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Time drained away as Ocean's second day in her new hell finally ended. Though there was no sunlight nor any real way to tell the time, the choir members had soon grown tired and the majority of them drifted off to sleep. However, Ocean remained awake. She sat in the corner between two metal cargo crates, eyes wide and scanning for danger. There was no real exit to the warehouse and it terrified her. She was a mouse in a trap, and the shadows moving in her peripheral vision were out to get her. She jumped at every sound, every sudden snore from one of her peers lying asleep not far from her corner. She watched them warily as if they would jump up and attack her at any moment. Even feeling the need to glance at the lifeless fortune telling machine every so often. And as the wretched claws of sleep threatened to drag her into its depths, The fangs of anxiety sunk deeper into her skin. Her breathing grew uneven and her chest closed in on itself.
Footsteps rang out behind her, and her breathing came to a stop. She held her breath and squeezed her eyes tight, hoping whatever was there would kill her swiftly or perhaps leave her alone. She drew her knees up to her chest and hugged the fabric of her skirt in a death grip, Her body shaking against her own will. Something was now sitting next to her, and she was much to scared to open her eyes and find out what. A hand placed itself on her back and she tensed up completely. The shaking stopped, and she waited fearfully for the hand to stab a knife into her spine.
"Ocean?" The voice was quiet and calm; it seemed to echo throughout her skull. Ocean shook her head, burying it farther in between her knees.
"Go," her response was weak and shaky. The last thing she wanted was for someone to see her this vulnerable.
"I saw you... shaking. I figured you might be cold." Ocean turned her head towards the voice and opened her eyes slowly. Green eyes met black as she stared at the face of the girl beside her.
"Jane?" The girl nodded. Ocean examined her appearance warily. A worried expression was settled across Jane's features, her black eyes scanned oceans face for something she couldn't find. She still had the red cape draped around herself from yesterday's birthday party. She undid the cape and placed it over the both of them like a blanket.
Jane Sighed, "Are you.. ok?" Ocean finally felt herself break. Sobs began to wrack her body and she curled into herself further. Jane pulled Ocean into a hug, her arms wrapped protectively around the smaller girl. Ocean leaned into Jane, crying against her chest. She gripped the makeshift blanked with so much force she feared she might rip the fabric. Anxiety clamped tight in her chest. Jane's hand rubbed circles against the crying girl's back in what she hoped was a soothing gesture.
"Ocean, Have you slept at all the past two days?" The crying girl shook her head no, attempting to squeak out an answer between sobs. Jane shushed her
"You don't need to speak if it's to hard." Ocean nodded and Jane wrapped the cape slightly tighter around the redhead.
Ocean fought herself mentally. she hated the idea of crying in front of people. It made her feel so weak. Though something about crying in front of Jane didn't make her feel entirely horrible. She tried desperately to control her breathing to no avail.
"Would you like if I told you a story, Would it help calm you down?" Ocean gave a small nod yes, curling further into Jane's side. another fit of sobs wracked her body, tears falling down to leave dark stains on the grey uniform of the other girl.
"One time, When I was sad, a lovely girl threw me a birthday party," Ocean focused on Jane's breathing, feeling the soothing rise and fall of her chest as she spoke. Jane's free hand moved up to convince Ocean's hands to release their death grip on the cape. After a moment of prying she was able to take one of Ocean's hands in her own, and stop the assault on the blanket.
"She sang me a special song, and danced with me as if nothing was wrong," Jane's other hand had moved from Ocean's back. She ran her fingers through the redhead's hair, working away the little knots and imperfections.
"She told me I was going to be ok, and that made everything seem just the slightest bit better." Ocean felt her guard slip, allowing herself to relax slightly into Jane's embrace. she squeezed the taller girls hand. Jane rubbed her thumb gently against Ocean's knuckles, humming to the girl curled into her arms.
"She told me we would be alright, because despite the circumstances, We had each other. Nothing can hurt us if we're together." Jane planted a soft kiss to the top of Ocean's head. Ocean felt her mind grow fuzzy. She was starting to relax. Her breathing Steadily grew even, and her death-grip on Jane's hand started to give way. The exhaustion started to creep in through her mind, clawing at the back of her eyes.
Ocean shook her head weakly, ".. I'm a horrible person." Her voice sounded dead and flat. It made Jane's heart shatter not to hear her usual cheery tone. She hugged Ocean tighter.
"You're the best person I know," Jane cooed to the distraught girl. Ocean protested with a quiet mumble, finally giving into the two days of exhaustion clouding her head.
"Don't you ever forget that, Ocean." Jane ran her fingers through the girl's ginger hair. She hummed along to nothing, hoping Ocean wouldn't protest again.
"I didn't even bother getting to know my closest friends in my lifetime. I don't deserve you." Ocean felt small in Janes arms. She let out a shaky sigh, "Why are you being so nice to me? I treated you guys like.." Ocean hesitated, "Like shit."
Jane rested her head against Ocean's, "You've done so much to help me feel welcomed here. You didn't have to do any of that, but you did." Jane smiled softly, "And I absolutely cherish that." Jane gave Ocean's hand a reassuring squeeze, "If you think you were a bad person in life, perhaps you've changed for the better in death."
Ocean drew in an uneven breath, "Maybe you're right, maybe I can change for the better. I guess this can be my start." Ocean wiped her lingering tears away with her sleeve. She went to open her mouth again, but Jane promptly shushed her.
"You need sleep, Ocean. You'll be ok, I wont let anything hurt you."
Ocean nodded, "You didn't have to do this for me." Jane combed her hand through Ocean's hair feeling the soft strands between her fingers; listening to her breathing even out.
"I'm glad I did." She smiled down at the girl. she felt the Ocean fully relax in her arms. Finally succumbing to some much needed sleep. Jane smiled to herself, and placed another kiss atop Ocean's head. She drank in the smell of vanilla from the other girl's hair. Her heart fluttered in her chest, And for the second time in Jane's new life, she felt as if she did something right.