ELEVEN

I woke up from this childhood dream with Chloe´ at the foot of my bed, and a spout of fear rang throughout me.

"Chloe´?" the light turned on.

"Who's Chloe´?" Athena whispered.

"Huh? Nothing, what're you doing here?" I asked quickly, relieved that it was not Chloe´, but also concerned that Athena might now further question me.

"Can't sleep. Jet lag,"

"Isn't it just like an hour difference?"

"Potato, patato," I laughed "So who did you think I was earlier? Chloe´? Who's that?"

"Oh, no one. I don't even know what I was thinking," I said, hoping that I wouldn't have to tell my secret. That would be a nice little surprise.

"Oh God Seedie don't tell me Chloe´ is your 'boy problem' are you switching sides?" she yelled her whisper.

"No, although your homophobia encourages me to at least try it out for awhile,"

"Don't joke,"

"I can't help it if it's joke worthy,"

"Ok, well prove it. What's the name of the boy?" I looked away for a moment, buying time. Any time. Although buying time didn't mean anything since it would indeed pass.

"Odd," I said quick and quiet as if saying it any louder or any more coherent would cause Odd himself to awaken and appear at my window with a look of scorn "Odd Thomas,"

"What a freak ass name. That's what's on his birth certificate?"

"He's a nice guy, he really is," I said disregarding her somewhat rude comment.

"Oh… oh Cedr you really like this guy,"

"What? No, it's not that,"

"I've been around the block a few times to know when somebody has a crush,"

"You're ridiculous," I mumbled, but the thought stayed in my head, somewhere behind my knowledge of math and my understanding of this gift I have.

I had a very terrifying nightmare – the second dream of that night- where I relived my experience with Chloe´, but it was far more malicious than the actual event. Far more malicious. Although Chloe´ had attacked me multiple times, I'd never felt any animosity from her. Frustration perhaps, maybe fear, but never evil. And I only realized this now, for in this dream there was an all too real sense of anger and evil. If it weren't for it actually being Chloe´ in the dream, I would've thought it someone else. And I mean someone as in not a ghost. Only because that type of energy and emotion was not that of a spirit.

I wanted to forget this nightmare quickly. The scratches, the kicks, the screams, all of it. But I couldn't. So I tried to find a way to quicken the process. Shaking, I slipped out of bed, leaving my still sleeping sister to have the rest she deserved. I tried to wash my face, but my hands were so shaky that most of the water fell down the drain, where I wished my nightmare would slough off and follow. But it didn't. I feared it would linger all day. I went to the kitchen to preoccupy myself with the task of managing my wounds.

I sat rewrapping my arms, feeling like the lesions were fresh and raw. Perhaps even more abrasions had appeared. I knocked over the antiseptic and jumped half out of my skin when a hand touched my shoulder.

"Sorry. Sorry Seedie," it was my dad. Only him. No one else. I picked up the bottle and ignored the way he had apologized and looked at me after evaluating my response.

"No problem," I said and dealt with the intense sting that came from the cold antiseptic.

"You're up early," He said.

"Am I?"

"It's 6:30," I didn't realize that it was that soon in the day… I glanced at the clock to double check and then back at my arms, dabbing gingerly.

"You're up early," I said. He chuckled.

"Are you hungry?"

"No- yea, sure," I knew that if I refused his cooking- especially if he could cook it- it would automatically set off an alarm that something was wrong. An alarm that was already close to being set off.

"Did you and Athena make-up?"

"We were fighting?"

"It seemed like it yesterday," I cringed as I wrapped my left arm, but once constant pressure was evenly applied, it felt better.

"Oh. Well we're fine now,"

"Let me do you're other arm for you," I didn't argue with him, and allowed him to wrap my right arm. He did a good job. I always did it haphazardly. God forbid I break my right hand. I'd be useless. "How'd you sleep?" he asked.

"Fine, you?"

"Good," he responded

"But you're up early,"

"I went to bed early," I flexed my hand and once I looked passed it, saw Chloe´ "Eggs?" he suggested.

"Sure," I said not taking my eyes off Chloe´. She was closer now. I'm not sure how she'd moved without me noticing, but she did. I tried not to shake as her red hole came closer to me. She opened her mouth, blue eyes locked on mine.

"Get home. Now," she commanded. Whether it was fear or some supernatural 'beyond-the-grave' power, there was something strong enough to make a lightheaded feeling swell within me, and yank the energy from me, and pull me to the ground, and pull my eyes closed, and pull the consciousness from my being.