Tower of Lore

Chapter Four: Lindsey's Confrontation

Lindsey sat in the bed with her legs pulled beneath her. This was far too much for her to handle. She had hoped this was some sort of twisted dream brought on by self-hatred of wanting to be with Dusty despite all of the problems between them, but the more time passed the less that was a likely scenario.

She was trapped in a magical world, or would that be she was in the game itself? What was going to happen if she died? Lindsey sighed and shook her head. She didn’t have answers to any of those questions and it drove her batty.

There was a quick succession of knocks on her door. Three quick, then a hesitation, then a couple more. She slipped out of the bed and answered the door to see Dusty with his hands in his pockets and facing away from her. “Hey, Linds,” he greeted.

“What do you want?”

“We’re supposed to share the room, remember?”

Lindsey’s nostrils flared. “I told you, you’re sleeping on the floor, Dusty.”

“Can you stop it with the whole pissed off thing? I know I messed up before, you don’t have to shove it in my face all the time.”

“I’ll stop shoving it in your face when I’m not stuck watching what you chose over me in this nightmare world.” She turned her back on him as she stalked away. “Is this some sort of cruel torment you designed just for me or what?”

“No, I had nothing to do with us being brought here, I swear it, Linds!” Dusty slammed his fist into the wall and caused Lindsey to jump. “Listen, I’m sorry I’m just so frustrated right now. I’m sorry I’m such an asshole, really. I should have never forgotten that date.”

“Forgotten it?” Lindsey turned back and gave him a half-smile. “That’s not the worst part of the entire thing, Dusty. You still are clueless about why I was so devastated, aren’t you? Here, let me paint the picture for you. We’re all alone, you tell me there’s something big planned. I know it’s our anniversary, and you say there’s an exact moment that you want to do it, it would make it more special. Any of this ring a bell?”

Dusty had paled at her first words and stumbled backward at her next. “I forgot, you know how bad my memory is.”

“Not bad enough that you don’t know the birthday of a fictional character and celebrate it every single year, you just never told me that was on our anniversary, Dusty. You’re telling me you can remember her, but not us.”

“Can’t you give us another chance? A new world, a new opportunity?”

“Why don’t you just go shack up with that princess of yours?” Lindsey walked back to her bed and once more buried herself beneath the covers. At least the bed was soft even if nothing else in this world was. “Should probably spend what time you can alive with the woman you really love.”

“Okay, that’s it.” Dusty strode over to her and towered over Lindsey. “Linds, I love you. I’m an asshole, I’ve messed up, but I’ve loved you like a lost soul since I first met you. You’re my everything and I’d even give up gaming if that’s what you wanted.”

“That’s not what I want,” Lindsey stared up at him. The heat in her eyes had died down and she smoothed the sheets around her. “I just wanted you.”

Dusty hooked a finger under her chin and brought her attention to him. “Then I promise, you have me, let’s just forget this all happened, okay?”

Lindsey pulled away. Stupid happy chemicals flooding through her body. He was the only man that could make her feel happy by just being around him. “Just forget huh?” she questioned her eyes narrowed just a bit.

“Yeah, that’s it, Linds, forget.”

“Like you’ll just forget us again,” she accused as she let her heads flop back against the pillows. “If you really want me to give you, give us another chance, I’m going to need to see you be serious about this. I don’t want to be hurt again, Dusty. I couldn’t survive if you broke my heart once more.”

“I’ll do anything, Linds, but I think first we need to figure out how we’re going to survive this mess we’re in.”

Lindsey nodded as she stared up at the stone ceiling above her. “We have no fighting experience, we have no magical powers, and we’re not even in the best of shape. Dusty, we’re probably going to die.”

Dusty shook his head so fast she thought he’d get whiplash. “No, I’ll never let that happen, Linds. Never.”

“It’s not like you’re going to have a choice,” she retorted as she closed her eyes.

She wasn’t surprised when the bed dipped a moment later as another body climbed into the bed. “Is this okay?” Dusty asked from behind her.

She turned on her side so her back was to him and nodded. He let out a shuddering sigh and pulled her against his chest as she pillowed her head on his arm. A happy little sigh escaped her. “Dusty?”

“Yeah, Linds?”

“I’ve missed this,” she whispered as she hugged his arm close. He wrapped it around her waist and snuggled her against his body. “Please just hold me tonight, okay? Just tonight, I’m not ready to forgive you just yet, and this is selfish.”

“Be as selfish as you want. I love holding you anyway, I love you, Lindsey.”

She turned her head toward him her eyes studying him. “I love you too, Dusty, but I can’t just get back together with you that easy.”

“I know,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead. “Let’s just get some rest for now. I’m positive that tomorrow is going to be hellish.”

“If we survive anyway,” Lindsey added as she gave a little sigh. She closed her eyes again and snuggled against him enjoying the odor of wood and mesquite wood. “Good night, Dusty.”

“Good night, Linds.” He replied as she fell fast asleep in his arms.