I wake up with a start, heart pounding. I was laying in the road, Kaden had a hold on his brother's arm, who in turn had his fingers wrapped around Kaden's neck. Kaden's feet were off the ground and his face was turning red.
"Just because I can't kill your little friend, doesn't mean I can't kill you. Brother," He snarled at Kaden. I was still enraged from my dreams, and seeing this monster in the flesh again set off all those feelings all over again. I looked around for something to him him with, but couldn't find anything useful. So I did the next best thing I could think of, and charged the king, head-on. I grabbed onto his tall frame and hauled myself up his body. It startled him enough to loosen his grip on Kaden. I was screeching wildly, while trying to go for the king's face. I ripped at an ear. He may have the power in dreams, but now out here. The king gripped me by the back of my shirt and flung me from himself. I barely had time to think before my head cracked against something solid and I saw starts. Kaden was running for the king again and as he reached him, they both winked out of existence.
I tried to sit up, and immediately felt the vomit rising in my throat. I turned my head to the side as quickly as I could, which made my head feel even worse and vomited onto the ground between my hands. It didn't stop until there was nothing left for me to throw up. I moaned and pushed away from the pile of sick, only to be struck by vertigo so intense I wanted to lie down. There was a car behind me, apparently that's what I hit my head on. My eyes were all teary from the vomiting, so I couldn't see very well around me. I let my head fall back against the vehicle and looked around for signs of Kaden or the Nightmare King. My brain felt like it was on a merry-go-round. I moaned and let my eyelids flutter closed. I don't know how long I drifted before I heard Kaden's voice calling me from what felt like miles away. I tried to answer, but my body wasn't communicating with my brain anymore. However, I did hear myself moan at least. Kaden's cool hands found my face, so I tried to open my eyes to tell him I was ok, but I could only crack them open a slit. Through my lashes, I saw Kaden worriedly examining me, and then felt something jabbing at the soft spot inside my head. I cried out, and heard Kaden apologizing quickly, over and over.
"Hold on Rue, I'm going to get you out of here." I heard Kaden say by my ear, and then the world spun dizzily as he lifted me from the ground. I would have vomited again, but there was nothing left in my stomach, so I just dry heaved. Kaden was murmuring something to me, but I couldn't understand. I let myself drift again, and then heard Brie's worried voice. Cool hands were on my face again, and another pair was stroking my hair.
"I don't know, but I've got to try." Kaden's voice near my hear, and then Brie saying something about a hospital; and then.... nothing.
Someone had their hand on my forehead. Worse, my head was in someone's lap. I jerked upright. Kaden was sitting propped against Brie's bed's headboard. Brie was asleep with her head in his lap, his left hand on her head. He looked bad, VERY bad. His face was hollow with dark circles under his eyes, his clothing torn and covered in black goo. Bruises were everywhere and a few cuts. He was passed out, and looking at him, I felt sorry for him. Trying not to wake anyone, I got up gingerly, my head still ached, but it wasn't too bad. I left the room quietly and headed to the bathroom. My face in the mirror shocked me. Capillaries had burst in and around my eyes and around my mouth, leaving my face blotchy with dark bruising and the whites of my eyes stained red with blood. I was dirty and my hair was a mess. A trickle of blood ran from my hairline. The overall picture was terrifying. It was definitely time for a shower at least, to try to make something on me look normal again.
I took my time, and dried off just as slowly. I pulled my torn leggings and the dirty loaned hoodie back on, sighing at the scary looking creature staring back at me from the mirror. I ducked out of the bathroom and peeked into Brie's room, to see if anyone else was awake. Kaden looked at me under hooded eyelids when I entered and flinched. Brie was still asleep.
"Yeah, I know, I look that good." I whispered harshly at him. "You look like shit too, you know." He gave me a half-hearted smile as I walked to the bed.
"Are you ok?" I asked seriously. "I don't know what you did, but I feel like I owe you my thanks." Kaden gave me the sad smile again.
"Sorry," He mouthed quietly "for not telling you..." I stiffened, but then nodded once. It was true he had kept me in the dark, but he also didn't try to kill me, and I thought, had actually been doing his best to protect me.
"I'm still mad." I say grumpily, crossing my arms. Kaden chuckled lightly.
"Hey, are you sure you're ok? You're not your usual self, and it's kinda starting to bother me." I stepped towards him, worried.
"I'll live-not human, remember?" He croaked. "But if you wanted to help me out, you could always come over here and volunteer your services." He cracked the joke with a lascivious wiggle of his eyebrows, and then coughed.
"Gross." I replied, rolling my eyes. I left the room and came back with a glass of water, which he drank greedily. Brie grumbled and opened her eyes.
"You guys make too much noise." She complained bitterly. "Oh Rue! How's your head? Kaden said you might have had a light concussion, but he was more worried about the damage the 'king' might have caused, or could cause if they knocked you out or didn't let him stay. I think he was up most of the night, trying to help you." I glanced at Kaden, who had a self-satisfied smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes again.
"Thanks, but stop trying to prey on my sympathies. If you need help, speak up, I won't offer again." I said as I threw a pillow at him. He didn't move to deflect it in time, and I frowned "You really are drained aren't you?" I asked.
"I'll be fine." He repeated. Brie looked upset.
"I have some phone calls to make, but after your scuffle with your brother and everything you did to help Rue last night, I really think we should trade off sleeping with you to help you replenish. Besides, Rue looks like she could use the extra rest too." Brie stated and Kaden chuckled, then wiggles his fingers suggestively at me.
"Yes, come sleep with me Rue." He teased, and Brie hit him with a pillow this time.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it." She scolded.
"It's ok, I'll be fine for now." Kaden replied while standing up with a grunt. "Let's go start looking for those shoes." Brie eyed him doubtfully, but nodded at him and left the room. I waited until I heard her on the phone to speak.
"He's back, isn't he?" I asked quietly. "I mean, in our world again?" Kaden grimaced.
"Yes." He answered.
"And it's my fault." I whisper.