63 Perfectly Normal (1/2)

You are safe.

Just inconvenienced, but safe.

”Evie?” So close. ”I found you.” The water seemed to thin, his voice grew clearer. I felt a cool sensation on the back of my palm. It was the cold fabric of my jacket covering my shoulders and back. I shuddered.

There was a strange sense of security. The claustrophobia was there but my mind was split between the two worlds, fighting for dominance in their own dark ways. In one, I was the one trapped in that blazing pit. In the other, I was constrained and tight down to the floor, my back, my head and my body exposed to anyone and everyone to wanted to harm me. The prickle of someone watching me overcame me. No, it was not the feeling I had when Sebastian looked at me, or just someone looked in the passing. It was a penetrating gaze of malice.

I had felt it for years, in my darkened room as I tried to sleep.

Others laughed it off, making memes about the proverbial demon lurking in the dark. But the demon was always there. Always following me. I was conscious of it.

He wanted me. He wanted me dead. And he would soon have me.

But that jacket? It seemed to shield me from the weapons that the demon would use to destroy me.

I don't know how long it took me to calm, but I knew Sebastian was standing at a distance, not wishing to interrupt me.

I sighed in relief as I turned to him. The EMTs were there, as were the police. The bull was open in front and the fire put out. A gurney was taking the person inside out of the building. I followed their pace and sighed. The auditorium was engulfed in silence.

No one spoke.

I could hear the clicks of the camera and the scribbles of pen on paper.

Sebastian didn't ask. I didn't answer. His eyes held no curiosity, just a deep understanding for which I was thankful.

I must have looked crazy. For him to come out of his usual personality and stand amongst all those people and help was… mind boggling. He wasn't one to help in such a public display. He could have very well abandoned me and pretended that he didn't know me, but he had done it nonetheless.

I stood up, my legs slightly shaky and I walked to him. I was conflicted. Should I thank him or just pretend like nothing happened? I knew he would bring it up later on, but now was not the time.

”Who called emergency services?” Sebastian pointed at himself.

”I called them when you were moving towards the stage.” Nice way to put it. He wasn't sarcastic or alluding to what just happened.

”And how long has it been?”