Nightmare

Caleb smiled. He didn't feel burdened at all carrying Dawn, who was much smaller than him, toward the house. Entering through the front door, they saw Pops standing outside his bedroom door on the first floor.

"Hey, what happened to this kid?"

"He's drunk, Pops."

Dawn wrapped his arms around Caleb's neck as he carried him upstairs to his room. "Leave me alone," he mumbled, burying his head in Caleb's broad chest.

Caleb smiled silently, unable to stop thinking about what happened in the car. He quickly snatched the half-empty can from Dawn's hand. It was Bob's beer; he'd forgotten to bring it with him.

"Why did you drink beer? Wasn't there anything else to drink?"

Dawn glared at Caleb. He'd been enjoying his cold drink.

"You said to just take whatever was there. It was in the mini-fridge."

Caleb pulled his lips back in annoyance.

"Can't you read? It's beer. You're underage; you can't drink alcohol."

"Who says I'm underage?" Dawn retorted.

"You are!"

"I'm not!"

 ...

Emily pulled the blanket up to Dawn's chest. She'd already changed the young man's clothes into something clean, at least he wouldn't be itchy when he woke up later. Caleb stood beside the bed, glancing at his watch. It was already twelve past midnight.

Emily looked at him, then out the window. The heavy rain had started again, even harder this time, with thunder and lightning. Dawn might have trouble sleeping tonight if it's not because he fainted from the alcohol, she thought with a smile, it wasn't as bad as she'd feared.

"It's very late," Emily said. "Why don't you stay here tonight? It's pouring rain; it would be dangerous to drive in this weather."

Caleb looked towards the window.

"Actually..." He glanced back at Dawn, sound asleep in his bed, paused, and smiled.

"Yeah, you're right, it would be dangerous driving in this weather. Um, is there a room for me?" he asked.

Emily looked at the tall, broad man, then at the long sofa near the window.

"There's that. You can sleep on the couch. I'll get you a blanket."

Caleb looked at the couch, which seemed comfortable enough. Though, Dawn's bed was a king-size; plenty of room for two, he thought.

"Oh, that's great, thanks, Miss Emily. Sorry to trouble you."

Emily smiled.

"No problem. I should be thanking you for bringing Dawn home. Are you hungry?"

Caleb scratched his head.

"Yeah, actually, I am a little hungry."

Emily stood up.

"Okay, then. Clean up and come down to the kitchen. I'll make you something to eat."

Caleb smiled.

"Thanks, Miss Emily. Sorry to trouble you."

"Don't mention it"

Emily got up, went to the door, and left. Caleb remained where he was. The room was very quiet, almost silent except for Dawn's faint breathing. And, of course, the sound of rain drumming against the window—it was pouring outside. He could even see flashes of lightning in the distance; the rain was really coming down hard.

Caleb approached the bed, sat down beside it, and took off his socks one by one. He looked under the bed and saw a pair of slippers with cute doll heads on them. They must have been Dawn's.

"Hey, kids," he mumbled.

He hadn't been wearing any slippers when he came in, Caleb shoved his feet into them and headed to the bathroom.

 ...

BOOM! BOOM!

Thunder cracked the night sky, the rain falling even harder. It felt like the whole world was firing. Lightning flashed in the distance, startling Dawn awake.

"Akh!"

More explosions boomed, louder and louder. Dawn covered his ears and cowered, trembling.

"Akh, Mommy!"

The explosions seemed to be right outside his ears, but he couldn't make a sound. Men grabbed him, bound his hands, and taped his mouth shut. They threw him into a cold corner of the room. The rain poured down, as if mirroring the chaos unfolding before his eyes. His beautiful eyes darted around in the darkness, catching glimpses of lightning through the window.

"Ump," Dawn whimpered, helpless. His hands were tied behind his back, his feet bound so tightly they hurt. Two large men lifted his small body and threw him onto one's shoulder, carrying him out of the small, dirty room and into the cold rain. Soaked, shivering, and terrified, they threw him into a small, cramped space—like a car trunk—and slammed it shut.

"Ump!" Despite that, the loud clap of thunder boomed louder and louder, hurting his eardrums.

"No!"

Dawn sat bolt upright in a panic, his hands clamped over his ears. He tried to block out the sound by closing his eyes too. He gasped for breath, his chest tight, finding it harder and harder to breathe.

"Hoh hoh"

"Dawn!"

Caleb, run out from the toilet, quickly approached Dawn to check on him.

"Dawn, what's wrong?" Caleb put a hand on Dawn's shoulder, shake him.

Dawn grabbed Caleb's hand and hugged him tightly, clutching his clothes.

"Don't, don't go, Mommy don't go," Dawn pulled on Caleb's clothes with all his might, holding him. His hands gripping him as if clinging to life on a cliff edge, terrified of falling if he let go.

Caleb was confused. Dawn's body trembled; he hugged him fiercely, as if terrified. Another loud clap of thunder shook Dawn.

"Boom!"

Dawn's grip tightened, every muscle strained. Caleb patted Dawn's tense back.

"Dawn, what's happening? Dawn?"

From the doorway, Emily ran as fast as she could, stopping briefly outside the door after hearing Dawn's cries. Emily looked towards the open window. She quickly went over and pulled the curtains closed, so the rain and lightning outside were no longer visible, though the sound remained.

"Dawn"

Caleb looked at Emily; he couldn't release Dawn's incredibly tight hug.

"Miss Emily, what's going on?"

Cold sweat covered Dawn's pale face. He squeezed his eyes shut, curling up in Caleb's embrace, seeking protection.

"Don't, don't go."

 .....

After holding him for a while and patting his back, Dawn finally fell back into a peaceful sleep. His grip loosened, allowing Caleb to gently lower him back onto the bed, but Dawn didn't let go of his hand. He pulled the huge man to lay beside him, in his bed.

"Uh, Dawn,"

Emily re-entered with two glasses of warm water. She chuckled at Caleb's predicament.

"He, sorry, Detective, looks like you need to sleeping like this tonight. Dawn won't let go. I've dealt with this since he was little."

Caleb pursed his lips. Emily seemed to enjoy teasing him.

"Heh, I was hoping for a comfy bed, but not like this," he grumbled. He couldn't move because the kid will tighthen his grip more on him.

Emily placed the glasses on the table near the window, not beside the bed, fearing they'd fall due to Dawn's unpredictable movements in his sleep.

Emily glanced at the window, its curtains drawn tight. Though the thunder and lightning had stopped, the rain still poured heavily, its intensity fluctuating unpredictably.

"I'll head back to my room and rest. This night's been a bit… eventful for you, Detective."

Caleb's lips twitched, watching Emily seemingly pleased as she left the room and closed the door firmly behind her. She'd certainly passed the buck.

Caleb looked at Dawn's peaceful sleeping face, his arm still tightly gripping his clothes. Did he think he was a giant pillow?

He tried to move, but Dawn's grip only tightened.

"This kid, geez,"

Caleb had to lift Dawn slightly to straighten his back. He paused, gazing at the young man's delicate sleeping face, his eyes closed behind heavy-lidded lashes and long, curved eyelashes. He was indeed a pretty good looking kid. He raised a hand, gently stroking his cheek.

"He looks like a puppy when he sleeps like this, so cute," he thought.