CHAPTER ELEVEN

LIVING THE DREAM

Running through the forest Laura could sense that she wasn't alone. She could feel someone else nearby, She Calls out into the darkness but no-one answers. There's a scurrying noise and Laura squeals. All of a sudden Perry is in front of her. So is Carmilla. They are both in Vampire form and heading towards her. Laura tries to run but she is struck still with fear. Suddenly Will and Kirsch are there. All heading towards her ready to strike and kill her. Danny turns up and she is young again, like she was in college. Fighting to save her to protect her.

Laura turns again and sees that LaF is there. In all her laboratory get up.

'This will be minimally invasive Laura. We need to find out why Vampire's are drawn to you." LaF said as she came towards Laura with a needle in her hand.

Laura turns again and screams as she sees Danny and Carmilla in an intense embrace. Someone touches her shoulder and she instinctively turns round and hits out. Carmilla is stood in front of her holding her chin. Tears are falling down her face and ten the storm begins and the light she thought she had put out years ago begins to shine. She finds herself walking into the light she sees who she thinks is Ell and walks to her and takes her hand. Ell draws her into the light. Once inside there is nothing, nothing at all. She looks for anyone or anything that could help ground her but she can't. Suddenly she is falling. Falling into a deep dark space where she sees all the faces of her friends. Now LaF and Danny are vampires, She had lost everyone into the darkness so why wasn't she with them?

Letting out another scream Laura feels someone's hands on her. Suddenly she is awake and Carmilla is looking concerned at her.

"Laur you're OK I'm here now. You're OK!"

"Carnilla it was horrible all of my friends were made into vampires and that dead light we tried so hard to extinguish back in University was back. It was horrible" Laura cried into Carmilla's chest.

"Shhhhhhhhhh its OK it was just a dream, its been a pretty intense day."

Laura took a minute to gather herself and then take in her surroundings. She was still in the hospital room. Danny was fast asleep, even her screaming hadn't disturbed her. Carmilla looked so concerned. She wanted to ask her about what Danny had said but couldn't find the words to.

Carmilla pulled her close and just held her. She wasn't one for emotions and feelings so this moment of tenderness was one to saviour.

"How are Perry and LaF?" Laura asked.

"Laura I have some bad news. I have not been able to get hold of hem. So either they are holed up in loves tight embrace or something bad has happened. I didn't go round because I wanted to get back here for you and Danny."

Laura nodded as she was quite surprised at the big show of emotions towards herself and Danny.

"In my dream everyone was vampires. Except me? Carmilla it felt like I was starting the dreams again like in University."

"Sweetheart, we all saw it, we defeated my mother and the light. Nothing can hurt us any more OK!"

Laura nodded but she wasn't convinced. She knew how she felt and she knew that she had felt exactly the same when she had first met Carmilla and had started having the dreams...

"No Carmilla you can't just leave me. I need you!" came Danny's voice.

Laura ran to the side of the bed.

"Shhhhhhhhhh Danny, it's just a dream, its just a dream." Laura soothed.

"No...it's real she left me. She broke my heart!" Danny cried.

Laura spun round to look at Carmilla and could see the guilt all over her face.

"Laura it's not like that I promise you"

"GET OUT" Laura screamed at her girlfriend. "Get out and never let me see you again!"

Carmilla tried to speak but decided against it. She had never seen such a look of hatred be directed at anyone like the one Laura had just shot at her. With tears forming she turned round and left the room.

Laura looked at the sick woman in the bed next to her and the sobs took over her body. How could the two people that she had cared for and loved the most have hurt her in such a horrible way. The pain was almost as bad as when she thought Carmilla was dead back in University.

Danny was looking at her, tears coming down her cheeks.

"Laura I am so sorry." She whispered.

"Don't" was all that Laura said. She took a deep breath and then spoke again.

"Danny, while I hate you for what you have done to me, I can't leave you on your own while you are still so ill. So we both agree now that once you are better we will go our separate ways. You betrayed me, Carmilla betrayed me, there is no coming back from this. We in every sense are over."

Danny nodded she knew in her heart that nothing was going to change Laura's mind and that she deserved all that she threw at her, but she didn't understand why she was staying now. Why she wasn't walking out that door and just leaving her. Then it was like Laura knew what she was thinking.

"your probably wondering why I haven't left already, well the truth is that I know that you are in no fit state to contemplate even starting to piece together your life now Lorna has gone. I know you will need help when it comes to the funeral and things to do with that. I also know that you have no-one. I don't know what happened between you and LaF after university but I know that she took your friendship away with the consequences. You will have a lot to deal with once everything is done. But I promise you I will be at every hospital appointment and once you get that Clean Bill Of Health, I am gone. You will NEVER see me again."

Again all Danny could do was nod. She thought about Lorna and how she had failed her. Then she looked at Laura and she had failed her too. She pressed the button in her hand calling in the nurse.

"Can I have something to help me sleep?" she asked when the nurse came in.

"I will go and see what the Doctor says, he may want you to stay off them with all the other medication that has been given to you." was the reply.

"Laura you go get some rest I will be fine here." she said softly.

"I don't have anywhere to go, I don't want to go home because SHE will be there and I do not want to see her so I will stay here."

Danny again nodded. She watched as Laura got in the empty bed next to hers.