I had that dream last night again. That same dream that haunted me for the past five years ever since he died. I don't know why I kept having this strange dream. In it, I was standing alone in the darkness. A cold, unearthly feeling suddenly rushes through my whole body, making me weak, feeling that my life is slowly dwindling away from me & brought me to my knees. Then, when my consciousness is fading away into the darkness, a comforting warmth envelops my fragile state, bringing strength back into my body. The darkness slowly dissolves along with the life-draining coldness. Now, all I can see is light, surrounding everything. When I looked up, I saw a person, a young boy of about twelve, dressed in modern clothes. He offered his hand to me & I took it. But I could never see his face because of the surrounding light. In another version of the same dream, the person I saw was a young man, dressed in old-fashioned clothes & around the age of seventeen years old. It wasn't the same, though; I saw his face. But it startled me when I did. His face is an exact reminiscent of his!

I felt scared & confused when I saw his face. Why would he look like you? Is there some connection...?

But when I try to touch either one of them, they suddenly vanish. And I'm left all alone again. I wanted to know who were they. But when I think about the young boy, could it be...him? Maybe it was...I don't know.

But...who...was the young man?...

Is it you? Or does he...just...look like you?

HAYLIE!

I got startled when I heard my own name coming out from my twin sister's mouth. She hissed at me for being in my own world again.

"W, what?"

"Snap out of it! Come on, it's dismissal time. Let's go home."

"Oh, right. Sorry about that."

We walked out of the classroom along with our classmates. The other students were also pouring out of their classrooms, itching to go home. I was avoiding Hallie's penetrating stare as she opened her mouth to ask 'that question'.

"What's wrong, Haylie?" she asked, putting her hand into my shoulder. Hallie, unlike me though, has long hair that fell down to her waist, just one of the few differences between the two of us.

"No, I'm fine." I said, shaking my head. I was trying to avoid 'that topic'. My twin didn't force me to say it but I know that she was very worried about me & wanted to help me in any way she could.

"HEY, YOU TWO!"

I recognized that small, high-pitched voice right away. We turned around & saw our friends walking towards us.

"Hey guys." I said & gave them a weak smile.

"Why didn't ya wait for us?" said the short, blond-haired Gail. She's always the life of the party, with her bright personality, her child-like ways & her witty wisecracks.

"Oh, um, we're sorry about that." Hallie apologized.

"That's so rude of you two not to wait for us!" said Dawn, the richest in the five of us. She's very beautiful; has shoulder-length blond hair, (heavily highlighted) and doe brown eyes. As much as she is pretty, she very, very vain. And although she can be generous at times, she can also be as selfish.

"Let's go. NOW." Taylor said in a deep menacing tone. Taylor is the eldest in our group. She is a dark enigmatic girl & a complete taciturn. She has silvery/grayish blond hair, (dyed, probably) pale skin & steely hazel eyes. Most of the students are afraid to even come near her because of her dark gothic appearance but because of Gail's friendly & child-like nature, she (accidentally) became friends with them.

"Okay, okay." She said. "You heard the boss. Let's go."

We passed through the exit doors of our school & hopped on to Dawn's car & drove on home.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay, coz you can tell--"Hallie said but I cut off the last words in her sentence.

"I'm fine, Hal." I lied to her. "I'm perfectly fine."

I went back into my silent state & looked out the window, ignoring her stare. Dawn & Gail are singing along with a pop song on the radio, making Taylor really irritated. (She HATES pop music.)

My eyes wandered from person to person walking on the streets, then to the cars moving along w/ theirs. A little boy looked at me from behind the car window. I looked at him as well. Then, he smiled at me. I did the same.

He reminds me of him, I thought. He was in the same age when he...

I stopped. Thinking about it is quite painful for me, since I haven't completely gotten over it. Then suddenly, I felt a strange need to look outside the car window again. I turned slowly & was shocked at what I saw. My eyes grew wide & I felt a cold feeling rushing through my whole body when I saw a lone figure, strangely blurred around the edges, as though I was looking at it through a misted window. The figure was standing on the pavement, looking at my direction. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing on its ends & I can feel goosebumps forming on my arms, face & neck. There was no mistaking that face. It was like that of-

"Frank?"

I felt myself frozen in my seat, unable to move. I can't feel anything; my hands felt numb with cold, my legs felt numb as well. I can't even hear anything. It was like I was on a different world. It was like time stopped around me. I can see his eyes; they were sad, as if longing for something. Or someone, as it seems. But was I seeing a ghost or it's just an illusion?

"Stop the car." I said, those words came out of my mouth with a faint tone.

"What?" Dawn said, looking at me with a startled expression.

"Just stop the car." I said again.

"Why would you-"

"JUST STOP THE GODDAMN CAR!"

I knew by then that I startled everyone in the car. I knew that Hallie was going to panic & will start to ask me what's wrong. I opened the door with haste & ran towards the pavement. I can hear them calling my name, but I ignored them.

"Haylie, wait! Where are you going?"

The figure started to walk away from the spot, but his sad eyes were still looking at me. Even though I was running, I felt that I was rather slow, like I was being held back by something. He walked on the street; passing through the people walking by. At that moment, I felt like he was leading me somewhere. I regained control of myself & followed him wherever he led me. Every turn he made, something changes in the surroundings, shifting its appearance. It was like walking through time. I stared up around me at the buildings; they didn't look the same. They looked...historical. They looked like buildings I've seen in my history book. I followed him inside one. There was a sign outside. It says "Newsboys Lodging House" in fading yellow letters. The interior was blank. It was all blank & strangely gray. It was also dark inside. I felt a cold air rushed behind me, blowing into my cheeks, pushing me towards the staircase. Its handle was broken, & there are more than a few broken steps in it. I treaded it carefully, hoping that my foot won't get caught in one. After a few minutes, I finally reached the top. I felt a dizzy spell rushed through my head. I stopped for a moment & leaned on the wall to rest. Then, I heard the sound of a door creaking open. My heart was beating like a drum. There might be more in here than just this. I walked slowly to the direction where I heard it. Then, I felt like something was moving inside that room. I quietly stepped into the room. It was empty, dank & dark inside. I walked further inside. I looked around it. Then I felt that cold feeling again. I slowly turned to the right. The figure that I was following was standing in a corner. This time, I could see him much more clearly. I was right. It was Frank.

"Frank, is that...you?"

He didn't say anything, just looked at me with his sorrowful eyes.

"Why are you showing yourself to me?"

Once again, I didn't receive a response. But he pointed something at the ground.

"What...?"

I turned around & saw a glint of gold on the floor.

"What is it?" I asked.

He just kept pointing at it. I walked towards it, bent down & picked it up.

"A key? Here?"

It was a beautiful designed golden key, shaped like a clock part with five circular shafts on the upper part of it. It has a silver chain with a medallion engraved with a shape of an hourglass on its end.

"What is this for?" I thought to myself.

You will know...

"Huh?"

He spoke with a voice that sounded otherworldly.

You will know everything...

"Know what?"

His body was starting to fade away. I didn't understand what he said about 'knowing everything'. I know that he is only an apparition, but I tried to reach for him. My hand went through his.

You'll find me again...

"Find you? Where?" My eyes were starting to form tears. I can't let him go now! I don't want to apart from him, even if he is just a ghost.

"NO! Please Frank, don't leave me!"

The visions of him dying in my arms in that car accident went through my head all over again. I felt the same pain from all those years & the pain of longing for him.

I won't leave you...But you'll find me again...

"Please! Don't go!" Tears were streaming down my face, unable to stop them.

You'll find me...somewhere in time...

After he said those words, he completely vanished, leaving me with tears. I stood up & wiped my eyes with my handkerchief.

"Liar." I whispered. "You said you won't make me cry."

I looked at the key I held in my hand & clutched it tightly in my palm.

"I must know what's this for." I said. "I must."

Then, the door creaked again. My heart skipped a beat. I slowly turned around & was startled at what I saw.