A Dagger through Dimensions Chapter 33

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

I carefully slid my wounded leg to the edge of the bed, then did the same for the other one. Refusing to concede to the pain coming from my wounds and aching muscles, I positioned myself in a sitting position at the edge of the bed. Adele heard my movement and looked at me, then rushed closer, trying to keep me from falling on my face.

“What are you doing?” She grabbed my good arm to support me.

“I’m getting into a position to talk with you,” I said through gritted teeth. “Otherwise, I’m a damn invalid. What I have to say is to important so I want make sure you know that I’m not looking for your sympathy. Give me a second.”

After taking a few deep breaths, the pain subsided enough for me to focus.

“Now look at me in the eyes,” I told her. She did, her emotions clearly ready to flood out. I reached up and softly touched her cheek.

“Truth be told, I’m not good for you. I guess that’s what you’re really witnessing for the first time.”

“No, that’s not...”

“Hear me out,” I interrupted her. “As you’ve noticed, Lane Dagger’s changed. In many ways, I’m not the man you married.”

I can say that for sure!

“The problem is that I can’t I tell you why I can’t leave this place, or why I bleed tears and feel like I’m dying in pain. Truly, I don’t know the real reason. But I’ve got ideas. However, if I tell you what I’ve experienced, you’ll think I’m crazier than the damn Mad Hatter. It’s too ridiculous for a sane person to consider,” I explained as a grin crept to my face. “Well, maybe I am nuts. Anyway, I’m stuck here.”

Adele’s confused expression mixed with anxiety.

“Recently, I discovered a few things about who’s doing this. No matter what, I’m forced to take what’s coming. I don’t have a choice and it makes me angry.”

Sure, she believes I need mental treatment now.

“I know that what I’m saying doesn’t make sense, but I can give you good news. You’re not stuck in Stull Junction. You can go anywhere, and I want that for you. If you don’t want me, I understand. I’ll sign that damn paperwork. Hell, I won’t take another dime from you. You warrant much better than I can give you.”

Her eyes searched mine. Suddenly, she hugged me tight enough to take the pain to a new level. I grunted, then she stopped squeezing me and apologized.

“You’re really too much. Just when I think I understand, you turn around and hit me with something else.” Her lips trembled as she kept her eyes fixed on mine. “But you don’t have faith in me and that hurts me terribly.”

I shook my head, trying to tell her she was wrong, but she pressed her fingers to my lips.

“No, I mean it,” Adele continued. “While the things you’ve done, I don’t agree with, you’ve amazed me. Yes, you’ve kept your promises since that night. But I’m so anxious because you take such risks without even realizing the suffering I must endure. Love can’t be a one-way street. It makes me wonder if you don’t care for me.” She brought her hands up to my unshaven cheeks.

“I’ve told you what I’m going through, so why can’t you tell me the truth? I don’t care if it sounds crazy.”

Love, how in the hell do I go there?

After telling her to sit next to me, I put my good arm around Adele’s shoulders. It took me a bit to get started since raw feelings continued sweeping inside of me.

“I’ve never been great at expressing my emotions, but I do care for you. That’s why I wanted you out of this city when things blew up,” I explained honestly. “I couldn’t stand it to see you hurt.”

Hell, I recognized I wanted Adele with me. I just couldn’t figure out an emotion called love.

Aren’t love and lust two sides of the same coin?

The questions that I never asked shot through my mind faster than I could keep up.

Would I take Adele back to my world?

Hell, yeah, in a heartbeat, I answered myself.

Would I stay here for her sake?

That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?

Then, I remember Cora calling them familiars.

Would Adele stay with me when I go back?

I have no fucking idea but screw it, I’m on this path against the world.

Adele’s next question cut to the core.

“But you don’t really love me, do you?”

“You’re wrong,” I said. “But I want you to be happy. Can you have that with me? Look at what you’ve just went through.”

Nice fucking diversion, you asshole!