Page 12 of Saved By the Lieutenant
“You think you ruined my plans?” he sneers, his anger morphing into a cruel smile. “I had everything calculated perfectly until you interfered by connecting the murders.”
Tears stream down my face as I try to rip my arm from his hold. But it's no use. He's too powerful, too relentless. “You're a killer,” I sob, my voice trembling with fear and anger. “You deserve to be punished for the lives you've taken. Justice will catch up to you eventually.”
A malicious glint enters his eyes as he leans closer, his smirk twisted and deranged. “I doubt that,” he taunts. “You can't win, you know,” he sneers, his breath hot against my face. “You were always on my hit list. You were going to be my last one, but you ruined that, now the timeline has been moved up. It doesn’t matter, I’ll still get what I want.”
His words echo in my head. God, why does he sound so familiar, where do I know this man from?
The rage in his eyes as he gets back up terrifies me. With as much power as I can, I rip my arm from his grip and turn on my heel, running faster than I’ve ever ran in my life. I don’t look behind me, knowing that he’s right on my tail, that he’ll be ready to pounce the moment that he’s close to me. I won’t falter, I won’t let him get me.
“Amy,” I hear a voice call my name, it sounds distorted, like it’s underwater. “Amy, fuck, wake the fuck up.”
My body is being shaken and jolted, and I gasp for air as I bolt upright, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I'm drenched in sweat, and my eyes frantically search the room, trying to understand where I am and what just happened.
“Amy, it's okay, you're safe,” the distorted voice repeats, this time more soothing than before.
I blink rapidly, trying to clear my foggy vision and bring back my surroundings. I’m in the cabin, it’s Jake that's beside me. There's a small light on, making it easy for me to see everything around me. That small touch means so much. He pulled me from the nightmare and made sure I woke up to light.
“What happened?” I whisper, my voice still hoarse from the dream.
Jake takes a deep breath, looking into my eyes with concern. “You were having a nightmare, and I heard you calling out. I'm here to make sure you're okay.”
Tears stream down my face. It was a dream. God, it seemed so real. Jake hauls me against his body and I can feel the warmth and safety of his embrace. My heartbeat slows down as I catch my breath and let out a shaky sigh. I rest my head on his shoulder, just being in the moment. I need him right now, and I can’t think about the past, not right now.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice still shaking with the remnants of fear and adrenaline.
Jake strokes my hair gently and whispers, “It's alright, Amy. Everything is okay.”
I take a moment to gather myself, still feeling the effects of the nightmare. “It felt so real,” I whisper.
“I’m so damn sorry, baby, want to talk about it?”
I shake my head. Not right now, I can’t, it’s still lingering like a cloak around me.
“Okay,” he says softly as he lies down on the bed and pulls me down with him. “Sleep, Amy, I’m right here, no one is going to hurt you.”
I wish I could believe him, I really do, but right now, I'm still struggling with the aftermath of the attack, not to mention dealing with all the emotions of having Jake here with me. It's too much, I really can't deal right now, but I have no other choice than to continue forward.
Jake continues to hold me tightly, I should push him away, put some distance between us, but I can't, right now I need the support that he's offering me. I've been alone for the past two years, it was so damn hard to pick myself up after Jake walked away, but I did it, I won't let him hurt me like he did before. I know better now. But I need him for just tonight. I need to feel safe and as much as he hurt me, I'll always feel safe and protected in his arms.
“Sleep, Amy,” he says softly.
“I can't,” I whisper, my voice trembling with fear.
“Hey,” he says, tilting my chin up with his finger and thumb. “Talk to me, baby, let me help you.”
I swallow hard, I can't do this. I really can't talk about it, not right now.
“Amy,” he says tortured. “Please, let me help you.”
“I don't know how,” I confess. “I'm scared, I'm so damn scared. I just want to feel something other than fear.”
“Baby,” he swallows hard. “You're killing me right here.”
“Help me,” I beg. “I don't want to feel scared anymore.”
He pauses for a second, his gaze searching mine. For what? I don't know, but he must find something. He lowers his lips against mine and kisses me gently, slowly, as if trying to soothe me. As his lips touch mine, I can feel the warmth and comfort that I so desperately need, and I cling to him, returning the kiss with everything I have. With Jake it comes so naturally, it's so easy to fall back into something that made me feel complete and loved.
His hands cradle my face, and I can feel the gentleness in his touch. I want this. I want him. I want to feel safe, loved, and alive. I want to forget the memories of the nightmare that still lingers in my mind's eye. I want to pretend that the past two years never happened and that he didn't walk away without a second thought. I just want him. For tonight at least.
