Page 113 of Somno Slave

I shake my head, even though he can’t see it. “Nothing. I just—”

I stop because this shouldn’t be hard. This should be easy. It’s just a date. Just a man. Just a normal, uncomplicated yes.

My chest rises, falls.

I think of Deogal. Of the way he looks at me like I already belong somewhere I don’t remember choosing.

The thought makes something in me snap, sharp and sudden.

No.

I don’t belong to that. To a dream.

I don’t.

“I’ll go,” I say. It comes out firmer than I expect, almost defiant.

There’s a small pause on the other end.

“Yeah?” Joe’s voice lifts, hopeful, a little disbelieving. “You will?”

“Yes,” I say again. “Sounds fun.”

Relief floods through the line. I can hear the smile in it. “Great. That’s— yeah, that’s great. Saturday? There’s a place near the river I know, it’s—”

He keeps talking, filling in details, light and easy, like this is exactly what it should be. I let him. I even hum when I need to.

But my eyes drift back, one last time, to the corner of the room. Empty. Completely empty. And still, my skin prickles like it isn’t.

I press my palm harder into my thigh again, grounding.

You are in control.

“Saturday works,” I say into the phone, and this time, I make myself believe it.

“Great, I’ll see you then.” His smile is evident in his tone. “Night, Rheda.”

“Night—” the phone cuts off before I can even finish the word.

My body sinks into the sofa. I pull my legs to my chest, embracing them, still scanning the room just in case. I reach for the lamp, turning the brightness higher, forcing the light into my eyes until it stings. My pulse ticks faster. Good.

Stay there. Stay sharp.

Minutes pass. Or hours. It’s hard to tell.

A yawn rips through me, followed by a second. My thoughts start to blur at the edges, slipping slightly out of sequence. My focus stutters. The room feels softer, like it’s losing definition again.

I blink hard.

Stay awake.

My body doesn’t listen.

By the time my head touches the cushion, it feels less like a decision and more like something that’s already been made for me.

I breathe. Deeply. And then—sleep snatches me away. Something heavy presses down on my chest.

I try to move my hands. Fail. Move my legs. They don’t respond. A numbness pulls through my body as though it’s no longer mine to command.