Playing in Shadow

by Lesley Davis

  “You’re driving me crazy.” Her hips bucking, Scarlet panted, “Fuck me, please.”

  Bryce entered Scarlet with her fingers with little preamble. The hoarse scream that ripped from Scarlet’s throat made Bryce thankful Monica was sleeping over at Elton’s that night. Scarlet’s warmth clutched Bryce’s fingers tightly, making her work to penetrate her deeper. She knew it wouldn’t be much longer before Scarlet would come. She’d been teasing her for much longer than Scarlet could usually take. Bryce sucked Scarlet’s clit roughly in a rhythm she knew by heart now. She kneaded at Scarlet’s breast in counter point, alternating between flicking her nipple and thumbing the peak. Bryce composed a love theme as her hands played across Scarlet’s flushed skin. Scarlet calling her name out as she peaked was all the music Bryce ever needed to hear.

  Sated and blissfully boneless, Scarlet let Bryce draw her into her arms to sleep. With a drowsy kiss of thanks, Scarlet was out like a light in seconds. Bryce laid her cheek against Scarlet’s hair and breathed her in. Her eyes fell on the envelope lying open on the bedside table. It held a letter offering Scarlet a very prestigious position at a photography studio that would foster her talents and give her the room to explore her creativity. It was a dream job that was perfect for Scarlet.

  It was back in Chicago.

  Bryce didn’t want to hold Scarlet back from pursuing her dreams. She knew Scarlet was so much more than a decorating job would allow her to be. Chicago wasn’t home though. It wasn’t here where Bryce was. Heartsick, Bryce stared blindly around the bedroom. Scarlet always made sure it was bright enough not to trigger Bryce’s fear of the dark. She’d grown to feel safe there. If Bryce did manage to fall asleep, only to wake up in the grips of a nightmare, she was comforted by the now familiar sights. She was safe with Scarlet. This apartment felt like home.

  Her eyes strayed to the envelope once more. She couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that losing Scarlet would bring. Once again, she’d be left hanging in the darkness, with no one there to bring her out of the nightmare.

  She placed a soft kiss on Scarlet’s forehead. Scarlet deserved a life full of love and light. She didn’t deserve the shadows that Bryce had blanketing her world. As she lay forcibly keeping sleep at bay, Bryce cursed her own insecurities and fears for coming between them. Eventually, she drifted off into a restless sleep. As always, she went back to that night, back to being suspended in the wreck of the car, left alone with the dead and dying. When she woke herself screaming, Scarlet was once again drawing her back to the living.

  Held in Scarlet’s arms, Bryce wanted desperately to confess her feelings for her. All the time that envelope mocked her with its presence. She wouldn’t use her love as a means to guilt Scarlet into staying. Maybe it was for the best if Scarlet chose Chicago. She didn’t deserve a life of what Bryce had to offer here.

  So she clung a little harder to Scarlet, not daring to let go, because this time in her dream, no one had come to her rescue.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The atmosphere at Scarlet’s impromptu going away party was more somber than a cause for celebration. Her father was still keeping his distance, and most of the workmen didn’t know whether being happy for Scarlet was something they should express. Gregor had been uncharacteristically quiet on the subject. Scarlet had a feeling that was due to Juliet having a word with him about the situation not long after it had blown up. The general consensus was they were all sorry to see her go, that the new guy wouldn’t be as attractive to be around, and that they wouldn’t miss her music playing.

  Bryce had been noticeably quiet while they’d tucked into the Subway sandwiches Scarlet had treated them all to as a going-away gift. Scarlet knew Bryce was desperately trying not to influence her choice in what jobs were coming her way. Bryce was supportive, attentive, and honestly interested in what each studio had to offer her. Scarlet hadn’t missed the flash of pain that clouded her eyes when the locations were discussed. It tore at her heart to know that Bryce didn’t want her to leave but was respectful of whatever she decided to do. She couldn’t help but wish her dad had been the same. If he had, she wouldn’t have found herself having to make another life-changing decision so soon after moving back home.

  Scarlet packed the last of her tools together and wiped off her hands on a rag. She’d finished off the last room for the day. Her two-week period was up; she was done.

  “Can I take you home, pretty lady?” Bryce asked from the doorway, her messenger bag over her shoulder and her cap in place ready to face the public.

  Scarlet took one last look around the room. “Let’s go. I’m done here.”

  *

  The early evening air was warm on their faces when they stepped out of the house. Bryce had barely taken a few steps before she heard an odd whimpering noise coming from the garden behind the house she’d been working in. She tugged Scarlet to a halt.

  “Did you hear something?”

  Scarlet listened but shook her head.

  The sound appeared again and Bryce headed off to investigate. She easily spotted its source.

  “Juliet?” Bryce rushed over to her.

  Juliet was sitting on the small fold up chair that was designated for her alone in the work area. She was doubled over, clutching at her belly.

  “What are you doing here?” Bryce dropped to her knees beside her. Scarlet took her other side, brushing Juliet’s hair back from her face.

  “I came to check on some inventory. I can’t do that from home, and Monica had already left so I thought I’d just come do it myself.” She grimaced. “Probably not the smartest decision I’ve made today.”

  “How did you get here? Tell me you didn’t drive?” Scarlet asked.

  “I got a ride from a neighbor and I was going to call for a taxi to get back.” The gasp that escaped her lips was pain filled.

  “We need to call an ambulance,” Bryce said, scrambling for her phone. Juliet grabbed for her hand to stop her.

  “No. I’m not due for another two weeks yet.”

  “Juliet, I don’t think this baby has time to follow your schedule.” Bryce winced as Juliet’s hold tightened considerably as another pain racked her body. Bryce shot Scarlet a look. “She needs to go now.”

  Scarlet helped Juliet up from her seat. “Come on, we need to get you out of here.”

  “You’ve got to get Trent,” Juliet said.

  “We will, but I need you in the car so I can get you to the hospital.”

  “Trent’s going to be so upset,” Juliet wailed, leaning heavily on Bryce and Scarlet as they guided her to the car. “She learned to drive just for this event.”

  “She’s not going to be upset. She’s going to be a happy mama and glad you’re both okay.” Scarlet pulled out her keys and unlocked the car. “Juliet, I think you’re going to have to get in the back. There’s more leg room.” She helped maneuver Juliet in and then turned to Bryce.

  “I need you in with her. She can’t be left alone like this.”

  Time had stood still while Bryce had stopped breathing.

  Everyone dies in the backseat.

  “Get her out of there,” she ground out. “She’s not safe in the back.”

  “Bryce.” Scarlet grabbed hold of Bryce’s arms and purposely stood in front of her, staring her down. “Juliet is going to be fine, but I need to get her to the hospital as soon as possible. I need you to be with her because she’s in pain, she’s scared, and we need to just go.”

  “Everyone dies in the backseat. Get her out, please.” A black mist descended, obscuring Bryce’s vision. Without warning, she was back in the dark of night, waiting for that telltale sound of a roaring engine. She was waiting for the headlights to come barreling toward them. She braced for the impact as the memory took a hold of her. Instead, she was shaken harshly by Scarlet. Blinking, Bryce stared at her, disoriented and terrified. She could just make out Scarlet’s face before her, tense and pleading.

  “I can’t get in the backseat,” Bryce
muttered forcefully, her whole body shaking visibly. She felt Scarlet push something into her hand. She stared down at the objects dumbly.

  “Then you’ll have to drive.”

  *

  White noise roared through Bryce’s head. Dimly, she could see Scarlet’s lips moving, but for a brief moment Bryce was deaf to everything but her inner voice.

  If I get in the car, everyone dies.

  Scarlet’s grip tightened on Bryce’s face, forcing her to listen.

  “Juliet needs us. You have to get us to the hospital. She can’t have the baby here, and an ambulance will be too late.”

  Bryce could hear the sounds of Juliet in distress.

  “The guards can’t leave their posts. You have to help us.” Scarlet caressed her cheeks softly. “I know you’re scared. I wouldn’t ask this of you any other time, but I need you to do this.”

  “If I get in the car, something will happen.”

  “Yes, we’ll get Juliet to the hospital in time to have her baby. You can do this.” Scarlet kissed her roughly. She brushed away the tears that were streaming down Bryce’s cheeks. “Maybe this is it.”

  “What?” Bryce was shaking as if in a seizure, the weight of the car keys heavy in her palm.

  “This is your reason, the reason why you are here. Why you were spared that night. You get to repay it now by saving Juliet and the baby.”

  Bryce stared at the keys in her hand. “I haven’t driven in months.”

  Scarlet guided her toward the car. “You haven’t forgotten how. You can do this. I know you can. No more shadows, Bryce. It’s time to help Juliet bring her baby into the light.”

  Bryce paused at the open car door. She could feel Scarlet’s hand on her back urging her forward. Her breath escaped in short, fearful gasps. Bryce eased herself into the driver’s seat and felt the nausea rush to her throat, choking her. She hastened to fit the key in the ignition. She could hear Scarlet getting in beside Juliet, calming her down. A cool hand touched the back of Bryce’s neck, startling her.

  “Don’t hyperventilate, Bryce. Take deep breaths, calm and steady,” Scarlet said.

  Bryce finally got the key in and started the engine. The confined space of the car crowded in on her, crushing the air from her lungs. She opened the window beside her and gulped in a deep breath. She held the steering wheel in a death grip, frozen in place by fear.

  Then Scarlet spoke and Bryce breathed again.

  “Juliet, give me your phone.”

  Juliet handed Scarlet her purse. Scarlet began rummaging through it.

  “Bryce, get us on the road. We need to go to the nearest hospital. You know the way.”

  Bryce snorted. She knew it all too damn well. She got the car in motion and edged it forward.

  Behind her, Scarlet was flicking through Juliet’s phone. “Trent? No, this is Scarlet. We’re on our way to the University Hospital’s baby unit. No, I don’t think this is a false alarm.”

  Bryce could hear Trent’s voice clearly through the phone as she yelled to Elton to “get his ass in gear they were leaving.” Bryce had to smile a little. She pulled out into traffic and tried to keep her hands steady as she switched lanes nervously.

  “Bryce, you’re doing great.” Scarlet’s hand was on Bryce’s shoulder so that Bryce knew she was near.

  Scarlet had obviously handed the phone over to Juliet because Bryce could hear her pained voice next.

  “Babe, I’m okay, but I think the baby’s coming early. These are nothing like the Braxton Hicks contractions. These are much longer.” She groaned as another pain hit her. “Oh fuck!”

  Bryce was surprised by Juliet’s exclamation and snuck a peek in the rearview mirror at her.

  “Yes, I’m aware I owe the baby a dollar. That’s because my fucking water just broke!” The growl that came from Juliet morphed into a groan of pain. “Where are you? I don’t know. Hang on. Bryce, how much longer?”

  Bryce’s eyes swept the road. “Less than ten minutes,” she guessed, flinching as a truck drove past on the other side of her and terrified her. The car swerved a little, and Bryce felt Scarlet’s hand tighten on her shoulder.

  “Steady, Bryce, you’re doing so well.”

  The labored breathing of Juliet filled the car.

  “Is Trent coaching you over the phone?” Scarlet asked incredulously.

  Bryce caught sight of Juliet nodding and continued being counted through her breathing, the phone stuck to her ear, but Trent’s voice was discernible to all.

  “God, you two are too cute for words,” Scarlet muttered, propping Juliet against her.

  Finally, Bryce let out a loud “We’re here!” and swung the car into the emergency area of the hospital. Scarlet jumped out to go get help while Bryce parked as close as she could to the doors for Juliet’s sake. Scarlet soon reappeared with nursing staff in tow and Juliet was bundled out of the backseat. But not before she thanked Bryce and apologized for the damage to Scarlet’s backseat.

  Bryce pulled the car over into a parking space. She all but tumbled out, fell to her knees, and promptly threw up.

  That’s how Scarlet found her. She knelt beside her and rubbed at Bryce’s back compassionately. “Oh, sweetheart, you were fantastic,” she said as Bryce retched and heaved.

  “I think I’m going to pass out,” Bryce whispered, shaking with the realization of what she’d actually done.

  Scarlet clutched her to her to make sure she didn’t pitch forward to the tarmac. “You did it. You got Juliet here without incident. You drove us, Bryce. You got in the car and got us all here in one piece, safe and sound.”

  “No one died?” Bryce was lost in the memory seared into her brain.

  “Not this time, darling. You saved everyone.”

  Bryce got to her feet unsteadily once she felt able to move. “Can we go inside and wait?”

  Scarlet nodded and held her close. “Let’s go get you cleaned up and we’ll go find where Juliet has been taken.”

  A car pulled up beside them with a screech of brakes and Trent shot out at a run.

  “Or we could just follow the other mama-to-be,” Scarlet amended as Trent disappeared into the building with Elton not far behind her.

  Bryce kept close to Scarlet’s side, only staying on her feet thanks to Scarlet’s grasp on her.

  I drove the car. I got us here in one piece, and the sounds of moaning weren’t the voices of the dying but instead the kind signaling new life ready to be born.

  Bryce smiled to herself as the large, looming shadow that had dogged her for months retreated enough for her to see a most welcome light beckoning at the end of her nightmare-filled tunnel.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  The waiting room was full of people all there for Trent and Juliet’s new arrival. Elton was pacing back and forth. Monica was quietly conversing with Juliet’s parents. Kayleigh was unusually quiet, playing on a handheld console. Every few minutes though her head would lift toward the doors whenever someone came through. Everyone was waiting for Trent.

  Bryce sat nursing a bottle of water. Scarlet was holding her hand beside her.

  “It’s been hours,” Bryce whispered, checking her watch for the umpteenth time since they’d started their wait.

  “Babies take their time. It’s a big thing to be born.” Scarlet squeezed her hand. “I’m just glad the others at least went home.”

  All of Trent’s colleagues had been waiting with them for the first few hours. Zoe, Rick, Chris, and Eddie had appeared as their shifts had finished. Eddie had turned up with sandwiches made by his mother that he shyly handed out to much teasing and gratitude. They were all due in work the next morning so Elton had sent them home with promises of phone calls the second they learned anything.

  Bryce was still shaky after their ordeal but was buoyed by a strange feeling of elation. She’d gotten in a car. It was a huge step forward for her. Though she was trying desperately not to think about how she was going to leave the hospital until the time came. For
now, she wanted to stay with Scarlet and wait to hear that Juliet and the baby were all right. Bryce didn’t think she could be at peace until she knew they were both okay.

  She tuned out the sounds of the hospital until it became just white noise. Bryce’s mind was racing with what she had achieved today, albeit none of it by her choosing. But she’d faced a fear and hadn’t died. With a shaking hand, she pulled her cap off and ran her fingers through her hair. The scar would never disappear, but it would fade eventually given time. Bryce was tired of caring about it. She’d spent too much time worrying what others might think. If they wanted to stare, so be it. She folded the cap up and stuffed it in her pocket. No more hiding. Time to face the world with the strength of a survivor.

  Scarlet had her hand resting on Bryce’s thigh, grounding her. Bryce placed her own on top of it and Scarlet looked at her.

  “Are you okay?”

  Bryce nodded. “I’m going to see if I can make an appointment with my doctor next week. Maybe she can suggest a therapist I can go to. I don’t think I’d mind talking to someone as long as they don’t think medication is the answer to all my problems. I don’t need something that will make the dreams intensify or that leaves me like a zombie at work.” She could see her decision had surprised Scarlet. “Today has made me realize I’m going to need more help to get through this.” She lifted Scarlet’s hand to her lips. “Then, perhaps, if I can take this step, I can make a more important one later.”

  “What one would that be?”

  “To be by your side wherever you decide to take a job.”

  Scarlet flung her arms around Bryce’s neck and squeezed her tight. “Oh, sweetheart. You’re amazing, do you know that?”

  Bryce shifted in her hold to brush at the tears that fell from Scarlet’s eyes. “I’d do anything to be with you, Scarlet. I love you so very much. I just want to be with you, wherever that takes me.”