Chapter: The Nightmare
(Keifer's POV)
The bonfire was slowly dying.
The flames that had been wild and loud earlier were now softer, quieter, turning into glowing orange embers that crackled gently in the night air. The forest around us had gone calm again, the wind rustling through the tall trees while the cold night settled deeper over the campsite.
Everyone from Section E was still around the fire.
Still teasing.
Still talking.
Still staring at me.
And the reason was currently asleep on my lap.
Jay.
Her arms were wrapped loosely around my neck, her head resting against my chest while she slept like nothing in the world could bother her. Her breathing was soft and steady, warming the fabric of my hoodie every time she exhaled.
Like earlier never happened.
Like she didn't just confess "I love you" twice in front of the entire group.
Drunk.
Sleepy.
And completely unaware.
Across the fire, the idiots were still whispering like a bunch of gossiping grandmothers.
Cin pointed dramatically at Jay while whispering loudly to Rory.
"Bro… she said it again."
Rory nodded seriously.
"Twice. That means it's official."
Blaster leaned forward with a grin.
"Keifer just won life."
Josh added,
"Man skipped the entire talking stage."
I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up."
Aries smirked from the log across the fire.
"Face it, Keif. Your girlfriend only confesses when she's half asleep."
I looked down at Jay.
Her face looked peaceful in the soft firelight. A few strands of hair had fallen across her cheek, and her lips were slightly parted as she slept.
She looked harmless.
Too harmless.
Hard to believe that an hour ago she was chasing Cin like he owed her money.
Cin immediately shouted from across the fire.
"BRO SHE STILL SCARES ME."
Everyone laughed again.
Jay didn't move.
Still sleeping.
Still hugging me.
Still using me as a human pillow.
My legs were officially numb.
After another few minutes, Mayo stretched his arms.
"Alright… I'm going to sleep."
Drew nodded.
"Same."
David stood up and dusted off his pants.
"Yeah. Camp ends in the morning. We should rest."
One by one the group started standing up and heading toward their tents.
Cin pointed at Jay before leaving.
"If she wakes up and chooses violence again… don't call me."
"Goodnight, coward."
"GOODNIGHT SURVIVOR."
More laughter.
Soon the bonfire area started emptying out.
Until it was mostly quiet.
Just the sound of the dying fire.
The cold wind.
And Jay breathing softly against me.
I sighed quietly.
"Alright, Barracuda… time to sleep properly."
Carefully, I slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back.
She barely reacted when I lifted her.
Her head simply fell against my shoulder as she continued sleeping.
Completely trusting me.
The walk to my tent was quiet.
The ground crunched softly beneath my shoes while the wind rustled the trees overhead. The campsite lanterns glowed faintly in the distance, casting soft golden light over the area.
Inside my tent, it was warmer.
Dim.
Quiet.
I carefully lowered Jay onto the sleeping bag.
She immediately curled up into the blanket like a small cat.
Still asleep.
Still peaceful.
I sat beside her for a moment, watching her.
Her face looked calm again.
No chaos.
No drunken confessions.
No Barracuda mode.
Just Jay.
I pulled the blanket over her shoulders.
"Goodnight, troublemaker."
I was about to lie down on the other side when—
Jay suddenly jerked.
Her body tensed.
Her breathing changed instantly.
Fast.
Shallow.
Her fingers grabbed the blanket tightly.
Then she whispered something.
"…no…"
I froze.
Her face twisted slightly like she was scared.
"…Keif…"
My heart dropped.
She was dreaming.
Then suddenly—
"KEIF!"
She shot upright.
Her breathing was frantic.
Her eyes wide with pure panic.
Before I could say anything she grabbed my hoodie tightly.
"Keif!"
"I'm here," I said quickly.
But she wasn't looking at me properly.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
Like she was still seeing something horrible.
"You—"
Her voice broke.
"You were—"
She stopped.
Her breathing shook.
Then tears started falling down her cheeks.
"I saw you…"
"What did you see?"
Her fingers gripped my hoodie harder.
"…you died."
The words came out like they physically hurt her.
I felt my chest tighten.
Jay's voice started shaking.
"There was blood… and you weren't moving… and I kept shaking you but you wouldn't wake up…"
Her breathing became uneven.
"I tried to help you… but you wouldn't move…"
Tears were running down her face now.
"I couldn't save you…"
Her voice broke completely.
And suddenly she started crying.
Not the soft drunk crying.
Real crying.
The kind that comes from fear.
From loss.
From something that felt real.
My heart twisted painfully.
I immediately pulled her into my arms.
"Hey… hey… it's okay."
She buried her face against my chest instantly.
Her fingers gripping my hoodie like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.
"I thought you were gone…"
Her voice cracked.
"It felt real…"
I held the back of her head gently.
"Jay."
She shook her head slightly.
"I saw everything… you were bleeding and everyone was shouting and you wouldn't wake up and I kept screaming your name…"
Her breathing trembled again.
"I couldn't save you…"
I tilted her chin up carefully so she would look at me.
Her eyes were red.
Full of tears.
Terrified.
"Look at me."
She did.
Barely.
"I'm alive."
Her lips trembled.
"…promise?"
I wiped the tears from her cheeks with my thumb.
"I promise."
She searched my face like she needed proof.
Like she needed to make sure I wasn't just part of the dream.
"…you're really here?"
"Yeah."
Her breathing slowly started calming.
Then suddenly she hugged me again.
Tighter.
Like she never wanted to let go.
"I was so scared…"
I rubbed her back gently.
"Nightmares feel real sometimes."
Her voice was small again.
"…stay with me?"
I smiled softly.
"Of course."
I lay down beside her on the sleeping bag.
Jay immediately curled against my chest.
Her hand gripping my hoodie again.
Like if she let go I might disappear.
Her breathing slowly became steady again.
Her body relaxed little by little.
After a few minutes she was asleep again.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
But this time…
Her hand never left my shirt.
I stared at the ceiling of the tent for a while.
Listening to the forest outside.
Feeling her warm weight against me.
Thinking about what she said.
She cried because she thought I died.
She cried because she couldn't save me.
And for some reason…
That thought stayed in my head longer than it should have.
I gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"…crazy girl."
Jay moved slightly in her sleep.
Her head resting closer against my chest.
"…Keif…"
Her sleepy voice was barely a whisper.
"…don't die…"
My chest tightened.
I pulled the blanket around her a little more.
"Not planning to."
She didn't respond.
Already deep asleep again.
I closed my eyes eventually.
Holding her a little closer.
Just in case another nightmare tried to take her away.
Tonight…
I wasn't letting her fight it alone.