Carly's POV:

I was running as fast as I could but a form was still catching me. I couldn't run any faster. My lungs were burning. I was in pain and screaming something. Then I understood was I was screaming. Erik, Erik, was all I could think. I looked back and saw Jonathan was after me. He had an evil glint in his eyes and he was reaching for my throat. I kept screaming and he caught. He flung me to the ground and pounced on top of me.

“You are mine, you little good-for-nothing.” He reached for my throat and everything went black. I heard a voice calling to me through the darkness. A voice I recognized. I didn't care who it was. I had to reach that voice. I screamed Erik's name one more time...

“Carly, wake up! Carly, wake up!” I opened my eyes and saw Erik's very concerned face. I didn't care that I thought I hated, I didn't care that he had kidnapped me, I didn't care about anything. I need someone to hold me and tell me that things would be alright. I flung myself into Erik's arms and snuggled there. I was again struck at how muscular he was. If I was in different circumstances I would be blushing. But I wasn't. I was scared. For the first time in years I was scared of a nightmare. Erik rocked me back and forth and whispered soothing words. Once I had calmed down somewhat, I realized I was laying on the floor. I pulled back and looked at it in surprise.

“What happened, Carly? I heard you screaming my name and as I arrived at the door I saw you fall out of bed.” I blushed out of embarrassment.

“I had a nightmare.” I whispered. It sound pathetic but I couldn't help it. I was scared. He pulled me back into his arms and started to rock me again. I cried a little more and then I couldn't help but feel exhausted. He picked me up and tucked me back into bed. I tried to rest but I couldn't. He seemed to notice it and started to sing,

Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation

Darkness stirs and wakes imagination

Silently the senses abandon their defenses...

I was asleep but not before I realized that was the best voice I had ever heard. It was perfect.

Erik's POV:

I finished the song and watched her sleeping. I couldn't have begun to explain the terror I felt when I heard her screaming my name. She sounded scared. So very scared. I had run and seen her fall from the bed. I thought it was me but in fact it must not have been because she hugged me. That was the first time she had ever hugged me. The very first. I missed her arms around me. She felt so perfect there. I walked away once I knew she was sleeping soundly. I walked into the music room and started to play. That is how I always calmed myself down. It worked as usual.

Carly's POV:

I awoke some hours later. There had been no more nightmares but I was still smarting from the last one. I pulled on some of my clothes and looked at myself in the mirror. What I couldn't believe was that I had been screaming Erik's name as if he would save me. And when he was there to hold me I hugged him. I actually hugged him. And the worst part was the fact I had enjoyed it. I had enjoyed it a little too much. I blushed to think of his strong arms around me and my head pressed against his powerful chest. I blushed again and tried to calm myself down. I smiled and realized that was the first time that I had ever smiled here. I was beginning to like it just a little.

Erik's POV:

I heard someone behind me and looked back. It was Carly. I looked at her and wondered what she was about to say.

“Thanks, Erik. I needed that. I haven't had a nightmare in a while. I had forgotten what they were like. Thanks again.” She turned to leave, but I couldn't let her go.

“Wait, do you want to tell me about it?” She turned back and found a place to sit. I watched carefully. She was so perfect. Then she launched into the whole story. I didn't know why she would dream about that but she did. I thought Jonathan treated her well enough.

“Didn't Jonathan treated you kindly?” I asked then did something completely crazy. I was sitting on the piano bench and she was sitting on couch. I moved from the bench to beside her. I tentatively took her hand and rubbed it gently. She started to cry a little before she said,

“Yes, he is perfect. He is everything a woman could want. I don't know why I would dream of him.” Those words cut me like a knife. I knew what she was implying. She didn't understand why her boyfriend was hurting her and she was crying my name when it should have been the opposite. I sighed. She was so tired and hungry.

“Are you hungry?” She nodded and I helped her into the kitchen. She was my life and my love. I would do whatever I could to keep her safe and happy. She seemed to be adjusting well enough. After her original terror she seemed to content. She looked up at me and smiled. The first time I had seen her smile here. She looked like a dream come true. She was a dream come true.