Embracing the Beast Within

Chapter 05: Sleep

My windows are locked. I am very sure about it now. And if Sebastian would be able to come into my room again, I swear, I would freak out so bad. How the hell does he get in here? And to catch how he does that, I’m waiting until he comes.

I think I’m going crazy for doing this.

A click from my window revived me from thinking. And when it slid open and my curtains were parted on the side, revealing Sebastian coming in, my breathing hitch.

Is he somewhat of a burglar? Because he breaks into my room easily.

“I locked my windows,” I said and sat on my bed.

And from the lights coming from the moon outside, I saw how his brow arched. “It’s late. Why are you still awake?” he asked.

“You? Why are you here again?” I asked instead. “And please, stop telling me you’re just checking on me because, first, it was not your responsibility to assure my welfare–I am not your responsibility. Second, what possible harm could I get inside my room,” I said the last word softly. The memory of Tim dying inside his room flashes back on my head.

“You should be sleeping now,” he said, totally ignoring what I said, walking to my bed.

I raised my hand to stop him. “Stay there, Sebastian,” I said. “How many times do I have to tell you that you can’t come here?”

“You can’t stop me,” he said and sat on the edge of my bed.

“Are you a burglar?” before I could stop myself, it already escaped my mouth.

“A what?” he asked, chuckling.

“You break into my room easily, I’m thinking you’re a professional breaker,” I said and he laughed more.

I was taken aback seeing him like this–laughing over a silly comment I have about him. This is the first time I saw him defenseless,

“I’m not a burglar, Olivia. You just don’t lock your window properly,” he said and I immediately rolled my eyes.

“I did,” I said and pointed at the stick I put on my window to stop it from sliding open. It was broken and lying on my carpeted floor.

I stared at him, watched him smirking seeing the stick, his eyes twinkling from the dim lights from the moon.

“I didn’t see that,” he commented, shaking his head.

“Are you wearing contacts?” I couldn’t help but ask. I have been curious about it. “Where did you get it?” I added.

“Yeah. Why?” He asked.

I shrugged and leaned closer to him to see his eyes properly. “It’s golden, right? I like it.”

“Yeah,” he answered, sighing, staring straight back into my eyes.

That's when I realized why he did that. I was leaning too close to him. I cleared my throat and moved away, but he stayed staring at me. I raised my hand to poke his forehead using my finger but he caught it. I looked at his hand holding mine before lifting it back to his eyes.

“Sleep now, Olivia,” he said, and I just snorted.

I shook my head and replied, “Not until you leave.”

“I won’t leave unless you sleep,” he said.

“You’ve been coming in and out of my room for three nights now, Sebastian. What is your motive?” I asked once again because I don’t really understand why he kept on coming back here. “I don’t want to think bad about you but if you keep on coming back without a proper reason, I might,” I added.

“You won’t understand,” he answered.

“Why would I not understand it if it concerns me?”

“It’s not the right time yet?” He said, still holding my hand.

I snorted and arched my brow. “Not the right time? Do you have a schedule to follow?”

“Olivia…”

“Come on, Sebastian. I am close to snapping. Why can’t you just–” I was cut off from my words when he pulled me to his chest. “What–”

“Shh,” he hushed me, placing my head on the part of his chest where I could hear his heartbeat.

“What are you doing?” I murmured from his chest. I can feel the heat coming from his body. He is so warm that it soothes me.

“Putting you to sleep,” he answered. He placed his hand at the back of my head and slowly combed my hair.

“I… I told you I wouldn't sleep… until…”

“I like it when you do that,” I commented.

“When I do, what?”

“When you put me on your chest,” I replied, smiling widely at him. “I can feel your warmth and I can hear your heart beating.”

“My heart beats for you,” he said, which made me smile more.

“I know,” I said and I reached for his cheek. “My heart beats for you, too,” I continued.

He smiled when hearing that. I know he loves hearing it every time I tell him how much I love him.

I love him…

"Oh, Jesus Christ!" I blurted as soon as I realized that it was a dream. That dream again. "Why do I keep on dreaming about that faceless man? Is this my subconsciousness telling me that I should get a boyfriend already?" I talked to myself.

"Geez," I felt the cringe remembering the feeling of that man's warmth. "That felt surreal," I said and stood up from my bed.

I walked to my window to open it when I stepped on something, and when I looked at it, the memory of last night flashed back in my head.

Sebastian was here again last night. We talked and he… pulled me to his chest, like the man in my dreams did. And I felt his body's warmth, the same warmth I felt in my dreams. But he was no longer here and there it's already morning.

I sighed.

He can't keep on coming in and out of my room for no reason. I really need to clarify his motives before Parker finds out about his visits to me every night-worse, my parents find out about it first.

I planned to go to their house after lunch but my mom had another plan. I was freed by 5pm and I did not waste any time and headed straight to their house. I

"Where are you going, Olivia?" mom asked when I sprinted my way after getting out of our car. We went out for lunch to celebrate dad's promotion from work.

"I just need to meet someone!"

"Who is that someone?" Parker butted in. "Coming with you!"

"No!" I answered immediately. "Mom!"

"Come back here, Parker! Let your sister do her business," Mom backed me up.

"Mom? What if she's meeting a guy?" Parker complained.

"The more you should let her," Mom said, that even I can't believe hearing it from her. "She's not nineteen. Let her get herself a boyfriend," she added.

"Mom!" Parker and I shouted in chorus.

I shook my head and said, "I'm just meeting a friend, okay? Calm down."

Parker rolled his eyes. "You don't have friends here yet, but Liv. You can't fool me."

"I do have a friend here, Parker. Elias is my friend, too, if you aren't aware," I told him, a bit offended.

"So, are you meeting him?"

"No! It's not him!" I said.

"Then, who was it?"

I looked at mom and pleaded to stop Parker from interrogating me.

Mom understood it and said, “Let’s go, Parker. Let your sister do whatever she wants. She’s old enough to do her own business.”

“What? Mom!”

“Let’s go,” Mom said with finality and authority. So, in the end, Parker had no choice but to follow her.