CHAPTER NINE
844 Words
She was burning up, and from the look in her eyes it wouldn’t be long before she passed out.
He said nothing more, just reached out and took his phone from the table, he tapped on it quickly before setting it back on the table. He made to brush her hair from her face but stopped himself after considering that it would trigger a reaction from her; a negative one. He chose for another approach, one he wasn’t certain would work effectively; he tried talking to her though they weren’t the closest of acquaintances, it was either that or he was her pass out then and there.
“Madeline”. He said her name loud enough for her to hear him clearly. “Breathe, slowly”.
She could hear him, but she wasn’t listening, her mind at the moment was blaring with the sounds of her screams and cries for help, she could feel those hands on her skin, feeling her up, roaming all over her, the feeling sort to drive her to insanity. Her chest began rising and falling heavily as she began to lose it.
“Madeline, calm down, you’re here, and you’re safe”. He said to her. “You’re alright”.
He watched something flicker in her eyes, and he convinced himself that he was getting through to her.
“You’re safe”. He said again. “You’re alright, you’re fine. We’re not going to hurt you”.
“I..I cant breathe”. She said at last, her voice nothing more than a whisper.
She was finding it hard to catch her breath; it felt as though she was drowning.
“It’s fine, take a deep breath”. He said as he lowered himself so she was looking down at him. “Take a deep breath Madeline”.
His voice, it somehow sunk into her head, and she clung to it, she hung on to every word just so it distracted her from all that was going on in her head.
“You’re safe, Madeline, look at me”. He said to her. “I won’t hurt you, I won’t, you have my word”.
I wont hurt you…..
She hung on to every single word like her life depended on it, and when her hazy vision begin to clear she saw him looking up at her.
“Breathe”. He told her.
And she did just that. She dragged in a shuddering breath.
“Good, let it out”. He said. “Breathe, okay?”.
She nodded slowly as she let out a heavy breath, and then she dragged in another, and it went on and on until she didn’t she didn’t feel so suffocated anymore.
Alvise watched her, still treading gently, he said:
“Would you like a drink?”.
She nodded once more. Her mind still a little disorientated but clear enough to process and respond to what was being said.
He straightened up, poured some water into a glass before handing it to her.
“Drink slowly”. He said as she reached out and collected the glass with a trembling hand.
She was grateful for the drink, her throat suddenly felt dry and painful, and as she drained the content of the glass and lowered it, he took it from her hand and placed it back on the table.
“Feeling better?”. He asked her.
She felt physically better, she could only get that far, it had been like that for a long time now. Lately she sickened herself, if she wasn’t breaking down from FMF then it was her OCD kicking in, if it wasn’t it was PTSD returning to hit her hard. Sometimes she was surprised she’d made it so far, sometimes she was surprised to find out that the last blow hadn’t taken her life with it.
She averted her gaze from his as her mind became even clearer, she didn’t want to look at him, or she couldn’t….for more reasons than one, for one; she hated him.
“Will you be needing your medications?”. He asked her.
And at that moment the door opened and Eloisa walked into the hall, the sounds of her heels against the floors filled the hall and it had never sounded more irritating, Madeline wished she could shut it all out, and her displeasure was clear in her eyes.
Alvise sent Eloisa a subtle look which caused her steps to halt at once.
“I brought the medications, Sir?”. She said cautiously.
His eyes flickered to Madeline’s and he arched his brow slightly to get her to respond to his question
and when she shook her head, he returned his gaze to Eloisa’s.
“That’s alright”. He said. “She wont be needing them”.
A scowl threatened to rear itself on Eloisa’s face but she subdued it with all she was. She nodded once before turning around and walking away.
- Writer
