Chapter 61: Comfort and Warmth

It was already late at night when father and son finished their conversation. They lost track of the time. They decided to get rest and sleep.

Erick returned to his room. When he was already inside, he heard a whimpering and crying sound. Erick felt puzzled hearing that sound.

"Is Elle crying?" He rushed forward to see what was happening to Elle.

He saw Elle thrashing in her sleep. The sheets were twisted around her limbs.

Through the light coming from the lampshade beside his bed, he could see the beads of sweats in Elle's face. Her body was probably covered by a cold sweat.

"She is having a dream, probably a nightmare," Erick mumbled to himself.

He immediately ran towards her to wake her up, his eyes full of concern about her. He grabbed her shoulders and shook them while calling her name.

"Elle wake up!"

Erick's voice and his touch awaken Elle out of her nightmare. She opened her eyes to see the handsome face of Erick painted with both worries and relief.

Her heart pounded against her chest. Elle trembled. The remnants of her nightmare still clung to her mind haunting her.

She was back in her personal hell. Every time she woke up, she remembered that her nightmare was both real and worse than the fragmented reenactment of her past.

This time she got to see her father looking at her with love and gentleness as he pulled an eight-inch knife from his lower back.

They both fell to their knees and her father touched her face to wipe her tears while smiling at her.

Then her father hugged her and said "My princess, everything will be okay. Promise me that you will stay alive no matter what. Even without us, you must survive!"

Elle's tears were dropping on her face like rain. She couldn't speak and she was in shock. Her heart seemed like it would explode at any moment from the various emotions within.

After a while, her father collapsed in her arms. Her arms were now covered with her father's blood and then peals of laughter erupted in the entire house.

Elle took all her remaining strength to curse and scream against those persons who were enjoying the tragic scene of father and daughter in front of them.

Remembering those unpleasant memories, Elle let out a frightened cry and buried her face in her hands.

Erick was able to see every reaction of Elle. Seeing her like this it seemed like his heart was being squeezed. He wanted to comfort her. He wanted to ease the pain she was feeling right now.

His expression darkened. He was enraged as he clenched his fist. Who the hell did this to her? Did she remember anything? What happened to her to have this terrible nightmare?

He couldn't bear to see her like this. He pulled her into his embrace. He wanted her to feel that she was not alone in this battle, that he was with her, willing to protect her no matter what.

Erick was hugging her, tapping her back while he was letting her cry. Elle was lost at that moment. She broke all her defense. At first, she wanted to push Erick and hide from him.

She didn't want him to see her terrible state, her weakness. All this time she acted to be strong but right now she couldn't explain but she let this man see her in this state.

She felt tired of acting so brave and now she acted vulnerable in front of him. It felt like she wanted to be comforted by him, and it was all she needed right now.

His warmth, his scent, and his gentleness were making her calm. They stayed in that position for a very long time. Erick was hugging and comforting her while she was leaning on his chest.

She could hear the beating of his heart. It was like a piece of music in her ear. Finally, her trembling heart calmed down. She was now more relaxed in his arms.

Erick didn't want to end this moment but he was afraid that he might not be able to control himself.

His heart was beating like crazy right now. He could feel her warmth and her scent was starting to intoxicate his mind.

When he noticed that Elle stopped crying and she calmed down already, he spoke up.

"Elle do you want water? Wait... I will get it for you." he softly said to her. She just nodded in agreement.

After one minute, Erick brought a glass of water. He gave it to Elle. She gladly accepted it and drank from it.

"Are you okay now? How do you feel?" Erick asked her with a concerned and worried tone.

"I am fine now. Thank you." Elle felt grateful to Erick.

"Okay. Rest and go back to sleep now." Erick picked the glass from her and he assisted her to lie down.

Erick was about to leave when Elle grabbed his hand. Erick stopped and he turned to look at her.

"Erick...can you please stay with me for a while until I fall asleep?" Elle requested. After what she dreamed of tonight, she was afraid that when she closed her eyes, memories would come flashing into her mind.

She didn't know where she got the courage to ask him this request. She knew that he was still mad at her so she didn't know if he would agree.

She wanted him to be around because, for the first time after having those nightmares, she felt safe and protected by his presence.

Meanwhile, Erick was stunned for a moment after hearing her request. Of course, he wanted to stay with her for a while but he didn't expect her to willingly ask him to be with her.

"Okay. Don't be afraid. I will guard you while you sleep." Erick softly said while he gave her a gentle smile.

He grabbed a chair and put it beside her bed then he sat down. Elle gave him a confused look.

'When he said that he will guard me, did he really mean that he will sit down beside the bed and watch me until I fall asleep? It will just tire him out.'

Elle sat up and signaled him to lie down in bed beside her. Erick was dumbfounded. Seeing him not moving in his spot Elle spoke up.

"Erick, don't just sit there, you will be eventually tiring yourself out. Come here, lie down beside me."

Erick gave her a puzzled look.

"Did she really mean what she just said? She wants me to lie down with her in the same bed."

Erick gave her an Are-You-Sure look. Seeing his hesitation, Elle became impatient so she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the bed.

"Don't worry Mr. Detective, I won't do anything to you so just lie down here and relax." Elle's lips curled into a smile.

Erick:"....."

Erick was speechless.

'Hey, Miss Beautiful don't tease me like that. I am not afraid of you doing something to me but I am more afraid of myself, doing something to you.'

He wanted to say that to her at that moment but he just kept it in his mind.

In the end, both of them lie down in bed together. Later on, They both fell asleep while Elle was leaning on his chest and Erick was embracing her.

Elle's nightmares didn't come again. They both had a peaceful night sleeping together in one room and in one bed for the very first time.