shook violently in Shane’s arms and he pulled her closer to him. She relaxed against his chest and sobbed. She heard footsteps coming towards them. She squeezed her eyes shut as the images flashed in her mind. She heard Harvey’s voice, but could not make out his words.

“No,” Shane said sternly. “No drugs.”

Najia’s body shuttered as she gasped, her breathing still uneven. Shane’s arms tightened around her.

Harvey’s fingers found the pulse in her neck. “I wish she’d let me hook her up,” he muttered.

“No wires,” Najia sobbed quietly.

“I know,” he cooed to her. “I promise.”

Shane’s arms pulled away. Najia whimpered as the warmth of his body moved away from her. She curled up against the bed, her eyes still tightly closed as Shane’s hand found hers. His voice sounded too quiet and distant as he spoke to Harvey.

“I don’t know.” Harvey’s voice was heavy with regret. “This could last the rest of her life.”

“There has to be something you can do.”

“Let’s give her a chance.”

Footsteps moved away from her to the other side of the room. A door closed softly. A body moved beside her, sitting on the bed. Shane swung his legs up, pulling Najia to him.

“Don’t leave,” Najia whimpered.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly. His fingers brushed against her cheek. “I promise.”

*****

Najia squinted in the early morning light. She blinked quickly as she took in her surroundings, her mind refocusing on reality. She was home. She was safe. Her eyes moved to Shane, meeting his gaze.

“Hi,” she said softly.

Shane smiled. “Hi.”

Najia hesitated. “Why are you still here?”

His smile disappeared. “Fine.” He pulled away, but Najia pulled him back. She lay her head against his chest and sighed.

“Did you sleep?” she asked.

“Probably less than you did.”

“You should go home.”

“I’m here as long as you need me.”

Najia stared at the equipment beside the bed. “I don’t want to be here anymore,” she said quietly.

“Okay,” he said. “Where do you want to go?”

Najia hesitated. “I don’t know.” She pushed herself up and looked around the room.

Shane swung his legs over the bed and stretched. “I’ll go tell Doc we’re getting out of here.”

Najia stared out the window as Shane disappeared in the other room. He and Harvey emerged a moment later. Harvey’s smile was bright as Najia met his gaze.

“How are you feeling?” he asked her as he grabbed the stethoscope from around his neck. It was cold against her skin.

“Can I go?” she mumbled.

“I know I’m not the most exciting person in the world,” Harvey said. “But I didn’t think my company was that excruciating.”

Najia stared at him blankly, waiting for an answer.

Harvey hesitated, then sighed. “Yes, you may go.”

Najia swung her legs over the bed and got to her feet. She hesitated, as if expecting herself to collapse, then moved towards the door and stepped out into the cool, early morning air.

Shane walked beside her as she walked down the dirt road towards the cabin. It was empty. She stopped in the middle of the room, eyeing the two rifles in the corner carefully.

“What do you want to do?” Shane asked carefully.

Najia pulled her shirt over her head and shimmied out of her jeans.

Shane turned around quickly. “You know, I can go…”

Najia grunted as she pulled a fresh t-shirt over her head and shoulders. Shane turned around again as she buttoned her jeans. She grabbed the clothes off the floor and tossed them into the unlit fireplace. She stared at them as if expecting them to jump back out. In her mind, a fire ignited, burning violently, flames flickering, reaching out towards her.

Najia backed away quickly until Shane’s body stopped her. Her knees gave out as she fell into him, shaking and sobbing. Shane held her close, his head resting against hers as he whispered in her ear.