Asleep *FINISHED!/COMPLETE*

*Chapter 23

Chapter 23

My mind and body were at war. Sometimes with one another, when my mind would tell my eyes to open or my mouth to speak. But more often it was with something unseen.

It felt as though there was something foreign inside of me, but at the same time I wondered if what I felt had always been a part of me; Only that now it had been awakened, likely due to a new sense of being totally and utterly alone. My brother had been the last shred of hope I’d been holding onto. The thought of finding Callen, my only family left in this world, had been what made the hard days bearable.

Now the only person I had left who was supposed to protect me, love me, wanted nothing to do with me. And the ache I felt to the depths of my soul fed something dark within me.

At first, I fought against it. Hard. I had been determined not to succumb to the inky black darkness that swelled and ebbed inside of me, but now? Now I felt as though giving into it would be easier, more peaceful. I just wanted peace. And safety.

I wanted to become steel. Impenetrable steel. That no one could bend or break. No one could wound or scratch or scar. Not ever again.

Somewhere though, in the deepest depths of the inner weavings of my soul, something felt… off. Something made me doubt and question where exactly this darkness was being fed from.

I felt a desperate need to resurface, to breathe and move freely…

It was then I heard his voice, though my eyes remained closed and consciousness seemed elusive. I could hear every word and feel every touch, but could not seem to find a way to move or respond, even though my insides were screaming, clawing, begging to get to him.

“Elliana? Can you hear me?” Jase said softly as he held my cold and lifeless hand to his mouth. He gently grazed his lips against my knuckles and then squeezed his eyes shut against them.

I made a soft groaning sound as I fought to come to the surface.

“Jase…?”

I asked as I tried to blink my eyes open.

“Yes, it’s me, Ellie,” he said quietly, almost timidly.

“What time is it? Where am I?” I was still so disoriented and couldn’t remember what exactly had happened or how much time had passed.

“Shhh, it’s ok, I promise. You are safe.”

“Then why do I feel like alarm clocks are going on inside my head?” I asked groggily, “And why aren’t you answering my questions?” I didn’t even remember what my questions were, to be honest, but his shushing of my concerns rang of dismissal, I think.

“Uhggg, why does it hurt so bad?” I ground out as I halfheartedly rubbed at the ache in the back of my neck.

Just then, another person entered the room, and I strained to open my eyes wider to see who it was, fighting the darkness as it crept in on my vision, my mind, once moRe. But it was too strong, and I gave into it as the black ooze pulled me under again. Somewhere in the darkness, though, I could still feel that invisible string tethering me to the world of the living.