paranormal: (adjective)
1. denoting events or phenomena such as telekinesis or clairvoyance that are beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding.

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I wasn't expecting my body to hurt more with fear than the physical injuries I'm currently holding. I've been shaken to my core since waking up in this hospital bed, my mother and my father standing over my body with concerned eyes.

That's when it all started coming back to me.

The manor. The shadows. The voices.

My eyes press together tightly and I can hear the machine beside my bed begin to go wild. My mum calls for a doctor and my vitals are checked but I can't think about anything right now, my mind has been infested with visions of things that do not belong to this Earth.

Ones that people do not believe in.

I knew something was wrong with that manor and I will never step foot inside again, even if it sends me back to court because the probation officers want me to finish the job. Fuck that. The thought makes my stomach flip like a disastrous rollercoaster.

A cup of water is brought up to my lips and I take a large gulp. My father leaves to grab me some decent food and a coffee from the vending machines but I didn't want any of that. My heart lurched for Bodi, where is he?

Did something happen to him too?

My breathing begins to increase and my mother rests a hand on my arm. "Honey, you need to calm down," she says gently. "You've been through a lot and you need to let the medicine kick in. You'll be feeling better soon."

I glance down at my strained arm, my skin sliced open from God knows what. When my face creases I wince, raising my hand with wires hanging out of the back to my forehead. I press down gently and hiss when I feel a lump and a sore patch.

"Honey," my mother pulls my hands away and clutches them between her own. "Stop, you're going to make yourself worse."

My eyes flick between my mothers and I open my mouth. "Bodi," I whimper. "Where is he?!"

She blinks at my sudden tone and shakes her head. "We don't know honey, your father rang him earlier."

Rang him earlier? Shouldn't he be here to see if I'm okay? The thought rips my heart in two. Maybe something happened to him. Oh God, please don't let anything happen to him.

"Please, you have to find him," tears threaten my eyes but my voice has already gone, begging, pleading. "Please, mum. I need to know where he is."

I glance at the clock on the wall. It's almost midday which means he would be at probation and the manor isn't safe. It isn't safe for anyone and the last person I want there is Bodi. Fuck. Fuck. My chest puffs out painfully and I forget how to breathe like a normal human being.

"Ash, stop," my mum's eyes begin to glisten. "You're going to give yourself a panic attack. Slow it down, please."

A hand raises to brush over my head, her attempt at soothing me but the only person I want here right now is Bodi. I want to see him with my own eyes, to see that he's okay. To have him in my arms before I break down and convince myself nothing will be okay again.

Everything feels like life or death right now. The anxiety inside my brain is turning into overload and a second here longer without Bodi will unleash me into the depths of my mental health. Ones I want to get out of before they've even begun.

"Please, mum." Wetness coats my eyes and cheeks. "I need Bodi. I need him now!"

"Your father has my phone," she soothes me by stroking my hair again. "When he's back we can give him a ring. Hmmm?"

I shake my head, unable to take a second more of this. My chest feels impossibly tight and I want to rip out all of these tubes and wires from my body, no one is fucking listening.

"Get dad now, please," my lips begin to tremble and the machine spikes in loudness. "I can't sit here and do nothing. I have to know that he is okay."

Her eyes dart from me to the machine and she huffs out a breath. "Ash, stop."

"Where is he, mum?!" I roar unexpectedly, my eyeballs burning with desperation and hurt. "I need to know where he is."

A low sob rumbles from my chest, pain aching all over my body like splinters. My mother stares back at me like she doesn't know what to do, the struck look on my face must be confusing her but the ache in my heart is desperate.

I will not rest until I know where he is.

My mother begins to talk as the door to my hospital room is swung open. When my eyes collide with Bodi's tall figure, those brown eyes find mine within a matter of seconds. I notice a guard behind him trying to pull him back but he manages to worm from his embrace.

Bodi's expression is one of soul-destruction. He looks down at the IV in my arm, eyes glazing over the endless bruises and injuries across my body. The heaviness in my chest disappears so quickly that I almost fall out of the bed.

"Bodi," his name falls from my lips in nothing but a pathetic murmur. "Oh my God, you're here."

His head nods at my words and he takes a couple of large steps towards me, embracing me into his large, warm arms. He carefully manoeuvres himself around my broken arm but keeps his hands on me, pulling me tight into his comforting chest.

When his lips press to my head I close my eyes with satisfaction and melt into his touch, finally able to take a breath of relief. "Hey, it's okay," he says quietly into my hair. "I'm here, I'm here now."

He cradles my back with his hand, gently brushing the pads of his fingers over the hospital gown that I am wearing. Those hands could make me feel safe in the most dangerous of places, take me to the pits of hell and I'd feel secure in Bodi's touch.

My fingers ball into a fist at the front of his shirt, not wanting him to step away from me. I don't even realise that I'm crying until my tears have caused his t-shirt to become see through.

The sound of the machine blaring beside me echoes in my ears but it's so quiet and numb, all I can focus on is Bodi being right here with me. Exactly where I have wanted him to be all this time. Maybe I'm selfish but he's the only person who is going to understand.

He's the only person who I trust.

Bodi pulls back after a few moments and keeps his large hand on the back of my head, my neck resting perfectly against the edge of his palm. "Hey, slow your breathing," he instructs me and I forget that I'm breathing like a flesh eating zombie.

I stare up into his eyes and study his pain-stricken face. One that has me feeling guilty to my core. He's been worried about me, that's evident. I never wanted to worry anyone.

Bodi begins to breathe in and out for a set period of time. I nod at him and copy his actions, trying to slow my aggressive lungs. Ones that have no idea how to regulate myself. All I can focus on is him, everything else in the world doesn't matter because he is right here with me.

His thumb grazes my cheek, pushing away the tears that fall from my eyes without permission. At this point they're doing it on their own but he makes sure that they never reach the end of my jaw.

I watch him in complete awe, soon finding myself trying to bury my face into his palm but failing miserably.

"Don't go back to that house," I eventually find my voice. "Promise me you won't, Bodi."

Bodi opens his mouth, brows pulling down harshly. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

"Bodi," I snap and he blinks. "Promise me you won't go back there!"

He licks his lips at my sudden outburst, sliding his hand over to grip my fingers gently. "Okay," he agrees and glances over my expression. "I promise I won't go back there."

My lungs inhale the deepest breath I can and I slowly sink back into the hospital bed, Bodi never moves his hand away from mine. I'm grateful because I need his affections or I will never recover from this.

"What happened?" He asks again after a few moments.

Slowly he drags his other finger down the curve of my cheek. My head shakes instantly, that lump in my throat forming again. "I feel like you're the only person who is going to believe me," I croak, wetness clouding my eyes.

Bodi releases a soft breath through his nose, our eyes remaining on each other in a silent conversation. He knows exactly how I'm feeling. How fucking terrified I am and he can see that, without a doubt.

"I don't want you to think I'm crazy," I whisper under my breath when he doesn't reply straight away.

"Hey," he cuts over me, sliding onto the bed beside my legs. "I'd never think that. I will always believe what you say, Ash."

My inhale gets stuck in my throat and I clench my eyes. I lean my body towards Bodi and rest my forehead on the curve of his shoulder. His arms wrap around my body by default and I wait a few moments, thinking about how the fuck I'm going to word this.

No matter what I say, it's going to come back to haunt me. In my memories. Even if I want to forget. I will never be able to.

"Please don't leave me," I slur onto his shoulder. "I can't do this without you."

Bodi shuffles and I watch him study my mother and then the guard who looks less than impressed but he doesn't do anything about it. When he whips his head around to me he offers me a gentle smile. "I'm not going anywhere," he brushes his fingers through the back of my hair.

He leans forward and presses a feather light kiss against my forehead. Easing my blood pressure and internalised anxiety, with him here I can get through this. Of course I can.

Footsteps echo into the room behind Bodi, we both look over his shoulder to see my dad standing with a tray of coffees and a bag of treats.

"What's going on?" He asks, flicking his eyes down to Bodi on the bed. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," I rasp.

My father slides in beside my mother who has been listening to our whole conversation. "Could you give me and Bodi a minute please?" I ask and they share an estranged glance.

It's not that I don't want them here, I want to tell Bodi what happened to me, alone. Just us. That way I won't feel paranoid when they stare back at me like I'm fucking insane.

I'll be surprised if they don't section me.

"Please," I grip onto Bodi's fingers. "Just for ten minutes."

"Okay," my mother huffs out. "But we will be right outside."

She grabs onto my father and attempts to guide him out of the room, he stares at Bodi and he smiles back softly in response. "Ten minutes," he points at us. "Not a second more."

Bodi holds up a hand. "That's all we will need."

Once the door shuts after them, Bodi turns his head back to me. I look down at his hand in mine, slowly grazing my thumb across his knuckles. He repeats the same action and kisses my temple again.

"There are spirits or fucking demons in that manor, Bodi," my voice is jagged. "I have always known that something is wrong but so much weird shit happened."

"Tell me," he says soothingly, brushing a hand over my head again. I tilt my head back into his hand and relax, finally able to let my shoulders drop. "I'm going to listen to everything you say."

I suck in a harsh breath and nod. Bodi won't judge, I know that about him. He knows how much the manor creeped me out. He's the only person who I trust with this story, he will give me the benefit of the doubt. Even if he thinks I sound insane.

"When you left I started hearing noises, things started falling over. I remember running to the front doors but they were shut, without being locked. I could see shadows climbing over the wooden doors behind me, it felt so cold. Evil." My voice grows quieter as I speak.

Bodi squeezes my hand with support, encouraging me to carry on. "It's not like I could see anything specific but I could feel it, like bad energy. Things started crashing to the floor, papers moving and light bulbs flickering even though there is no electricity. It was fucking terrifying."

I glance back at Bodi but his expression hasn't moved, he's still intently listening and it keeps my composure cool.

"The next thing I knew something grabbed my leg and I fell into the wall, I think that's when I hurt my arm. My vision became cloudy and I could hear harsh whisperings, I wasn't sure what they said. It was like foreign or something," I wipe my eyes before the tears begin to fall. "Fuck, I was so scared."

Bodi's lips slip into a frown and he kisses away a rogue tear. My heart warms and I know I can carry on, even if my throat decides it wants to close up at the idea of talking about this for a second more. "Then I remember waking up here, mum told me they found me in the woods. I was unconscious and they thought I was dead. Covered in dirt, missing my t-shirt. I have no recollection of what happened. How did I even get there?"

"Do you think it's related to the manor?"

"Yes," I respond instantly. "It has to be. There is no other explanation."

Bodi purses his lips and nods but he says nothing more.

I find my eyebrows pressing down into a frown. "I'm scared that when the police ask questions, they're not going to believe what I say. Probably think that I'm some criminal trying to get out of probation."

"No," he shakes his head, entwining our fingers again.

My lungs push out a struggling sigh. "I know you don't believe in that shit but Bodi, you have to believe me. This wasn't someone trying to play a trick, it was genuine something that is unexplainable."

"I believe you, Ash," he shuffles closer to my body.

"You do?" My face lights up in relief.

"Yes," he looks at me like I'm crazy for believing any different. "Of course, I'll believe anything you say."

Eventually my head nods in response, the small presence of a smile on my lips. "I can't go back there, I refuse."

Bodi clears his throat, raising our hands to his mouth where he peppers a kiss to my knuckles. "We can talk to Carol and ask about being put on a new placement." He suggests.

"We probably won't be able to work together, doubt they'd put us on the same one again."

He shrugs and I watch his broad shoulders move in that t-shirt. "That doesn't matter, we can still make time to see each other around our curfew. And besides, we don't have that many hours left."

"True," I nod in agreement.

Bodi stares back at me and I open up one arm, the other in the sling partially raises from my chest. He reads my mind and sinks into the bed beside me, tucking me under his arm until my head is resting back onto his chest.

"Are you in pain?"

"So much."

"What hurts?"

"My back, my arm, my head. Fuck knows how I'm going to feel when the drugs wear off," I groan and close my eyes.

Bodi's fingers stroke my shoulder gently, then he presses his lips to the edge of my head. "Well, anything I can do to make you better."

"Just be here with me."

He smiles into my skin which sets my body on fire. "You scared me so much," he whispers in the silent room. "You didn't text me yesterday or this morning, I went to the manor and all your shit and phone was still there. Door unlocked. I've never been so petrified."

"I'm sorry," my lips flip upside down into a sad smile.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he shakes his head. "I was just worried sick about you. I'm glad that you're okay."

I nuzzle my head further into his warm body. "I'm glad that you're here."

"I'd be a pretty shitty boyfriend if I wasn't here," he says with a slight playful tone.

My mouth stretches into a smile and I flick my eyes up at him. "You're a good boyfriend."

"Glad I've got my duties in action. But Ash I wanted to," he clears his throat and stares at me for a few moments. "I wanted to tell you something."

"Yeah?"

"Ash," he licks his lips. "I-I-"

I furrow my brows. "What is it?"

His eyes look fearful, like he's stripped everything back and become vulnerable for me.

"I," he starts and closes his eyes. "I really care about you, Ash. I care about you so, so much."

The corners of my mouth twist. "I know you do, I care about you too."

Bodi's eyes look strained for a moment but he moves forward to cuddle me and I snuggle into his warm embrace, pleased that he's right beside me.

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Author's Note

Surprise huns! Happy holidays or Christmas if you celebrate!🥳

Hello my loves. Eeeeeek what did we think of this chapter?👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼

Did anyone think it would be something paranormal and do you believe him?

Ash's distress honestly hurts so much!😭😭 Also what do you think Bodi wanted to say to him?

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