Disclaimer and other things you need to know so I won't get into any trouble are in chapter one.
Sea of Glass 3/?
Unlike the last room, this one was bright. So bright he had to close his eyes. It reminded him of something. Yes, that's right. The padded cell. Or as he preferred, the padded hell. That's what it was, right? His own little hell? In the padded hell there was no relaxation. Only torment.
So what was he doing here? Why was he here? He looked around the room, squinting from the brightness of it all. Something was missing. The mirror. There was nothing but white. No breaks in the whiteness. It looked like a room covered in snow, and it was cold. But in a different way. It was cold because there was no life. Nothing but him. It was cold because it was cruel and inhuman.
Why was he here? First the room of darkness and now the one of light... What was going on? Surely a way out? There was always a way out. But he couldn't even tell where the walls were. Darien walked, in what he presumed was a straight line, until he hit something. A wall. Okay, I'll just follow it.' he thought. Maybe it will lead me to the door.'
He continued to walk along the wall, his right hand placed on it so he could feel for a gap, a hole somewhere or some other opening that might prove to be a way out. He began to get discouraged when he couldn't find one.
"There isn't any way out, Darien."
He turned around at the voice, and for a moment joy filled him, but then he remembered that it wasn't who he thought it was. "What do you want this time?" Adam Reese stood smiling at Darien. He looked a little older. A little... Different. Then he changed again, this time into Jessica Semplar. "Okay, that's it. Would you stop doing that? It's freaky."
"What's the matter, Ralph? You don't like the past?"
"You know, I heard that quote a long time ago about the past coming back to haunt you. But this, this is overkill." And then it changed again. This time to Simon Cole. Darien sighed in frustration. "Enough with the games. What do you want?"
"How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Yes, I know, to fight. Fight what?"
"All of it." Replied Alexandria Monroe.
There had to be something Darien was missing. "You know, I'm paralyzed. The Keeper told me."
"I know." Alex said.
Darien thought for a moment; in here he was walking and talking. Everything was fine. He quicksilvered. Or at least thought he did. Nothing happened. Everything was still white, with the exception of Alex, and he could see himself when he pulled up his hand.
"It doesn't work in here." Claire said.
"Why not?"
"Because, this is a dream. And you're normal again."
"Why?" Darien asked.
"Don't you want to be normal, Darien?" He blinked, not answering her. "Darien? Darien, I'm talking to you..."
His eyes snapped open and he saw Claire standing above him.
"Ah, welcome back." She said.
"Where," His throat felt dry and itchy. "Where am I?"
"You're still in the Keep." She paused for a second then asked, "Would you like some water?"
"Please." Claire complied. She reached over for the cup and put the straw to his lips. "Thank you." He said when he was done drinking.
She nodded. "So, you are able to talk at least. That confirms that nothing grazed your voice box."
"That bad, huh?" Darien asked sarcastically.
Claire couldn't help but smile. Then she turned serious. "Darien, you're lucky. I know you don't believe me, but you are. If the bullet had gone a little to the left you'd be dead."
"Where's Hobbes?"
"He had some things to take care of. He'll be back in a little while."
"Claire..." Darien started, unsure of how to ask. "How about the gland?"
"I don't know, why don't you tell me? I've been waiting to run the tests I wanted to. I took a CT Scan and it looked fine. How about you quicksilver for me?"
Darien had a good idea that the gland wasn't going to work, but he proved himself right when he tried and all he got was a look of shock from Claire. "So, what does this mean?"
"Well, it could mean a number of things. For one, when you were shot the gland could have had a malfunction in the cerebral cortex..."
"Claire," Darien said, cutting her off. "English please."
"Oh, right." She said with a slight blush. "Even though the bullet didn't hit the gland, it could have had some kind of effect on it. We already knew from past experience that the gland had expanded to the pineal gland, which was causing the dreams..."
"Wait," Darien said. "The dreams? How'd you..."
"The incident with Simon Cole." Claire said, giving Darien a look of bewilderment. "Darien, is there something you're not telling me?"
"Umm, nope. Notta thing."
Claire gave him a questioning look, but continued. "My guess would be that maybe the gland had expanded and when the bullet passed through the first and second vertebrae it hit a strand of the gland, severing that piece."
"Meaning?" Darien asked.
"Meaning that it might be in shock. And if that's the case it should wear off. Though," Claire said, chewing on the bottom of her lip. "I don't know when. It's been six days, I would think that if it was going to, it would have by now."
Darien sighed. "So in other words, I'm screwed."
"There has to be something, Darien. You just need to give me time to find it." Claire said in defense. "You know," she said, changing the subject. "I don't think you'll hear this unless I tell you, but Bobby saved your life."
"He did?" Darien asked.
"Want to hear the story?" She asked.
He nodded.
TBC
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. I spent the week getting ready for my brother's wedding and then during the weekend there was the rehersal and the wedding itself. Yep, that's the second brother this year. Now that all my brothers are married, I think I need a new excuse. Ah, I'm not worried, I still have three sisters. ;) Next part before the weekend. I hope.
Naomi M.