Chapter Three

My alarm clock sprung to life. I grunted at the sound. I really didn’t want to wake up. It’s a Saturday and I had the whole morning to rest. Especially since I spent half of the evening awake, scared I might dream of that crazy woman again.

“Ian, wake up.” Sil said shaking my arm.

The strong scent of vanilla filled my nostrils. I opened one eye and looked at her. Her hair was tied back. She was wearing a tattered shirt and shorts. I remember it wrote- NO LIKE HEAT! - With an angry turtle on it. Sil’s green eyes looked tired like she’s been crying all night. They were quite red yet she still gave me her kindest smile.

“It’s Saturday.” I grumbled. I turned and pulled the blanket.

“No, it’s Tuesday.” She said. I exhaled.

Pushing the blanket off me and headed for the bathroom. I shut the door and leaned against it. I looked at the mirror and saw my eyes were sleepy.

Turing on the water I stood under the shower. My arms in front of me. I leaned against them. The water was prickling cold on my back. I shut my eyes and tried to remember some part of my dream after the crazy lady. But my mind was blank. I really hated my own limitations. I punched the wall. My hand hit the tile dead on. I didn’t care about the white-hot piercing pain in my knuckles. I turned the shower off and pulled the towel off the rack. I stared at it at first then I dried myself. I wrapped the towel on my waist.

Walking to my walk-in-closet I scanned through my clothes. I had two options. The first was a black t-shirt and shorts and the second was a polo shirt and pants. I picked the pants and polo shirt. I pulled them on and looked at myself in the mirror. The green shirt reflected my eyes. I bent down and pulled out rubber shoes. I also pulled out sunglasses from my drawer and socks. I went out of my room with my bag strapped on one shoulder. I placed the sunglasses on. I jogged down the stairs.

“Morning, sweetie.” My mom greeted me. I kissed her on the check and picked up my lunch. She was cooking breakfast for dad. As of Sil and I, we have breakfast on the way. I crossed the game room and pushed the front door. It was ice cold on my hands. I almost screamed. It burned through my skin. I pulled the door and the sun hit my face.

Sil was waiting outside. She was leaning against the black Mercedes. Her back was turned on me. She was wearing jeans and her favorite navy green Polo club shirt and her military combat boots. She gave out a bad vibe. Her stance said that if you got close to three inches, you’re going to lose your life. Her bag was in the car and her hair was in a tight ponytail. As usual. I walked to her. She jumped and immediately wiped the tears off her face before I could see any fall. She placed her sunglasses on and smiled at me.

“I saw those.” Sil moved away and I hopped in.

“Saw what?” she asked innocently. She shut the door behind her and Tom stared the car.

“The tears.” Sil didn’t answer me. I nodded on my own. I looked out the window. The sun was lighting up the whole neighborhood brilliantly. I don’t remember a single day that was like this before. It looks like a wonderful day.

I take it all back. It’s not a wonderful day. I felt sluggish, everything was so heavy. On top of that I couldn’t get the idea that Sil was crying without telling me why. She rarely cries and she rarely tells anyone how she really feels besides me and knowing that I am a useless brother is bugging the life out of me. I was way too far in my thoughts when I accidentally bumped into a dark figure.

“Ow, I—” looking around I was completely alone in a corridor that was previously filled with people. The silence was deafening, a huge wave of cold air hugged me and I dropped to me knees.

“YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE LEFT ME!”

A loud scream of a woman pierced my ears. The sound was heart wrenching, as if all of her pain was mine as well. I could feel my heart strings plucking out. I clutched at my chest; the pain was extremely excruciating.

“What the hell is this?” I tried to look ahead of me but the bright corridor shifted black and a long dark figure reappeared.

“You shouldn’t have left me.” The sound of her voice was lower, quieter, but the threat was far more sinister.

“Is this a dream?” The low hum in her voice told me that she was laughing.

“Dream or reality, does that really matter right now?”

She was right, that wasn’t what was really weighing on me.

“My sister. I have to find her.” I couldn’t see clearly but I knew she was smiling.

“Does…that…really…matter?” the pauses in between her words were blood boiling.

I want to get out. I want to wake up. And just like my dream with Daylight, my surroundings shook, my eye sight flickered, but the figure didn’t budge.

“You can try, but you can’t escape this.” And like a snap everything was back to normal.

I was on the ground of the corridor and people circled around me, whispers of what happened to me were filling my ears. I felt a warm hand on my shoulder, I instinctively grabbed it making the person gasp. I looked at her and my eyes focused, it was Polly.

“Are you ok?” Her concern was all over her face, without thinking I pulled on her arm and hugged her. The warmth of her body was surrounding me. Her strawberry scent was intoxicating, I felt safe, my heart was calming. She hugged me back and stroked my back.

“Shh, it’s ok. You just passed out.” I slowly let my grip on her loose when I heard someone whisper how I collapsed. She looked at me and I just nodded to her, not knowing what I was agreeing to, but she helped me up.

The clinic always gave me the creeps and now I never knew why. But not I do. The nurse here was the reason. Her blank expression and dark black eyes were unsettling.

“Do you want to go home?” her monotone voice echoed in my mind. The sound was something I want to forget for the rest of my life. I could only manage to shake my head, the words terrified to leave my lips. She gave a heavy sigh and I instantly regretted my decision. Sil walked into the clinic, eyes wide as she saw me with a bandage on my head.

“Wh—what happened to you?” Her words trembled as she walked to me.

“I slipped and fell on to some lockers…I think one of the locks got me pretty good."

The nurse gave a low scrawl like she knew that that wasn’t what really happened.

“I TOLD YOU TO STOP PULLING ALL NIGHERS!” Sil slapped the uninjured side of my head pretty good, dazing me for a minute.

“Please keep your voices down.” The nurse barked, not even fazed that I was hit in the head.

“I didn’t pull any all-nighter.”

“Then why the heck would you suddenly fall, huh?”

“I was worried about you crying, ok?” I snapped.

That really was the reason, but it wasn’t the point. The crazy shadow vision was still playing at the back of my mind. Sil sighed and took a seat in front of me.

“Just don’t tell mom and dad. They might go crazy and bring you to the hospital again.” I simply nodded. Doing my best not to look distant.