Chapter 185: An Escape
**Avery**
The world outside my window was a silent canvas of pre-dawn grey, a muted promise of daybreak that offered no solace. Inside my mind, a blizzard raged. It was a chilling tableau, a nightmare that clung to my skin like icy tendrils. The Trio, their faces twisted into unfamiliar cruelty, loomed over me. Their hands, usually so gentle, were rough, tearing at my clothes. Their words, typically soft murmurs, sharpened into ice shards, cutting deeper than any blade.
I was naked, vulnerable, the biting cold seeping into my bones, stealing my breath. Snow, wet and heavy, pressed down, threatening to bury me alive. The terror was visceral, a raw, primal scream caught in my throat. Helplessness was absolute, a suffocating blanket. I thrashed, a silent struggle against the invisible weight, until I jolted awake. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird, frantic wings beating against a cage. The phantom chill lingered, raising goosebumps along my arms, across my stomach, down my legs. A whimper, small and broken, escaped my lips.
Before my eyes had fully focused, strong arms were around me, warm and familiar. Cassius. His broad chest, a solid anchor against my trembling back, rose and fell with a steady rhythm. His voice, a low rumble of concern, vibrated through me. “Avery? What is it, sweetheart?”
Clint’s fingers, usually so playful, so quick to tease, gently stroked my hair, brushing it away from my clammy forehead. Conner’s steady hand rubbed soothing circles on my back, a silent promise of comfort. I was cocooned in their scent – a mix of fresh linen, a hint of exotic spice, and their unique, comforting masculinity. It grounded me, pulling me back from the icy precipice of the dream.
As my vision cleared, blurring at the edges before sharpening, I saw the other faces gathered around the bed. James, his usually dominant gaze softened with worry, knelt by the bedside, his hand resting on my hip. Vincent, stoic as ever, leaned against the doorframe, but his eyes, dark and intense, betrayed deep concern. Donn, whose usual sarcastic smirk was absent, stood closer, a rare, raw empathy etched on his long, handsome face. Each offered a touch, a murmured question, a silent promise of protection.
“You’re shaking.” Donn’s voice was uncharacteristically soft, devoid of its usual bite. I leaned into their collective warmth, the nightmare’s icy grip slowly loosening under their unwavering care. The phantom chill began to recede, replaced by the comforting heat of their bodies.
“What happened, sweetheart?” James’s voice was a deep thrum, cutting through the lingering fear, pulling me further into the present.
I swallowed, my throat tight. “The dream.” My voice was small, shaky, barely a whisper. “It was… the Trio.”
A collective growl rumbled from the three of them, their arms tightening around me. Cassius’s grip on my waist became almost painful, a possessive anchor. Clint’s fingers paused in my hair, then resumed, a little firmer. Conner’s circles on my back became more deliberate, a silent plea for me to continue.
“You were… different. Cruel.” The words spilled out, the details of the abuse, the biting cold, the suffocating snow, tumbling over each other. “You hurt me. And I was naked… freezing. I couldn’t breathe. The snow… it was burying me.” My voice fractured, a sob catching in my throat. Another growl, deeper this time, vibrated through me. It wasn’t directed at me, but at the phantom versions of themselves.
“That’s it then.” Donn’s voice cut through the heavy silence, sharp and practical despite his brazen nature. He pushed off the wall, moving closer to the bed. “We’re getting you out of here.” Vincent, his edge momentarily sheathed, simply nodded, his gaze fixed on me as if memorizing every tremor, every lingering shadow on my face. His dark eyes promised retribution for the dream, for the fear that still clung to me.
“Somewhere warm.” Clint’s suggestion was immediate, his voice gentle, a stark contrast to the dream’s cruelty. “Somewhere far from snow and bad dreams.” He squeezed my hand, his thumb stroking my knuckles. Cassius, the jock, ever the one for grand gestures, spoke with a decisive tone. “The coast. Talos has stunning beaches, even this time of year. A New Year’s trip.”
Conner, the witty one, managed a lighthearted quip, though his eyes remained serious. “A grand escape from the gloom of our kingdom’s occasional, and quite frankly, inconvenient, winter chill.”
I was still fragile, but the words, the thought, sparked a flicker of hope. The image of sun, sand, and the vast, open ocean was a stark, inviting contrast to the icy prison of my dream. It was a promise of warmth, of freedom from the suffocating dread. They watched me, their eyes seeking my consent, their collective breath held.
With a soft nod, I agreed. The beach. Yes, the beach. It felt like the only place I could truly breathe again. “Good.” James’s voice was firm, resolute. “We leave at first light.”
Conner chuckled, a soft, melodic sound. “First light? James, darling, you know perfectly well that ‘first light’ for us means sometime after a proper breakfast and at least two cups of tea. Avery needs her beauty sleep, and we need our caffeine.”
Donn snorted, a dry, dismissive sound. “Speak for yourself, Conner. Some of us are eager to escape this tundra.” He shivered dramatically, rubbing his arms. “My long, dark hair is not designed for frostbite.”
“It’s not that cold, Donn,” Clint teased, a playful glint returning to his eyes. “Besides, you look rather fetching with a bit of a rosy nose.”
“Fetchingly miserable, perhaps,” Donn retorted, a hint of his usual snark returning. He glanced at me, his expression softening. “But for you, little one, I’d brave a polar expedition. Just tell me where to pack the rum.”
Cassius pulled me closer, pressing a kiss to my temple. “No rum on the beach, Donn. Just fresh air and sunshine. We’ll get you some of that good Talos nectar. The kind that makes you forget all about nightmares.”
“Or at least gives you better ones,” Conner mused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Vincent, who had been silent, finally spoke, his voice a low, gravelly sound. “I’ll arrange the transport.” His gaze was intense, possessive, a silent promise that nothing would impede our escape.
James nodded, satisfied. “Excellent. We’ll need enough room for everyone, and… a few essentials.” His eyes swept over me, a possessive warmth in their depths. “Plenty of swimwear, I imagine.”
“And snacks,” Clint chimed in, earning a playful nudge from Conner. “Essential snacks for a road trip, even an aerial one.”
“We’re not going on a picnic, Clint,” Cassius grumbled, though a small smile played on his lips. “This is an emergency evacuation of our precious cargo.” He tightened his arms around me, as if to prove his point.
I felt a small, genuine smile touch my lips for the first time since waking. The nightmare still lingered, a faint echo, but surrounded by their warmth, their bickering, their unwavering focus on my comfort, it felt distant. The thought of sun on my skin, sand between my toes, and the vast, open ocean stretching out before me was a powerful antidote to the icy grip of fear. “How long will we stay?” I asked, my voice still a little hoarse, but stronger.
“As long as you need,” James stated, his voice absolute. “A week, a month, forever. Whatever it takes for that dream to fade into nothing.”
“Forever sounds lovely,” Conner murmured, resting his chin on my shoulder, his breath warm against my ear. “Imagine waking up to the sound of waves every morning. No more dreary Talos winters.”
Donn scoffed. “You’d miss the drama, Conner. You thrive on it.”
“Perhaps,” Conner conceded, a playful twinkle in his eye. “But even I need a vacation from existential dread and royal duties sometimes. Besides, sun-kissed skin does wonders for one’s aesthetic.”
Clint laughed, a bright, cheerful sound. “He just wants an excuse to wear less clothing.” “And who doesn’t?” Conner countered, wiggling his eyebrows at me. “Especially when one has such… *ample* opportunities for appreciation.”
Cassius nudged him. “Hey, she’s still recovering.”
“Just admiring the view,” Conner said innocently, though his eyes held a wicked spark. Vincent, who had been lost in thought, now looked at me, his dark eyes intense. “We’ll find a secluded spot. No distractions. Just us.” His voice was low, possessive, a promise of absolute privacy.
“Sounds perfect,” I whispered, leaning into Cassius’s embrace, already feeling the tension in my shoulders begin to ease. The beach. It was more than just a destination; it was a sanctuary. A place where the sun could melt away the last vestiges of the nightmare, where their collective love could truly heal.
The morning light, still grey and muted, began to filter through the window, but it no longer felt cold. It felt like a promise. A promise of warmth, of escape, of a new beginning under the endless blue sky of the Talos coast.
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