Y/N's POV
I was about to collapse—my knees gave out, my vision blurred, and everything felt like it was spinning into blackness. But just before I hit the ground, arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
"Y/N?! What happened?! Oh no—no, no!" James's voice cracked with panic as he held me up.
"James... help me..." I whispered, barely able to get the words out between my sobs. My throat was raw, my heart thudding like it wanted to escape my chest.
"Y/N, please—talk to me. What happened? Why are you acting like this? I'm here. Look at me!" He tried to steady me, his voice trembling.
I couldn't. My eyes were burning, swollen. I felt cold, like death had brushed its fingers against my spine. He picked me up like I weighed nothing and carried me to the couch in the living room, gently placing me down.
"Baby, look at me." He tapped my cheek, desperate. "Stay with me, okay?"
A sprinkle of cold water hit my skin. My eyes fluttered open. He was crying now, holding me tightly against his chest like he was afraid I'd disappear.
"Y/N, please—please talk to me. I'm scared. What I just saw—" His voice cracked. "You looked dead."
I clutched his shirt, my hands trembling uncontrollably. "James... someone's trying to kill me."
He froze.
"What? What the hell are you talking about—who?!"
I shook my head, my fingers digging into his arm. "I-I don't know... but I heard him. I heard his voice. He was here, James. He was in the house."
He looked at me like I was losing my mind.
"Y/N... I think... you had a nightmare."
"No, James!" I cried harder, my breath hitching. But he pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead.
"Don't worry. I'm not leaving you alone tonight. Let's go. I'll sleep beside you. You're safe with me."
He guided me into my room, holding me like I'd shatter. He laid me down, brushing the hair from my face. Just as I was about to speak—
"What are these?" he asked, holding up the bottle of pills from my nightstand.
My stomach dropped.
"Th-that... the doctor gave them to me."
He looked closer. "Sleeping pills? Did you take one tonight?"
I nodded slowly.
He sighed. "Y/N... that's it. You had a nightmare. It's just the medicine messing with your head."
"No, I didn't imagine it!" I tried to sit up, but he gently pushed me back down and climbed into bed beside me, wrapping his arms around me tightly.
"Shh... I'm here. You're okay now. Sleep. We have to get up early for the engagement. I'll protect you, okay?"
He kissed my cheek. I felt his hand softly stroking my hair.
I closed my eyes, but my mind screamed.
He won't believe me. No one will.
Who can I tell?
Kayden? No… he'll insist I move in with him and that'll piss off Mr. Annoying
Emma and Max? No. They're wrapped up in their fairytale love story. I just ruin there precious time.
James? He thinks it's just a dream. A damn dream. Idiot
But it wasn't.
It was real. I heard him. Felt him. The breath on my neck… the whisper... the cold hands.
Only one name lingered in my mind.
Kay. Maybe he'll believe me. Maybe he'll help. I should try to talk with him
I tightened my grip around James, pretending for his sake that I was calm… but inside, I was breaking.
I just had to survive until after the engagement.
And pray that he didn't come back before then.
---
Peck. Peck. Peck. Peck. Peck.
Something ticklish danced on my cheek. I groaned and cracked one eye open.
"Aaah—what are you doing?" I grumbled.
James grinned, still hovering over me. "Waking you up, Sleeping Beauty."
I rubbed my cheek like he'd left an invisible stamp. "And who told you that this was a normal way to wake someone up?"
He shrugged dramatically. "My mom. She said morning pecks make a person's whole day better."
I blinked. Then sighed. Then burst out laughing. "Oh really? So do you peck every guy who's overslept too?"
James gasped like I'd just accused him of a felony. "Excuse me?! No! It's only for my Sleeping Beauty."
He chuckled, proud of himself. I shook my head, still half-asleep. "Okay, okay. But if my day goes terribly, I'm kicking your ass, James."
He froze, eyes wide. "W-What? Hey! That's not fair!"
I smirked. "Then if it goes well, you want a reward or something?"
James straightened up, smug. "Obviously. I deserve something for being this charming in the morning."
I hurled a pillow at his face. It hit with a satisfying thump.
"I'm getting up, we need to go."
He pulled the pillow down, pouting dramatically. "Fine, I'll go home and grab a change of clothes, then come back."
I stepped into the bathroom, still smiling from James's ridiculous morning routine. A warm bath sounded like heaven. I let the water wash off the chaos and sleep, then changed into a pair of comfy sweatpants and an oversized hoodie.
Feeling relaxed, I picked up my phone and saw a missed call from Kayden. I tapped to call him back, and he picked up almost instantly.
"Hey," he said, his voice sounding slightly tired. "So... today's your day off?"
"Yeah," I replied, flopping onto the couch. "Do you need something?"
Kayden sighed. "No. I just...miss you. It's been a crazy day over here."
I smiled, even though he couldn't see it. "Really? Well, tomorrow's Sunday."
"Exactly! I was thinking we should meet up."
I paused, teasing him. "Umm... I'll think about it."
There was a dramatic gasp on the other end. "Y/N, please meet me, okay? Or I swear I'll come to your place and bother you. If you're friend kill me I don't mind!!!"
"Yeah, yeah," I said with a smirk. "I'll think about it."
Kayden laughed. "Okay, okay. Mr. Ben just walked in—gotta go!" I hung up
------