Chapter 1002 - Come back to me (2)

Aiden was trapped in a void. There was nothing. No sounds, no feelings… deprived of all sensations and thoughts and the concept of time was missing as well.

Then, there was a sense of existence. He was unable to move or feel, but he knew that he exists. Where is he? He didn't know… any thoughts more complex than that were impossible to form.

Occasionally some faint noise reached him. Voices? Music? Cries? He was not sure. Sometimes he would feel like someone is holding onto his arm. And that does not make sense because he doesn't have a body, but… if he had an arm, it would be there… and that is the place where he feels someone's presence.

He could not tell if it's few seconds or days or years. It's impossible to tell in this place where everything is the same.

He didn't know where he is, or what that random noise is, or where is it coming from… but he knew that he is focusing with all his might on that feeling of someone holding onto him. Especially when he didn't feel anything, he would put every bit of his presence into that area… waiting to feel that warmth. Is it warmth? He was not sure, but if there is such a thing as warmth, that is how it would feel.

After some time, he was confident that at certain intervals the area on his right is warming up and it feels good, as if something is calling to him, holding onto him, not letting him drift away… forcing him to focus and to go… where exactly? He didn't know, so he just focused on that warmth. The more he looked that way the more it felt that he can see something. Maybe like a mist, glowing faintly, clinging onto an area where his right arm should be… but there was nothing. Is he going crazy? Is he dead?

Aiden heard silent sobs… it was that mist again… by now, it took some shape, and it looked familiar… Why is she crying? She is calling to him through sobs… She? Is she crying because of him? He was troubled because he wanted to comfort her, but he didn't know how.

"…I am missing you…come back to me, will you?" This time he heard her clearly, and he can see her shape, translucent, curled up by his side, sobbing. And his whole existence ached from the need to comfort her… because he knows who she is. She is his second half, the piece that is missing to make him whole… and the only thing that can cause him pain is when she is hurting… and she is hurting…

Aiden inhaled a choppy breath and slowly opened his eyes.

He is aware of his body, and looking at his right there is that warmth… a girl… Sarah? He inhaled through his nose and remembered the scent of her shampoo. It's Sarah. She is not sobbing, that is good. She is sleeping, he should not wake her up.

Aiden's attention moved to the sound of the heartrate monitor. Why is that here? Is that a machine for measuring the blood pressure, and what else…? He moved his left arm and observed an IV needle… He took in his surrounding and realized that some things are not right.

What is that huge black thing at his feet looking straight at him? It took him few seconds to notice the golden spotted pattern on the forehead, barely visible but it's there… Kitty? Can a panther more than double in size overnight…?

"Eve?", Aiden called and was surprised that the sound was a whisper. And his throat hurts like hell, but that is good, because it means that he is alive and that this is happening. After such a long time (or maybe few seconds) of not feeling anything, he feels pain. It's horrible and wonderful at the same time.

"Yes, Master?", Eve responded softly.

Aiden's eyes flashed in surprise. 'Master?'

He looked lovingly at the girl curled up around his right arm. She gave up on Eve to call her 'Master' ? For him? He remembers how Sarah proudly said that she created Eve and that is why Eve calls her 'Master' , and it was important to her... 

"What is… the date?" At this point Aiden realized that he can't speak with anything more than a whisper.

"Monday, January 27, 2020… 5:34 AM Pacific Standard Time…"

Aiden took few deep breaths while wondering how much did he miss? What happened? What is the last he remembers? He started with the latest memory that stuck out and worked his way from there… Jeff and JoAnna got married… he and Sarah went to Austin to get their revenge… random images from France and Master Hollow… Runway?... Sarah was supposed to give a presentation at the company meeting. Did she do well? He could not remember.

Aiden snapped when he remembered that the White corp. company meeting was on October 24… three months ago. He was out for three months!? Why can't he remember a thing from last three months? His birthday... Christmas... Aiden knows that Sarah would not allow any of those to pass without a party, but he does not remember them...

"Eve, when did I arrive here?", Aiden questioned Eve while trying to fill in the gaps.

…

Sarah dreamt that she is next to Aiden.

She had this dream so many times that she already knows that it's a dream and what is coming.

In the dream, she is holding onto Aiden and he is hugging her back.

Aiden is holding her in a way that only he can. He is not hugging her body… it's a hug which embraces her soul, her hopes and dreams while warding off all the bad things away… it's a hug which gives her peace and happiness and makes her feel that anything is possible.

But… she knows that soon she will wake up, and she will be forced back into a reality where he is not holding her. She does not want to leave. Even with the knowledge that it is not real… even if this is the hell itself, she does not want to leave because this is the only place where she can be with Aiden.

She held her eyes tightly shut, refusing to wake up. If she opens them, she will see that he is beside her, not moving… but, she can still feel his arms around her. The dream is so vivid that his presence lingers… and it makes waking up so much more difficult.

Sarah sighed and opened her eyes slowly. She smiled faintly… this is different. This time she didn't wake up because he is still holding her. But… Kitty is here and all the machines… that is usually NOT part of the dream.

Sarah held her breath and looked up. And she is sure that her heart jumped into her throat when her eyes met Aiden's… looking at her… with his dark eyes full of love and sadness and everything that exists in the universe.

She wanted to say so many things, she wanted to ask him if this is real, but her whole body trembled as she dissolved into a river of tears. Sarah didn't want to cry. But all the tears she held back in last three months gushed out uncontrollably.

Aiden does not like to see Sarah cry, he never did. But this time he understood Sarah's need to release her emotions.

He asked Eve is Sarah suffered while he was unconscious. Eve told him that Sarah didn't cry at all, but her body stats showed that she is hurting. And Eve told him that Sarah didn't smile or laugh either...

Aiden pulled Sarah onto him and held her tightly while her tears fell on his chest. He kissed the top of her head and held her without a word, occasionally running his fingers through her hair. And he smiled because this time he is aware of his body, and of her warmth… the same warmth and quiet sobs which forced him to stay focused and not drift away when everything else was tearing him apart.   

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