Behind Closed Doors

Chapter Nineteen

"What the hell are you doing?" The blonde shouted in what can only be described as pure hysteria as her black gloves clutched onto the rope.

A gentle breeze tussled around those golden locks and forced her green eyes to glisten with liquid or maybe she was so terrified that she was on the verge of tears in the middle of a wobbly bridge suspended high in the air.

"Teaching you how to swim," Regina casually stated.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Every time you've exhibited your power, it's been spurred by your instincts," she casually explained while the blonde eyed her warily. "So, today we are going to push those instincts until you master them," she confidently instructed, leaning heavily onto the stumps in front of her that supported the flimsy ropes keeping the bridge afloat.

"A little reading doesn't sound so bad now," and the panic in those green eyes forced Regina's heart to clench, but she needed to empower the woman, persuade her mind into believing she was strong enough.

"You can stop me..."

"Stop you from what?"

"This..." and with that, Regina thrust her hand outward, spewing her magic and forcing the wooden planks to erupt, one by one.

"What the HELL are you doing?!"

"Making the bridge collapse," Regina quipped. "You can either stop it or DIE!" She taunted as the last board sprung out from under those clunky boots.

The blonde instantly fell, but she clung onto the ropes, her feet flailing wildly while her body squirmed in fear. She grunted to hang on for dear life, but Regina knew her grip was failing her.

"REGINA! Stop this!"

"No! You stop it! No more hand holding! You have to do this," Regina demanded, her hand clenching over her own stomach to express the dire situation. "Reach into your gut, you know you can do this! It's inside you! Save the bridge, save yourself!" She implored, hoping to motivate the woman to find her inner warrior and save herself.

Those were her last words as she watched in horror as the woman slipped from the ropes and plummeted to her death. A stuttering breath escaped Regina's mouth as she peered over the edge of the cliff in sheer panic, mortified at the idea of never seeing her again.

A harsh scream escapes her mouth as her body involuntarily flings forward in bed. She's struggling to catch one single breath as her eyes scan the pitch-black room, in search for some answers as to where the hell she is. She shudders as the cool midnight air licks her skin that's soaked from her cold sweat.

Regina's head snaps to the right to find the soft green glow from her alarm clock, informing her that it's 3:30 am. She forces her body to inhale long and deep breaths while her hand instinctively reaches beside her for the comforting body. She feels the perfectly sculpted bicep and her heart settles just a little more. She glances down to her left and discovers her husband, Robin, sound asleep beside her. She shivers once more, so she drags her lazy feet toward her bottom, folds her arms across her knees and buries her face as she tries to catch her breath.

Except her mind wanders right back to that nightmare. What the hell was that dream about? It felt so real, but she hasn't a clue as to who that woman was...and not to mention, magic? Magic? Why would she dream about magic?

She runs her quivering fingers through her damp locks and lays back down in her bed. That dream was so vivid, and it leaves an unsettling weight upon her heart and an eerie sensation to crawl across her flesh like a thousand cockroaches ready to feast upon her skin. So, she cuddles into Robin's side to soothe her trepidation and without any hesitation, he pulls her in closer and kisses her forehead in his sleep.