Aria sat still on her bed, reflecting on the dream she had. Everything about it seemed real. She could almost smell the blood as she shook violently.
Morgan stood near the bed carrying his usual serious expression. He stood as if he were trying to protect her from something dangerous.
The room was dimly lit, so the moonlight was visible as it entered the room softly.
Aria looked at Morgan and asked, "You said I almost died. Wha… what do you mean?"
She trembled as she asked the question. She was not sure if she should be asking Morgan all these questions, but she had no choice because she wanted to know the reason why she couldn't remember a thing.
Morgan didn't look away. Instead, he nodded once, and it was slow and certain.
"How?" she asked.
Seeing that Morgan had agreed that she almost died, it was as if Morgan didn't know the answer to the next question because he didn't reply immediately.
His silence made her more disturbed, but she didn't show any feelings. Instead, she gripped the blanket tightly as if doing this would make her get an answer.
She became weak again, but she still managed to ask another question.
"Was it in this room?" she asked.
He watched her carefully, and this time he gave an answer.
"Yes," he replied gently.
Morgan's reply made the dream flash again in her head one more time. She saw the broken glass shattered into a thousand pieces. The blood on the carpet was as red as scarlet, and she heard Morgan's voice saying "stay with me" echoing in her ears repeatedly.
"Who hurt me?" Aria asked as she searched his face with her eyes, as if she was trying to dig out the truth.
She was really desperate to know the mystery behind everything, so she kept asking questions to know it all.
Morgan looked away for a long time and then returned his gaze to her.
"Someone you trusted," he replied coldly.
She was puzzled a bit by his reply.
Trusted?
That word hurt her more than anything. That meant that she was betrayed.
Even without a memory, she could feel the pain.
"Who?" she asked again.
Her voice was shaking harder this time, but he only shook his head as he replied,
"Not tonight."
She was heartbroken after hearing his reply as frustration filled her completely. She felt like he was hiding something, something important that she should know.
"Why won't you tell me?" she asked as tears filled her eyes.
"Because it would break you," he replied.
Though the reply scared Aria, she felt that she was already broken and could withstand anything he told her at that moment. But she was scared of Morgan, and she didn't want to push him too hard.
Aria wiped the tears from her eyes gently. She hated the fact that she didn't know everything, and she hated that she was weak. But she knew that with time everything would be alright.
Morgan stepped closer and sat at the edge of her bed. He wasn't too close, but he was close enough to speak to her.
She stiffened a bit, and he noticed it.
"I won't hurt you," he said solemnly.
She studied his face and found a trace of honesty in it, but she was unsure if she could believe that he was actually honest with her.
"Then why do I feel trapped with you around?" she asked carefully, choosing her words with care.
That question surprised him.
He paused and thought carefully for some time, then he finally spoke.
"Because you don't remember choosing this," he answered.
His words felt heavy on her as she lowered her gaze.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe she actually chose him.
But she didn't remember why, and that frightened her deeply and made her feel like a stranger in her own life.
Morgan's eyes softened a bit as he spoke again.
"You were terrified that night," he continued.
Aria looked up immediately and looked straight into his eyes.
"Of who?" she asked in a low tone.
"Of losing yourself," he replied mildly.
That answer made her confused.
Losing herself?
What did that mean?
She wondered and frowned slightly, which made her head ache badly.
Morgan noticed this immediately.
"Stop thinking," he said gently.
She almost laughed because of what he instructed her to do.
How could she stop thinking?
It was her life, and she felt she had the right to know.
"I deserve to know what happened to me," she whispered gently to Morgan.
He nodded slowly.
"You will," he replied.
"When?" she pressed, trying to make him open up.
But he looked at her deeply and said,
"When you are strong enough."
That answer was dissatisfying, but she was too tired to argue with him.
Her body was heavy, and the shock of everything drained her completely.
Aria leaned back against the pillow, and Morgan adjusted the blanket gently. He moved carefully and respectfully in order not to make her uncomfortable.
"Why are you here?" Aria asked softly.
Morgan looked at her without hesitation.
"Because I don't sleep much anymore," he said.
That answer felt strange to her.
"But why?" she asked, waiting patiently for his reply.
He looked toward the window and lowered his voice.
"Because I almost lost you once."
Her heart skipped a bit as those words rang in her head.
She studied his face closely, and for the first time she saw something different.
It wasn't control nor coldness.
It was fear.
"You were scared?" she asked gently.
He was silent for some time, and his silence confirmed it.
That realization changed something inside her.
She expected him to be cruel or selfish, but he looked human and vulnerable now.
She became confused again.
Why does he care so much?
She wondered silently.
She barely even remembered him, but he looked like he remembered everything.
That thought alone made her chest hurt.
"Did I love you?" she blurted suddenly.
Her question surprised both of them as silence fell instantly.
Morgan froze completely.
His eyes widened for a moment, then darkened immediately as he looked away.
Aria regretted asking, but she was really curious.
She wanted to know if she had truly loved him.
"Did I?" she asked again.
This time her voice was fragile and low.
Morgan looked back at her slowly. His face was unreadable.
"You needed me," he said carefully.
That was not the same as love.
Aria was disappointed, though she couldn't explain why.
"That wasn't my question," she said mildly.
Morgan studied her again. His jaw tightened slightly.
"You trusted me," he replied finally.
Trusted?
That word sounded important.
She wondered what kind of person she had been.
Was she desperate?
Was she broken?
Was she brave?
She didn't know.
And that ignorance was dissatisfying.
Her eyes slowly grew heavy as exhaustion took over her body.
The fear in her faded gradually, but confusion remained within her.
She whispered one more question.
"Will you stay… with me?"
She asked timidly.
The question surprised even her because she didn't actually mean to ask it. But she wanted him closer and felt safe when he was near her, and that scared her too.
Morgan looked at her and answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
It was just one word, but it was certain.
Morgan moved a chair closer to her bed and sat down quietly. He watched her carefully and guarded her silently.
Seeing that he was near, Aria slowly closed her eyes.
Aria drifted into a light sleep. Her breathing was slow and calm.
She looked like an angel in her sleep, and Morgan admired her quietly.
Morgan watched her carefully. He didn't look away for a second.
His eyes remained focused on her face as if he was afraid she would disappear.
He leaned back slightly, but he stayed alert.
The room was extremely quiet, and the sound of the clock ticking could be heard clearly.
The moonlight shifted gradually, slowly fading from the room.
Morgan studied every little movement Aria made.
He noticed when she frowned and when she shifted on the bed.
He didn't relax fully, as his mind remained restless.
Memories of that night replayed in his head.
The blood on his hands.
Her weak pulse.
Her fading voice.
And her desperate whisper,
"Don't let them find me."
He tightened his jaw and clenched his fist as rage burned quietly inside him.
Whoever hurt her would pay.
He had already made that promise, and he always kept his promises.
Aria shifted suddenly in her sleep. Her brows furrowed slightly as she murmured something.
His body stiffened instantly, and he leaned closer.
"It's okay," he whispered to her in a low tone.
She calmed down slowly.
Her breathing steadied again, and a sign of relief crossed his face.
For a short moment he brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.
His touch was gentle, but he quickly pulled his hand back as if he was afraid of crossing a line.
He watched her for several moments, making sure that she was stable and alive.
He didn't allow himself to blink much, because the last time he blinked she almost lost her life.
That memory terrified him deeply.
He had made a promise to himself not to repeat that mistake again.
He leaned back slowly again and continued watching her.
His eyes never left her, and his body remained tense, prepared, and formidable.
The early morning light entered the room, illuminating the entire space.
Aria slowly opened her eyes.
She was no longer exhausted because she had gotten enough rest.
She blinked gently and looked toward the chair.
Morgan was still sitting there watching her.
He was fully awake and alert.
Her heart fluttered strangely when she saw him.
"You didn't sleep?" she asked.
He shook his head once.
"No."
She felt guilty immediately.
"You should have slept a little," she whispered while staring into his eyes.
He stood up gently.
"I do not regret doing it," he said calmly.
His words warmed her chest, and she smiled shyly.
Before she could respond, a loud sound echoed downstairs.
It sounded like a door slamming hard.
Both of them froze instantly.
Morgan's expression turned cold. His eyes sharpened, and he immediately became protective.
Morgan moved toward the door quickly.
"Stay here," he ordered firmly.
His voice left no room for argument, so Aria obeyed at once.
Fear spread through her whole body as she sat up quickly.
Another sound echoed, but this time it was closer.
Male voices were raised downstairs.
They sounded angry and dangerous.
She couldn't understand what they were yelling about, but she heard one name shouted clearly.
"Morgan Draven!"