Chapter 8 Number

* ***Dream***

My feet felt too light as I ran through the ground, torn prickly my bare feet as I took strides I wouldn't normally be able to take.

I gasped for air, my organs seeming to mix up in my stomach as I continued to run fast. I looked back constantly, looking out for my chaser. I saw the woman's face again and couldn't understand why she was chasing me.

A mother would never hurt her own child right?

Looking forward again, I made a leap over the plank of tree fallen down across, a couple of branches cutting through my bare arms.

My feet hurt and I felt like I was going to fall soon. I couldn't let her catch me.

I looked back under my hair and saw that she had stopped, her hand open wide to me. I stopped running. I wanted to keep running but I couldn't get my legs to cooperate.

'stop' I heard the incoherent whisper again.

Soon I was being dragged by some force towards her and in one second, I was melting into her, taking her body.

* **End of dream. * *

I jolted into a sitting position, waking up from the dream. The same dream I've been having for the past months in school.

I didn't know how much longer I could continue having this dream about this same person. It was starting to bother me. I didn't know if telling my father about it was a good idea. It was but this just wasn't the best timing.

I pulled the bed covers from my leg and stepped out from the bed, my mind wondering after Millie. I wondered what she and Tony would be up to today. I wanted to go see her. I wanted to tell her about these disturbing dreams I keep having. But in a second thought, I wouldn't wanna ruin her stay here with her boyfriend. I haven't even gone to see her yet.

I walked over to the mirror hanging next to my wall shelf and watched my reflection. I had eye bags and they looked terrible. I knew I'd been staying late at the hospital lately but I couldn't possibly get eye bags from there.

My messy hair did bother me much, what bothered me was having to walk into that hospital today and still not be able to have this conversation with my Dad.

I stalked towards the window and pulled the curtains open, looking out onto the street, my eyes falling on the next house from across.

My eyes caught sight of a young guy, stepping down from the deck. He's well dressed, like he was going out. I noticed his mixed bright dark color which told me instantly that he was an African American breed. I tried to remember if I'd actually seen him before moving to college but couldn't remember.

I walked away from the window and decided to shower and get ready for work. I knew Dad probably didn't come home last night. Again.

My eyes glanced over my bed side table and I saw a piece of paper. It easily caught my attention because it was the paper from the other night. The night I'd went to that diner to eat, the night I started having those seizures. After blacking out, I'd woken up on my bed the next morning to find this sheet of paper with a message scribbled on it on my bed side table. It still remained a mystery to me who must've brought me home and left this message here. It would have been nice if he had left me a name or a number, just so I could call and show my appreciation. I folded it back and slipped it inside the drawer.

As I walked towards the bathroom, I couldn't help thinking about what I'd heard those kids talking about that night. About some news concerning a werewolf being sighted at the construction site or some. . . . . . rain road? How could they listen to something so absurd.

I jumped into the shower and had a quick shower before walking back and dressing up. I couldn't decide what to wear so I just ended up randomly picking out a burgundy t-shirt and one of my skinny faded blue jeans. I dried my hair as fast as I could as soon as I saw that I was going to be ten minutes late if I spent another minute standing there. I gathered my hair into a tight bun on my head before hurriedly buckling my wedge shoes and running out of the house.

It took me a while to get to the bus station and at the end of the day, I ended up arriving late because I had to spend six minutes waiting for the bus to get there.

As soon as I stepped into the hospital, my eyes met with Helen's. She's walking out of my office room, a few papers in her hands. As soon as she saw me, she increased her pace, her eyes wide conspiratorially as she got to me.

" Why did you come late, Lexy? There's a board meeting happening now! " She whispers impatiently into my ears.

I gasped in horror. A board meeting? Nobody told me there was going to be a board meeting.

" Oh my God, I had no idea " I replied, trying to go but she holds me back, glancing at my shoes.

" You don't wear heels here, Lexy " she said, walking behind her reception desk and coming back later with a pair of crock shoes. She sets them down in front of me, urging me to wear them.

I beamed a smile at her before quickly pulling off my wedges and slipping into the Crocks.

" I'll see you later! " I yelled before running towards the meeting room.

As soon as I got in, all heads turned to look at me. My father sat at the end of the large circular table, a man in lab coats standing at the demonstration board, appearing to have been explaining something he wrote on the board before I walked in, interrupting him.

I saw the rest of my office room co workers including Craig and Katerina, seated among the numerous seats in the room.

I quietly walked over to Craig and took the seat beside him before the man continued what he was doing, going back a bit so I could catch up. He was explaining a surgery that was going to take place later in the day.

After the meeting got dismissed, Craig walks up to me, a broad smile on his face.

" Lemme guess, your girlfriend made love to you this morning? " I suggested dryly.

" Hey you're so insensitive, Lexy, " he replied with a fake smirk, walking beside me as we proceeded out the room " so why did you come so late huh? "

Because I had a nightmare.

" Because. . . . . . I think I overslept "

" You overworked yourself yesterday, Lexy. You need to slow down okay? "

I gave him a pale smile before facing forward again. Craig and I did most of the talking at the office afterwards till I had to attend to some patients in the Intensive care unit.

I tried to reach my father but each time I went into his office, he wasn't there. He was either in surgery or checking on some other patients. I tried not to feel sad about it. I mean I was away from him for seven years, and I basically see him every day now. That's just enough.

Craig and I spent the lunch break together. After eating, we had two hours to prepare for the next surgery. I was more than excited for this.

The surgery lasted for four hours and by the time we finished wrapping everything up, it was nearly 6 p.m.

I decided this was the perfect time to see my father. After changing and showering in the staff bathroom, I changed into my dress and walked towards my father's office. I didn't know how I was going to start telling him all I had to say but I figured it wouldn't bother either of us so much. I didn't know if I should tell him about the constant black outs I was experiencing recently but I was sure of telling him about the dreams. The last thing I wanted was him worrying about my health too.

As soon as I stepped into his office and saw him facing his wall, looking up at a hung calendar, I was instantly reminded of the things I saw in his office room back at home, his researches about the supernatural beings.

He turns around immediately, smiling as soon as he saw me.

" Alexa, " he called, sitting down on his chair " good job today " he referred to the surgery.

I smiled back, nodding slightly " you too Dad. "

" Did you eat today? You've been so busy " he asked, concern in his voice.

" Of course Dad. Are you getting ready to leave? I can make us some dinner at home "

" Oh don't worry yourself, Lexy. I'm staying here tonight. I have some studying to do against an upcoming surgery "

" Upcoming surgery? Who, if I may ask?"

He chuckled slyly before saying " don't worry, sweetheart. Why don't you go home and get some rest? "

I nodded slowly, staging a smile. I sat there for another second, contemplating on whether to tell him what I'd actually come in here to tell him in the first place. I looked at him, examined him and could see the visible wrinkles on his face and bags around his eyes. It was clear he was hardly having any sleep recently.

I knew he was obsessed with his researches. I wondered when he was going to put an end to it. Mom would never let him overwork himself like he's doing now. But again, deep down, I knew he picked this up because of mom, after his death. So I had no right to blame him, do I?

I rose up and gave him another smile before saying " alright dad, I'll see you tomorrow "

" Have a good night, okay? " He calls after me and I nodded again.

I stepped out of his office and nearly pumped into Craig who was coming out of the bathroom.

" Hey Lexy, watch it " he said sarcastically.

" Sorry "

" Are you going home? Need a ride? " He asks.

Definitely. I definitely need a good ride.

" Ah yes, I'll just be a minute! " I told him as we approached Helen's desk.

Helen is standing behind the desk now, working on the computer.

" Hey Helen " I called.

" Oh hey, Lexy! How may I be of help to you? " She asks with a small smile.

" My shoes, I'm . . . . . going home " I chuckled sheepishly.

" Oh! Dear, I almost forgot " she send before bending down and springing back up with my shoes in her hands. I pulled off the crocks and handed them back to her before bidding her goodnight.

Craig bids her goodnight too before we walked to his parked car, outside the lawn.

Craig's car was a deep blue sort car, shiny and looking new.

" I know, you love her " he said proudly, referring to his car.

" Shut up " I replied jokingly with a small laugh before entering the car after him. He drove us out of the hospital with him bombarding me with questions about what was going on with me.

During the ride, I made up my mind that I was going to have the talk with my Dad tomorrow no matter what.