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“Dad!” I rush toward him, throwing my arms around his middle.
He lifts me in the air, his booming laughter spreading through the room.
I join in as he lowers me, places me on his knee, and hands me a guitar. I listen intently as he explains how to play, positioning my hands in the right places.
For a while, that’s all we do, my awkward playing fills the room as my dad tells me encouraging words.
But suddenly, he gets up, placing me on my feet.
“Dad? What’s going on?” I ask as I watch him walk away. “Where are you going? Dad! Don’t lea—”
I run after him, the sound of my pounding feet echoing around me.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been running when I finally find a black door in front of me. I barrel forward, pushing the door open, only to come to a stop when I see my father’s usually larger-than-life body lying on the floor, face-down and utterly still.
“D-Dad?” I call out, falling to my knees.
My hands grab his shoulders, shaking him. “Dad!”
When there’s no answer, I grab his shoulder and tug him toward me. His heavy body rolls, his arm falling at an unnatural angle.
“Dad!” I yell, tears blurring my vision.
I blink them away, but when I do, it’s not my dad who’s lying on the floor.
Wide eyes stare at me, malice shining in their depths. Blue, not brown.
“It’s all your fault!” Christian hisses as he grabs for me.
I jerk back.
I expect my body to hit the ground, but instead, I just keep falling.
* * *
Startling awake, I’m greeted by the darkness. My head is pounding, my whole body shivering with the aftershocks of the nightmare. Or maybe it’s cold? The fuck if I know.
“I don’t know what to do, Jade.” A soft voice breaks through my cloudy mind.
Penelope.
I’m at Penelope’s place because I have a cold.
Fucking hell.
“He doesn’t want it. I tried googling it, but I found contradicting information about Tylenol.” There is a short pause as Penelope listens to her friend. “I can’t force him, but I need to dosomething. His fever isn’t going down.”
I guess that explains the shivers.
“I guess I could do that… No, no need. I think I’ve got it. Yes, I’m sure. Thanks, Jade.”
Soft footsteps pad across the hardwood, and soon enough, Penelope’s hand rests against my cheek as she gives me a soft shake.
“Sebastian?” Her thumb skims over my cheekbone gently. “I need you to wake up.”
It takes me a moment, but I force my eyes to open—that explains the darkness—the dim light illuminating Penelope’s bedroom, making me squint in protest.
“W-what…” my voice comes out all rough and raspy, so I clear it before trying again. “What time is it?”
