. I was in the middle of a vast ocean. Every time I'd push myself upwards, I'd catch a glimpse of a wide blue sea and an endless sky above me. Then my head would slip underwater and I couldn't breathe.

My chest felt like it was about to burst. I knew how to swim, but it was like my body simply forgot. I kept trying to reach for the surface, but I was sinking further and further down until everything went dark.

I woke up with a gasp. I took in a shuddering breath and felt that my cheeks were wet with tears. I wiped my face with the back of my arm. I choked back a sob and pushed the covers off my legs. After slipping my shoes on and slipping my hoodie on, I walked out of the hotel room.

I didn't know where I was going exactly, but I just needed to get some air. I made my way down the elevator and walked down the hallway and out the grand, glass double doors.

I let out a breath of relief as I took in a lungful of the cool London air. I sniffled, looking from the left to right for a seat outside. A few yards down the road, I saw a seating area that belonged to a shop next door. I walked towards it and took a seat on one of the brightly colored seats.

I finally took in a breath that sent a wave of calm over me. I looked up at the sky that was dark but slowly getting brighter by the minute. I glanced at my phone that read 5:09.

I considered calling someone at home to talk to but decided against it. It was probably very late there. I wiped away the tears that started to fall from my eyes again.

The nightmare really shook me up for some reason. I've been getting different versions of the same dream. First, it'd start pretty normal, but then I'd end up being chased, unable to breathe, or get caught on fire. I shivered to myself.

I looked down at my lap and dried the tears that had fallen on them. I let out a sigh and looked up, frowning as I saw someone approach my table. As he got closer, I realized it was Atlas. My eyes widened. I quickly wiped my tears away and held my hands tightly in my lap.

I watched him pause in front of my table, his hand on the chair across from mine. I stared up at him, blinking softly. He let out a tired sigh and pulled the chair back and taking a seat on it. He watched me before he frowned.

"Why are you crying?" He asked, slowly.

I frowned and felt my bottom lip tremble at the reminder o the dream. I rolled my eyes, steeling my face from any emotion. I wouldn't cry in front of him.

"I wasn't crying," I huffed.

I peeked up at him to see him nodding, "Pretty stupid of you to come out here by yourself."

I glared at him, whispering to myself, "I didn't ask for you to come out here with me."

He nodded again, staying quiet. I looked at him as he stayed perfectly still, unmoving. His back was resting on the chair and his legs were out in front of him. His hands rested on his thighs, his index finger twitching slightly every few seconds.

I also noticed that when he spoke it was low and very slow. Like he was thinking of everything he was about to speak. It still came out strangely confident and sexy.

My cheeks flushed red at the thought.

We sat like that for a long while. Not saying anything and just listening to the sounds of the cars whiz past us and the pigeons flapping their wings overhead. I took in a shuddered breath.

"Why are you awake?" I whispered.

He shrugged, his eyes not meeting mines, "Couldn't go to sleep."

"'Cause of the time difference?" I asked.

He didn't answer, but his head moved like he was nodding, but also shaking his head. I frowned and decided to drop it.

My mind wandered back to my dreams, my lips dipping into a frown. My hands shook in my hands as I thought about it. It was stupid. It was just a dumb dream. It wasn't real.

Then why did it feel like it? It felt like I was actually drowning... sinking to the bottom of the sea. Losing control of everything, never to be found again.

I quickly wiped the tear off my face and looked up to see Atlas watching me with a frown. I huffed, getting up off my seat. I glared down at him.

"We do not bring this up to anyone," I said, gritting my teeth.

I walked off down the street, a deep frown on my lips. My eyes were tearing from how sleepy I was. I heard Atlas walking behind me and ignored him as he called my name.

"Eden!" He called once more. I balled my hands into fists and turned around.

"What?!" I yelled, all my exhaustion and fears pouring into my words.

He stared at me, "If you're hurting, tell them."

My face hardened, "Don't you think that I would if I felt like I could? I'd rather it kill me first."

His forehead creased a little and I rolled my eyes, "Just don't say anything about it."

He didn't say anything. Didn't give me any indication he understood what I was saying. I felt my bottom lip wobble a little and I sniffled, "Please!"

He eventually nodded. I turned around my head buzzing in the embarrassment of what I had just confessed. My body was tingling from the cold and my legs wanted to crumple to the floor from exhaustion.

And they did.

Before my knees hit the floor, I was caught by my waist and held up. I looked up to see Atlas looking down at me, but his eyes weren't really focused on me. They looked distant, but like they were trying really hard to stay tethered to reality.

I pulled myself away from him and wrapped my arms around me. I glared at him, "Stop doing that."

I frowned at her, "What?"

She looked like she was trying to keep herself together in front of me, but I could see right through her. Let go, I wanted to tell her, I wouldn't judge.

Her face turned red from both embarrassment and anger. She balled her hands into fists, "Stop being there. Just let me fall next time."

I let out a dry laugh, "If you say so."

She huffed and continued walking down the sidewalk-- pavement or whatever. I watched her quietly walk in front of me. The hoodie she was wearing was engulfing her frame, but her legs were completely bare. I bet she was cold I found myself thinking. I smiled at the thought.

Good. She deserved it.

Eden annoyed the fuck out of me. She had anger issues and didn't know how to control her emotions at all. Her friends were nice. Julia seemed like she was just trying to lay low and have fun. Leah was the complete opposite; trying to have fun whenever and wherever.

I watched as Eden's knees buckled again and she paused taking a breath. She glanced back at me and rolled her eyes, walking faster. I watched her brown hair bounce every time she took a step.

Everything she did was annoying me so much, but it was fun watching her get all worked up about it. I could definitely see that she was hurting, but it wasn't my place to ask. I knew how much it sucked to constantly be questioned.

"Stop looking at me." She grumbled to herself. I'm pretty sure she meant to say it to herself, but I heard it. I frowned at her.

"I'm not looking at you." I rolled my eyes.

She turned around to me as we reached the hotel entrance, "You are! Now stop it."

I crossed my arms, "You know for someone who's supposed to be the most excited for the trip, you're acting like a real pain in the ass."

Her eyes widened in surprise, but then she frowned, "Screw you."

I saw her wipe her face with her sleeve and trudge up the steps of the hotel. She continued to grumble to herself and I had to will myself to hold in my laugh. Aside from the time I'd spend locked in the hotel, I'd have fun making her mad.

My face turned bitter at the thought. I hated this world so much.

As we made our way to the elevator, I was stopped by a lady's voice. I turned around and spotted the lady who had helped us check in. She smiled widely.

I looked to Eden who had a scowl on her pink lips. I looked back at the lady and walked towards her. I heard Eden let out a groan and I rolled my eyes.

"Hi," I said to the lady, "Is something wrong?"

She shook her head, "Oh, no, love. I was just wondering if you'd like to meet for breakfast this morning. I'm free at 8."

Who the fuck willingly wakes up at 8?

"Oh," I drawled out.

She was pretty, no doubt about it. Her accent was thick, but it was kind of nice to listen to that. I looked at her and frowned. Did she know I was 17? She looked to be reaching her thirties.

"I'm not sure about that. My friends and I have a lot planned in a short amount of time." I frowned.

She nodded, "Oh, no worries. Maybe I'll show you to a proper dinner one day."

She smiled at me, leaning forward a little. I backed up and smiled, "Of course. Maybe,"

She smiled even wider and waved her hand as I walked away. I looked to the elevator to see that Eden wasn't there. I smirked at that.

She didn't have her key card so she'd have a pretty hard time getting in. I rode the elevator to our floor and got off walking down the hallway. I cracked a smile as I saw her sitting down on the floor across the room. She looked up when she saw me approaching.

She didn't growl at me like I expected her to. Instead, she pouted sadly and got to her feet. She glanced at her phone like she was expecting a text or a call, but quickly stuffed it in her pocket. I pulled the card out of my pocket and slid it into the slot, unlocking the door.

I walked in and heard the door shut after she walked in. I slipped my hoodie off and kicked my shoes off, getting back into bed. I looked at her and watched as she slowly slipped off her hoodie and took her shoes off. She ran her hands through her hair and absentmindedly scratched her leg.

She walked over to the bed and got under the covers. Her leg accidentally brushed against mine, making her pause and release a small breath. She continued to get under the covers and finally settled in.

My mind ran at a hundred miles per hour, making me dizzy. I tried to close my eyes and get some sleep, but I couldn't. My mind was like a timelapse video of a city at night. I cringed at the thought of that.

I heard Eden let out a sigh and move her pillow so that she was hugging it instead of sleeping on it. I shut my eyes and let my dark thoughts consume me. I would do anything for a few minutes of sleep, but my body wouldn't let me.

Eventually, I started to hear the small puffs of air leaving Eden's lips and I looked at her. Her eyes were closed and her hair was a mess all around her. Her eyebrows were furrowed as if she was watching a scary movie and was trying to prepare herself for a scary scene. I watched as she inhaled through her nose and exhaled out of her mouth.

I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my hand as pain shot up my arm. I winced quietly and swallowed the pain. I took in a deep breath and counted to ten, hoping the pain would go away. I let out a sigh of relief when it went away.

"Fuck," I whispered as I unclenched my hand.

Eden moved her head slightly and inhaled softly. She moved her arm slightly.

"Good night," She whispered in her sleep.

At that moment I could've laughed at two things. The first at how she talked in her sleep. The second at how she thought I was going to sleep. I sat up and decided to continue reading. It was either this or the constant voices in my head.

I let out a small groan as a sharp pain that resembled a knife pierced my head. I ignored it as much as I could and read on. Everything will be fine.

This chapter didn't really feel natural to me. It didn't flow like I wanted it to, but hey! whatever! ill probably come back to rewrite it or take it down and rewrite it later. but for now, here it is. i was listening to playlists that make you feel like the villain while writing this lol.

also thank you to all my readers, voters, and commenters. i love you all so so much. don't forget to tell me what you thought about this chapter. and do you agree with me? this chapter does feel different! (also 40K ON TBBAI YAY!!)

stay safe and happy ! i know its hard, but please do !! love you babes