Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven

11. Chapter 11

Chapter eleven

Raven

I t's raining. I can’t breathe. I reach out, a scream echoing between the walls of my bedroom. My eyes pop open. A gasp bursts from my mouth as I shoot up from my mattress. My heart thrashes against my rib cage as I place my hand on my sweat covered chest.

Inhale. One, two, three. Exhale.

My breaths come in shallow waves, and my pulse quickens. Tossing the covers off of my body, I quickly snatch up the hoodie on the end of my bed and step into my shoes. This room is too small. I need air. Fresh air, space. Clarity.

With quiet movements I walk out into the hall, glancing through Presley’s cracked door. She’s sound asleep.

I ease out the door, my heart still racing with the air in my lungs still restricted. As fasts as I can, I take the stairs, jogging down the hall and finally out the doors of the building.

I suck in the fresh air when I hit the concrete, but it aches. It’s almost painful. My vision spots as I plant my feet on each step, making my way to the park across the street. It was the only place that had a small amount of light. The rest was covered in dark shadows.

Breathe, Raven.

What hell is happening? I’ve started having these since the incident. It always starts as a dream, then evolves to this.

With eyes closed I slow my pace, walking along the sidewalk. Deep breaths. Long exhales. I feel relief in my lungs on the next deep breath.

I reach a wooden bench, and as I bend to brace my hands on the top railing to relax my back, a hand lands on my shoulder.

A blood curling scream rips through me as the same hand lands roughly over my mouth.

“Raven.”

I freeze at the sound of Locke’s voice, then blink before I tear myself from his heavy grasp. Whipping around I shoot him an angry glare.

“What the fuck are you doing out here this time of night?” He barks.

“I live here!” I snap. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I was out for a jog.”

“Really?” I shake my head. “At two in the morning?”

He shrugs.

“You’re such a liar.” I spit the words out without a thought, but his expression stays the same. Unimpressed.

“It’s not safe for you to be out here,” he says.

“Clearly,” I scoff. “You practically attacked me.”

“Attacked you?” I swear he rolls his eyes. “I was checking on you.”

“On your midnight stroll, Professor?” I lift a brow. My first thought is he’s probably fucking another student. I guess young college girls are his type. “Avoiding the legendary walk of shame?”

His jaw clenches at the question because we both know that’s what he did with me. He uncrosses his arms, taking a hasty step towards me. “I’m not sure I like what you’re insinuating Ms. Cunningham.”

What happened to Raven?

His honey eyes glow as soon as he steps into the light that’s shining from the lamp above us.

“No?” I press. “

“No. I’m not messing around with one of my students," he grits out. “First off, it’s against university policy. I’d lose my job, and the student would be exiled, and it would ruin both of our reputations.”

“Little late for the lecture don’t you think?” I tilt my head.

“I had no idea you were a student.” He runs a hand over his mouth. “It would have never happened.”

“I had no idea you were a mythology professor. I agree, if I would have known that going in, it probably wouldn’t have happened. Not exactly my type.”

His eyes move over my face in a way it almost feels like a soft caress. “Why are you out here?”

I contemplate having a smart ass answer, but honestly, I’m tired. “It’s…” I glance off to the large statue in the middle of a fountain. Some naked guy holding a sword with green vines wrapped around his sculpted thighs. “A hard week.”

He watches me before he nods, seemingly satisfied with my answer. “The dreams will get better.”

His answer surprises me, and it’s almost as if he speaks from experience.

Silence stretches a beat before he runs a hand through his hair. It’s then I notice he’s wearing a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. He looks relaxed. Not so coiled tight like in class. Maybe he was actually jogging.

“Get back to your apartment. Don’t come out here at night alone again.”

I refrain from rolling my eyes at his command. We aren’t in his classroom right now. Right now, we are just two adults. In a park, in the middle of the night.

His hands are braced on his hips as he stares at me. Slowly he steps forward and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear that’s caught up in the sudden gust of wind.

I freeze at the unexpected touch coming from him. I’m also startled at how familiar it already feels. As quick as the moment came, it’s gone when he realizes what he’s done. He pulls away and curses under his breath.

“We need to limit our contact," he says with a shake of his head.

“I’m in your class, Locke,” I deadpan, then toss my arms out. “And you’re the one creeping outside of my apartment at two in the morning.”

“Go back inside.” His voice is hard. Stern, back to brooding asshole.

I’m getting whiplash.

When I make no sudden movement, he turns his narrowed eyes on me and his tone changes. “Go back inside, Raven.”

A chill snakes its way up my spine and the overwhelming need to obey strikes me.

“Ok, you win.” I nod. “I’m going.”

Pulling the sleeves of my hoodie over my hands I walk back across the street and to our building. I give one look over my shoulder and watch him, watching me. By the time I make it back inside, and up to my room, I immediately go to my window, but he’s already gone. There’s no sign of Sullivan Locke.