The little girl sat in the closet, in the dark rocking back and forth. She had her knees to her chest, arms wrapped around them tightly. She kept her eyes shut tight. She was humming "Jesus Loves Me" quietly, only she could hear herself. She couldn't risk being heard. That would only bring more pain and torture. A huge thud hit the door making her jump back as far as she could go into the closet. She never opened her eyes. She didn't want to see the dark. Even though she hated being in there, it was better than out there.

Suddenly, the door flew open. The light rained it, it was so bright after being in there so long. How long had it been? Each time was different.

"Ready for more? You're not gonna cry are you." She shook her head no, the bright light making her squint.

"You know what happens if you cry huh." She shook her head yes, the tears stinging her eyes. She couldn't let them fall, not yet. Not while she was looking at her. She drug her out of the closet by one arm.

The little girl stood, trying to keep pace. She was half-hopping, half-running to keep up. She knew she better keep up.

She was thrown onto the couch.

"Turn over." She demanded taking a long draw from her cigarette. The little girl looked at her, not wanting to.

"TURN O-VER, I said," she demanded again getting closer to her face. The red gleam of the cigarette looked like a small campfire to the little girl. She squeezed her eyes and turned over, pulling her pants down before she was told, hoping that would lessen the number she would get.

"Now...remember, no crying.."

Coreen woke up in a sweat. She was panting.

"What's wrong?" Clark was immediately awake.

"I don't know, I feel like that Allison woman off that t.v. show, the one about the medium who dreams things." Coreen looked around to make sure she was in her own room in her own bed.

She was. Good. That was too real. She told Clark about the dream. He was puzzled.

"Coreen, that didn't happen to you did it?" Clark asked stroking her hair.

"NO, of course not. Besides, the surroundings looked like the late seventies."

Clark laughed a little, "That figures, only you would notice the decor."

"Yeah, but it's the little girl that bothers me. I've got to get to Vicki and ask her what this could mean." Coreen got up out of bed.

"Hey, it's midnight, don't you think she might be in bed."

Coreen rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm sure she's in bed, but I doubt she's actually sleeping."

Coreen had spent way too much time around Vicki. She was starting to talk like her. It made Clark blush and grin at the same time.

"All the more reason.." he said, patting her side of the bed.

"I'll call first, okay." Coreen picked up her cell and dialed Vicki.

"Hey, I know it's late but I have something I have to talk to you about right now..really? Okay, thanks..yeah, ten minutes." Coreen shut her phone.

"See, told you," Coreen smiled triumphantly.

Clark crossed his arms, "What if you DISTURBED them? Won't you feel...awkward?"

"NO, because she said she was up eating a bowl of cereal."

Clark frowned,"And that has to do with..?"

"That's what she does AFTER they have sex.." Coreen called over her shoulder.

Clark stared after her.

"Why do women share those things with each other??" he said out loud, shaking his head and laying back down.

When Coreen got to Vicki's, she was already at the front door. She put her fingers over her lips saying shhhh... Coreen nodded.

Vicki was only a few weeks away from delivery. Coreen and Clark were married. Vicki teased her that she was next with a baby.

Vicki led her into the kitchen. She was the epitome of a healthy pregnant woman. Very little weight gain, still toned and in good shape. Surprisingly, she was staying home as Henry had asked her to do. She was enjoying it, a little.

They sat down at the table. Vicki looked at Coreen, she looked very disturbed.

"Coreen, did you and Clark have a fight?" Vicki asked.

"No, no, I had a dream." Coreen answered. Vicki leaned back placing her arms across her very large belly and smirked at her.

"You had a dream? That's what this is? It couldn't wait until morning?" Vicki asked now a little upset. She had just had another round of mind-blowing sex, which isn't easy when you are very pregnant but somehow, Henry always made it happen, and she could be back right now snuggling up next to him, but Coreen had a dream.

Coreen sighed and told Vicki about the dream. The more Coreen told her, the more upset Vicki became. This was not your ordinary dream, it was quite disturbing, not to mention it was pissing Vicki off to think a child was treated that way.

"Did you recognize the child?"

"No, I didn't but I think it's someone that might be trying to communicate or maybe, maybe they are going to seek us out..I don't know. I don't think I can go back to sleep." Coreen put her hands over her face.

With some difficulty, Vicki leaned over to Coreen and took both of her hands in hers.

"Coreen, I know it was bad, but you can't stay awake forever. Do you want to stay here, in the guest room?"

Coreen looked at Vicki. Who would have thought just a few years ago that their rocky relationship would turn into this, something warm and comfortable, someone she could turn to for anything? Even though she had her mother, sister and lots of extended family, there was just something about Vicki that was comforting.

"Yeah, I think I would."Coreen smiled at her. She called Clark to tell him. Being the wonderful husband he was, he understood. He knew that Coreen and Vicki had become very close, he was glad for that. Vicki was good for Coreen.

Vicki took Coreen into the room, giving her an oversized t-shirt for bed. She put Coreen in bed and pulled the covers up over her.

Vicki started to turn off the light and leave, but Coreen stopped her.

"Leave it on for now okay?" Coreen asked. Vicki nodded. She got up from the bed to leave.

"Vicki?" Coreen got up on her elbows and looked at her friend, her big sister really, "I know this is going to sound strange, especially coming from me, but would you stay here until I fall asleep? It's just that..well I'm still feeling the emotions of that little girl."

Vicki looked at her suddenly realizing that Coreen was afraid.

"Oh, sure, no problem." Vicki went back to the bed to sit, then did something that surprised Coreen.

"Move over." She ordered.

Coreen stared at her for a minute then complied.

Vicki climbed into bed beside her and lay on her side, as that was her only position this late in her pregnancy. She put a pillow between her legs for comfort and settled in. Coreen lay on her back staring at the ceiling, the covers pulled up to her chin like a child. She felt ridiculous but she just couldn't help it.

"Close your eyes." Vicki told her. Coreen looked at Vicki and said thank you, then closed her eyes.

She still couldn't relax and Vicki must have felt it because the next thing she knew, Vicki was rubbing her bangs back from her face as she had done many times to Abbie and Ward. Vicki felt Coreen slowly let go and soon, she was sleeping, her breathing coming in a slow regular pattern.

Vicki leaned up to look at her, making sure. Whatever happened to this little girl, they were going to have to find her, quickly. Vicki couldn't imagine the horror they would discover...