Someone In The Crowd

CHAPTER - 7 - A CALM STORMY NIGHT

Lan Wangji found himself standing in an empty corridor. The surrounding space was totally dark and silent. He could even hear his own breathing and the rhythmic beating of his heart. Slowly as his eyes started to get familiar with the dark, suddenly he could see two beds lying side by side, under a faint glowing light, at a few metres distance. It was not there a moment ago. Wangji slowly walked up to those beds covered with white sheets. The sense of familiarity he was having from the scene had him sweating. Wangji was getting more and more nervous as he was getting closer to the beds. Standing in front of those beds he just could not bring up the courage to remove the sheets and witness what's beneath it. Taking a long breath he removed the sheets covering the two beds with shaking hands. Wangji felt pained and short of breath when he saw what was lying on the beds, even though he kinda knew what he was going to see, even though he had seen this scene for innumerable times in his dreams, nothing ever prepared him enough to go through this feelings once again. On the beds side by side lied Wangji's parents covered in blood and injuries. Under the faint light now Wangji could see himself as well. He shrieked loudly noticing fresh blood on his hand and white shirt. At this moment he heard his parents faint voices,

" Wangji.. save us"

" You have to avenge our deaths,"

" Wangji keep Xichen safe"

" Do what you feel is right"

" Save us, son"

" Save us"

Wangji stumbled back trying to cover his view from seeing the bloody scene and to cover his ears preventing those voices. As he was trying to run as far as possible from those beds and his parents' pleading voices, he repeated only one word,

" Sorry"

Suddenly he heard a loud booming voice coming from nowhere yet everywhere addressing him.

" Lan Wangji... ah... Lan Wangji... One word to the police and the next body will be of your cousin's and it's a promise."

Wuxian woke up feeling thirsty around 2 am in the morning. Supporting his body on the headboard, he felt around the bedside table and internally cursed realising that he forgot to refill the bottle tonight in haste. The noise of the storm was faintly hearable stating that the storm was still going on outside.

A power outrage was already announced and Wuxian failed to switch on the light confirming the promised outrage. Switching on his phone flashlight Wuxian wandered to the kitchen and took a bottle to take back with him after quenching his thirst.

While coming back he stopped outside Wangji's room to see if he can hear anything from the room. He could not understand why he suddenly stopped to check on Wangji and he could not understand why he was feeling a tug from his heart to just enter the locked room as well.

As he was contemplating to go back to his room, thinking about this weird occurrence, he suddenly heard a faint screaming coming out from Wangji's room.

'Is he having a nightmare?'

Wuxian thought but could not make up his mind. He was hesitating between going back to his room and going in to Wangji's room to wake him up from his nightmare.

Heaving a long sigh and pre-blaming his too good nature for his own good if anything goes wrong, Wuxian slowly opened the door and peaked in. But he stopped in his track hearing the ragged breathing and screams coming from Wangji. Without wasting any more time Wuxian rushed in and went to Wangji's side.

Wangji was writhing on his bed screaming as if he was in immense pain. Wuxian started to shake him and call his name loudly to wake him up.

" will be of your cousin's and it's a promise."

This unwanted loud voice was fading away now as Wangji could hear another voice which was calling his name desperately,

" Wangji Wangji... wake up. Please"

"It's all a nightmare"

"Wake up please"

" Everything is okay"

"I'm with you"

" Wake up"

"Wangji"

'Nightmare?' Wangji felt himself chuckling to this word, if only it was just a nightmare.

But the person said to 'wake up' and also that he is there for him. Isn't he alone? Wasn't he always alone?

In years he felt the urge to walk towards the voice. And so he did.

Wangji woke up totally startled and hugged Wuxian tightly feeling a sense of security coming from him, he tried to calm down his strongly beating heart and irregular breathing. Wuxian slowly sat upon the bed hugging Wangji back and slowly moving his hand on his back trying to sooth the devastated man.

"Do you want to talk to me about this?"

Wuxian asked after Wangji calmed down a bit.

Wangji moved his head in denial and did not utter anything.

"Okay, then, if you are feeling good I'll go back to my room. You are lucky that I decided to check on you when I came out to get some water."

"Hmm"

Wangji slowly mumbled. It was evident that he still did not recover from the shock. Wuxian pushed the bottle in his hand to Wangji. Wangji took a sip and returned the bottle.

"Thanks... for everything."

Understanding what Wangji meant a small genuine smile graced the handsome face of Wuxian. Just as he got up to go back to his room he felt a tug on his night suit. Looking down he saw Wangji holding onto a corner of his shirt.

"Anything else?"

" Can you stay... for some more time?... Please?"

Wangji was not ready to lose the warmth provided by the elder so soon. He wanted that security to last for some time.

Looking at Wangji's condition Wuxian agreed without any delay.

"Sure. Lay down. You need to drive quite a long way tomorrow. Get some sleep now. I'll stay for some more time."

Nodding his head, Wangji lied back and slowly drifted back to sleep feeling a sense of calm as he thought that there will be someone to wake him up from the nightmare if it comes back to haunt him again tonight. The last thing he remembered is the sound of door closing as Wuxian went back to his room after promising him,

"The nightmare will not come back anymore, promise."