I’m halfway through brushing my hair when I hear it. A shout—sharp, sudden, wrong. I freeze, brush still in my hand. Another sound follows, louder this time. Rough. Like it’s being dragged out of someone.
My heart starts pounding immediately. “Noah?” I whisper it before I realize I’ve said it.
Another shout, worse than the last. I drop the brush. I’m already moving. The hallway feels too long. Too quiet.
I knock on his door. Hard. “Noah?”
No answer. Another thud from inside. My chest tightens. “Okay, okay… This is not fine.”
I knock again. Louder. “Noah! Open the door!”
Nothing.
“Come on. Please.”
Footsteps approach behind me. Heavy and fast. “Cammi?”
I turn. It’s Wilder.
“Something’s wrong,” I say quickly. “He’s not answering. He’s yelling.”
Wilder’s expression changes instantly. Sharp. Focused. “Step back,” he says.
I do. He pulls out a key, slides it into the lock. The door swings open. I follow Wilder into the apartment and then the bedroom.
Everything goes still.
Noah is on the bed. Thrashing. “No…no…don’t…” His voice is broken. Panicked.
But he’s not here. Not with me. He’s somewhere else entirely. I stand frozen, not knowing what to do.
“Hey,” Wilder says, moving toward him. “Noah, wake up.”
No response.
“Noah!”
He grips Noah’s shoulders and shakes him once. Firm. Noah jerks and gasps, eyes snapping open—wild, unfocused, but awake. No longer trapped wherever he was. I slowly exhale, calming my erratic heart.
“Easy,” Wilder says. “You’re good. You’re here.”
Noah’s chest heaves like he’s run miles. He scans the room. Then lands on me. Everything in his face changes.
“Cammi?”
His voice is rough. Confused. “I…yeah,” I say softly. “I’m here.”
There’s a pause. Long. Heavy. His intense blue eyes hold me in place. I can’t look away.
Wilder straightens. “You good?” he asks.
Noah nods once. Still breathing hard. “Yeah.” Then, quieter, “Thanks. For the help.”
Wilder studies him for a second. Then nods. “Alright. I’ll leave you two.”
Two?
I open my mouth, but he’s already walking out. Besides, I’m still worried about leaving Noah alone. The door closes behind him. And now it’s just us. Silence fills the room. Suddenly, I no longer feel brave. I shift awkwardly by the bedroom door.
