Getting fresh air

I jolt awake, sheets twisted tightly around my legs, sweat slicking my chest and back as the darkness presses in. The red glow of the alarm clock reads 3:17 a.m., and my heart hammers wildly beneath my ribs. Echoes of Elena’s moans still ring sharp in my mind. Moans for him, for Derek, that smug face I can’t shake, claiming her in dreams that aren’t mine.

Tessa kneels beside the bed, dark hair spilling from her messy bun as her olive skin shines pale in the faint light. She’s naked, thighs pressed together, one hand hovering near my arm. “Hey,” she whispers, voice soft and husky, soothing as she tries to ground me. “You were thrashing. Muttering her name. Nightmare? Let me soothe you. Make it better.” Her fingers graze my bicep, trailing down slowly; her eyes flick to the tented sheet over my groin. My command, her oath, pulls her here. Wet, hungry, obedient as always.

Rage simmers hot under my skin as I sit up gently, catching her hand and holding it firm. “Not now, Tessa. I need to clear my head. Going for a walk. Get some air.” Her eyes widen for an instant, full lips parting in disappointment, but compulsion keeps her steady. She nods quickly, breasts rising with slow breaths, nipples peaked hard as she squeezes my hand back. “Okay. Be safe. I’ll wait.”

I let her go and swing my legs off the bed, tension thick in the silence as she watches me dress. Jeans, hoodie, boots laced tight, phone slipping into my pocket. She slides beneath the covers, eyes tracking me with unwavering devotion.

As I step into the hallway, the door clicks shut quietly behind me. Across the hall, Sarah’s door cracks open; her pale, sleepy face peers through, her devoted gaze lingering on me. I nod once, passing her without a word.

The elevator hums down and spits me out onto rain-slick pavement, streetlights throwing halos over orange-tinted puddles as the city breathes slow and deep in the night. Cool air bites fresh against my skin, waking me fully.

Thumbing my phone to life, I see the Mindweave app pulsing with crisp urgency. A notification throbs: Rival Signature Detected. Countermeasure: Hunt and Neutralize. Location Ping Active. A pulsing circle overlays the map. Two miles east, in the dive bar district. It tightens as I move closer, the app urging me on. It’s real. Some bastard is weaving against me, and my blood surges hot at the thought. Elena’s mine, earned clean. No pixels, no whispers, no thief gets to steal her from me.

There’s no point waiting for dawn. The streets are empty, perfect for the hunt. I stride out with a predatory pace, power coiling tight in my chest. No more dreams twisted by shadows. This ends tonight.