Note: I just thought I'd write about Eileen for a change. Enjoy.
Fog. Fog and trees. She opened her eyes and those were the first things she could see.
It's this place again. What is this place? Her mind began pondering as she wrapped her arms around her small frame to protect against the chilling breeze. She had seen this forest, this fog so many times already. For months, this is what would greet her as she slipped into dream land.
Eileen took a step forward like she would usually do but stumbled forward and nearly fell on her face. She turned to see what had tripped her. A new edition to her dream.
A boating dock over a vast lake. What? Was this always here? Huh, well this is new, She thought to herself, slowly turning around to face the trees again. She didn't know what awaited her out on the lake. She would find out the next time she dreamt. For now, the forest awaited her.
She would keep on walking on the same path. Usually she never found the end of it either usually because some outer force would be there to wake her up before she can. But no matter what, the wind pushed her to keep moving along it.
Today, nothing had awoken her. Looking ahead, the path led up to an old looking church. The wind blowing behind urged her to enter.
Eileen pushed the heavy doors of the church with ease. She gazed inside to see nothing but darkness awaiting her. Then her eyes went to the ceiling of the room. The only source of light aside from the doorway cam from a single stain-glass window. The design appeared to be of a heavenly woman wearing white surrounded by children. In the woman's arms is an infant wrapped in a white sheet, its small arms can be seen poking out of its covers as it reaches upwards. The woman looks down at the infant, a smile gracing her lips, giving the appearance and glow of a mother.
She continued to gaze at the window in marvel. She thought of how Henry would have wanted to take pictures of the woman and child. Then her gaze went from the woman to the children surrounding her. A chill ran down her spine when she took a good look at the children.
At first she thought they were just kids happily gathering around the woman but the stained glass surrounding them are a deep red and the shape of it resembled flames. The children's faces were contorted in agony and reaching up from the flames, as if begging the woman to save them from the pain. Save them from their suffering.
Taking another moment to stare at the window, her eyes studied each and every child. Then her eyes paused on two particular children. One boy, to the left of the woman, grasping at her white gown while crying out had familiar blonde hair and green eyes. She didn't know why but as she stares at the boy more and more she thought of Frank.
The other child, to the right of the woman also looks familiar. In fact, he looks a lot like Henry. He had the same scruffy, brown hair and green eyes. He too called to the woman to save him but compared to the other children she seemed more calmer about his situation. His face didn't show as much agony as the other kids. He seemed almost submissive, just like Henry would be whenever there would be trouble. He never fights against it, he would just face it straight forward.
Then Eileen nearly jumped out of her skin when someone had appeared in front of her. He stood on the center of the light with his back to her but she had already recognized who that was.
"Henry?" she gasped. Then her heart leapt when the man responded. He glanced over his shoulder. Seeing Eileen, Henry smiled and turned to face her fully. "Henry!" she cried, sprinting towards him, ready to leap into his arms.
Eileen's body crashed into Henry's and she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head against his chest, listening for his heart beat like she usually would whenever they held each other. She felt an arm wrap around her waist while a hand gently stroked her head.
Eileen nuzzled her head while she settled herself in Henry's arms. Dream or no dream, she felt safe in his arms no matter what.
"I'm so glad I found you," Eileen whispered, closing her eyes.
Henry's fingers gently combed through Eileen's hair. He didn't usually do that but she didn't object. Then she felt his breath by her ear as he leaned in to whisper to her.
"I finally found you," he cooed. "I'm so happy I found you. Now everything's gonna be alright. It'll be alright… Mary."
Eileen's eye's shot open. Mary?
The first thing she took notice to is that Henry's clothes were different now. Instead of the usual white dress shirt, he wore a gray polo shirt with a forest green jacket with several patches sewn on.
She finally gazed upwards. Who held her isn't Henry, but a different man who blinked at her.
Eileen let out a scream and tried to free herself from this man's arms. She began to struggle frantically but the man tightened his vice around her.
"Mary! Mary, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Let me go!" Eileen demanded, continuing her struggle. Hearing her demand, he complied he released her, hesitantly to do so. Eileen backed away from the man who looked utterly confused.
The man took a step towards Eileen and without a word she turned and ran for the door.
"Mary! Wait!" He called out after her and gave chase. "Mary please!"
Fear kept the man's calls from being heard as Eileen ran straight for the exit. It seemed farther than usual but she knew she was getting closer. But to add to her troubles she could see the doors slowly closing. She tried to pick up her pace before the doors closed on her. She knew she was running already at her fastest but the doors seem to be getting closer only inch by inch.
They were already half-way closed. She could feel the breeze of the outside air on her face. She's nearly there.
"Wait!" the man behind her called out to her in a final attempt to make her stop. Eileen just ignored the voice and kept moving.
She reached a hand forward to the outside world. Almost there! The doors were still open enough to squeeze through.
Finally she made it out, the rustling of the trees greeting he arrival. She though about running back to the docks but the doors are just about to close and there is no way that stranger could possibly follow her now.
"Wait," Eileen can hear him call out to her but she did not turn to face him. She hugged her arms closer to herself and closed her eyes, waiting for any kind of force to pull her back to the real world. "Please! Don't leave me behind! Eileen!" he cried.
"What?" she finally turned, seeing the doors barely open. Behind them she could see a frightened Henry, the most she had ever seen him scared. He looked at Eileen, his eyes pleading for her.
"Eileen…don't leave me," he whimpered. "Please, I-I need you."
Eileen ran back to the door. "Henry! Hang on! I'll help you!" she assured. She found her footing on the ground and tried to push the doors open but they pushed her back instead. "Henry! Please, hang on!"
Henry's face slowly began to disappear from behind the door. Eileen began pounding on the door, desperate to get him out. In the past she always needed him and he was always there for her. Now he needed her.
"Eileen!" Henry cried out before the doors were fully closed, finally separating the two from each other.
"Henry!" Eileen called out to him, pounding on the doors with both her fists. "Henry! HENRY!"
The wind came blowing through the trees once more, now more powerful. Eileen paid no attention to nature. She kept hitting the doors, calling out Henry's name over and over. Her throat began to dry up and her hands were beginning to turn red. Finally, she stopped, sinking to the ground in defeat and shame.
She pressed her forehead to the doors and banged on it one more time while breaking into tears. "Open up," she sobbed to the door. "Open up…give him back…"
"Eileen? A voice whispered on the other side.
Eileen looked up, hearing the voice she quickly wiped the tears away.
"Henry?" she called to the door. "Henry, is that you?"
"Eileen…no, you're not…" she can hear him say. She was tempted to call his name again until he continued on. "Who are…hnnn!" Henry groaned inside. Eileen pressed her ear to the door to listen in. All she could hear is Henry's voice. "What's going…AHH!" Henry's voice began to strain, like he was in pain. "AHH! MY HEAD!"
"Henry!" Eileen called out to him again, louder this time but her calls were left un-answered. Henry is struggling with something inside and she didn't know what. Not knowing what is going on made her feel useless. Not being able to do anything about it made her feel even more useless.
"N-no! It can't be! Y-you're…" Henry's voice trailed off followed by a loud thud. Everything inside grew silent.
"Henry?" Eileen said softly, fresh tears welling in her eyes. She wanted the doors to open so badly. She wanted to see Henry again. "Henry," she knocked on the door foolishly, still thinking that someone would finally answer her calls. She knew far too well that no one would but she pushed that though aside and prayed for the doors to let her in. If she couldn't save Henry, the least she could do is be with him.
Suddenly, she felt the doors move. Quickly, she got up to her feet and watch it open. Her heart swam with joy as she took this to be a miracle. Then they stopped moving, leaving it only ajar. Eileen tried to open the doors further but they would not budge and the space it too narrow for her to squeeze through.
After a few more pushed, she stopped to take a peak inside to check on Henry. She could see darkness and the light from the stain-glass window, but no Henry.
Eileen called out his name into the darkness inside. Then, she emitted a blood curdling scream when she felt a cold hand grasp her hand. A pair of green, blood shot eyes appearing in front of her.
Eileen woke fast, feeling her heart hit her chest. She laid on her side on the couch, dosing off a few hours ago while reading a book that now laid on the floor facing down.
Feeling the pinpricks on her arm she rolled on her back and stared at the white ceiling, the ceiling fan spinning in circles. She sat up, wiping the sweat from her head. Her clothing clung to her small frame and the apartment was hot as hell, making her feel somewhat disgusted and irked by the heat.
Wanting to change her clothes, she placed a foot on the floor, only to have something warm and furry brush up against her skin. The blood hound she and Henry adopted laid on the wooden floor beside the couch. It felt Eileen's foot and lifted it's head and turned it towards her. It's droopy eyes stared at Eileen who smiled softly and stroked its head.
"Afternoon Markus," she greet, scratching behind Markus' ears, who never seemed to get tired from the contact.
When she stopped Markus let out a faint whimper, begging her to continue as he would to anyone. Eileen laughed. "Now, now. Some other time, okay?" Markus stared at her with sad eyes. "That's not gonna work with me."
She patted his head briefly and stood up. She stretched her arms overhead to chase away any drowsiness left in her system and let them drop to her side.
The apartment, aside from Markus' whimpering, is awfully quiet. She surveyed the living room for Henry, who should be in the kitchen making lunch because it was his turn this week.
"Hm, Henry?" Eileen called out, getting no answer. "Where is he?"
Deciding that standing around will get her no where, she wandered into the bedroom hoping to find him there. Also, a new change of clothes were in order.
The bedroom had been as empty as the living room. She sighed, then went over to the closet and threw open the wooden doors and changed into a pair of denim shorts and a white tank-top. Markus, who follow quietly after Eileen, sat by the door way. After she finished, the blood hound followed Eileen once more as she made her way to the bed to lay down.
She plopped down, grunting as she landed on her side. The heat of the sun barring down on her back from the large window. With cooler clothing, it became more tolerable but still, she scooted away from the light and into the comfort of the shade. Markus whined, waiting for Eileen's permission to jump onto the bed and later did so when she willed it. He spun around before curling up next to Eileen's feet.
"Where are you Henry?" she groaned, turning around to lay on her back, her left arm stretch out under the sun light. A bright twinkle on her hand catching her attention. She turn her head and smiled, moving her hand slightly as she watched the sparkle dance under the brilliant light. Then she brought her left hand in and held it dearly to her chest. She closed her eyes and sighed.
Where ever you are, just come home safely.