"Baby it's me and you. Just us two. Even in the crowded room,

baby it's just me and you."

-- Selena Gomez

●●●

●●●

snatched away from me. I can't cry. I can't eat. I can't sleep.

My worst nightmare has come true. I living through the dreams that destroyed my life.

"Victoria, sweetie." Amara strokes my hair, "He's fine. I know he's fine. Don't worry."

"He promised me he'd come back," I whisper in a low weak voice to her. "Where is he? I can't lose him, Amara. I just can't."

"And you won't," Amara smiles at me but it doesn't reach her eyes. "You don't know him. He's really strong and right now he'd want you to be strong."

"I told Rico something is wrong. But he wouldn't listen. He just wouldn't..." A lone tear escapes my eye but I just feel numb.

I rest my head to Amara's shoulder. Rico enters the room.

"Any news?" Amara asks him softly.

"Francis is tracking him," Rico says curtly. "There was nobody found near the car. We think he knew and escaped. He's always a step ahead."

"I hope so," she says stroking my hair."Tori, you should rest."

I shake my head, "I won't go to bed without him. I won't. He has to come back to me. He promised me."

Amara's eyes fill with tears, "Oh honey. He has to come and if he doesn't we'll both hunt him down and make him regret."

I try to smile at her but fail miserably, "Where's Karla?"

"They took her to the hospital. We didn't want her to worry. Her surgery is due tomorrow," Amara replies.

"I have to be there for her. I promised Christian that I will take care of her," I say in a monotone.

"Then we'll go there, tomorrow sweetie. Don't worry." She holds my hand, "Everything will be fine."

Rico and Amara start talking but I zone them out. I stare out the window watching the sunset. It's been almost 24 hours since I last saw him.

The dream I had last night, I can see it coming true. I knew I woke up screaming his name. My throat was burning as I shouted too much.

Time passes and passes. I don't move from my place. Eventually, Amara stands up and Rico takes her place.

He asks me something but I can't concentrate. It all goes back to him.

"I saw him in my dream last night," I rasp out a whisper immediately catching Rico's attention. "We were out in a field, he told me that I was very brave and he faded away. I tried to touch him. I tried to catch him but he just faded away. Leaving me in darkness."

I let out a breath.

"Right now I'm living through it," My voice wobbles. "I just want him back, Rico. He's all I have."

Rico hugs me close saying nothing.

God, please bring him back safely. I can't live without him. Please.

I pray in my head again and again. The clock ticks and ticks. The time passes and passes but nothing changes.

Rico even got up to attend a call and hasn't come back yet. I'm alone in the great living room perched on a comfortable couch but I still ache everywhere.

My heart hurt the most. The door opens again but I don't look at it. I stare into... Well, nothing.

"Tori, look who's here." Amara's voice rings softly in my ears.

I don't have the energy to look in her direction. So I don't.

"Victoria?" I blink my eyes.

"Mi Cara.." Every hair on my body stands up hearing this voice.

I reluctantly move my eyes and there he stands. Dirty, bloody, and battered. His eyes carefully focused on me.

I don't take my eyes off of him and I don't move either, afraid he will fade away again. Leaving me all alone in the darkness. He carefully makes his way around the room slowly towards me.

He walks till he is standing in front of me. But I don't dare move my eyes.

Please be real. Please be real.

He kneels in front of me so that we are eye to eye. My eyes search his eyes for any clue. For anything.

He reaches out to me, his knuckles slowly caressing my cheek. I shiver from his touch. He seems real.

He places his full hand on my cheek. "Hi, baby."

"Christian...?" I say but I can't even hear myself.

"I'm here." I close my eyes processing it.

He's here. He's here.

I immediately start counting my fingers. They are 10. I'm not dreaming.

A sob escapes me. And another. I wrap my arms around his neck and cry. "I thought you... I thought--" I cry harder.

"I okay. I promised you I'd be back didn't I?" He kisses my head.

I nod. "Thank God," I cry out.

I cry for a few minutes until I'm all dried out. I lift my head off his shoulder and kiss him on the lips chastely.

"You're here."

"I'm here." He kisses me again.

"I thought I lost you," I say in a cracked whisper.

"I knew this was going to happen the second I left. I escaped and it took some time to get back," He clarifies. "I'm safe. Just a scratch on the head."

He stands up and gives me his hand. I gently place it in his and he pulls me up.

He eyes my clothes, "You are wearing my shirt." A soft smile is playing in his lips.

"It smelled like you and I missed you," I say sheepishly.

"I missed you too, Mi Bella." He hugs me to him. "You are the only reason I came back."

"Please don't do this to me again," I say. "Ever."

"I'm sorry." He gives me a loud wet kiss on the lips making me giggle. "Ah, there's that beautiful sound."

"Beautiful?" I scrunch up my nose.

"Beautiful," He nods. "Music to my ears."

I smile at him. Thank God. He's here.

"I'm so glad you're fine. I died a thousand deaths today." My expression turns solemn, "I was feeling so helpless."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I'm just glad you are back in one piece," I kiss him again. I thank God again that he is here in front of me safe kissing me back.

Not hurt that he couldn't respond to me.

"Let's go eat. I'm famished," He picks me up so that my legs are around his waist. I tightly held onto his collar with one while the other arm is around his neck.

"What are you doing?" I giggle.

"I have a lot of making up to do." He pecks my lips.

"Amara please tell the cook to send some food for us upstairs. We're hungry." Christian says climbing the stairs while I give Amara a thankful and a shy smile.

I snuggle into Christian inhaling his scent that I've missed so much today.

He's here. With me. Safe. And he all mine.

●●●

●●●

This is dedicated to all my readers from all around the world. Let me know if I missed your country!

● South Africa

● Pakistan

● Bangladesh

● Canada

● India

● United Arab Emirates

● Nigeria

● The United States of America

● Malaysia

● Swaziland

● Belgium

● United Kingdom

● Ireland

● New Zealand

● Portugal

●Germany

●Norway

●Lebanon

Ethiopia

• Greece

• Malawi

• Uzbekistan

• Australia

• Philippines

• Brazil

• Chile

• New Mexico

• Indonesia

• Singapore

• Russia