Ch 16: Howling Wolves

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The first scream woke him. The second registered. The third prompted him to throw off the covers and scramble out of bed. Sky rushed towards Sydney's room.

Z grabbed a robe, flung open the door of her bedroom, and charged down the hall toward Sydney's room.

Sky and Z almost crash into each other at the hallway landing.

Within seconds of leaving his bed, Sky was bending over Sydney. The sleeping beauty was thrashing her limbs and screaming.

"Syd, wake up." Sky dodged a flailing fist.

"Syd?"

Z materialized on the other side of the bed. She dropped to her knees on the carpeted floor and tried to restrain Sydney. Once she had captured her slender hands, her body bucked and twisted while her head thrashed on the pillow and her heels pummeled the mattress. She continued to scream.

Bridge came into the room rubbing his eyes. "What's happened? I could hear Syd's scream, loud enough to raise the dead."

Sydney groped blindly in search of any means of escape. She shuddered when her hands tangled in a spider web and she felt the rush of insects across her arms. Then forcing herself to move on, she scraped her little knuckles over the sharp edges of stone and realized she was standing before a small, dilapidated house.

She peered inside and saw the back of a man…

"SYD." She felt someone shook her shoulders wildly. Sydney fluttered her eyelids open. The dream made her quiver.

"Syd, are you alright? Is it one of those dreams?" Sky asked, his hands stretched out to gather her in his arms.

She threw her hands around him and started sobbing. "Oh Sky. It was him…" she sniffed. "I saw him again."

"It's only a bad dream. It's over now. You've got me here."

Z looked at Sydney, her eyes wide with concern. Bridge yawned.

"I'll go get you a glass of warm milk, Syd." Z offered. Bridge followed closely behind. "I need some milk for myself too."

XXX

Sydney glanced around the malls. There was nothing to buy. She continued walking blindly and tried recalling the nightmare earlier that day. It was one of those dreams, which had been coming to her lately.

Little Sydney had peeked through a small window. Her heart almost stopped. She saw it once more—the back of a man, slouching to caress a figure, crept at one corner. The vision wasn't clear enough yet.

There was something—something that was obscured from her eyes. Sydney tried to adjust herself for a clearer view, and that was when the figure turned…

"LOOK OUT!" One yellled.

"WATCH IT!" Another shouted.

Sydney turned around when she heardtheir distress criesfrom behind her. "What?" she asked and the next thing a loud tyre screeched followed by Sydney going down… the last thing she saw was a group gathering beside her frail body and she blacked out soon enough.

XXX

Jack was singing one of those silly songs in the bathroom. He still had fourteen-minus-one days to kill and already he was getting bored.

He contemplated on Miranda's suggestion. She had wanted him to go with her but she didn't mention where. Maybe they could go together. Nothing to lose right, they were after all a superior-subordinate relationship. Yeah, no big deal!

But why would Miranda mention he would change his mind soon. That she knew that he was the kind of person who can't long in a place? If that was what she meant, wasn't she smart.

Jack wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the shower. Tiny water droplets glistening on his broad, muscled chest. It was one of those muscled chest that any watching female would die to be in his arms.

Jack whistled out of boredom as he walked out of his bathroom. "What are you doing here, Miranda? Who gave you permission to be in my room?" He stared at her accusatively.

Miranda scorned and waved two tickets at his face. "Tickets to New Tech City. Take it or leave it." Then she sashayed out of his room but not before throwing one ticket on his bed.

XXX

"How on earth did that happened?" Sky Tate demanded as he stalked into the infirmary. "Why didn't anyone inform me on such a grave matter already? I had to find that out from the news!"

Bridge and Z stared weakly at one and another. Bridge cast a 'we-just-know-about-it too. Why-blame-us?' look at Z. both of them shrugged at the same time.

"For crying out loud, Z, weren't you supposed to be with her?" Sky turned to face Z, his tone disagreeable.

"Sky, would you be reasonable. I can't be with her all the time. She needs her privacy and so do I you know."

"And that's what happened when you give her, her privacy and yours too." Sky shouted loud enough for the nurses in the infirmary to walk out and silent him.

Bridge watched his two friends argued. He figured there weren't any use to play the diplomatic figure now.

"Doc how is Syd? Injuries or whatsoever? Just spare me the technical details." Sky asked. "And don't lie."

The S.P.D. doctor and Sydney's family doctor, Dr. Barkley stood side by side. They looked as if about to drop bad news on them. Although, however Dr. Barkley walked towards Sky and patted his hand on his shoulder.

"As you can see those machines over there, it has been hooked up to her head for picking up her signal, which is very weak. Just so you know, there isn't major injuries—no broken limbs but if she doesn't wake up soon, be prepared for the worst." The doctor supplied.

Sky rubbed his temple. "Is she not responding at all? I don't see how come… when there's no serious injuries."

Bridge stepped in. "It depends on herself. Syd refuses to wake up. This emotion therefore tells the brain to remain static and doesn't or wouldn't want to come around."

Dr. Barkley nodded grimly. "There's something bothering her. I told you Sky over dinner. She had the phobia and nightmare eating at her. She's afraid of something." Barkley looked at Sydney pitifully. "I'd given her a dosage of this medicine which she stubbornly refused to take."

"Really, I don't know what doctors are for. Aren't you supposed to do something other than stand there discussing about her past with others?" Z asked, her tone not to be messed with.

"It's not that simple, Miss. Delgado." The S.P.D. doctor said, although half the time he had differences with Dr. Barkley. It was clear that both of them don't get along well.

"Great, so what are we going to do now? Stand here and watch or what?" Z asked purposefully.

Sky made a face. "Bridge, go get the report from the traffic police. I want to know the driver's particulars and all. Z, you stay here with Syd."

"Then what about you?" Both of them asked.

"Investigate."

Z watched them retreated. She was mulling over whether to break her promise with Sydney or to tell Sky. She chose the latter. "Sky?"

He turned back and shot her an 'I'm-busy-do-you-mind' look.

"I figured I got to let you know this. That Sydney, you know the accident—it's not the first time already." Z finished the sentence breathlessly.

She watched his face change. "What are you getting at, Z? Of course it isn't the first time. She got amnesia for the first accident but we let him escaped."

"Yes, certainly but this is the fourth time already. The second and third time I duplicated myself and pushed her away. She made me promise her not to let anyone know."

Sky's face was even madder than before. "You are telling me this now? And specifically when did all the accidents took place?"

"I'll go get the reports later, Sky." She spoke softly. Her little promise with Sydney had almost cost Sydney's life. She prayed to God nothing happen to her or she'll never forgive herself.

XXX

Sky stormed into the control center. So it makes sense now. Sydney was never so careless. Someone wanted her life. But who?

XXX

The figure drove away quickly from the scene. He was going to get her, nearly more by an inch. Damnit, this car had to go or risk getting caught. He had to be careful the next time. Yes—there will be a next time. His laughter sounded like howling wolves prowling in the night. It wasn't going to be as easy the next time.

TBC-Pls R&R! Thanks so much...