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TITLE: Something Lost, Something Found. By : Aryea CHAPTER 15 Sydney was startled awake by the sound of Nigel’s cries. She stumbled off the sofa, where she had been napping, and hurried to his room, only half awake and preparing to do battle with whomever might be harming her friend. Nigel had fallen from the bed and was still crying out, as if in great pain. He was holding his head, his face screwed up in the agony of his nightmare. Sydney dropped to the floor and put her arms around him. “Nigel! Nigel, wake up! It’s Sydney, wake up!” Nigel seemed to startle awake, it was so hard to tell with his eyes bandaged, and then he whispered. “Sydney?” “I’m here, Nige. I’m right here.” “It’s so dark, Syd. I can’t see, it’s so dark! Where are you? SYD!” Sydney was kneeling on the floor; Nigel curled against her, clinging to his only lifeline in the darkness that consumed him. She suspected that he was still trapped in whatever nightmare he was having and was not quite awake yet. His hands started to claw at his bandages as he made frantic noises of distress. She caught his hands and brought them to her face. “Here I am, Nigel. See, I’m right here. Wake up.” Nigel’s fingers caressed her face, desperately at first, and then softly, as if memorizing her features with his fingertips. “Sydney? Oh God, Syd, you’re alive!” Sydney was startled as he threw his arms around her. “I thought you were dead. I thought you were dead.” Sydney hugged him hard and rubbed his back, distressed that he had been reliving her supposed death again. “No, I’m right here. I’m okay, we’re both okay, Nigel.” Nigel pulled back just a bit and somehow, whether by instinct or by accident, his mouth found hers. Sydney was too stunned to react at first, and by the time she recovered from her shock, the kiss was over and Nigel was hugging her again. “Don’t ever die, Syd-don’t leave me. Everyone leaves me, everyone dies.” His words caused a lump to form in her throat. “Nigel, are…are you awake?” “I couldn’t stand it,” he muttered again as his hands rubbed her back, assuring himself that she was real. “I’d die, Syd. I’d die with you.” “Hush, Nigel. I know, I know.” She rocked him in her arms, convinced that he was still asleep and therefore couldn’t be responsible for his words or actions. “It’s okay. I’ll never leave you, never ever.” Nigel calmed down after a few minutes and seemed to settle back into a more peaceful sleep. Sydney knew that she should put him back in bed, but she was afraid the movement would wake him. Besides, she rather enjoyed holding him and rocking him. “Syd?” He was awake, Sydney could immediately tell by the caution and confusion in his tone. “Yeah, Nige?” Nigel started to pull back. “What…why are you…where?” “You were having a nightmare,” Sydney explained calmly, as she helped him to his feet. “You fell out of bed. Are you okay?” Nigel reached back, felt for the mattress, and then sank down upon it. He put his hand to his head and winced. “Did I hit my head?” “I don’t think so.” Sydney switched on the bedside lamp to check for injury. “Does it hurt?” “Some, yes.” Sydney couldn’t see any bruising or swelling, so his headache was probably from the stress of his dream. “Looks okay. Want some aspirin?” Nigel shook his head, and she could sense him withdrawing. “I’m fine. Thanks. I…didn’t mean to be a bother.” Sydney dropped down beside him. “You’re not a bother, Nigel.” Nigel was silent. “Do you want to talk about your dream?” “I don’t remember it.” Sydney knew that he was lying but decided not to press the point. “Are you hungry? I could reheat some pizza?” “Has Preston gone?” he asked instead. “Yes, but I have his room number at the hotel. Did you want to give him a call?” “Um…no.” Sydney found the length of Nigel’s hesitation before answering, promising. Perhaps there was hope for the brothers after all. “Do you want to come out and watch some T.V?” She winced the moment she said it. “I…I mean…” Nigel led her off the hook. “No, I don’t want to watch television, Syd.” “Want to go for a walk around the block? It’s a nice evening.” Nigel shook his head. “No, thanks anyway, Syd. You…you don’t have to entertain me, I’m okay. Really.” He started to lay back. “I’ll…I’ll just go back to sleep.” Sydney scowled. Preston had mentioned that Nigel spent most of his time in his room, whether sleeping or listening to music. She wasn’t about to allow that. “Nigel, you’ve slept enough.” She pulled him back into a sitting position. “Come on, we’ll go for a walk. You haven’t been outside once since we got back, have you?” “I…I went to the doctor…” Sydney smirked and retrieved Nigel’s boots. “Not the same.” She dropped the boots by his feet. “Here, put those on.” He bent to pull on the footwear, following her orders were still second nature for him, despite losing his sight. “Syd, I really….” His words were cut off as an article of clothing hit him lightly in the face. “Hey!” “There’s your jacket, it’s nice, but it’s not quite summer yet.” Nigel grumbled as he shrugged into his jacket and pulled down the hem of his white Henley shirt. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Sydney!” There was no response, so he assumed that she had left the room. Good, maybe she’d leave him alone. He flopped back on the bed, just as Sydney said. “Nigel!” Nigel bounced off the bed. “For the love of God, what?” She’d scared the daylights out of him; he thought he’d been alone. Sydney grabbed his arm and handed him his cane. Nigel tossed the cane back on the floor. “I don’t want that bloody thing and I’m not going for a walk!” Sydney shrugged. “Suit yourself, but I’m going out. See you.” Nigel folded his arms across his chest as he heard his bedroom door close. Good, let her go. He wanted to be alone anyway. He dropped back on the bed, stubbornly and sat there as the silence surrounded him. He started to feel anxious; Sydney wouldn’t really leave him alone, would she? Surely not after Preston made her come to stay with him, so that he wouldn’t be left alone? “Well, what of it?” he asked aloud. “I can take care of myself, anyway.” He hadn’t wanted Preston or Sydney here in the first place. However, the more he sat there, trapped in his silence and darkness, the more apprehensive he became. Sydney didn’t really leave, she wouldn’t. She was just out in the living room, waiting for him to charge out there like a scared little rabbit. Well, he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. “I won’t!” he confirmed to himself. He sat there a minute longer before he heard his voice betray him. “Syd?” No answer. “Sydney?” She didn’t leave. Did she? Well, he wanted to be left alone right? He sat there in the darkness and the silence. How could she leave him alone? He was blind! He groped for his cane and found his way to the door, tossing it open. “Sydney!” “About time,” Sydney replied, startling him at her nearness. “Ready to go?” Nigel fumed. “You tricked me!” Sydney wrapped his free hand through her arm. “It worked didn’t it?” “That was cruel. I thought you’d really left!” She squeezed his hand as she guided him to the front door. “I promised I’d never leave you, Nigel. I meant it.” Nigel flushed, both angry and pleased, simultaneously. “Yes…well…Where are we going on this bloody walk anyway?” “Just around the block, the fresh air will do you good.” Nigel meekly followed her out of the apartment.
Continued in the sequel: ‘And the blind shall see.’ |
