The storm clouds resided. Erik lay on the wooden floor of an abandoned apartment building. He let the cold drops from the cracked roof seep into his skin.
'What happened last night?' he thought, making no attempt to wipe way the water collecting on his cheek.
'How could I have seen one place and been in another? Much less a place I have never in my life seen before; yet it seemed so familiar.'
He then thought about Christine, how perfectly beautiful she had been, lying there asleep. And to think what he almost did to her. He pounded the floor sending a hollow echo through the room. 'How could I?' He clenched his fist so tightly blood began to creep threw his fingers; to form a puddle on the floor below him.
'I can't do it, what's to stop me from trying to hurt her again?' Pulling himself off the ground he paced franticly around the room.
'I must hide myself away, far away, where I can't harm her…ever.'
Erik stopped, his heart pounding in his chest. The blood pumped so loud, he could count each beat.
He could think of nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. So he just began walking. Where ever his feet went, the rest of him would follow.
Erik had come to the front door. He stopped then; someone was on the other side. He could sense them as clearly as if they were standing directly in front of him.
But it was not a living some one, nor dead.
The door knob began turning ever so slightly until it came to a stop.
The door swung inward to divulge a dark figure.
'Erik' The shadow's voice echoed through his mind.
It only took a moment before he realized who the stranger was.
"Master." He spoke the short greeting aloud. "What brings you here?"
'I sensed you were troubled.' The voice circled inside his head.
Ha! Erik let out a crack of laughter. "Really? Why have you really come?"
'You know me well lad…' The figure paused as if not sure weather to continue. 'I have a task for you.'
"What sort of task?" Erik inquired.
'I think you will find the task and your true agenda will conspire.' The deep voice sounded.
"That does not answer my question." He said getting a bit annoyed. "What is this task?"
'Alright, alright. It involves a curtain person, a girl in fact. I need someone to keep an eye on her.'
"Why can you not do this yourself?"
'I have been up until the night before last. But something has come up, I need someone to fill my place for a while.' The shadow said watching Erik closely.
"I see…" He said.
'So you will do it then?'
"Do I have any other choice?"
'Good boy' The form sounded pleased with himself. 'Now come.'
Christine awoke shivering. The ground beneath her was cold and wet. She pushed herself up, hands slipping in the mud. She was outside; small droplets of rain fell from the tree above. Standing up, she could see she was in front of the house she shared with her good friend Meg. What was she doing out in the yard?
Christine made her way to the front door and tried the knob. It was locked. She began to panic. Ringing the door bell franticly, her hands began to shake uncontrollably.
"Meg!" She screamed hoarsely, growing more frightened. She hammered on the door until it swung inward to reveal Meg's bewildered face.
"What the- Christine!" She shrieked, pulling her inside. "What happened?"
"I-I don't know. The last thing I remember was…oh Meg it was the most wonderful dream! I saw my father, and he…" She trailed off, unwilling to tell Meg what she believed she had seen.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" Meg asked.
"No I just need rest." Christine said and seeing her friends unbelieving face added, "Really, it's nothing."
"Will you tell me later?"
"There is nothing to tell, but yes I will try." She reassured her.
"Alright then, I have to run, so I will see you later…" Christine was already halfway down the hallway.
"Get some rest!" Meg yelled after her. "I will talk to you later!"
"Hmhm…" Christine managed as she closed her bedroom door.
Christine lay her head on the door and waited for the sounds of Meg leaving before stirring back to life. She scanned the room; her bed was unmade, but otherwise the room was in perfect order. She looked to the window and found it closed. Not satisfied she stepped up to it, tracing the wooden frame.
'It must have been a dream.' She thought.
She then peered at her reflection in the glass, and realized how filthy she was.
Christine walked to her dresser to fetch some clean clothes. Once she had retrieved the proper garments, she stepped into the shower without even bothering to undress.
Christine stood letting the heat of the water run over her. She turned her head in small circles allowing the water to drench her clothes, as she tried to forget her dream the past night.
His face shot through her mind, his eyes so dark. Her brow frowned in confusion as her minds eye brought his picture into sharper focus.
Those deep eyes so friendly and welcoming; She watched them dace through her memory, and smiled.
Kindness and warmth turned suddenly to terror; the beautiful serenity of the former eyes faded away to be replaced be horrible devilish ones. They gleamed maliciously at her, red and hungry.
Christine shrieked jumping backward into the shower curtains. Her eyes shot open, the water had become ice cold. She leaped out quickly, not looking. She hit something hard and fell to the floor.
Christine opened her eyes once again. She stood to examine her head in the mirror. But it wasn't her reflection that she faced. She instead looked upon a grassy field, someone was seated init…
Christine stepped in closer to find herself set in the middle of the tall pasture, singing…
To Be Continued…