Page 47 of Pieces Into Place

I squint in the distance, my heart skipping a beat when I make out the shape of a figure huddled close to something on the ground. Drawing closer, I realize it’s Kane, and he’s leaning over his bike, surrounded by an eerie, deep silence. Panic courses through me as I see the ground open up behind me like some gaping maw of darkness, but I push myself forward, determined to get to him despite my legs feeling like they’re moving through molasses.

My legs feel like lead as I force them to move faster, running towards Kane who is still visible in the distance. Exhausted, I stumble toward the motorcycle to find him slumped over it.

His breath is shallow and labored as he grasps onto the frame and then crumples to the ground. I cling onto him desperately, begging for him to be OK. Dizziness threatens my vision, and terror fills my body as I see the crimson trail of blood trickling from his neck, staining everything in its path. His body is heavy in my arms, his head cradled in my lap. Gently, I brush his hair out of his face and kiss his temple.

“Olivia,” he mumbles with a pained moan. “You need to run.”

“I’m not leaving you,” I say frantically.

He looks up with bleary eyes. Tears stream down my cheeks as I beg him to stay with me.

“No, no, no!” I cry. “You’re going to be fine. I just need you to get up for me, OK.”

“Liv, I can’t,” he rasps.”You have to go.”

“I won’t leave you,” I cry. “You’re all I have.”

“No,” he says quietly. “You have yourself, and that’s always been enough.”

My heart breaks when his gaze clouds over, and his breathing stops. Gently cradling his head in my lap, I kiss his temple one last time before letting out a loud sob.

“Kane!” I scream into the night. My heart shatters, and I know nothing will ever be the same.

“Olivia!” Kane’s voice calls through the dark room. “Liv, wake up!”

My eyes flutter open and I gasp at the unfamiliar setting. With my heart crashing against my ribcage, I frantically look around the cramped bedroom searching for any signs of danger. Sweat drenches my skin as I heave in quick, shallow breaths.

“Liv, look at me,” Kane says soothingly. His face gradually comes into focus, and as soon as our eyes meet, a wave of calm washes over me. Reaching out with shaky hands, I grasp onto his shirt and examine him with great urgency, desperate to make sure he isn’t hurt.

“It’s alright, shhh.” He brings my head to his chest and cradles it gently there. “I’m here, I’m OK. Just breathe.”

“But you were dead!” I blubber.

“It was just a dream, a terrible dream,” he says soothingly.

“It felt so real,” I sob, my tears soaking Kane’s shirt. He holds me tightly, rubbing a hand up and down my back until I start to calm down.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.

I shake my head silently and whisper, “No, I just want to forget it.”

Kane takes a deep breath and says softly, “I have an idea. How about we build a snowman tomorrow?”

I half chuckle at the absurdity of his suggestion and attempt at cheering me up. It works, though.

Even just his presence has an instant calming effect on me. His strong arms wrap around my shoulders, and I close my eyes to breathe in his familiar scent. The thought of spending another day with him gives me hope, pushing away the fear that had been gripping me moments before.

Slowly, but surely, my body relaxes and the tightness in my chest fades away. A day building a snowman and making love sounds like a dream come true. Kane’s warmth surrounds me as the nightmare fades away, and I find myself falling back asleep in his arms.

Chapter twenty-three

Olivia

I awaken a few hours later to light kisses being planted on the back of my neck. I roll over, and Kane is hovering above me, gazing sweetly into my eyes.

“Good morning. How are you feeling?” he questions, delicately moving the hair out of my face with his fingertips as he speaks.

“Much better now,” I answer him, running my hands across the muscular curves of his shoulders.