Chapter 4 The Dream

When I got home I saw that dad's car was not in the driveway so he wasn't home yet. I knocked on the door.

"Hello? Grandma are you in there? "

No answer, no movement from inside. I looked towards the window and saw that the curtains were drawn meaning there was no-one home. I walked towards the little bush by the driveway bent down and retrieved the house key from a fake stone hidden inside the bush. I opened the door went inside straight to the kitchen. I dropped my bag on the counter and got a carton of orange juice from the fridge.

I didn't know how thirsty I was until I realized I almost finished the carton in just two gulps. All that thinking must have got me dehydrated. I still ended up drinking a glass of water.

I went upstairs to my room to freshen up. I was exhausted. What a day it had been. I was so tempted to lie on my bed and sleep till the next day but unfortunately I had a biology test to study for. I came back downstairs and turned on the TV, flipping through channels till I found what I liked.

I must have dozed off sometime in the middle of the TV show. I had a strange dream.

I was in the forest. The forest looked similar to the one in Bayersville but somehow it appeared different. It looked darker with shadows lurking in every corner. Watching. There was light ahead of me and I followed it. I came upon an old looking building that looked seemed like it was built hundred years ago.

The light was coming from a window. I walked towards it. Actually I glided towards the window like I was in some kind of trance. Inside was a bedroom that looked similar to mine. It was decorated in the same way I like to have my room.

A young girl was sitting at the dresser brushing her hair and humming. She had straight black hair but the tips of hair were pure white. She stopped humming.

"I have been waiting for you", she said still brushing her hair. Her voice as clear as day. So entrancing and beautiful. Somehow I felt like I have met her before. She stopped brushing her hair and dropped the brush on the table.

"It is time", she said and turned her head towards me. I gasped and backed away. I saw my face.

I woke up with a gasp and sat up. I looked around to find that I was still in the living room where I had fallen asleep on the couch. I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked at the time, it was 5.30pm.

Who was that girl in the house in the forest? It couldn't be me, could it? I wasn't sure about anything going on in my life anymore. Up is down and down is backwards.

I heard the front door open and saw grandma entering the house.

"You're home late today", I said getting up to help her with groceries.

"Don't scold me child. I've had a long day".

I carried the bags of groceries to the kitchen and put them on the counter.

"So, what made you late?" I asked turning to face grandma who was heading to the fridge to take a bottle of water.

She saw the empty carton of orange juice I left on the table. She looked at me eyebrows raised.

"What? I was thirsty".

She kept giving me that look. I rolled my eyes and picked up the carton and threw it in the waste bin. Grandma smiled and took a drink from the bottle of water she was holding.

"Melissa Grade spent an hour talking about her parking tickets and expired coupons at the town hall meeting. Don't the committee know that she's almost eighty? Why put her as one of the council members or let her drive if she's going to park in the wrong places or hit random people?"

"She probably needs glasses", I said sitting on a chair.

"She has one but refused to wear it. Says it makes her feel old", Grandma laughed. "Can you imagine?"

I chuckled. I always enjoyed small talks like this with her. It takes me feel normal and I love spending time with her. Apart from Chloe, grandma was the only female friend I had. We talked about girl stuff like periods, boys and stuff.

Chloe loves her too. Whenever she comes over, the three of us always have fun playing games or just talking. I really wish I could tell her about what has been going on with me, about the dream I had. But some part of me won't. It feels like a secret I'm not supposed to tell anyone or I'll be punished if I do.

Thinking of the dream made me think about my mother. Is it possible that the young girl was her? Dad always did tell me I look like her. I had to know.

"Tell me about my mother".

Grandma's facial expression changed. Her eyes became blank. She looked lost like part of her missing and it scared me.

"Grandma, are you alright?"

She didn't say anything for a while. Then with the same expressionless look she said, "Your mother was a good girl who died shortly after giving birth to you".

What the hell? Why did she sound like a robot? Like someone possessed?

"Grandma please talk to me. Tell me what's happening", I pleaded placing my hand on hers.

She blinked and looked at me like really looked at me.

"Are you hungry? Let me start dinner". With that she got up to prepare dinner. I sat there dazed.

What the actual f**k is going on around here? Why did mention of my mother make grandma behave like someone possessed by an alien or something? Ugh! I can't think in these conditions.

I got up and went to my room. I got out my books from my bag and started studying. I got to admit reading about the digestive system is way better than trying to figure out what the hell is going on around here.

It was 7'o clock in the evening when I went downstairs for dinner. I saw dad sitting at the kitchen table eating still in his work clothes.

He looked up at me and said, "Hey honey. How was school?"

"Terrible as always", I replied sitting down opposite him.

He laughed and said, "Good to know".

"So any new app for us this week?"

Dad worked at a company called Davenport Tech that creates software for games and stuff. So yes Jefferson Black the handsome young man in his thirties is a computer nerd. Proud? Yes please.

"I'm working on something called Nurexix. A virtual reality video game that allows you to fight different things like demons, humans, and monsters as any animal you want".

"Cool".

Grandma dropped a plate of lasagna in front of me. I looked up at her.

"How are you feeling grandma?"

"I'm fine love. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. Just worried about you".

She smiled and patted my head.

We ate dinner chipping in small talks from time to time. After dinner I went back to my room and started on some assignments.

My phone rang around 9pm while I was watching a movie on my laptop. It was Chloe.

"Hey you. So how's the birthday plan going? "

"Birthday? What is that? "

"Oh stop joking around. Your birthday is next week girl. What's happening? What's pumping? Where the party at? "

"Ok first of all stop talking like you're stuck in the 80's and secondly you know I don't do birthdays and parties".

"Oh come on you'll officially be an adult next week. We have to celebrate. You know leave a mark on society or something".

I grinned. I could hear the pout in her voice.

"I'll think of something".

"That's my girl. Oh did you hear about what happened to Mirabel?"

I froze. "No. What happened?"

"Well I just so happen to know someone who knows someone who knows someone who's friends with one of the she devil's coven members, Michelle. Well she said that Michelle said that after the whole ordeal with his royal darkness, Mirabel was found weeping her soul out in the girls' locker room. I mean like legit crying with makeup and snot running down her face".

Wow. So Mirabel could be intimidated like that. What Alex said must have put fear into her heart for her to cry that way. One part of me liked the fact that she broke down and was sorry I missed it but the other part was kind of scared.

What kind of person was this Alex Thorne? What power did he have that he made even the she devil to almost wet herself in fear?

"But Chloe don't you think this is all bizarre?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about this new kid that comes without notice. I mean don't you think it's weird that he resumes school when the school year is almost over? And also the fact that he seems so dark and mysterious. He refused to say anything about himself, talks to no one and the teachers act weird around him like they don't even notice he's there. He could be a serial killer for all we know".

"Well serial killer or not I'm glad he put queen b***h in her place. He could have done more than make her cry".

I sighed, "I'm having a serious headache talking and thinking about him. I'll see you tomorrow ok?"

"Sure. Goodnight and sweet dreams my lovely", she said and blew a kiss.

I laughed and hung up the phone.

I lay on my bed trying to reflect on what happened in the day. So many things going on. Strange things happening to me, mysterious new kid in town, she devil cries, and me having weird dreams. Who was that girl in my dream? Could it my mother?

What did she mean by 'it is time'? Time for what? With those thoughts I drifted to sleep.