Alyssa

It's cold, so cold and wet. What's going on? What's on me? It feels like a person but I can't see who it is. It's too dark, why is it do dark? Where am I? Where's the light?

I pushed whatever was on top of me off and finally found the switch. The room was so bright and I could see. What I saw when the lights came on made me wish I just left the room dark.

Laying on the floor in front of me was Nathan with a hole in his chest, blood seeping out of it to the floor. I was horrified. Nathan was dead. His grey eyes were open and lifeless. He was sprawled on the floor of the empty room we were in.

I felt hot tears roll down my cheeks as I stared at my husband's body, wondering who would do this. I realized the reason I was so wet was because I was drenched in his blood.

Blood. Nathan's blood. No. No. No. No. No. No. NO!!

A sharp scream distracted me from my shock. I couldn't see anyone else in the room, only a door presumably leading outside.

I forced my legs to the door and pushed it open only to be met by more and more doors in a long hallway. All the doors looked the same and everywhere was quiet till the scream echoed.

It sounded so familiar.

My legs moved on their own accord in the direction I presume the scream was from. It got louder and louder as I got closer to a door at the end of the hallway.

Unlike the others, it was wide open and I could see who was screaming. Oliver was bound to a table, laying on his back with his shirt ripped open. The room was dark but the light from the hall let me see his terrified face.

“Mommy help!” He cried, thrashing against his bonds.

I moved to take a step closer but was held back by my arm. I looked back to see who was holding my back and met Christopher's demonic smirk.

With a gasp, I whipped my head back to Oliver who stared frightfully at Christopher while someone emerged from the shadows behind him.

Mirroring her father's smile, Hailey held a large, red-hot knife in her hand and crept behind my son. He looked up at her and screamed for me again, struggling even more.

I fought against Christopher's grasp but he only held me tighter, pinning me to the floor. I could only cry and watch helplessly as Hailey drew her hand up and plunged it down, right where his heart would be.

******

I jolted up, fighting against the arms wrapped around me.

Let me go. Let me go!

I was still crying, crying to be let out of Christopher's arms, praying he doesn't kill me as well. It wasn't until I heard a calming voice that I relaxed and let the person hold me to their muscled chest.

“It's okay, Love. It was just a bad dream.”

A dream? It was just a dream? Everyone's okay? No one's dead?

He placed his chin on my head, smoothening my hair. “I'm right here, it wasn't real.”

I held him tight, sobbing violently into his chest, relieved he wasn't dead. I was just a nightmare.

Where's Oliver?

I pulled away from Nathan and rushed across the hall, throwing Oliver's door open. He's not here. Where is he?

They got him.

No it was all a dream!

Then where is he?

I felt a presence behind me and whirled around to meet Nathan's worried eyes. “Where's Oliver?”

“He's at Israel's for a sleepover, remember? You dropped him off.” He answered slightly, confused.

“I need to talk to him.”

“You can't not now. Why don't you come back to bed?” He reached out to me but I pushed his hands away.

“I want to talk to him. NOW!!” Why can't he understand, I just want to make sure he's okay?

“Well, you can't, it's two in the morning, he'll be asleep by now. How about we call him later, when we're sure he's awake?”

I shook my head furiously. I want to talk to him now, Now, NOW!

“Come back to bed, Love, you need to sleep.” He offered.

“No.” Was my stubborn reply.

He let out an exasperated sigh. “Why not?”

“I want to talk to Oliver.”

I knew he was getting frustrated with me but I didn't care. I want to speak to my son. “You can't, I've already explained it's too early for that, you'll definitely speak to him later but not now. Please come back to bed now.”

I stood my ground, crossing my arms over my chest. He clenched his jaw and muttered how he was ‘done with this’ before he took hold of me, holding me tight to his chest.

“No!” I shouted, struggling against him.

My legs hit a lot of things as I kicked them while Nathan dragged me into our room. He pushed me onto the bed, closing my window of opportunity by trapping my legs between his thighs.

He held my arms down and no matter how I tried, I couldn't get away from him. His eyes glared at me as I attempted squirming away.

“You're going to hurt yourself, please stop.” Despite his anger, he spoke gently, noticing my sharp nails digging into my palms. “I'll let you go when I'm sure you're calm. I won't hurt you, you are in no danger, just calm down.”

He kept whispering those things to my and soon enough, I stopped resisting. As per his promise, he cautiously released my arms and legs, taking two steps away.

I just layed there, not doing anything. I didn't know what to do. I was frozen. I couldn't think, I couldn't move, I just breathed.

Wordlessly, Nathan bundled me in his arms so he could lay under me before placing me by his side, practically on him. He cuddled me, playing with my hair in an effort to get me to sleep but it didn't work. The silence lulled him to sleep.

I didn't do anything after he fell asleep, I didn't sleep off myself. I stayed awake the rest of the night  and watched the sun rise through our curtains. Nathan woke up not long after that.

He didn't say anything at first and just ran his fingers over my back then my stomach. I was well into my third month of my pregnancy and didn't feel sick in the mornings like I use to. My stomach had gotten bigger and I've gained a little weight which was normal in pregnancies. We'll find out the gender of the baby in a few days.

“Feeling okay now?” Nathan enquired after a minutes of silence.

I nodded in a lie. I felt like death. The sleep I didn't get was taking it's toll on me and my I had a splitting headache and my entire body ached.

“Do you want to tell me what your nightmare was all about?” I shook my head, just watching the curtains. “Are you sure you're fine?”

A nod was my answer.

“Did you sleep well?”

Another nod.

“Are you still tired?”

I'm exhausted. Again, I nodded, not wanting to say anything.

His only response was turning on his side so my head rested on his arm while his other hand tangled in my hair. I couldn't fight the sleep much longer and was soon unconscious.

I was up hours later but alone. I suspected Nathan was in the living room or kitchen judging by the smell of food.

I managed to get myself into the shower and put on a pair of sweatpants and one of Nathan's hoodies. It was big and much more comfortable than mine. With my hair in a messy bun, I made my way to the kitchen with the hopes that the food was at least almost ready.

“Good afternoon, Mrs Graham.” Fabrice, our chef, greeted with a friendly smile.

“Afternoon.” I returned, plopping on an island chair.

Moments later, a bowl of Mac and cheese was placed in front of me with a glass of juice. I thanked him before digging into my meal, suppressing a moan when I tasted the food. I ate much faster than I usually do mainly because I was hungry and the food was so good.

Thanking Fabrice, I exited the kitchen in search of my husband. On the way, I saw Ruth and Meridith, the maids Nathan convinced me to let him hire. They greeted me and I answered, asking if they had seen Nathan.

“I saw him going to his office, ma'am.” Meridith replied.

Of course you did, little stalker.

It wasn't unknown to Oliver and I that Meridith was attracted to Nathan. The man simply laughed when I told him, saying it was only an attraction that was not mutual.

I joined him in his office, opening the door as he put his phone down, probably just finished with a work call. I frowned at that. He promised he wouldn't work on Sundays.

“It wasn't work.” It was as if he read my mind. “I just called your doctor to confirm the ultrasound date.”

I didn't say anything to that. He tapped his lap as an invitation and of course, I took it. While I was there, he told me that he had planned something for us and it was a surprise.

I welcomed the prospect of spending some time with him and gladly changed to jeans and a blouse. I even did my makeup and put on a pretty pair of flats.

We got in our Audi and drove off. Halfway there, Nathan handed me a blindfold and I put it on. He guided me out of he car and through a few doors. When we stopped walking, he was behind me and I told me to take the blindfold off. I was confused to see that I was in a room, like an office.

“Nathan?” I called, looking around for him.

I tried opening the door behind me only to find out it was locked. What's going on? Where am I? I banged my hands on the door desperately, called for Nathan continuously.

The door was hard wood and made my hand hurt as I hit it. The room was dark, the only light coming from under the door. With my confusion, I was afraid, making up the worst scenarios in my head.

Maybe he abandoned me, he doesn't want me or my problems anymore.

A door at the other end of the room opened, grabbing my attention. I heard footsteps coming out and a person gasp.

“Oh dear, I didn't know the lights were off, sorry about that.” A female voice said before the lights came on.

It was a relief to be able to see where I was and who was with me. I was in an office only that instead of the regular desk and and chairs, there were two couches that faced each other.

The woman who put the lights on looked middle aged with dark skin. Her eyes were dark and friendly and her hair was greying.

She approached me slowly with a hand extended to help me up. I eyes it cautiously before standing up on my own.

“Who are you?” I demanded.

“I'm Amanda Richardson, you might know my husband. Please have a seat.” She gestured to the longer couch as she walked to the shorter one.

I didn't sit down, I didn't know what is was doing here and just because I knew her husband didn't mean I would trust her blindly.

“I'm not going to hurt you,  Alyssa.” She assured. “I'm here to help.”

“How do you know my name?”

“I'm a psychologist. Nathan said you needed my help.” She answered.

The last time Nathan suggested taking me to see a psychologist, I refused vehemently. I didn't see any reason I needed one, I didn't have any problems and I wasn't crazy. I don't need a someone picking my brain for issues that weren't there.

“I don't need your help.” I voiced.

“Your husband seems to think you do. He's worried about you, why not try talking to me for a few minutes. If you don't feel like it's working, I'll call him to pick you up.”

“Just call him now because I don't need your help.”

“Why do you think that?”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Because I am not crazy.”

She had the nerve to chuckle. “Psychologists aren't just for crazy people. Would you say Oliver's crazy?”

I stared at her questioningly but shook my head. What does she know about him?

“I had a few sessions with him some months ago. I'm sure he told you that he was bullied in his previous school.” He expression suddenly dampened. “I diagnosed him with depression, can you imagine that? A depressed four year old. He was depressed but not crazy. You are not here because anyone thinks your crazy, you are here because you have something troubling you.”

I took a moment to take what she said in. Oliver had depression? But he doesn't seem like he did, he's as happy as a child his age would be.

Maybe she's lying.

Maybe she's not. Oliver did sound pretty distraught when he mentioned times he was bullied and hates seeing anyone getting picked on.

“Maybe you should sit down.” this time I took her off and sat on the opposite seat. “We don't have to talk about anything serious right now, let's get to know each other first.”

We spent the next few minutes talking about random things. Well, she was talking while I was just nodding and speaking only when I needed to. I learned that she had three children, all boys and only one of them was black.

Somehow, the conversation turned to my parents and their death and having began trusting her a bit, I divulged some details.

“So Nathan told me you had quite the episode last night, do you want to tell me about that?” I shook my head. “Why not?”

I replied in a low voice. “You're going to think I'm crazy.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Maybe, because I am. I have episodes and nightmares, I wake up screaming most nights and  wake everybody up. We had to have Oliver go for a sleepover so he'd get a good night sleep and he won't be worried why his mommy screams at night.”

She got off her seat and came to sit next to me, holding a tissue up. It took it gratefully and began wiping my eyes. “You are not crazy, but you do have a problem which can be fixed and the sooner you admit it the quicker you can get help.”

I sniffed. “Okay, I guess I do need help.”

“I'll be glad to be the person who gives you that help. Is that what you want?” I nodded at her. “Okay. I think we've made enough progress for today, I'll see you twice a week and you can call me anytime you want. I'll tell Nathan to come pick you up.”

I waited while she called Nathan and we spoke a little before he arrived. We were already outside where I figured was Amanda's house when he pulled up to the driveway.

He shot me a tight-lipped smile as a way of asking if I was okay to which I replied with a smile of my own. He took no time in pressing a kiss to my head and hugging me.

We said a quick goodbye to Amanda after fixing my next appointment with her before Nathan helped me into the car and drove off.

“Nathan?” I called, breaking the silence. “Thank you.”

He slipped his hand into mine and kissed the back of it. “What for?”

“Trying to help me even when I was being impossible.”

He chortled. “Always.”

Author's Note:

Hey guys. Thanks for reading another chapter. I hope you liked it. Do you have any requests? If you do please comment here and I'll be sure to try to incorporate them.

Thanks again for reading. Don't forget to vote and comment ❤️❤️.

-E