Strings of Fate by Kit Bryan
Chapter 140

140- Sugar and spoons

Sometimes I hate being right. When the dream–vision thing starts, I expect it to be much like all the others. I watch Kiara cry herself to sleep, or lie there in a zombie–like state. Occasionally she wakes up and moves around, but not a lot changes. I thought the fact that things rarely changed was a bad thing, but now I’m starting to think I should have prayed for things to stay how they were for as long as possible. Kiara is curled up on herself clearly trying to block everything out, then I see her get yanked up by her right arm, yet again interacting with invisible people. She begins shaking her head, her hair flicking around her ears as much as it can given how matted it’s gotten. I can see tears running down her face. Her mouth is moving and given the amount of energy she’s putting behind her movements, she’s yelling. Damn it I wish I could read lips. I can make out one word though. ‘NO‘ She is yelling and arguing against something. Someone is pulling her by the arm and she is pushing and fighting, but it is clearly no use. She’s not strong enough to get free. But even knowing it’s useless, I replace myself rooting for her. Maye if she fights just a little harder she can escape. Then, all of a sudden, Kiara just freezes in place, a look of complete and utter shock and fear on her face. She shakes her head again, and says something else, although she seems far more. reserved. She looks especially small when she responds to whoever is speaking with her. Her expression changes from one of shock to pure resolve. Her little mouth is turned down in a frown, her eyebrows furrowed and her jaw locked in place. There are tears running down her cheeks. She stumbles like someone has pushed her forwards. She reaches out with one hand, her whole body is trembling. I see her say something, then she squeezes her eyes shut and turns her head to the side. Her hand drops back to her side, then she drops to her knees. Seconds later, she is curled up in a ball on the ground, shaking and crying a fresh wave of tears. That’s it, I can’t watch it any longer. I don’t know how I do it, but I force myself to wake up.

For once my dreaming must have been silent because Bellamy is still sleeping peacefully beside me. I suspect I was too focussed on holding my breath and watching what was

happening to even think about screaming. I grab my phone from the bedside table and check the time. Half past four in the morning. Ugh. Just no. I crawl out of bed and tip toe out of the room. If I can’t sleep anyway I may as well head downstairs where I’m less likely to wake Bellamy. I make my way to the kitchen with the intention of replaceing some kind of comfort food only to freeze in place when I realise that the kitchen isn’t empty. I clutch my chest in fear, my heart racing until-

“Ryann? What are you doing up?” Megan asks, her face dimly lit by that little light from the

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fridge. I breath a sigh of relief.

“Other than being scared to death? Why are you hanging around in the dark?” I demand, flicking the light switch and blinking in the sudden brightness. Megan shrugs.

“Sorry, I don’t need a lot of light to see. I didn’t even think to turn it on.” She reminds me. Ugh, stupid Shifters and their night vision. I bet she’s never tripped up stairs either. Okay, I might be a little cranky.

“Okay then, well I’m up because I’m having more awful vision–nightmares what’s your excuse”

“Just the regular kind of nightmares.” She responds with a sigh.

“Ah, the trauma induced kind?” I question.

“Yep. The good news is I have a solution for nightmares.” She says with false cheer.

“Oh? Do share.” I prompt. She opens the freezer and pulls out a tub of ice cream which she then dramatically presents to me.

“Ice cream therapy.” She announces. I shiver a little.

“That does sound good, but I’m a little cold…” I trail off. Megan just grins.

“That’s what hot chocolate is for.” she says as if it is incredibly obvious and I’m being dense

for not thinking of it myself.

“Oh of course. How could I be so stupid? You get spoons and I’ll start the drinks?” I suggest.

“Deal.”

By the time Bellamy wakes up and comes downstairs at about six thirty, he replaces Megan and I sitting in the living room with an empty ice cream tub, my third hot chocolate and a packet of chocolate biscuits that is definitely more empty than full. I’m about three seconds away from a sugar coma. Megan is in a similar state. We’re watching cartoons on the living room tv and giggling manically. I’m sitting on the floor because about twenty minutes ago I was

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laughing so hard I fell off the couch and I couldn’t be bothered climbing back up.

“Woah, what did I miss?” Bellamy asks, dropping down onto the floor beside me. He presses a kiss to my cheek and steals a biscuit from the packet.

“We couldn’t sleep.” Megan says as if it explains enough.

“So you decided to eat yourselves into a sugar coma?” he questions. I shrug.

“Seemed a better way to get to sleep than hitting myself in the head with a hammer.” I point out and Bellamy raises an eyebrow.

“How long have you guys been bingeing for?” he questions.

“Not sure, a bit before five?” I answer with a yawn.

“I woke at three.” Megan chimes in, catching my yawn and adding in her own.

“Okay ladies, I think it might be time to brush your teeth and go take a nap.” Bellamy suggests, standing up and pulling me to my feet. I’m about to object when I realise I am EXHAUSTED. My sugar high must be crashing.

“Mm, okay. Bed sounds nice.” I agree.

“With me!” Megan adds, bouncing to her feet. She links her arm through mine and pulls me out of Bellamy’s reach. We head upstairs and I make Megan let me go long enough for me to go and brush my teeth properly then I head to her room and let me drag her under the covers. Luckily she has a thick curtain that blocks all but the smallest hint of light. She curls. up beside me and falls asleep clutching my arm like a teddy bear. I pass out almost as fast as she does.

Bellamy wakes me up gently an unknown amount of time later. It could have been five minutes or five hours. Megan is nowhere to be seen, so I’m leaning more towards the five

hours side of the clock.

“Hey.” I greet Bellamy with a sleepy smile.

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“I didn’t dream for once. It was so nice.” I stretch out and groan as my back cracks.

“That’s great to hear.” Bellamy answers, but he isn’t smiling

Why isn’t he smiling?

“You don’t look like it’s great. What’s wrong? Did something happen?” I ask, sitting up and taking his hand. He gives a small nod.

“Yeah, there was another murder.” Bellamy tells me gravely. I squeeze his hand tightly as

dread runs through me. This isn’t the first murder and none of the others have led to Bellamy’s face looking like this.

“That’s awful. Do we know who it was?” I ask, not totally sure that I want to hear the answer. Bellamy’s answer confirms that this one is different.

“The woman was a Shifter this time.”