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She isn’t her usual smart mouth and mostly stays in her bedroom. Mary pulled me aside two days ago because she was beginning to worry. Ava has also been distant. When I come home she is always asleep. I usually see her when I sit and watch her sleep. It calms me after a long day. It’s how I learned about the nightmare. I go back in the house and walk to the kitchen where Mary is cooking.
“Good evening Mr. Manarch.”
“Hi Mary. Where is Ava?”
“Asleep already.”
“Did she eat?”
“I managed to get her to eat a few bites but still nothing. Mr. Manarch, I know it isn’t my place but I am beginning to really worry about her. She is jumpy half the time and the rest she hides. She won’t even come out of her bedroom to eat. I take her meals to her most of the time.”
“I didn’t realize it was that bad.”
“She has lost weight.” She adds, like I should know what she means.
“Everything will go back to normal after this weekend. I will make sure of it.”
“Would you like dinner?”
“No. We are good for the night.”
I walk upstairs to my bedroom. I pass by her bedroom. Her lights are off and it is quiet. I am going to open her door to watch her sleep when I realize I smell like blood and gunpowder. I walk to my bedroom instead. Inside I pour myself a drink which I drain in one swallow. I take off my clothes and get in the shower. As the water hits my head I think about what Ava’s presence is doing to my life. She has turned it upside down like no woman has.
Earlier today I saw my mother. She told me I look happily in love. I nearly spilled my secret about not loving Ava and how this was an arrangement. I am not a man who loves. Ava isn’t going to stay once the year is up. She has caused more than enough disturbance in my life. I changed the subject and she laughed.
“I see the way you look at her. You worship the ground she walks on. That first night I warned you. You aren’t going to be you without her.”
Her words replay in my mind. Is Ava more than what I am willing to admit? I get out of the shower and pour another drink which I also drain. I walk over to my dresser to get pajama bottoms. I’m about to throw a t-shirt on when I hear her screams. I run to her bedroom knowing that after tonight she won’t have to fear anything again. I will bring an end to all her nightmares like I did with Joe.
Chapter Thirty
Ava
I find myself back at Joe’s office. I can taste the stench of him. I manage to stand from my chair and get away from him. But when I make it to the door he pulls me by my hair. I grab and dig my nails in his arm to force him to let me go. Instead of letting me go he pushes me against the wall.
“Let go of me.” He presses himself to me. I see his intention of kissing me and I turn my head.
“You smell delicious.” He licks my face.” I try to kick him but he presses harder.
“I swear if you don’t let me go,” I start. He grabs me by the neck and squeezes. With his other hand he starts touching my breast.
“You are mine.” I start screaming for help.
“Ava, wake up.” I feel someone shaking me. I open my eyes and Viktor is beside me.
“Oh god,” I throw myself at him.
“It’s just a bad dream.” He gets in bed and pulls me to him.
It takes a few minutes for me to process what just happened. I taste the saltiness of my tears. Viktor’s grip tightens, reminding me I am in his arms. It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I can’t forget what Joe did to me. I think Viktor knows I lied when I said nothing happened. Finally my breathing goes back to normal.
“I’m sorry. Did my screaming wake you again?” For the last few nights Viktor has rushed into my bedroom trying to soothe me back to sleep.
“I haven’t gone to sleep yet.” I look at the time. It’s nearly one in the morning.
“You must be exhausted from working late. I’m fine now.” He doesn’t move and I am grateful.
“You need to tell me what your nightmare is.”
