Through The Memory Lane

The next morning I and Cris were heading to the class holding each others' hands while we caught Dominique and Shawn in our way.

Today in class I was more focused than ever, maybe it was because I finally felt relief, also when it comes to studying I am more focused when it is History class, everyone knows how much I love history.

But then I do not know why I looked around in the class when my eyes stopped on Cris, I noticed in the morning that she did not seem fine but in the class, she was being startled.

Looking to her left and right, confused, scared and her eyes had dark circles around them and the redness in her eyes was visible.

I felt sorry for her, I just wanted to wind up everything and get her somewhere where she could feel safe.

I was not the only one who noticed her behavior in the class, our history teacher Mr. Martin also noticed her behavior, it was our first class and the first time Mr. Martin was interacting with all my friends but he still clearly saw how distracted Cris was.

"Are you okay Ms. Miller?" as soon as he reached Cris she was startled so badly that even Mr. Martin felt embarrassed, tears could be seen in her eyes clearly.

"Excuse me!" She carried her bag and rushed out.

"I am sorry but I need to see her she is my friend!" I excused and luckily Mr. Martin permitted me to go check on her.

As soon as I rushed out I saw her standing by a wall putting her ear on it.

I was already prepared to see her reaction as I placed my hand gently on her shoulder, she jumped as I expected but she caught her senses and stared at me with her eyes complaining about something that was making her uncomfortable.

"Cris?" It was only a matter of time before I gently called her name she hugged me but it felt more like she was hiding in my arms.

"Can you hear these whispers? I can hear a woman scream" Her voice was quavering.

"I do not hear anything Cris, but do not worry, I have got you!" I kissed her head.

I comforted her, and she asked me to stay by her side, and that's what I did, after class, we both were sitting in the canteen when Shawn and Dominique arrived.

We talked for a couple of minutes when Shawn noticed Cris's behavior and her eyes.

He directly placed the backside of his fingers on her forehead, "You are burning! Aren't you having enough sleep?" He was worried clearly he proved it when he spoke it out so loud.

"Jesus! Stop drawing everyone's attention, Shawn!" She gave him a death glare "I am fine." She explained.

"You are not everyone can see it!" He again spoke out louder.

Cris stood up in anger and walked away holding her books tight in her arms.

"Give her some space jerk! no wonder you are single with all those biceps!" Dominique smacked him on his shoulder.

"Good one!" I quickly grabbed my things to catch Cris and luckily she did not go that far.

"Wait for me!" I called out to her but she jumped again.

"Are you okay Cris?" I quickly reached her and looked her in the eyes while I held her by her shoulders.

She covered her ears, looked to her left and right, and leaned down at my arm "Did you hear that?" There was no one around except for us.

"No, I do not hear anything, Cris! Do you want me to take you to a doctor?" I asked.

She nodded "Yes, I guess I need help" She smiled nervously, she was not the Cris I used to know, she was not that confident girl anymore, she was frightened and I really wanted to help her somehow.

When the doctor arrived he checked her and left a prescription with us, he poured a small flask in her mouth "I'll prepare the rest of her medicines, there's nothing to be worried about, she just needs a lot of rest" He left the room.

"See? He said there's nothing to be worried about" I sat beside her on her bed where she was resting "Which means you are going to be just fine" I smiled.

"I hope so! Can you stay with me tonight?" She was looking at my face like an innocent child.

I agreed, I ran my fingers through her hair until she fell asleep. My eyes started getting heavier and I lost my strength to stay awake anymore.

Maybe a moment later I forced my eyes to open again when I found myself surrounded by some bluish environment, I had to struggle in order to open my eyes, and when I was finally able to open my eyes I began choking on some fluid.

Now it was clear enough to understand that I was in the water, and there was more water as far the eye goes.

I looked around and tried swimming toward the surface, but it was so disturbing I could not understand where the surface was, so I decided to swim toward the light until a strong vine came like a hunter toward me and wrapped itself around my ankle.

I shook my leg harder trying to escape it but it was so well wrapped it would not loosen up a bit.

I realized I was losing my breath when a woman with long blue hair swam my way out of the dark, her eyes were also blue she seemed to be of my mother's age, and this was the only thing I could observe about her.

"Do not be a fool! You are killing yourself!" She swam toward my ankle and began pulling the vine wrapped around my ankle.

Then I heard another voice, that seemed lighter and sweeter "Do not be afraid of yourself, you know you can survive this… I believe you will!" The voice came closer to my left ear "Do not let your strength frighten you! Do not mistake your strength for your weakness!"

I turned to my left just to find a beautiful face beside me, she was young her hair was long, white, and was flowing in the water and her eyes were also blue.

"I…" I wanted to say something but I could not find the words, I felt numb and lost control over my body, the only thing I could hear was a voice calling out my name.

"Zinnia!" This was familiar and it became clearer until I opened my eyes, I woke up gasping for air and shaking badly, I felt cold, and I kept coughing until I could finally breathe.

I found Dominique staring at me, he had wrapped me in a towel and rubbed my back, I could finally see how and where I was, I was soaked in water and I was on the ground inside my own room.

"I…" I looked around "How did I end up here?" I looked at Dominique with confusion.

"Cris said you were… are you alright?" He suddenly changed the topic and looked at me with surprise, maybe he was also confused about me being soaked up.

I nodded "Do you think you can make it to the class?" He asked me politely.

I nodded again, he stood up and approached the door "Dominique!" I called out to him.

He turned around as if he was waiting for me to call him.

I approached him and gently kissed him on his cheek "Thank you!" I whispered.

He smiled at me "You should call me Dom!" He lowered his eyes.

I smiled while I felt nervous "I'll catch you in the class!" I let him out of my room and smiled as I walked toward my bathroom.

I was still confused when my eyes fell on my ankle which had a strange mark on it as if something really tight was tied around it, I got a flashback of the dream when that vine was wrapped around my ankle.

Why and how did I end up in my own room? And why I was soaked up? And it was a dream shouldn't I be awake after getting in the shower?

More questions! I decided to ignore it and go on with my day.

I rushed toward the class, the entire walkway was empty, I guess everyone was in their classes, but just before I reached I heard footsteps running away.

I looked around when I realized that the sound was coming from the end of the right walkway.

I could not stop myself from following that sound, I tiptoed until I reached the end of the hallway and found myself standing in front of a big brown gate with a pointed arch.

Just like every student's room, this door did not have any lock or knob either.

I heard some noises as if something was moving, not any living thing but something like a mechanism or doors or something like that.

I reached the door and placed my ear on it, and as soon as I placed my hand on it, the door made a strange sound as if it was opening. I backed off and watched the door open, it slid from my left to my right.

I took out my phone to turn on the flashlight because the room behind the door was so dark that I could not see a thing.

As soon as I turned on the flashlight I realized what was behind that door was not a room but a stairway, when I stepped in the door behind my back closed on its own.

But the surprising part was that I was not even scared, but I still looked back at the door. I kept going down until I reached a similar door, all that needed was a touch to open it.

Right after stepping out of that door, I found myself in a big hallway, but with no lights or gates, just walls on three sides and a door to return to the previous floor.

"Strange? Why would anyone build a place without doors and lights? But just a plain hallway? Why do I feel like there's some deep secret hidden beneath this place full of wonders?" I mumbled.

"Because there is!" A voice echoed "And that is your death!" I felt someone reaching from behind I turned around, and he jumped at me I held his hand with a gun in it he had me against the ground and his hand over my throat "Who are you!" He had rage in his heavy voice.

When I hit the ground my phone slipped away from my hand so he could not see my face but I could see him, I could even recognize this voice anywhere.

"I think it is in your nature! Pointing a gun at your sister every time we cross paths!" I had tears in my eyes.

"What? Zinnia!" He suddenly got off me and took away his gun.

I heard a snapping sound and the entire hallway lit up with bright lights, now I could see a giant gate with another grilled gate guarding it, those gates had some crazy lock systems in them, and now there were small arches on both sides of the hallway.

He was looking at me with his eyes and mouth open, and two teardrops sparkled in the corners of his eyes.

I have been waiting for the day when I could finally face him and ask him why he snatched my father away from me, I wanted to slap him, I wanted to yell at him and I wanted… I wanted to beat him to death but when I saw tears in his eyes it changed my heart.

Now I still wanted answers but I wanted to know why he did what he did, I wanted to know a better truth than the one I have been living all this time.