Bounty Hunter

Reed

Zinnia was sleeping peacefully, or as peacefully as one can after enduring the nightmare she had. The room was dimly lit by a small bedside lamp, casting soft shadows that danced across the walls. I sat in the chair beside her bed, watching her breathe, the steady rise and fall of her chest a small comfort in the chaos that had consumed our lives.

She was healing, bit by bit. Her physical wounds were mending, though the emotional scars were another matter. Every day, I saw glimpses of the old Zinnia-the fierce, indomitable spirit that had drawn me to her in the first place. But then, there were moments when the fear and pain from her captivity would surge back, like a wave crashing over her.

As I sat there, lost in thought, the fatigue I’d been fighting began to catch up with me. I stood up to stretch, my shadow falling across her bed. The instant the shadow touched her, Zinnia bolted upright, eyes wide with terror. Her breathing became rapid, her hands clutching the sheets tightly.

“No, no, please,” she whimpered, her voice barely a whisper but filled with raw fear.

“Zinnia, it’s me, Reed. You’re safe,” I said, rushing to her side, but my words seemed to bounce off her panic-stricken mind. She was caught in a nightmare, reliving those horrible moments.

“Stay back!” she screamed, her eyes not seeing me but some phantom from her ordeal. It was like a knife to my heart, seeing her so broken.

“Zinnia, look at me,” I said more firmly, trying to keep the panic out of my own voice. “It’s Reed. You’re at my estate. You’re safe.”

But she was lost in her memories, reliving the horrors of her captivity. She sank further into the bed as though it had an escape out of her skin, rocking back and forth, her sobs breaking my heart.

“Please, don’t hurt me. I’m tired, my body hurts,” she cried, her voice filled with desperation. I knelt beside her, careful not to touch her.

“Zinnia, listen to my voice,” I said firmly.

“You’re at my estate. No one can hurt you here. You’re safe.”Slowly, her eyes began to focus, the cloud of fright lifting ever so slightly. Recognition flickered in her gaze, and she took a shuddering breath.

“Reed?” she said, her voice trembling.”Yes, it’s me,” I said, relief flooding through me.

“It’s just me. You’re safe now.” She collapsed back against the pillows, tears streaming down her face. I reached out tentatively, afraid that even my touch might send her spiraling again. But she grabbed my hand, holding it tightly as if I were her lifeline.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed.

“I… I thought… they were back. I thought I was back there,” she says in between sobs, gripping tightly to my index finger.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed. ”

You have nothing to apologize for. What you went through… it’s going to take time to heal. But I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to you.” She nodded, her grip on my hand still tight.

“Every time I close my eyes, I see him. I see them. His smile haunts me in my skin. Their touch still crawl up my skin.” she whispered. “I feel like…. I feel like… I’ll never be free of him.” She barely got the words out.

I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of rage and helplessness. Rage at Roman for what he had done to her, and helplessness because I couldn’t take her pain away. “We’ll get through this,” I said, more to convince myself than her. “Together, we’ll get through this.”

Zinnia managed a weak smile. “I don’t think so,”

“I mean it,” I replied.

“You’re not alone in this. We’ll face it together, one step at a time.”

She sighed, closing her eyes. “I’m so tired, Reed. Tired of being scared.” Tired of not being able to close my eyes without seeing,”

“I know,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Rest now. I’ll be here when you wake up.”She nodded, her grip on my hand finally loosening as sleep overtook her again.

I sat there, watching her, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. How could I make her believe she was safe when every shadow seemed to bring her tormentor back to life? I needed to find Roman. For Zinnia’s sake. Killing him with her bare hands will maybe help her heal. Make her see that he will never be able to hurt her. But more than that, I needed to help my little flower reclaim her life. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but I was determined to try. For her, for us.

The night stretched on, the silence only broken by Zinnia’s steady breathing. I knew it would be a long road ahead, filled with ups and downs. But as I sat there, I made a silent vow. I would be her strength when she had none, her shield against the darkness.

The following morning, I was in my study, buried in paperwork in a bid to take my mind off the hassle of the past days. Although, it pained me to be away from Zinnia, it had to be done. I needed some minutes away from her room because seeing her in that state while being helpless to her trauma spread rage through my body. The last thing I wanted was to through a tantrum and freak her out more.”Reed,” there was a light knock on the door before the door opened and Hermine stepped inside.

“You have a guest. He says he’s here to remind you that you owe him a favor.” She adds. My heart sank at the mention of those words. It was the Bull, coming to remind me of the agreement we had. I have been so glued to Zinnia, staying by her every second of the day that every other thing escaped my mind. And now, the Bull was here to remind me that he helped me rescue her and I owed. He probably thought I was unreliable. With a sigh, I say;

“Let him in.” I was going to be honest about our progress in finding Roman, because just like me, Roman had someone of utmost importance that belonged to the Bull. His sister.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

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