10. On a throne of lies

Kira was stuck in a trace, she was certain she was locked in a coffin just now. She wasn't hallucinating or was she?

But that voice? It sounded familiar but she couldn't quite remember where she had heard it.

"Are you okay?" Rebecca asked, lifting her chin.

"I'm not sure," Kira mumbled.

"Kira Quinn?" The nurse asked, with a clipboard.

"Yes," Kira answered, standing to her feet.

"Dr. Blake is ready to see you now," She announced.

"Okay," Kira muttered, "Are you coming?" She asked Rebecca.

"I can't. I have to take this," Rebecca pointed at her cellphone.

"Okay," Kira smiled and made a beeline to room 101.

"Ms. Quinn," Dr. Blake spoke, soon as Kira entered the room.

"Hi," Kira smiled at him, as she closed the door behind her.

"Have a seat," Dr. Blake patted the small bed, as he fetched his tools.

"Okay." Kira nodded, and went to take a seat shortly after, Dr. Blake was seated before her and begin to remove her cast.

"Are you nervous?" The doctor asked.

"Yes, it's my first time breaking a bone." She explained, eyeing the equipment the doctor hold.

"You have nothing to worry about," the doctor assured her, as he began to cut the cast open.

One minute there was a saw cutting the cast opened and the next she was standing on both feet.

"See, you have nothing to worry about." The doctor smiled warmly at her.

"Thank you," Kira returned his smile, before leaving the room.

Where are you, Rebecca? Kira thought, scanning the hallway for any sign of her friend.

Just then her phone buzz and she reached for the device only to see a message from Rebecca.

"Emergency at home. I have to go, I'm sorry."

Letting out a sigh, Kira began to type.

"It's fine, I hope everything is okay, call me."

And as if everyone could hear the string of profanities that flooded her thoughts she collided with Jennifer.

"Kira, Hi." Jennifer was the first to greet her.

"Jennifer," Kira proclaimed, "I'm so sorry, I'm having a really bad day."

"Let me buy you coffee," Jennifer suggested, curious to know what is going on in Kira's head.

"Okay," Kira walked with her to her car.

Shortly after, Jennifer was pulling up at Starbucks. While Jenifer unlocked the driver's door, Kira did the same with the passenger door.

"So how have you been?" Jennifer asked as they both were seated, waiting for their beverages and meal.

"I'm not so sure." Kira smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "How has work been?" She asked, just as the waiter returned with their orders.

"I work eighteen hours per day, it's not a walk in the park," Jennifer explained with a burst of light laughter but only if Kira knew.

"So, when will you return to University, seeing that you're cast free?" Jennifer inquired, taking a bite from her cheesecake.

"The following week," Kira answered, taking a slice from her chocolate cake.

"Okay," Jennifer nodded, "So, is there anything that bothers you?" Jennifer pressed.

"I might sound crazy, and you'll end up taking me to an asylum," Kira spoke, taking a sip from her cappuccino.

"Try me," Jennifer promoted, "Besides, I've heard some pretty weird things."

"I'm beginning to see things, hear voices, and my dreams, they don't feel like a dream." Kira whispered, "I don't know if this is even real or is it just a nightmare."

"What to do you see?" Jennifer asked.

"I'm locked in a coffin, I can't breathe am suffocating. But I can't seem to die, it's as if I'm being punished." Kira breathes out.

"When did this started?" Jennifer questioned.

"After waking up," Kira shrugged, pushing away her half-eaten cake.

"What about the voices?" Jennifer implored.

"It was a man's voice, it sounded so familiar." Kira blurted, "It felt so real, he felt so real."

"What would he say?" Came Jennifer's question.

"Is it evil to take what one wants, to satisfy hunger even if doing so will cause another suffering? What some would call evil, I believe to be an appropriate response to a harsh and unfair world." Kira recited.

"It's probably nothing, and your mind is making things up." Jennifer smiled at her, but she knew it wasn't a hallucination.

"I don't know," Kira fumbled, "It felt surreal, I could feel his pain."

"You're probably hallucinating," Jennifer said, nonchalantly.

"What about the dreams?" Kira prompted.

"They're just dreams, Kira," Jennifer spoke soothingly.

"What if they aren't?" Kira muttered.

"If they are not dreams," Jennifer started but trailed off. "What are they?"

"I don't know," Kira sigh.

"They're probably nothing and you're just overreacting." Jennifer persuades her, but not knowing she would need more than persuading.

********

Meanwhile, Kira was having uncertainties Jason was painting a portrait. It's was a woman's eyes, her nose and mouth were covered with a cloth. She would be in his nightmares, watching and prying on his past. But no matter how much he tried to picture her face it was to no avail.

He hated the agony she caused him, the barriers he built to keep unwanted minds from prying were crumbling. He loathed Kira, this is her doings he blamed her for his mishaps.

Jason was admiring yet another art when his doorbell rang. With the speed of sound, he was no longer in his art chamber but was standing in the door frame.

"Can I help you?" Jason asked the man who was looking at a card, while the female was scanning his yard.

"I'm Peter Cowell, and I'm Co-Founder of Time Zone Art Studio," the man spoke. "And she is Lana Del." He pointed at the female who waved, making her way up the porch.

"Are you Jason Hale?" Lana asked, looking at the address.

"Yes," Jason answered. "Is there something I can help you with.

"Yes. Jennifer Hale was at our art gallery opening and she showed us some beautiful artwork, they were spectacular." Lana explained.

"We would..."

"Let me see, my sister showed you a bunch of paintings and you're here to offer me a job." Jason spoke, cutting Peter off.

"Yes, that just about does it." Lana chuckled, looking at Peter with hopeful eyes.

"I'm not interested," Jason spoke, nonchalantly.

"But your work is so beautiful." Lana encouraged but seeing Jason's blank stare she reached into her bag and handed a business card.

"If you change your mind, don't hesitate to call." Peter told him.

"Don't hold your breath," Jason muttered.

"Have a nice day, Mr. Hale." Lana said, as they both took off.

"Jennifer." Jason hissed and as if Jennifer had heard her name she entered the room.

"We have a problem," She spoke in suspense.

"Indeed we have a problem, dear sister." Jason grinned it was anything but heartwarming.