~~Chapter 12~~
~~Nightmare Index~~
"We can rest here but we're going to keep moving."
Michael shook his head. "I don't think I can."
"You can and you will. I'm not giving up that easily." She paused. "Do you even know who's doing this to you?"
Michael shook his head. Janet sighed.
"Does Sharon ring a bell?"
"No...she would never--"
"Yes she would. I don't know how she's doing it but she is." Janet gazed around. Sharon could be anywhere. She couldn't see anything in the dark. But she thought she had lost her.
"Come on, maybe we should find Jeff."
She helped Michael up again and the continued back to the entrance of the park. Janet was scared. Sharon had the capability to kill her too. She knew this because she was watching her brother slowly die right in front of her eyes.
No, she thought. He won't die. He won't.
"Janet," Michael whispered. "Janet."
"What?"
"It's Jeff."
Janet looked in the direction Michael was looking and saw Jeff's body hidden by the bushes. A small pocket book was in his hand. Michael stood with support of a tree as Janet kneeled down to Jeff.
"He's still alive." Janet said. Jeff opened his eyes.
He was barely breathing. "He's got to remember..." Jeff gasped.
"Remember what, Jeff?"
"Michael has got to remember his past..."
"Why? What do you mean?" Janet asked, but it was too late. Jeff had died. Janet buried her face in her hands. Michael didn't seem to have any emotion towards this death. Janet thought he was too weak to even think straight.
When they reached the house, the doors were locked. "How does she DO that?" Janet wondered. She knew Sharon was still outside. The next place with a phone was the theater, but she could tell Michael probably couldn't make it that far. So they sat on the steps.
"I don't know what to do. She has us cornered."
Michael sat with his head rested on the banister. "It's so cold out here."
It wasn't nearly close to cold outside. Janet knew time was running out and she had to think fast. She took her jacket and wrapped it around Michael. She doubted that would help. She started to think. Think about Jeff's last words and about everything Sharon had said.
He remembered. He remembered the pain. All the hurt. I helped him forget...
Michael must remember his past....
Janet thought she had figured it out. She turned to Michael. "Listen to me."
Michael looked at her. His eyes were half-open.
"Do you remember how much you loved your kids? How much you miss them?"
Michael shook his head. Janet sighed.
"What about Whyan? You were so hurt when he died."
He shook his head again.
"Michael, you've got to remember. You will die if you--"
The sound of a gunshot surrounded them. A splitting pain went through Janet's stomach. Blood was on her hands. Looking up, she saw Sharon with Jeff's gun. As Janet's vision started to become blurry, Sharon said, "You obviously don't believe in love either." Then there was blackness.
Sharon came up to Michael and hugged him. Michael couldn't see straight. Sometimes he would see double and sometimes everything was just a blur. The pain hadn't stopped, but it had been going on for so long that Michael couldn't feel it anymore. It was as if his body had become numb. He felt as if all the strength was drained out of him. But he was still delighted to see Sharon.
"I love you Michael." Sharon said, stroking his hair.
"I love you too." Michael said softly. He gazed at Janet's body.
"Why...?" Michael started.
"She was trying to hurt you. Michael, I'm going to relieve you of all your pain." She gave a reassuring smile.
"Is she dead?" Michael asked.
Sharon shrugged. "I don't know. But who cares?" Her eyes turned blue and she gazed at the door. The door opened.
"You don't want to die out here, do you?" Sharon smiled broadly.