Love Condemned: Beginnings Read Online Free PDF Page B

curtains in front of the windows, leaving a two inch gap so she could still see outside. It was starting to rain again, though during their bus stop it had temporarily stopped.  
    As she wasn't really that tired yet, she was glad she brought her music to drift off to. Listening, she gazed out of the window, where the rain made it difficult to see any further than a few yards. The sheet of water that seemed to be dawning on France reminded her of home. She could smell the scent of incense and candles and lotus flowers, of which her mom was so fond of.  
    Adrian wrapped the blanket around his legs to protect against the cold air from under the seat and stuffed the pillow behind his head. He leaned back and closed his eyes. He could feel it coming quickly, like he was being thrust into a dream world by some unknown force.
    His dreams started off normal, but it did not take long for them to turn on him. The darkness crept in and it felt like he was being pulled under water. Slowly, he tried to get up and save himself. It felt as if he tried to climb out of a hole but made no progress.  Back on the bus, Miranda was still awake as Adrian drifted into this nightmare. He started to shake a little and she could tell that he was not in a good place.
    Just then, Miranda felt Adrian's knee falling against her leg. She glanced at him quickly, and noticed he was already asleep, and shivering, for some reason. First, she thought he was cold, but that didn't seem likely since he had only just fallen asleep, and he had a blanket. Miranda frowned as the shaking seemed to get worse and dropped her headphones around her neck. Soon enough, she realized he had to be having a nightmare, and quickly changed position so she was sitting on her knees. 
    "Adrian," she whispered, trying to wake him up without waking up the whole bus. No reaction. "Adrian!" she whispered again, a little more forceful now. When that didn't help either, she put both of her hands against the sides of his face, and turned his head toward her. "Adrian!" Miranda said out loud now. Suddenly, the shivering decreased, and his eyes flew open, with that familiar look in it of one who woke up with the scare of a bad dream. She studied his face for a few seconds before she realized her hands were still around it, and quickly dropped them. 
    "Are you okay?" Miranda asked, a little worried.

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    Adrian felt himself slip deeper into the darkness, losing the battle. He tried to pull free, but he could not seem to get out. Just as he felt himself slip, something pulled at him, brought him back out of the darkness. ‘Adrian.’   A voice called out in the distance. He could not tell where it was coming from. Then he heard it again. ‘Adrian.’
    He could feel something grab him, though it felt very distant. His eyes opened and took a moment to focus. Miranda. Instantly, he felt himself calming down.
    ‘ Are you okay? ’ The words hung there for a while. They reached his ears, but Adrian could just not seem to process them. As his breath slowed and he regained his wits, Adrian realized what Miranda had asked him.
    “Yes, I am okay….I …think.  I….I ….yes, I am okay.” Adrian put his head in his hands, leaned forward, and tried to shake the last remaining feelings of the dream. As he leaned forward, he felt the gentle touch of Miranda’s hand on his back. It made him feel safe, if that made any sense at all. It was not like he couldn’t take care of himself. But he felt like he was not alone and that he would not get lost in the darkness.
    Miranda was still a little worried when he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, and his face buried in his hands, but he said he was okay. She sat back on her own chair again, still on her knees, but placed a hand on his back to try and make him feel comfortable again. She didn't move it, it just lay there.  
    When Adrian seemed to be feeling better and sat up straight again, Miranda put her hands in her lap and