Nightshift at Old Pen Prison

Chapter 9

He was there.

Natalie ran straight into his arms before she could think better of it, kissing him hard enough to make him laugh softly against her mouth.

“My love,” Andrew murmured near her ear, his voice rough with relief. “I have missed you terribly.”

Natalie drew back only enough to look at him, her arms still looped tightly around his neck.

“I missed you too.”

His hands slid beneath the soft fabric of her dress, pulling her closer against him.

“Do you like it?” she asked quickly, stepping back just enough to let the skirt swirl around her.

Andrew’s hands immediately reclaimed her waist.

“Natalie…”

Instead of answering, he kissed her again.

“When,” he murmured against her lips, “do I finally get to remove it?”

The possessive edge in his voice sent heat spiraling through her.

The dream shifted around them without warning.

One moment, they stood together beneath the sunlight.

Next, they collapsed laughing onto an enormous four-poster bed large enough to swallow her entire apartment.

Blankets tangled around them as Andrew tugged impatiently at the ties of her dress, his mouth trailing across her throat and down over her chest.

A breathless sound escaped her as her fingers slid into his hair, guiding him lower.

Then she saw it.

Movement.

Darkness stood motionless in the corner of the room.

Andrew shifted above her, settling between her thighs before suddenly going completely still.

“What is that?”

Andrew turned.

And froze.

The change in him chilled her instantly.

Not confusion.

Fear.

Real fear.

“Andrew?”

He looked back down at her too quickly, smiling in a way that did not quite reach his eyes.

“I realize,” he said softly, lifting her hand to his lips, “I have not yet courted you properly.”

Natalie stared at him.

The fear was still there beneath the smile.

“My sweet Natalie,” he murmured, “will you allow me to court you?”

Something about the question should have unsettled her.

Instead, she pulled him back down into another kiss.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Of course.”

Andrew rose smoothly to his feet and offered her his hand.

She took it immediately.

Just before the dream shifted again, Natalie caught him glancing once more toward the dark corner.

Watching it.

A garden unfolded endlessly around them, overflowing with flowers and winding stone paths beneath golden afternoon light.

Fountains splashed softly somewhere nearby.

Natalie turned toward Andrew and nearly laughed.

He looked like he had stepped directly out of one of her favorite historical dramas, dressed in dark formal tails with gloves and a polished cane tucked beneath one arm.

“My love,” he said, extending his arm toward her, “shall we promenade?”

Natalie grinned as she slipped her hand through his arm.

Her gown swept around her in pale layers of chiffon that matched the ridiculous elegance of his clothes perfectly.

Andrew’s gaze kept drifting downward every time he looked at her neckline.

Each time she caught him, she laughed harder.

Eventually, he spun her beneath the branches of a willow tree before pressing her gently against the trunk.

His mouth found the exposed curve of her chest above the bodice.

Natalie tipped her head back with a breathless laugh.

Then noticed the flowers overhead.

Brown edges curled inward along the petals.

Brittle.

Wrong.

Her smile faded slowly.

As she straightened, more of the garden seemed to change around them. Flowers wilted visibly. Green leaves darkened and shriveled, as if time were accelerating unnaturally fast.

Cold slid over the back of her neck.

Natalie turned sharply.

At first, she thought it was only another shadow between the trees.

Then it moved.

“My love…”

Andrew’s voice stopped abruptly.

Natalie looked back at him.

The fear in his face was unmistakable now.

He grabbed her hand.

And ran.

His panic was infecting her, and she looked back as they ran.

When she turned back to face forward, they were at the edge of a cliff.

She tried to pull her hand from Andrew.

“No!”

He looked back at her, not slowing his pace as they edged closer.

“Trust me, Natalie.”

And they fell.

Natalie woke up in a mix of emotions, and it felt like the breath had been knocked out of her as her eyes searched the cell.

She still could feel the warmth of Andrew’s kisses and the coldness of that thing chasing them.

Andrew was rushing to her as soon as he saw her sitting up.

“What happened?”

“It was…” trying to catch her breath.

Andrew kneeled on the ground next to the cot. “Us,” he said, lowering his head, his words soft. “You dreamed of me, again?”

She gave a little gasp and covered her mouth, realizing what she had admitted. “Oh, yes, but then we were interrupted.”

“My sweet Natalie, I hope the dream version of me wasn’t a reprobate toward you, to cause such distress.”

She leaned forward, her hands reaching for his face, the urge to kiss his lips so strong,

“No, Andrew, you were wonderful,”

Her fingers slipped through the cold emptiness where his skin should have been.

“Something was following us.”

His eyes followed her hands to her side on the cot. The gleam of pride in his eyes was quickly replaced with worry.

Placing his hand next to her, just close enough she could feel the coolness coming off it.

“I wish I could hold you,” His eyes lifted to hers, full of regret. “Chase all your bad dreams away.”

Natalie shook her head. “It was just a dream,” she said quickly.

Like saying it out loud could make it true.

She stands up, needing to move to get away. She rubbed her hands together hard, trying to shake off the lingering cold crawling over her skin.

“I should do my rounds, you know, walk the perimeter.”

Andrew stood looking sad but understanding. “I’ll be here.”

Natalie nodded and turned away quickly.

She told herself she was trying to escape the nightmare.

Deep down, she knew she was really running from how badly she wanted to go back to him.

She headed toward the gated entrance of Cell Block C when a figure slipped from the shadows.

She jumped, and a startled shriek escaped her, causing Robert to step back to the edge of the darkness.

Robert lowered his head. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I am sorry.”

'“No, no, it isn’t you, Robert. I am just a bit jumpy.” She gave her best reassuring smile.

“I don’t think Andrew is the one you should give your heart to.”

Robert’s eyes never left the floor as he stumbled on his words, and the feeling of guilt poured into Natalie watching him standing there.

“I am so sorry, I have been a horrible friend, haven’t I?”

She reached out her hand to brush the air where his hand was. “Tomorrow I promise I will come hang out with you for a bit, ok.”

Robert looked up at her, like he wanted to say more, but then glanced down the hall where Andrew was stepping out of his cell. The two exchanged a glance, and Robert lowered his head again.

“That’d be nice.”

Natalie’s head was so full of thoughts and emotions that now she wasn’t really walking the halls; she was pacing them.

Natalie wandered the prison without really seeing it anymore.

Up staircases.

Down narrow corridors.

Past rows of empty cells and rusted bars.

Her thoughts kept circling the same impossible truth.

None of this should exist.

“Why are you here?”

The voice cut through the darkness so suddenly that Natalie screamed.

A man stepped from the doorway of an old office, dressed in a faded guard uniform nearly identical to hers.

“This is my area.”

Natalie’s breath caught painfully.

Slowly, she looked around.

Concrete walls.

Low ceilings.

Rust.

Cold air pressed close around her.

The basement.