Page 5

Nina

I 'm surrounded by my guys and am constantly bothered by nurses checking on me all night long, and yet, I've never felt so alone.

Since waking up in the ambulance, my brain feels like it's flipped a switch into survival mode. As exhausted as I am, I don't think I would be able to sleep for more than a few minutes if I tried.

I saw him. The very real monster that stars in my nightmares and was my nightmare. He's back.

He may look different, but it's still him. I would know his wide shoulders and tilted posture anywhere. His hair is a platinum blond now; very different from the auburn perm he had the last time I saw him.

Mr. M is elusive because he changes his appearance as frequently as the wind blows. I can't even tell you what his true eye color is. My least favorite color he wore were the bright red contacts when he was feeling especially mean.

Ridge mumbles something eerily similar to my thoughts. I believe it's a trick of my mind and continue to ignore the odd ramblings coming from my right side. My head hurts so freaking badly. I just want to sleep. And maybe never wake up .

My throat closes over at the rise of emotion brought on by my morbid thought. Ever since I saw Mr. M earlier today, it feels like something has hold of my ankles and is dragging me back into darkness.

"What are you reading over there?" Kai's annoyed tone catches my attention, effectively stopping me from continuing to sink. For now .

"I'm reading about this fucking serial killer, Kai. He's some kind of freak who's constantly changing his appearance. There are some of fucked up ideas online. One believes he has multiple personalities or some shit."

I don't engage or even glance at Ridge. Heck, I haven't looked at them since the second I covered my face and cried my demons out. Not all of them . Taking a shuddering, deep breath, I squeeze my eyes shut.

"Ridge, really?" Kai sounds exasperated. "You can't say shit like that with Nina right next to you."

The arguing continues, but much quieter this time. Lights zip and swirl behind my eyelids, scaring me enough to face the outside world again. When I blink my eyes open, Henry is peering at me a foot away.

I choke on my startled breath, causing a ripple effect through my battered skull. So many concussions in this life... The phantom pains I thought I had under control rise to the surface and pound on my once bruised muscles.

"Nina, are you okay?" Gosh, Henry sounds so sad...

If I were capable of anything right now, I would laugh. No, I am absolutely not okay. The hilarity of how not okay I am boils under my skin and gathers in my throat until a sob shatters the silence around me.

I barely catch Henry's mortified look before I'm retreating behind my hands again. Everything hurts, everything hurts. Make it stop, make it stop, make it STOP!