Page 21 of Embracing My Nightmare
I wasn’t paying attention to how far I had walked around the lake until I found myself at the gate leading to the Pierce family’s side. The family owned the back property, far away from prying eyes, and I realized I had been walking for almostforty minutes.
Turning, I started back down the path, watching the sun slowly sink in the sky from its scorching overhead position. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I stopped at a water fountain about halfway back up the path, taking a sip of the cool water.
Suddenly, a chill went down my spine as I heard footsteps approaching me. I turned to find a man standing in front of me, eyeing me up and down. His clothes were worn and dirty, his skin was covered in grime, and he smelled like he hadn’t showered in a week. He took one step toward me and I glanced over his shoulder, looking for any kind of help.
Finding myself alone with this strange man, I positioned myself in a stance, hoping I wouldn’t have tofight to leave. Taking a step forward, he raised his hands and I stepped back a few feet. Glancing down, I felt bad for my snap judgement of him. He pointed to the water fountain behind me and I moved aside with a small smile.
Just as I turned toward the path, he spoke, “You’re just a possession to him. A doll to occupy his time. Eventually, he’ll get tired of playing with you and will let his true colors out. I hope you’ll be ready when that happens. Not many people survive him.”
“Um, do I know you?” I asked, wringing my hands as I took a step away from him.
“No, but I know Devlin. Be careful, girl. That man is a monster dressed in a fancy suit.”
He turned and started walking down the path toward the Pierce property. Turning, he looked at me with an uneasy smile, “Run along, lamb.”
That word on his lips struck terror through me and I turned, running back down the path as his laughter sounded from a distance. A few minutes later, I came upon other people walking the path and I slowed down, trying to dissuade my fear. Leaning over, I fought to catch my breath and a dizziness overtook me.
I remember reaching out to the couple walking toward me as the darkness cloaked me and I fell to the ground. I woke up with a medic shining a light into my eyes and checking my heart rate. Sitting up quickly, I caught my head in my hands and fought the rising nausea.
After reassuring the medics and people who helped me that I was fine, I slowly walked back to my apartment. Every step closer felt like a noose tightening around my neck and I didn’t know why. I turned back to the lake as I was about to cross the street and glimpsed a man before he disappeared into the darkness.
I ran across the street and pushed the elevator button, suddenly feeling uneasy about being out alone. Maybe Devlin was right, and I should stay in my apartment. The elevator opened and the old lady from the second floor stepped out with her new puppy. He was a cute little spaniel with soft brown fur and a happy attitude.
“Have a good evening,” I told them, and she waved before moving down the sidewalk.
I got into the elevator and fought the longing to push the button for his floor. Shaking my head, I got off on the fourth floor and unlocked my door. Turning, I secured both locks and slid the chain in place. I dropped my keys into the bowl and grabbed a banana from the counter. As I peeled and ate the fruit, my eyes remained on the front door, suddenly afraid of every bump.
Tossing the peel into the trash, I pulled a chair from the table and wedged it under the front door handle. Smiling at my ingenuity, I hopped into the shower, quickly washing the sweat, gravel, and fear off me. Wrapping a towel around my body, I changed into a pair of soft sleep pants and a long sleeve t-shirt.
I felt exposed and vulnerable from the strange encounter. Who was the man who had confronted me at the lake? He looked familiar, but I was certain I didn’t know him. He knew me, and he certainlyknew Devlin.
You’re a pretty doll.
He’ll get tired of playing with you.
Not many people survive him.
How did he know about Devlin and me when we hadn’t even defined our relationship yet? We had spent less than eighteen hours together, and all of that was alone in my apartment. Was I being watched? Was Devlin? Was I in danger?
I had freely given my heart to his darkness and now, while my mind swirled with all the unknowns he’d skillfully evaded, I was second guessing everything. Swallowing deeply, I felt the walls closing in on me and stood from the couch. Crossing my arms, I rubbed my shoulders as I went to make myself dinner.
I scrambled some eggs, tossing in cheese, peppers, and tomatoes while I waited for the toaster to finish with the bread. Sliding the fluffy eggs onto the sourdough, I bit into the delicious sandwich and immediately felt better. Shaking my head with a chuckle, I realized I had had no real food today and hunger probably caused my panic.
Placing the plate and skillet in the dishwasher, I opened the patio door, letting the cool air into the apartment. Rolling the last of the weed from Hayden, I grabbed my phone and a bottle of water before settling into the chair on the patio. I kept my eyes off the lake tonight. The thought of the disheveled man and his warning to me filled the quiet.
I contemplated calling Devlin but didn’t want to disrupt him during his urgent business, so I sparked the joint and leaned back, surfing through social media. Seeing my relationship status had been changed from ‘single’ to ‘in a relationship’, I laughed, knowing that must have been Devlin. I felt the smile on my face, knowing he was finally mine and sighed contently.
He was claiming me, and it felt right. It had always felt right. Devlin instilled a calm and peace in me unlike anyone ever had. Where I’m sure some saw a ruthless person, I saw a kind lover and a gentle man. I put the joint out and took a deep swallow of the cold water. Leaning back in the chair, I pulled the blanket across my legs and let the buzz take me under.
A gray-haired woman walked into the room and I crawled under the bench, pulling my legs against my chest, hoping to make myself as small as possible. I didn’t know where I was and the closer she came to me, the more my tiny body shook. I was wearing clothes that were too small and my feet hurt from my shoes.
My stomach growled loudly, and she stopped what she was doing and turned to investigate the big room. She sat down the papers in her hand and started walking down the center aisle, swinging her head back and forth as she got closer to me.
Suddenly, she stopped and knelt, her pretty face peering at me from a few benches away. I tried to pull myself further away and a whimper sounded into the silent room as the tears fell.
“Shh, sweet child. It’s okay. My Lord. Where did you come from?” she asked and reached under the bench, pulling my body against hers in a comforting hug.
She looked around the room and called toward the back as she stroked her hand against my dirty hair, promising everything would be okay. Calling a man’s name again, she walked to the back of the room. Sitting down on a chair facing the benches with my face pressed against her chest, I heard a man call her name.
