Traumatized Harper

Aria said in her most soothing voice, "Relax, Harper. Yes, it really is me. You are in my room right now. And you are safe."

Harper looked around with the expression of a horrified wild animal. She said, "How...???? How am I...."

Aria slowly walked towards her and covered her with her blanket, "You don't need to worry about anything right now. Say, have you had dinner?"

Harper carefully nodded. Aria's face spread into a huge smile, "Then that makes things easier. Come on. Let's clean you up." She said as she helped Harper, who was still covered with the blanket, up and towards her bathroom.

Harper seemed to be a little dazed by Aria's smile as she let herself be led, looking like one in a dream.

Aria helped Harper bathe and then she helped her into fresh clothes, a dark blue dress that Aria had taken out of her closet.

"I'm afraid this doesn't suit you much, but you'll have to make do with it for tonight. Come on." Aria said as she helped Harper back into bed and handed her a glass of water. Harper gulped it down and Aria refilled it. "I think this should have been the first thing I did. I really am so bad at taking care of people." Aria muttered as she refilled the glass a third time.

Harper finally put away the glass and blinked at Aria. "Do you need something to eat? Are you hungry?" Aria asked, bending over her with concern. Harper shook her head.

At this point, Aria began to get worried as Harper was not talking. She blinked worriedly, "You're still in shock. Maybe we need to go see Miss Anhao..." Aria had not finished her sentence, when Harper seized the front of Aria's dress. Her eyes were wide with horror as she turned her head from side to side, and shrieked, "No!! I cannot leave here!!!! They will come for me!!! THEY WILL COME FOR ME!!!!!"

Seeing her horrified like that, Aria hurriedly hugged Harper. She continued to scream against Aria's chest which came out all muffled.

After she had calmed down, Aria pulled away from Harper and wiped away her tears. She said in her most soothing voice, "Okay. We will not go anywhere. Sleep now. It's okay. I'm here. You are okay."

Harper still looked around with a look of a terrified animal on her face as Aria helped her into bed. Harper grabbed her dress as Aria tried to get up to dim the lamp. Her eyes were wide and shining with tears. Aria was so terrified that she froze in place, "What's wrong!?!? Harper, what's wrong!?!?? Are you hurt!?!?! Is someone here!?!?!?" she asked.

Harper said in a small voice, "Don't go."

Aria calmed down upon hearing this. She took both of Harper's hands in her own and sat down on the bed beside her. She said as she covered Harper properly and tucked her in, "Okay. I won't. Don't worry, I will not go anywhere. I'll stay right here. Don't worry, sleep."

Harper calmed down but still did not close her eyes. She stared at Aria, worried that she would go away. Not being able to think of anything else, Aria began to hum a tune. She hummed her mom's lullaby, hoping that it would have the same effect on Harper that it used to have on her.