Contents
34. Henry
Overview
In a storm, Henry wakes from nightmares and finds Harlow sleepwalking on her balcony railing. He rescues and warms her, insisting she sleep in his bed for safety. They share a fragile intimacy and discuss a safeword, revealing Henry’s fear she might break. By morning, Harlow is gone, restoring their emotional distance.
Summary
Henry wakes from a nightmare, unsettled by images of Harlow confronting the Breeder. A violent storm batters the fort. Hearing scratching from the shared washroom, Henry breaks into Harlow’s room and discovers the balcony doors open and Harlow balanced on the railing, unmoving in the wind and rain.
Fearing she might fall, Henry approaches quietly, pulls her back, and carries her inside. Harlow seems disoriented and insists she was asleep and not suicidal, recalling only a sensation of being stuck. Shivering, she allows Henry to dry her, dress her in his sweater, and guide her to his bed.
By the fire’s warmth, Henry insists she sleep in his room to prevent further danger. He holds her hand as they lie together, trying to steady both their nerves. He asks if she would use their safeword if she needed to stop or if she were breaking, revealing his worry that she is near a breaking point.
Harlow rejects the idea that she could break, and they drift into uneasy sleep as the storm continues. At first light, Henry wakes to find her side of the bed cold and empty. Whatever closeness they reached overnight has vanished with daylight, leaving their fragile truce unresolved.
Who Appears
- HenryHe wakes from nightmares, rescues Harlow from sleepwalking off a balcony, comforts her, and seeks safeguards.
- HarlowDisoriented and sleepwalking on a balcony edge; resists vulnerability yet accepts Henry’s help before withdrawing by morning.
- KyrinHenry’s dog; alerts them with whining and settles by the fire as they rest.