Page 91 of The Devils Melody

Wren’s eyes fly open, wide and wild, a scream ripping from her throat as she jerks upright. Instinct kicks in and I grab her shoulders, pulling her into me so she doesn’t hurt herself.

“Baby, it’s me,” I soothe, rocking her slightly as she gasps for air. “It’s just me, baby. You’re safe.”

“Safe,” she echoes, her voice trembling.

Nox crouches to her side, his hand gently brushing the damp hair away from her forehead.

“Same nightmare?” he asks softly, letting Wren melt into his side clinging to him desperately.

“Talk to us, little bird,” I urge, tipping her chin up so she has to look at me. “We need to know what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Her lips part slightly, and for a second I start to think I actually broke through to her. But just as fast as she parted them, she shuts her lips once more, holding back and fighting her demons all on her own.

“Please, Wrennie, I?—”

“Don’t!” she screams, her whole body jolting like I hit her. Wren’s eyes go wide with terror as she scrambles backward on the bed, desperate to get away from me. “Don’t fucking call me that!”

I pull back, holding my hands up as I stare at her with sympathy. “S-sorry. I’m sorry, baby, please. Please don’t shut us out.”

Wren watches me with cautious eyes, her chest rising and falling with every harsh intake of breath. Nox looksbetween the both of us, his hand on Wren's thigh, ready to protect her at all costs.Good. As he fucking should.

Holding my arms out for her once more, I silently beg her to let me hold her, needing it more than she does. Wren is not the type of girl to cower away from things that scares her. She faces that shit head on, so for her to be acting like this, that dream must have really fucked her up.

She nods before crawling back into my arms, allowing me to hold her while she sobs violently in my arms.

“I don’t understand why,” she wails. “Why do I keep dreaming about him? I thought it was finally over!”

Nox and I share a look. What the fuck is she talking about?

Who the hell ishim?

31

Wren

THE SONGBIRD

The room is cold. I can see my breath fogging in the air as I stand barefoot on the slick tile, my toes aching from the chill. The walls are grey, cracked, and stained. A single fluorescent light buzzes in the center overhead, flickering like they do in horror movies.

Where the hell am I?

Somewhere behind me, a child sobs high and broken, making my stomach ache. I take a step towards the sound, my feet sliding in something sticky, but when I look down, it’s gone.

Clean tile.

Always clean.

There’s a door at the end of the hall. It looks heavy, made of metal and painted the same dull grey as the walls. Maybe if I can just get to it, I can get out? But when I start to run towards it, it’s as if I never started running at all. Locked in the same place, staring at a large metal door.

My feet finally start moving, taking me closer to the door. My fingers grasp for the handle, desperate to get out, but once I finally get it open, it doesn’t lead to freedom.

It leads back into the same room.

“No, no, no…” my voice cracks. I stumble backward, shaking my head as tears burn my eyes. This isn’t right. It’s never fucking right!

“Please! Let me out!”

“You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, Wrennie.”