Mad Ember

27: Awake

The songs I add before a chapter hint to the feelings and messages that will rise within it. It gives my characters a real voice. It brings them to life. All songs will be provided! :) And the playlist is on spotify!

S O N G F O R C H A P T E R : "Heaven"
B Y : FINNEAS

"EMBER!" The voice rings through my head, I feel like I'm falling and the next thing I know I'm on a bed. What now!? Who is going to hurt me now?! I frantically look around the room. I burst out into tears when I saw Corban looking at me with raw concern on his face. Not him, no, no, no, please don't ruin him!

He rushes towards me, and I scramble to the back of the bed, shielding myself from his view. "Ember, it's okay!" I'm in hysterics. Corban can't be ruined for me.

"This isn't real! This isn't real! This isn't real!" I yell, shaking my head frantically back and forth. God, I want this to end, I want to go back home! I want to go home!

"Ember! Ember This is real! I'm real!" I shake my head sobbing.

"No you're not! You're going to turn on me just like the rest did!" I cry, shaking my head. I won't be able to make it through this, but if the person tormenting me is Corban... I know I won't. My fist clench tightly and I feel a harsh sting. I let out a hiss and clench them harder. I feel Corban take hold of them, but I rip them from his grasp.

"Ember! No, I'm not! I'm right here..." I feel his hand on my exposed arm. I recoil back afraid of what might happen. "Em... breath. Hold out your hand for me, and let me touch you." His voice is calming, gentle. My crying doesn't stop, but I figure if I can get through this fast, then I can get back home. I reach out my hand, I'm shaking uncontrollably. I feel his hand touch mine and I flinch. He's going to turn any second now. His fingers slowly intertwine with mine.

"I'm right here." He whispers. I look up from my crouched position. Warmth spreads through my arm, coming from my hand... from his grasp, from our touch. The warm, comforting feeling I'm addicted to that is only possible with the real Corban.

I look at our hands then to him. Our eyes lock, and the world stops. His gaze is firm yet gentle, a silent conversation passes between us. I... I'm back?

"C-corban?" My voice is childlike. Tears once again fall down my cheeks. He sends me a warm smile... but somehow it looks sad. He's sad. He nods gently, looking to our hands.

"I'm right here, Em." He whispers, looking back to me. I burst.

"Oh god!" I cry, lunging myself into his arms. He is definitely surprised at first but recovers within seconds and wraps his strong arms around me. I'm safe. I'm with him, and he won't let anyone hurt me. He holds on to me tighter, kissing my forehead then my nose, then my lips. I pull back looking into his eyes. His warm chocolate brown eyes. "It's really you?" I question still scared that this is another trick, and everything still might fall apart.

"I promise it's really me." That's all it takes. I lean forward connecting my lips to his. His arms wrap around my neck keeping me close to him. I need to be close to him. It's as if a warm fluffy cloud is circling around us, holding me captive. I kiss him harder, and he responds. Tears fall down my cheeks, and I wonder how on earth I have any left.

We break, and he looks at me so deeply in the eyes. "I love you, Ember." My heart jumps, and I'm at a loss for words. Corban has told me that he loved me before, I even said it back... But this moment tops all of those. I find that even if I wanted to say something back, I couldn't. I was so tired. I still felt off from what I just experienced.

Corban pulls me into his embrace. Our bodies were tangled now, and I'm not exactly sure where his or mine began. He kisses my forehead, and I let out a shaky breath.