Chapter Three: Nightmares Awakening

Robin sighed, keeping her head down on the drive to head quarters. She held her hands in her lap. She bit her lip, covering one with the other trying to hide that her fingers were shaking. What was that back at the hospital? Was she hallucinating? Maybe she was just tired. But, she'd been resting for hours. She just couldn't understand it.

Karasuma looked over to her and frowned. "Are you alright, Robin?" She asked.

Robin turned to her and forced a smile. "Yes, I'm alright."

Karasuma turned her attention back to the interstate. "Maybe it would be best if you didn't come on this mission."

Robin's eyes fluttered. "What? I have to go. I won't allow you and Amon to be out there alone!"

Karasuma sighed. "I am sure we can handle one night without you." She looked back over to her. "We'll be fine." Robin shook her head and looked out the window. "I'll ask Amon.. But, I think it would be best."

I don't want to be alone… Robin thought to herself, closing her eyes to keep the tears from showing. I'm scared. She opened her eyes slowly, watching the world pass her by. She looked up to the sky, seeing the dark clouds slowly make their way across the midnight moon. She stayed silent, watching the raindrops fall upon the window, blurring her vision to the outside world.

It was like a dream. For the first time in her life, she was really scared. Scared of the coming future. What would happen? Would these hallucinations continue? Or was she just being stupid? She let out a small breath and leaned back in the chair, letting her head lay on the soft fabric of the seat.

She looked over to Karasuma, who was suddenly quiet. What would happen if she told them? Would they think she went insane? Would they even believe her? She diverted her eyes away. She could tell that Karasuma noticed her staring at her. …They wouldn't believe me. She thought.

A few minutes later, they were at head quarters and they were both silent. Robin's eyes seemed even more exhausted than before. She pushed the door open and stepped out into the raining night. The only sound that echoed to her ears were the drops upon the cement. It was so peaceful, but she didn't seem at ease.

Karasuma followed her into the building, her hands in her pockets. She looked at Robin from behind. She could tell there was something major bothering her. But, it looked like she didn't want to talk about it. So she wouldn't force her.

Amon looked up from the computer screen to Robin. "Are you alright?" He asked with a concerned tone. Just looking at her sorrowed expression made him wince. He hated seeing her in pain.

Robin looked up from the floor and faked a smile. "Yes, yes, yes! I'm fine! I feel way better." She chuckled and sat down in the chair beside Michael.

"Hello, Robin." Michael smiled. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

"Thank you, Michael." She smiled, looking over to Sakaki and Dojima.

Karasuma looked to Amon with the worried frown that she'd been wearing since Halloween night. Amon noticed. He pushed himself up from the chair and walked into the briefing room with Karasuma. Robin watched. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes.

"I don't think she's ready for this mission tonight. Not right after she almost got killed." Karasuma said, looking at the information of the mission in front of her. "I don't think it's a good idea."

Amon nodded. "I'm sure she can take care of herself."

"I don't believe so!" Karasuma snapped back.

Amon's eyes narrowed. "She's 15, Miho. She's not a little girl anymore." He looked back to the screen, looking at the face of the newest witch.

"She was almost killed last night! At least give her a little bit more rest!"

Amon sighed. He was tired of listening to Miho's whining. "Alright! Alright, already!" He growled quietly and put his hand to his temple.

"Thank You, Amon." She said. She looked down to the screen and sighed. "She won't like it very much, though. She doesn't want us going out alone."

Amon ignored her for the time being as Michael, Dojima, Sakaki, and Robin came in. He looked over their faces and sighed.

"The media, unfortunately, got a hold of this case, before we even knew about it." Michael said after they all sat down. "A local Law officer was found dead in his home. There we no marks on him, what so ever. Witnesses say that there was a woman that came to his apartment right before he was found dead. We have identified that woman as Naomi Xanagi." Her face popped up on the screen in front of everyone. "The coroner said that he died of massive trauma, but could find none to his head or upper body. She's definitely a witch."

Amon looked over to her. "Was she in the STNJ database?"

Michael shook his head. "She was a seed. Her powers have just awakened."

Miho sighed. "And, she's already starting to kill."

Robin was half listening to what they were saying. She was spacing off into her own little world, thinking about the images in her head. Would they ever go away?

"Robin…" Amon said, looking over to her. "Robin."

She snapped her head up. "Huh?" She looked around. "Oh, um.. Yes?" She knew what was coming.

"You won't be going on this mission. You need to rest from last nights incident."

"I'm fine!" She told him. "Really! I can do this."

Amon shook his head. She was being stubborn. "You're staying here."

She looked over to Miho. "At least let me come with you. I'll stay in the car. I will not get out, unless it is necessary. Please, Amon?"

Amon sighed and lowered his head. He didn't have the time, nor the patience to deal with these two women's rants. "..Fine. You can come with us. But, you will be staying in the car. You will not have any participation in this hunt. Understand?"

She lowered her head. "…Yes." She said, reluctantly.

Amon nodded and pushed himself up from the chair and walked out, leaving the rest of them in silence.

Robin kept her head down as she did the same. Why couldn't Miho just stop worrying so much? She wasn't a child. She wrapped her arms around herself and sat in the back passenger side seat.

Karasuma got in the front seat along with Amon and Sakaki pulled himself into the backseat with her. He smiled over to her, placing his hands in his jacket pockets. It was cold weather to them, but she could feel nothing.

Amon stepped out of the car after reloading the .9mm with orbo bullets. Miho and Sakaki did the same, leaving Robin alone in the car. She looked up, watching them spread out around the area. She clenched her fists and closed her eyes. Maybe she should of stayed at H.Q. She didn't want to be alone, but here she was… Alone. It was basically the same there as well. Chief left and only Michael was there. But, he would most likely be listening to his music. He gave no attention to her.

She tried to keep her mind off of the images in her head. If she didn't think about them, she wouldn't be bothered by them.. Right? She leaned back and rested her head on the seat. Her hands were wrapped around the glasses that Amon had given her.

Amon, Amon.. Amon… She kept thinking. He was all she wanted to think about. Nothing else.. Even though those bad things just crept right back in.

She opened her eyes slowly, looking out from the window. She jumped seeing something rush across the window. She rubbed her eyes, they were fading out of focus. "Trick or Treat.. Smell my feet, give me something good to eat!"

That voice… No, it couldn't be. No. She closed her eyes. It's not real. It's just a dream. It's just a dream! Wake up! Wake up! She yelled to herself. She screamed when she heard his voice again. Over and over it echoed in her ears. "You'll taste great!" It came again.

It seemed like he was in the car with her. Her eyes widened. Her heart was pounding against the inside of her chest. She pushed the car door open and fell to the wet ground, scratching up her hands slightly. And, there it came again, behind her this time.

She snapped her head around and pushed herself up from the ground. The rain was pounding her face making her hair cling to her cheeks. Tears and raindrops ran down her cheeks. "Amon…!" She called out, hoping he'd hear her.

She screamed again, being thrown against the car and her head being pulled back. "No.." She said. "..It's only a dream." She whispered.

He pushed his body against hers, letting his hands roam her wet, slim body. He threw her around and pushed his pelvis into hers. "..Oh yes.. You will taste great."

Tears ran from her eyes as she tightened them shut. The pressure on her body was gone.. Disappeared into nothing. She opened her eyes, to just see the lightning flash across the dark night sky. The car door was still open and she was against the trunk. Her body hurt, ached.. In every part of her body, it throbbed without end. She dropped to the ground, sobbing silently.

It was all just a dream. It had to be. But, it seemed so real. What was happening to her?