Chapter 10.
tightened around her as tears spilled freely, soaking her shirt.
He was terrified. If he held her too tightly, he might hurt her, but if he loosened his grip even slightly, she might disappear again—just like she had countless times in his dreams.
Mitchell clung to her desperately, treating her as though she were a treasure returned from the depths of despair.
“Heather, it’s really you, isn’t it? I’ve been searching for you everywhere. You’ve finally come back to me.”
The girl in his arms stroked his back soothingly, her voice gentle and coaxing.
“You’re exhausted. Why don’t you rest for a bit?m not going anywhere.”
Mitchell obeyed, though his hand refused to let go of hers as they moved to the bedroom. Lying on the bed, he kept her tightly in his arms, afraid to even blink, lest she vanish. The girl squirmed slightly in his embrace, adjusting her position. As she moved, Mitchell’s hands instinctively wandered over her, a mix of longing and desperation taking hold. But just as they were about to cross the line, clarity struck Mitchell like a bolt of lightning. He froze, his hazy mind snapping into sharp focus.
Staring down, he realized the woman beneath him wasn’t Heather at all. She was a stranger. A sickening pain throbbed in his skull as he clenched her throat with trembling hands, his voice laced with fury and despair.
“Who are you?! Where’s Heather?! What did you do to her? She was just here–where did you take her?!”
Fueled by alcohol and raw emotion, Mitchell didn’t register his own strength. The girl beneath him gasped for air, her struggles growing weaker
Desperately, she reached for the vase on the bedside table and brought it crashing down on Mitchell’s head. The blow stunned him, loosening his grip enough for her to shove him away.
Coughing and gasping for air, she stumbled off the bed, clutching her bruised neck as she – struggled to catch her breath.
