Chapter 5.9

Hours later, Ian shook us awake. We'd fallen asleep huddled against the wall. "I think you two should get to your beds now." Ian whispered. The main lights have been switched off, and all of the White List refugees had settled into their sleeping matts and blankets, most of which were asleep, but there were a few mummers of those still staying their goodnight's. The only light was from the orange hue from Ian's map lamp.

"Thanks, we should get going." I agreed. Theo stood next to me, although her eyes were open, I could tell she wasn't fully awake, and I had to lead her through the tangle of sleeping people, to avoid her stepping on someone's foot or face as she wasn't looking where she was going.

Outside, somehow moon rays reflected off the glass panels hanging from the ceiling, casting enough cool sliver light for us to navigate back to the ward. Someday I would have liked someone to explain how they managed the refraction of light, but I didn't think anyone was in the mood to explain the science behind it.

I eased the door open and found that everyone else was asleep too. Bella seemed to have kept Tommy company in our absence, as there was an extra made-up bed next to his. As soon as we were in, Theo made a beeline for her bed and flopped face first into the covers, not bothering to get under the covers. I made my way to my own, and laid on my back, staring up at the dark ceiling.

For ages my mind was stuck in the gap between sleep and awake; I was fixed thinking about all the people who stuck their photos on the wall, I wondered where Alliana was. The same thoughts kept going around in circles in my head. But they were sleepy thoughts, ones that hardily had words to them, but were enough to keep my mind from fully slipping into unconsciousness.

In my half-awake state, I started to notice Tommy muttering. I could understand what he was saying, and I thought maybe he'd woken up and was talking to Bella, but there wasn't a second voice.

"Tommy you okay?" I whispered.

The muttering continued, and I managed to make out the "No… Get away.". I sat up and squinted in the dark. His eyes were closed, and he was clenching his sheets tightly in his fists. He must have been having a nightmare.

"Tommy?" I whispered again.

His whole body was taunt, and there were tears streaming from his closed eyes. "No… Please… I don't want to do this… I don't like this… Let me out…" his voice begged.

"Tommy!" I called a little louder, but from experience, I knew I couldn't wake him up that way. I crept up to his bed and tapped him firmly on both shoulders.

Still stuck in the dream, his arm flung out to whisk away his invisible assailant, and I narrowly dodged it, but tripped and fell. The moment I fell, something small and dark launched out from under his bed at leapt at my face. I just had time to raise my arm before Rex sunk his teeth in.

I grunted, the sudden pain catching me by surprise. "Tommy wake up!" I hissed louder this time and felt out with my other hand to grab his leg.

He jerked awake and flung himself upright with a start and gazed around in the darkness in confusion.

"A little help?" I said through gritted teeth, and his gaze flickers down.

"Ezra! Rex! Let him go!" he yelled, and the little shadow dog released his jaw and dropped down. "Ezra! I'm so sorry! Rex… Why did he do that?" Tommy voice broke with confusion and shock.

"It's okay Tommy, you were having a nightmare, Rex was only trying to protect you." Now he'd released my arm, I pressed it with my other hand, feeling blood seep through my fingertips.

Rex cowered back under the bed, whimpering with guilt. Tommy hurried in the dark to turn on the lights.

"What's wrong?" Bella was woken by the light and gazed around the room in confusion. When she saw me on the floor with blood dripping down my wrist, she exclaimed "What happened? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but it would be good if you could wake Anna or Dr. Rusholme." I asked, but she was already climbing out of bed and rushing down the hall.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know… I…" I could hear him try to hold back his tears

"Tommy, I'm okay, it just a dog bite."

Bella returned with Anna, who was wrapping her dressing gown around her. She flicked the lights on, and instantly grabbed the first aid kit and some rubbing alcohol. Any sign of sleepiness had vanished, and she immediately assessed the situation. She knew what had happened without asking, and she gently helped me up with my uninjured arm and propped me on the edge of my bed.

In the light, Tommy's complexion was pale- probably worse than mine. He'd drawn his knees up to his chest and he wore a blank expression of shock. Bella wrapped her arms around him to try and comfort him, but it didn't seem to do much good, his moist eyes were fixated on Anna helping me.

"Tommy, are you listening?" she said, while rubbing medical alcohol into the wound, it stung like hell but I kept a straight face. She gave a quick glance up but continued to concentrate on what she was doing "He's going to be okay, you don't have to worry. Rex didn't do it on purpose did he?"

"No." he muttered.

"All done, see?" she added. I lifted my hand so he could see.

"Good as new." I added.

"I really am sorry." He added again, but it seemed to have relaxed a little.

"It's okay, I'm fine, really. So, neither you nor Rex have to feel bad about it. You were having a nightmare and Rex was doing his job at protecting you."

Anna handed me a couple of tablets, either antibiotics or pain killers, and I swallowed them dry.

"Is everyone else okay?" Anna asked, and we nodded- Tommy a little reluctantly. "I'm going back to bed then." She yawned.

"Thanks for the help." I called, but I wasn't sure she was listening, she trodded away.

"We should get back to sleep." Bella agreed, and without waiting for a response, she flicked the light switch and we were plunged into darkness again.

I laid flat on my back, my bandaged arm lightly resting lightly on top of the covers. My mind became clouded and I welcomed the oncoming sleep.