CHAPTER 055 : Make It Stop Knoxwalksoverwithoutaword,climbsintothe bed,andpullsmeintohim.Onearmdrapesovermywaist,theotherreachesoutandturnsoffthebedsidelamp.
Darknessfillstheroom.
Icanfeelthethumpofhisheartbeneathmycheek.
Islidemyhanddown,fingerstrailingthehemofhisshirtandthenslippingbeneat.Hisskinishot,tightovermuscle.Ikeepgoing,dippingunderthewaistbandofhispants.Theelasticsnapsasmywristslips pastit.
IfindwhatImlookingforwithnoeffort.
Hardalready.Justfrombeingclose.
ThepartofhimthatsruinedmemoretimesthanIcancount.Thepartthatmakesmeforgetmynamewhenitsinsideme.
Ittwitchesinresponsetomy touch,likeitsgreetingme.Likeitremembersmetoo.
Myfingersgrazethepiercing,andeveninthedark,Icanfeelhisbreathhitch.Justasmallbreakintherhythm,acrackinthe calm.
God,Ilovethat.
Didithurtwhenyougotpierced? Somewhat.
Whydyougetit? BecauseIlikepain.AndbecauseIliketogivepleasure.
Ismirk,butbeforeIcangofurther,hegrabsmywristandpullsmyhandout,placingitflat againsthisstomach.
What? Iwhisper.Iwasntdoneexploring.
Gotobed,Sloane.
Wait.Youreseriouslyplanningtosleep? Whatelsedoyoudoonabed? Things.
Youreahornylittlething,arentyou? Maybe.
Hekissesmyforehead.Thatsgreatandall,buttonight…youre sleeping.
Ipout,butayawnslipsoutbeforeIcan argue.Traitorousbody.
See?hemurmurs.Icantmaulatiredwoman.
Yourdickwillputmetobed.
Youknowwhatelsewould? What? Alullaby.

Myheadlifts.Youregoingtosingtome? ItsasongIlearnedinthearmy.
Thearmy?Youserved? Mmhmm.
Andthen,outofnowhere,hebeginstosing.
Themelodyislowandstrange.Thelanguageisfamiliar,butIcantplaceit.Surprisingly,hisdeepvoiceisnotashorribleasIexpectedittobe.
Whatsthatlanguage?Iwhisper.
Russian, hesays.Learneditfromabunkmate.Hesaiditremindedhimofhisdaughter.See,hiswifewasRussian,sheusuallyputtheirdaughtertobedwiththesong.Sobeforeheslentbeingiteverynight.Drovetherestofusc.
Butovertime,itstuck.
Yousingitnow? Inremembranceofhim.
Hedied? 1/3 Successfullyunlocked! CHAPTER055:MakeItStopKnoxgoesquiet.
Happens,hefinallysays.
How? Wewerecaptured.
BeforeIcanaskanythingelse,beforeIcanprodtheedgesofthatwoundhejustcasuallyrevealed,hestartssingingagain.Samemelody.Same lowhumofsyllablesIcantquitemakeout.
IrecognizetheweightofgriefwhenIhearit,though.Itsinthewayhisvoicedips, thenswellsagainlikehestryingtokeepit steady.
SoIdontinterrupt.
Idontspeak.
Ijustlaythereandlethimsing.
Letthesoftrumbleofhischestagainstmycheeklullmeintosleep.
Myfingerscurlintothefabricofhisshirt.
Iclosemyeyesandbreathehimin.Hisarmcurls around me,histhumbbrushinglazycirclesalongmyspine.
Idontknowwhat thisisbetweenusthisstrange,magneticthing.Itsnotlove,notyet.Butitsnotlustanymoreeither.
Itsterrifying.
Ifallasleeplikethatpressedagainsthisbody,surroundedbyRussianlullabiesandquietgrief, andthoughtsIdonthavenamesfor.

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

Thoughtslike:Iveneverfeltsaferinmylife.
AndIdontthinkIeverwanttoleave.
Iwaketotrembling.
Atfirst,Ithinkitsme.
Adream,maybe.Butthen Ifeelitagain.Notmine.
Him.
Knox.
Hisbodyjerksbeneathme,notviolently,butenoughtoshakethemattress.Hischestistightagainstmyneck,andIcanfeelthetensioninhimtightlikeapulledwirereadytosnap.
Ishiftslowly,raisingmyheadtofacehiminthedark.Ireachforwardandturnonthelamp.Hisfaceistwisted,caughtsomewherebetweenpain andfear.Lipsparted.Eyesmovingunderclosedlids.ButitsnotthetypicaltwitchofREMsleep.
Itstoostill.Tootense.
No…hemurmurs,breathless.No.Makeitstop.Makeitstop… Hiswholebodyflinches.
Knox,Iwhisper,reachingout,mypalmfindinghisshoulder.Knox,wakeup.
Noresponse.
Justasharpexhaleandanothertremble.Sweatbeadsathistemple.Hishandsarefistedinthesheets.Hisbreathingturnsshallow,rapid.
Knox,Isayagain,louderthistime,shakinghim.Knox,wakeupplease.
Buthiseyessnapopenandtheyrewrong.
Allwhite.
Nopupils.Noblack.Just…white.
I freeze.
Hesnotawake.Icanfeelitinmygut.Seeitinhisblank,focusedstare.Hestrappedsomewhereelse.Some memnightmaresodeepitsclawedhimopen.
Makeitstop,hesays,again.Hisvoiceisarasp.Hishandssuddenlyshootout.
Hepinsme.

-zistecaughtbeneathhispalms,pressedintothe CHAPTER 055:MakeItStop Whosentyou?hegrowls.
Knox,Iwhisper,heartpounding.Itsme.ItsSloane.
Hiseyesstayempty.
Whosentyou?hesaysagain,louderthistime.Answermel Mybrainscrambles.Mybodytenses.Hesstrongerthanmewaystrongerandthewayhesholdingmedown,thewayhischestheaveslikehesstillstuckonabattlefielditterrifiesme.
Knox,please,Isay,tryingtokeepmyvoicesteady.Itsokay.Youresafe.Youredreaming.Itsjustadream.
Hishandstightenaroundmywrists.Iwince.
ThisisnotKnox.
Notthemanwhokissesmyforeheadinthedark.
NotthemanwhosingslullabiesinRussianandarrangesshoeslikeamonk, Thisissomethingelse.Somethinghesfoughttobury.
Anditssurfacingnowthroughme.
Myheartisthrashinginmyribs.Icantmove.Cantscream.ButItryagainanyway.Knox,Isaylouderthistime.Lookatme! Heflinches.
The whitesofhiseyesflicker.Hisgriploosensslightly.
Itsme,Isay.Sloane.Bunny.Youre home.Yourenotthereanymore.Youresafe.
Silence.
Thenhisbodyshakesagain,likesomethingsbreakinginsidehim.Aharsh,lowbreathleaveshim,andhisweightcollapses-justbarely,justenoughfor metoshiftonewristfreeand cuphisface.
Hisjawisclenchedtight.Hiseyesblink,hard,twiceandthen,finally,theblackreturns.
Focus.
Recognition.
Andhorror.
Heblinksatme,panting.Fuck.
His entirebody pullsawaylikehesbeenburned.Hescramblesback,nearlyfallingoffthe bed,onehandpressedtohischest,theothershaking intheairlikehesnotsurewhatsreal.
IIdidntmeanto-Hisvoicebreaks.Helookslikehesabout tobesick.