The room was dark aside from a faint glow coming through the sheer curtains that covered the window. A dark figure blocked some of the light. It appeared to be standing over something, a kind of railing. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Riley could see another figure enter the room. A woman. She couldn't hear what was being said, she only saw her lips moving as if in slow motion.
She looks so familiar. And so does this room, but where do I know them from?
Suddenly, the figures were gone. The room went hot and was engulfed in bright flames. She could hear the crackle of the fire on the floor boards as the heat scalded her skin. Screaming surrounded her. Cries of pain and torment, yet she was the only one around. Alone in a sea of fire, drowning in the smoke and fumes, burning in its waves.
You can do it, Riley. A familiar voice whispered in her ear. She looked over her shoulder to find who the disembodied voice belonged to, but there was no one there, just darkness in the areas where the fire's light could not reach.
You can get them out.
Again, Riley turned to search for the origin of the voice. This time she those haunting, yellow eyes stared back at her.
Riley awoke with a start. She sat up on the bed, her heart still racing. She could her the fast-paced beating in her ears. The room was dark. The only light was coming from the red glow of the alarm clock and the only sound was the nasally snores coming from the couch. Her skin glistened with sweat; her long dark hair was matted to her head. She could still feel the heat of the blaze around her. She shivered, pulling the sweat-soaked sheets up to her shoulders.
It was just a dream. Well, more like a nightmare, but it wasn't real. She told herself. She remembered that she was in the Raywood motel's badly decorated honeymoon suite since her and Kale were posing as newlyweds. Plush red pillows adorned every corner of the room and the furniture echoed in various shades of red.
Even though Kale's snores comforted her, she still couldn't shake the unsettling feeling of the nightmare. She had to get out of the room. She threw the damp sheets aside and stepped out of the queen-sized bed onto the thick shag carpet. She quickly slipped on her track pants and tennis shoes and headed into the crisp air outside for a run.
- - - - -
Why did it come back now? She wondered. The light wind that blew across her face calmed her as she ran in the faint moonlight. It's been almost a year since I've had it. And why did it change? I've never seen that room before. At least, I don't think I have. Who was that woman? I know her, but I can't remember –
The shrill cry of a horn brought her back from the depths of her mind. Headlights blinded her. She realized she had found her way into the middle of the usually deserted highway. Tires squealed as the car swerved to avoid her. The driver didn't bother to stop to see if she was all right. The car continued down the road as if nothing had ever happened. She shook the shock from her head and decided that it was time to head back to the motel. As soon as she was out of the street she allowed her mind to slip back to the burning questions of her dream.
I did what he asked. I found Sam, well he found me, but still it's what he told me to do. But what's all this talk of "getting them out"? And why is he in my dreams? He's gone! Tears of frustration filled her eyes. I swore I wouldn't do what he wanted and now look what's happened. Does he talk to Sam too? Is that how he found me?
The terrain changed from soft dirt to asphalt. She had arrived in the motel's parking lot just as the sun began to peek out over the horizon. The glow in sky over the tops of the trees reminded her of the vivid fire she'd experienced only an hour earlier. She dug the key out of the pocket in her shoe and entered the room. A hot shower would make her feel better.