Chapter 8

He was home.

He had finally succeeded in completing the mission.

Why did he feel so hollow? Why couldn't he feel?

He walked down the halls to find no one there for him.

No one.

No one.

He saw someone. He could not tell who it was.

He pointed at him and called him many things.

He ran away.

Farther he ran, but he could not escape.

The pursuer kept after him.

He reached a dead end.

No escape.

His pursuer cornered him.

His pursuer took off his hood.

He screamed.

Archer awoke. His breathing was heavy and he was sweating profusely. He got up out of his bed and washed his face.

That's the second time I had that dream, he thought. And it keeps getting worse and more violent. Why can't I find out who it is?

Trip was sleeping soundly in his quarters. The apparition tried to reach him. Alas, it could not.

"Your demons have been dealt with," the apparition hissed. "I can not let you live for long."

The apparition disappeared.

Trip did not know it was even there.

The Captain of Challenger lay in her bed sound asleep.

She dreamed of her family. Her mom, her dad, her sister, her brother and her cousin when they were home together on one of those rare weekends off.

It was such a lovely day. Not a cloud in the sky. Nothing could dampen the nice day they were having.

Her brother and her cousin were jamming on the front porch with a guitar and drum set in tow. Her sister was helping her mom inside.

They were so young then. She was ten, her sister a year younger than her. Her cousin and her brother were three years behind the Captain in age as well.

She was with her dad. She was trying to make sure her dad stayed behind her and couldn't catch her.

She loved her dad. He meant everything to her. He was her idol, the same way in which everybody adored him.

"Daddy," she called to him.

He was not behind her.

She stopped and looked around.

"Daddy?" she called again.

This time she was the same age as she is now.

"Daddy?" she asked again.

All she heard was the squealing of tires and the impact of the car against the outside retaining wall.

The Captain woke with a start. She got up out of bed and placed her face in her hands.

"Oh God," she moaned. "Why do you have to torture me like this? To relive that day again and again. Make it stop."

End of Chapter 8