Chapter 9 The Reality of Dreams
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. Edgar Allan Poe
HG was aware of the feelings coming over her. She felt as if it was something that she had been waiting to happen and had been preparing for. She drove following her internal GPS. HG didn't understand just how, but she knew exactly where to go and how to get there. She was down roads she had never driven on before, yet she knew exactly where to turn.
Claudia thought she may have missed something. "Where are we going?" she finally asked HG. The car stopped short and jerked the passengers forward. "Stay here," HG ordered and Claudia knew it wasn't a suggestion. She peered out of the windows to see where they had parked and read "Univille High School – Home of the Tigers" on the sign. The building was completely dark and Claudia could only assume that HG had forgotten something here from that afternoon. Funny she didn't mention it to her, Claudia thought. She knew HG to change her moods quickly, but even this was odd for her. Her phone beeped and it was a text from Myka asking where they were. "At the high school. HG had to make a stop I guess," Claudia typed back and now Myka knew her dreams were coming to fruition. She wanted to warn Claudia, but didn't want to delay driving there. She tried to call her, but the weather was making communication spotty at best.
When Emily's tears stopped, she sat there considering what to do next. Maybe she would text her aunt and tell her she was staying at a friend's house so she wouldn't worry. Then she would either stay at the school or make her way back to the secret library, if the rain let up. Either way, she was certain she was not going home. Everything she needed was in her backpack.
Emily heard the door slam shut outside. She assumed it was a janitor and pulled herself into a tighter ball and stayed still. She heard the gym door open and prayed he would see no one was here and leave. The door closed and then still silence. She finally let her breath out – just as Denise reached down under the table and grabbed her. Emily screamed unsure of who was accosting her. She would have preferred it to be the janitor.
"Didn't know when I gave you that phone it came with a tracking app, did you, Ms. Smarty Pants?" Denise said. Emily didn't know that and was shocked to see the woman she ran away from standing there in front of her. "I needed time to think," Emily said and Denise grabbed her arm. "Yeah, you're freaking fourteen years old. What the hell do you have to think about? You're coming home with me and we're going to have ourselves a little talk," her aunt said dragging her by the arm. "Please Aunt Denise, my backpack," Emily cried because everything that was dear to her was in it. "You can get that later. We need to get a few things straight," Denise snarled at Emily. She jerked her arm and pulled her in closer to her face. "I have seriously had enough of you and your voodoo stuff. Now let's go," she snarled. Denise was taller and stronger than Emily and dragging the girl in spite of her protests did not present a problem, but it was making it difficult. So Denise smacked her to gain her cooperation. Emily screamed out when she got her through the gym exit. As she made her way to the side door, Denise stopped in her tracks. There at the other end of the hallway was the woman she had been dreaming about.
Leena rarely called the number that was only to be used for emergencies, but the fact that Myka had literally run out of the house after HG told her she needed to inform Mrs. Frederic. She had the sense that whatever had been going on in the house with all of them was now coming to a head. Artie would not be happy with her that she went directly over his head, but she felt confident it was the right call.
If there was one thing drilled into their heads at the training academy, it was to 'take or wait for backup'. No one knew that better than Myka – who could have grabbed Pete to go with her. She felt propelled into the car though and was racing to the building she had left only hours before. She didn't realize that day when she stepped into the school that the very hallway she was in was the same one in her dreams. It looked different all lit up and filled with students. When the dream came back to her in her nap, it was more familiar to her now. She knew she had stood in that very hallway and now she knew where to find it.
"Release her," HG said in a low and menacing tone as she stood at the other end of the hallway.
Denise stopped and turned to see the very image of the woman she had been seeing. "No!" she yelled and went to the exit door, but it was locked. Emily broke free and fell back against the wall. She wanted to run away – she didn't care who it was as long as she could escape, but her legs wouldn't move. Emily stared at the woman who was now approaching her aunt.
"I told you I was coming for you Denise. I warned you many times, but you did not listen," the woman said and Emily recognized the voice - or at least the accent.
HG moved in slowly on Denise. "Who the hell are you?" she yelled as she backed up against the wall near Emily.
"Your worst nightmare," HG said as her lip curled up.
She reached out and grabbed Denise around the throat. "I failed once at protecting the innocent. I shall not fail this time," HG said as she leaned into Denise's ear.
Emily was surprised at how calm the voice sounded. She watched as her aunt grabbed at the rod-like arm that had her pinned against the wall. The arm didn't feel human it was so solid.
The car screeched as Myka pulled up alongside Claudia who reported that HG had in fact gone inside moments before. In her dreams, she saw HG go in. Was she too late now? Myka looked at the doors. The side door had a double pane glass window in it so that is where she headed. Claudia followed on her heels certain something was wrong now.
"Please let go of me, I'm begging you," Denise gasped. Her words scared Emily, but they only made Helena's eyes dilate with concentration.
"I told you- you would beg for my mercy, but there would be none, Denise," Helena said looking directly at her captive.
Denise tried to shake her head in hopes of waking herself up, but this was no dream. "I didn't mean to hurt her," Denise lied and Helena tightened her grip on the woman for lying. A slow smile came across HG's face and Denise saw her white teeth in the dim light. "Apologize to Emily," she almost whispered and pushed Denise down on her knees. Emily pulled back and slid across the wall away from them.
"I'm…I'm sorry honey," Denise said rubbing her throat which was in pain. Helena grabbed her neck. "Don't you dare use any term of endearment with her," she snarled and pulled Denise back up.
Myka was outside the door now and saw Helena grabbed the woman back up and pin her against the wall. She was right there as Myka saw in her dream over and over. Myka pulled on the door in spite of the fact that she knew it would be locked.
"Stand back," she said to Claudia and aimed the gun at the lock.
Emily finally realized, even if she couldn't comprehend how, that Helena was there to save her. She looked up at the dark haired woman who threatened her aunt, and yet she felt no fear herself. She slowly stood up and came closer.
"Please don't hurt her," she said touching Helena's arm.
HG turned to look at Emily, her eyes still filled with anger and disgust, but the girl was not frightened. Helena turned back and slowly released the woman who immediately fell to the floor just as the gunshot echoed through the hallway. The door swung opened and in stepped Myka, afraid for a moment that she was too late.
Approaching Helena slowly, she called her name softly. She had never seen HG quite like this. When she turned to look at Myka, her body was stiff and solid as if her flesh was filled with steel instead of blood. In spite of the fact that Myka was certain it was just Helena standing there, she swore she saw an ethereal image behind her. Myka blinked hard and it was gone. Denise coughed herself into consciousness and Myka knew her worst fear had not come true.
Upon seeing Myka, Helena relaxed. She looked down at the limp person who was clutching her throat and was not sure if she was pleased or not. Thoughts tossed in Helena's head about what to do next. She had not come here to simply scare Denise. She was here, sent here, to protect Emily.
Her decision was made for her.
"We'll take it from here, Agent Wells," Mrs. Frederic said from the other end of the hallway where the door had been locked. No one was surprised to see her there. They were, however, surprised to see men in dark suits accompany her. They stepped between Helena and Denise and helped the injured woman up. Then they escorted her away as she kept thanking them for saving her.
Myka was relieved that the scenario did not play out exactly as her dream, but she had never dreamt passed this part, so she was unsure of what would happen next. She could feel the emotion pouring out of Helena and she placed her hand on her arm to make sure HG was okay.
"I was not planning on your interference. I will handle this," Helena said to Mrs. Frederic.
"Helena," Myka said in a low voice. Sometimes it amazed her how HG disregarded rules of protocol.
"You have done enough," Mrs. Frederic said calmly. "Agent Bering, please take Agent Wells home."
"Where are you taking her?" HG asked swinging her head around to see the men taking Denise in an unmarked car.
"Someplace where she can get help," Mrs. Frederic said.
"Help? You think you can help that woman? What will you do? Put her in a twelve step program and release her back onto this child?" HG yelled and looked at the spot where Emily had been standing. Emily wasn't there. HG looked around to see where she could have gone. "Weren't you watching?" she yelled to everyone there.
Mrs. Frederic was all too familiar with this dilemma; Helena wanting to do the right thing the wrong way. "It's okay, Agent Wells. The girl has left," she said and everyone was surprised she wasn't more concerned with Emily's sudden absence.
"I have to find her. I didn't come here to postpone the inevitable. I came here to prevent it," HG said walking towards her superior.
Mrs. Frederic rarely used her more formidable powers, especially against her own agents. She knew what Helena was like when her mind was made up, even if she didn't have all the facts. Mrs. Frederic raised her hand and slowly waived in in front of Helena. She dropped to the floor instantly, unharmed and unconscious.
"Take her home, Agent Bering. She will sleep the night now, as will all of you now, I hope. I will be there when she wakes in the morning with the girl," the Sage said to Myka who caught Helena before she hit the floor.
Myka and Claudia helped HG into the SUV. Mrs. Frederic was there when Myka closed the door. "Where did the girl go?" Myka asked. Mrs. Frederic didn't say anything. "Mrs. Frederic, if Helena wakes up and I can't tell her, you know she will take off. Please tell me where she is?" Myka said.
"She is making her way to a very safe place," is all the Sage answered before leaving. Myka was not sure that answer would satisfy Helena.
Pete was waiting for them at the B&B with the others. He was furious at Myka for leaving without him, but he would wait to share that. Artie was upset with Leena, but he decided she probably made the right choice given how strange things were lately.
Pete carried HG upstairs and Myka got her settled in bed. She wouldn't leave her side in case she woke up, so Leena brought a tray of food up to Myka. She looked at how vigilantly Myka watched over Helena.
"Yes, someone to care about me like that would be nice," Leena thought to herself and smiled as she closed the door.
Emily had panicked when all the other people came. The only outcome she could imagine was that they would take Denise away for rehab and she would go to a foster home. She had glanced at Helena and wondered for a minute if she could be with her. She had saved her twice already – maybe she could stay with her for the time being. When the others rushed in and Helena didn't approach her, Emily figured the next move was all up to her. She ran back to get her backpack and headed to the one place she knew no one would find her. No one – except one person.
Emily peddled her bike faster than she ever had in her life. She had the familiar feeling of desperation as she extended the distance between her and the agents. She pushed through the drenched streets and was grateful that the rain had let up. Her legs were exhausted, but she kept moving, afraid that at any moment she would hear a car approaching from behind. Emily was out of breath by the time she reached the Warehouse and she dragged herself to the opening that had been the entrance to her sanctuary. Sure that it would deliver her safely, she leaned over the opening and fell in. She floated to the bottom and crept out. If she could just get to the library, she would hide there and rest. The short walk to the room was very familiar to Emily. This time though, there was a woman standing in front of the door. Emily was startled, but too exhausted to run. She clutched her backpack to her chest.
"Don't be afraid, Miss Andrews. I am Mrs. Frederic and I am a friend of Agent Wells," the Sage said to Emily.
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