| Chapter 22 Nick was in the woods again. He knew he wasn't alone, he could feel something watching him. Again, the fear started to overtake his senses. He tried to suppress it, tried not to run, but that feeling was so strong. He grabbed onto a tree, hoping that would give him the presence of mind he needed to face whatever it was that was out there. "I know you're out here, show yourself!" he yelled. Nick scanned the woods, looking for any sign of movement. He didn't see anything, but he heard that menacing growl again. Nick's eyes were wide with fear when he realized the sound came from above him. Slowly he looked up, seeing those eyes in the darkness of the tree canopy. Nick let go of the tree and started backing away, his and the creatures eyes locked. As he moved away, the creature followed. Always at a steady pace, and always in the darkness. Nick stopped when he realized he was again at the edge of the tree line. "What the hell do you want?!" he asked. The creature growled at him once more. Nick was trembling with fear as the creature moved closer. Then it jumped at him. Nick dropped to his knees and covered his head with his hands as the thing flew over him. The air from it's wings, unbalancing him, and sending him to the ground. Nick looked up as it flew away from him, not believing what he was seeing. "Those things aren't real, they can't be," he told himself. Then the creature circled around and came back for another pass. "Oh shit!" Nick said, realizing he again had no where to go. The creature was coming in fast. Nick stood there waiting, hoping he was doing the right thing. Just as the creature came to him, Nick jumped out of the way. He sat up, just as the creature swung its tail, catching him, and pushing him over the cliff. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick sat straight up in bed, screaming. Angel jumped up, startled, and looked at him. Nick looked over seeing her in bed with him, and screamed again. He jumped out, getting as far away from her as he could. Just then, Brian and Aleisha came through the door, closely followed by A.J. "Nick, what's wrong?" Brian was asking, "Did Angel scare you?" Nick just shook his head, still trembling, and finding it hard to stand up. Aleisha grabbed Angel and pulled her out of the room. Brian and A.J. grabbed Nick before he fell to the floor, walking him back over to the bed. "Nick, talk to me. What happened?" Brian asked, concerned. Nick was sitting on the side of the bed, trembling. He was breathing heavily, and covered in sweat. "I'm OK," he said. "Nick, you are not OK," A.J. said. "Has he done this before?" Brian asked. "Yeah, a few times," A.J. said. "Guys, I'm right here," Nick said, "Don't talk about me." "We just want to help you," Brian said. Nick looked up at him, "You want to help me?" he laughed. Brian looked confused, "What's that suppose to mean?" Nick just shook his head, "Nothing. I just had a bad dream, that's all." "Nick, that is more than a bad dream. You look like you're about to pass out," Brian said. "Maybe if you told us what it was about," A.J. suggested. Nick shuddered, shaking his head, "No." "Why not? It might help," Brian said. Nick looked at him for a moment, debating on whether or not to tell him. He ran his hand through his hair, "It's stupid." "Nick, it's not stupid if it has you this upset," Brian said. Nick looked down at the floor, "A dragon's trying to kill me." A.J. laughed before he caught himself. Nick looked at him, hurt. "See, I told you it was stupid," he said. Brian glared at A.J., "It's not stupid. What exactly is it doing?" "It chases me through the woods to a cliff, and pushes me over," Nick answered. "How long have you been having this dream?" Brian asked. "Since you left," Nick said. Brian looked at him intently, "Since I left?" Nick nodded his head. Aleisha was standing in the door. She had heard the entire conversation. "Nick, can I get you anything?" she asked. All three men jumped, not realizing she was there. Nick just shook his head. "Where's Angel?" Brian asked. "I put her in the bathroom at the end of the hall," Aleisha answered. "You can let her out," Nick said, "She didn't do anything." Aleisha started to go back down the hall, but stopped, "Nick, if it makes you feel any better, dragons are protectors." "Then why is one trying to kill me?" Nick whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kira lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Howie rolled over and looked at her, "Morning." She laughed, "Morning yourself." "Aren't you gonna be late for work?" Howie asked, seeing the time on the clock. "I'm not going in today," Kira said, "After last night, I don't think I can move." Howie laughed, "Sorry." Kira rolled over and looked at him, "Who are you and what have you done with the Howie I know?" Howie blushed, "I said I was sorry." "Don't be, it was...what's the word?" she started. "Incredible?" Howie suggested. "Good one, but no," she said. "Amazing?" Howie said. "Yeah, that could describe it," Kira said laughing, "Where did that come from anyway?" Howie shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno. Just on the way home from Brian's I just, well..." "Yeah, me too," she said, smiling at him. "Maybe we should go to Brian's more often," Kira said. They both laughed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kristin answered the phone, "Hello." "Hey Kris, it's Bri," Brian said, "Is Kev handy?" "Um, not right now," she said. "Oh?" Brian said. "Yeah, um, we had a late night last night, and he's still sleeping," she said. "Oh, OK," Brian said, "When he gets up can you have him call me?" "Sure," Kristin said. "Thanks,"Brian said, hanging up the phone. Kevin looked up at his wife, "Who was that?" "Brian, he want's you to call him," she said. "Was it an emergency?" he asked. "No, didn't sound like it," she said. "OK, I'll call him later," Kevin said, rolling over and getting comfortable. Kristin leaned down and kissed the top of his head, "I'm getting in the shower if you want to come." Kevin raised his head, a smile on his face. Kristin smiled back and walked into the bathroom. Kevin sat up, "What the hell, I'll sleep later," he said, following her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick sat in the window seat of his room, drawing on his sketch pad. Angel was sitting in the floor watching him. Nick looked down at her, "You want to see?" Angel barked. Nick flipped the pad over, revealing a portrait of Angel. Angel cocked her head to the side as she looked at it, wagging her tail. "You like that?" Nick asked. Angel barked again. "I like it too," Aleisha said, standing in the door. Nick jumped a little, "Damn girl. You gotta stop doing that." "Sorry," she said, walking in the room, "I came up to tell you lunch was ready." "Oh, thanks," Nick said, laying the pad down and getting up. "You're really good," she said. "I dunno, some people like it," he said, walking past her and heading to the door. Aleisha reached out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him. Nick turned and looked at her. "Sometime could you show me more of your work?" she asked. "Yeah sure," Nick said, gritting his teeth at the buzzing in his ear. She smiled, "Thanks." Aleisha headed out the door, leaving Nick to stand there. Angel looked up at him, whining. "I know," Nick said to her, "I don't like her either." He reached down and patted her on the head, then went downstairs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J. and Brian were in the kitchen, when Aleisha came back in. "Did you tell him?" Brian asked. "Yeah, he's coming," she said. "Leisha girl, I don't know what you put in this, but it's damn good," A.J. said, already eating. She smiled, "Thanks. It's an old family recipe." Brian laughed, "Isn't everything you cook?" "Well, yeah I guess it is," she said sitting down. Nick and Angel walked into the room. Nick sat down as far away from Aleisha as he could get without looking like that's what he was trying to do. "You feeling better?" Brian asked. "Yeah," he said. They began to eat. Nick was wondering if he should pursue what he was thinking, then decided, why not? "Aleisha, how was it that you were out on the trials? I thought they were closed to the public?" Nick asked. She looked up at him, "Um, well, I worked for the park service. So I was out looking for Brian." "Oh, I didn't know that," A.J. said, suddenly interested. "You don't work for them anymore?" Nick asked. "No, actually about the second day of the storm was my last day of work," she answered. "Why'd you quit?" Nick asked. "Nick, what's with all the questions? We told everyone all this last night," Brian said. "I don't remember this part," A.J. said. Aleisha laughed, "It's OK. I don't mind. I quit because I was getting tired of the job. I saved up some money and was going to travel a little before I had to find another one." "Oh, traveling is fun for the first two days, but after that...," A.J. said, shaking his head, "You just wanna go home and sleep in your own bed for a change." Everyone laughed. A.J. got up to get a second helping. Nick looked over and noticed Aleisha staring at him. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. "So Nick, Kevin told me about your tests," Brian said, "Are you going to have the surgery?" Nick sighed, "I guess. When I go back I will." "Do you want us to go with you?" Brian and A.J. asked at the same time. Nick smiled, "Naw, you don't have to. They're just gonna go in and put some bone in so it'll heal, no biggie." "Nick, brain surgery of any kind is a serious thing," Brian said. "Yeah man, we don't want you losing brain cells. God knows you need all you got," A.J. said, smiling. "Oh shut up," Nick said, throwing a piece of bread at A.J.'s head. "Nick, where is it that you live?" Aleisha asked. "In Vancouver," A.J. answered for him. Nick glared at him, but he didn't notice. "Yeah, he lives with his girlfriend Lyn," Brian added. "Oh, I didn't know you had a girlfriend," Aleisha said. "Yeah," Nick said. "Speaking of, is she still in her meetings?" Brian asked. "Yeah, she had to go back on Christmas Eve," Nick said. "Oh that sucks," Brian said. Nick laughed, "Yeah, it does." "Girl you have got to tell me what's in this," A.J. said, his mouth full. Nick took the opportunity to finish his meal, and got up, "I'm gonna go for a walk." Brian and A.J. looked at him. "What? Lyn and I walk almost everyday. I'll be back in a while," Nick said, turning and leaving the room. Aleisha watched as he left, wondering what he was thinking. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick was praying as he walked. "God, please help me. I know something's wrong, I just can't figure it out. Please, I need some guidance here," he prayed. He walked a few more steps before Tracy appeared next to him, walking alongside. Nick didn't look at her, "I was wondering when you were going to show up." She smiled. "Tracy, do you have any idea what's going on?" Nick asked. "No, I don't, but I'm like you...something's off," she said. "Do you know what my dreams are about?" he asked. She shook her head. Nick laughed, "So are you just here to shoot the breeze?" She didn't say anything, but kept walking. Nick grabbed her hand, turning her around, "What aren't you telling me?" She looked deep into his eyes, "Nick, something's gonna happen. I don't know what, but I do know that we can't help when it does." "What do you mean you can't help?" he asked, confused. "Whatever it is, it has to happen. There's nothing we can do to stop it, or make it any easier," Tracy said, sadness in her eyes. "Does it involve me or Brian?" he asked. She shook her head, "I don't know." Nick stood there, staring at her for a moment, "Tracy, is he talking to God?" She shook her head. Nick's heart fell. Brian was almost acting like his old self, why couldn't he just pray? Why was that so hard for him to do? "Nick," Tracy said, pulling him from his thoughts, "Be strong, and don't give up. Maybe something you say or do will bring him back." "I hope so," Nick said. She put her hand on his shoulder, "I hope so too." Chapter 23 |