Chapter 3 Strength

I had slept off during the night while crying in the bathtub but woke up and slept off on the bed.

A call woke me up with a jerk, it sounded so familiar...it was as though Carlin was back, like he was here, right here in my room.

"Carlin?" I called out softly as my hands traced his blurry face.

"I'm back" he said but it sounded like a whisper, one that caused a tear to slip off my eyes.

"I'm so happy, Carlin" I said sleepily making him chuckle before wiping their tears.

"Did it happen again?" I heard him ask and I immediately thought about lying but then the look on his face made me say rather.

"Yes, Carlin I called out your name so many times but you....you were no where to be found" I said amidst tears making him hold his breath and pull my sleepy self into his arms.

"I know you ain't here and real" I said feeling him tighter so I'd wake up with his strength.

Carlin made me feel strong and helped me move on with life, sometimes whenever I feel like giving up, he'd make me stand strong on my feet even without saying a word to me.

"When you left, they hurt me so much, Carlin..they whipped me and added to my scars...I hate them all" I said before busting into tears.

"You did nothing about it, Carlin...you were away and enjoying your leave, you aren't even real" is said before leaving his warmth and laying down.

"I'm back and won't let anyone harm you anymore " I heard him say making me scoff.

"Stop messing with my subconscious mind, you ain't real and when I wake up please disappear just like you always do" I said before slipping into sleep.

I woke up with a smile on my face because of him but remembering all was just a dream, I frowned and looked out the window.

There was no point in letting my mind dwell on a figment of my imaginations especially when it had been happening constantly and I'd wake up to always meet beating or punishment.

It was already bright and I was late for my duty, Laura had assigned me to the kitchen today.

As I stepped out I realized that they all reacted indifferently towards me and just then I heard someone call out my name and as I turned, I saw him.

I giggled as excitement surged through my body, I was staring at him this time around unlike lady night, he was indeed real and was back.

He waved making me realize that I was just staring at him without doing anything.

They were already staring like they always did, I became shy especially with Laura glaring at me like she wanted to rip out my skin.

Ignoring their stares he walked up to me and pulled me into his arms making me freeze and burst out into tears.

He stood still and held me tightly in his arms while I let go off all the emotions I had held in all these while.

My knight in shining armor was back, I took in his scent and relaxed under his touch.

I don't know how long I had been standing there but all I knew was he was back and I was safe from them

"Carlin" I muttered out hugging him and letting out so much tears, I heard a gasp but I cared less as he lifted me up and wrapped my legs around his waist..

He carried me up to his room and served me breakfast, before leaving and returning with breakfast.

"I'm sorry" he apologized all over and over again.

For the first time in a while I felt at ease, only when he was around did I feel it... throughout the day he worked from his room while I sat on his bed and lazied around.

This was a routine whenever he was around and although whenever he left, I was always dealt with but the hope that he was going to return.

And I'd experience this moment of bliss made me care less about them but rather live in the moment.

He didn't even let anyone near me or let me do anything at all.

Towards evening before we went outside for our usual walk, he had brought in ointment.

"What's that for?" I asked him making him smile up at me.

"Your clothes off and turn your back" he said with a very tight voice that made me look down on my laps before looking up to see his back facing me.

"Carlin..." I called out softly wanting to protest against it but he stopped me with a frown plastered on his face.

As my hands touched my clothes in an attempt to remove my clothes, he immediately turned his back making me smile.

He let out a gasp as his eyes connected to the decor they had pasted on my back.

"I'm going to kill them, I promise!" I heard him nutter under hai breath as his hands traced my skin.

I shivered as an unknown emotion surged through my veins and as though he had felt it too, he let out a sigh.

"Relax" he whispered and even though I couldn't, I nodded anyways. I was eager to escape the emptiness they had caused, the one that was trying to envelope me.

He started by gently rubbing the cold gel on my aching back before his fingers began performing magic.

They were gently presses on my back soothing the ache that I was once feeling.

I don't know what he had used but it worked, the damn massage worked perfectly.

He then left and washed his hand, while I out on my clothes, before coming to lie down beside me.

My heart skipped beats making me scold myself before looking away from his penetrating gaze.

I remembered myself yay he was my brother and the feelings I was beginning to have for him was just too abnormal.

I was being too independent on him and I knew it was dangerous for my mental health

It made me rely so much for him and put all my hope and trust in him...my mind trailed off and I asked myself what I'd ever do if he ever turned out to be like them.