Thank you PhantomKino!
Italian Translation: Regreting Things That Haven't Happened Yet (1940 by The Submarines)
Chapter 6: Mi Rammarico che le Cose non Sono Ancora Avvenute
She checked the contents of her purse, confirming she had everything required of her. She had to make a journey she did not want to take. She sighed, taking one last look at the form finally sleeping soundly in her bed. She smiled sadly. Oh, how she longed for him; although, his mind was not set on her. She understood completely; he had come so far in such a short time. She was immensely proud of him, but her pride could not mask her feelings.
She broke her eyes away from him and made her way to the front door of her apartment. She left her apartment quickly, almost running down the spiral staircase that lead to different floors. The elevator was too small and lacking in speed for her liking.
She made her way down the street, turning several corners before she reached the train station. Luckily, it wasn't too far. Upon arriving at the station, she purchased a train ticket. Destination: Venezia. She waited about an hour before the train came, knowing she needed to be early to beat the business crowd.
She stepped up the few steps onto the train into the First Class cabin. She sat in the very last seat of the cabin where another seat was empty opposite of hers. She made herself comfortable, trying to keep her anxiety away. She looked around the cabin, occupying herself with the décor while she waited.
She had ridden the train before several times, but that was always commercially. First Class was very different than sitting in the last cart by her lonesome. The seats were padded nicely which made it easier for her to relax into them. The windows were a nice size, giving her a wonderful view of what passed. The color scheme gave the cabin a warm feeling, something she enjoyed immensely. Many other people sat down, their designer glasses glinting in the sunlight that threw itself through the windows.
Her nails dug into seat cushion when a nicely dressed woman sat in the seat opposite hers. She wore black, rimmed glasses that balanced on her nose perfectly, and her blond hair was squeezed into a perfect bun on her head. Her lips were painted a red that reminded her of dark, red wine. Her legs crossed instantly as she sat while her long fingers intertwined casually on her thighs. Her eyebrows were lifted and her stare was directed exactly her way.
"Must you look so terrified? I've never really been known to be scary." Her accent was foreign, but her Italian was perfect. She sighed when she noticed the anxiety was not leaving.
"My name is Devlyn. I hear you are in need of my services?" she asked, almost like it was something she said every day. She raised an eyebrow, pursing her lips when she received no answer.
"What is your name, dear?" Devlyn asked, reaching a hand across the table that separated them.
"Is that important?" she answered, not sure where it came from.
Devlyn seemed taken aback, her hand stopping before touching her leg. "No, no che non è. But when you are in need of my services again, which I am sure you will, I will need to know your name. It could be fake for all I care, but we do keep customers on file." She spat, moving her hand back to it's original position. "No matter how strange the situation." She added as an after statement.
"Annata." She answered, after a few moments of tense silence. Annata calmed then, realizing she didn't have much to fear. She was on a public train with several witnesses, incase anything happened.
"Hm, Annata. Beautiful name. You're a pretty, little thing." Devlyn said, acting as if she was thinking aloud. She wasn't planning on offending anyone today. She let her eyes swoop across the woman before her before asking, "What do you require of me Annata? What kind of paranormal things have been happening to you? Sleep paralysis, I suppose?"
Annata didn't answer for a bit, not necessarily sure how too. She was trying to help a friend, but she wasn't sure if this was how she wanted to go about doing it.
"Not me. A friend. He's been having strange dreams and hallucinations about his twin brother. I think the term is lucid dreaming?"
"Possibly. It depends on the situation. You say their hallucinations about his twin?"
"Yes, they're identical."
Devlyn thought on this, lifting one of her hands to her temple. "With twins, there could be several things going wrong. Dreams are normal, no matter how frightening. Hallucinations are an entirely different matter. Has anything else strange happened?"
"I could tell you about the hallucinations." Annata suggested, thinking that would be most appropriate.
"Please do, love." replied Devlyn, taking in Annata's form. She listened intensely while her eyes memorized her form. She listened as Annata told her about the hallucinations in great detail. As the stories continued, she became more and more interested. It wasn't everyday she got a case like this.
"He wasn't able to open his eyes at all?" Devlyn inquired, after listening to Annata's tale completely.
"No, he said he was enveloped in darkness, but he could still feel the touching and hear his brother's voice."
Devlyn thought for a moment, really analyzing the situation. She enjoyed a challenge, and this she knew would be a challenge.
"Annata, I have to show you something before you decide to work with me." Devlyn lifted from her seat, motioning for Annata to stay seated. She walked to the very front of cart and knocked on the door connecting the cart to where the engineer surely was. The door whipped open and she walked in. Several moments passed until Annata saw Devlyn emerge from the doors. She walked back over to her, receiving several curious glares.
"Seguimi, caro" She said quickly, before disappearing into another cabin. Annata complied and followed her until they were standing before the door that separated them from the very, last cabin. There was some sort of pad attached to the wall next to the door, like the one normally seen in hotels. Devlyn pulled out a blank, white card and held it in front of the pad. Annata could barely hear the faint click indicating the door was open. Devlyn turned to Annata quickly and whispered, "Don't stare at the patients."
Devlyn quickly slid the door open, and Annata drew in a sharp breath as she lay her eyes upon the dimly lit cabin. Instead of seats, there were several beds lined up on both walls of the cabin, all occupied with what seemed to be sleeping forms. Next to each bed, there were people dressed in white coats observing the forms in the bed. As Annata moved into the cabin, she noticed several syringes in the people's hands. Many of them were slowly slipping needles into the form's arms, inserting a thick, clear liquid.
"Devlyn?" one of the people said, lifting from their chair. It was a young, man.
"Yes, Carlo?" Devlyn answered, a smile plastered on her face.
"Alessandra, the patient I have suffering from several OBE's, is now experiencing some sort of hypnagogia hallucination. I've given her several doses. I think it's time we hooked-" A piercing scream brought him to a stop, and his eyes widened, as did Devlyn's. "That's her." He whispered, directing the comment to Annata.
Devlyn almost sprinted through the maze of beds and reached the back of the cabin. Carlo grabbed Annata's wrist with force and pulled her into the same path as Devlyn. Annata let him, terrified of what was happening. She tripped over several chords and almost fell into one of the bed, which got her a few nasty looks from some of the men and woman in the white coats. They finally reached the back, and Annata put a hand over her mouth as she took in the sight.
Devlyn and who she presumed to be Alessandra were tangled in each other's limbs, wrestling on the floor. Alessandra had her eyes closed, and she was screaming something fierce. She was clawing at Devlyn's face with quick hands, but Devlyn dodged every attack. Devlyn soon had her pinned to the floor in a tight hold. A syringe appeared in her hand, and she quickly found a vein in Alessandra's wrist and slid the needle in.
"Sshh, Alessandra. Sshh. It's Devlyn. No one else. Sshh. Sonno, Alessandra. Sonno." Devlyn spoke in a calming voice. A brilliant light illuminated from the two as Devlyn inserted the liquid. Annata was blinded for a few seconds, but when she regained her sight, Alessandra was fast asleep in Devlyn's arms. Devlyn carried Alessandra to her bed, leaving her for Carlo's care.
Annata watched in awe, the situation leaving her speechless. She'd never seen anything like it, and it amazed her. She wandered how no one heard them? How could this just be happening under people's noses?
"The room is sound protected. No one can hear us, if you're worried. Besides, no one is allowed in the last cabin on this particular train." Devlyn whispered, standing beside Annata. She put a shaky hand on Annata's shoulder and squeezed. Annata looked her way, noting how messy she looked. Her glasses had clearly been ripped off her face, and her hair was flowing around her now. Annata couldn't help but think she looked nice.
"I'm surprised you're admiring me after what you just witnessed, love." Devlyn smirked and winked at her. Annata smirked back.
"At first, I was unsure. I know this isn't legal, but I saw you handle that situation perfectly. My friend needs this. He's spirally out of control, and I'm afraid that this. . . thing could destroy his career." Annata replied sadly.
"When would you like to set up an appointment?"
"As soon as possible." Annata replied, staring at Alessandra's sleeping form. She looked utterly peaceful, and that was all Annata could hope for.
She slid the door open slowly and stepped into the cold room. The air seemed to change instantly as several heads lifted at her arrival. They weren't glaring at her, but the man she had in tow behind her. He had a dark aura to him that had the occupants of the room with their shoulders a little closer to their ears, and their fingers tapping a little faster at their knees.
She walked through them, ignoring the stares she was receiving. She ignored the repugnant smell of blood and the constant feeling of nausea that overcame her. She had just begun to notice the little indecencies of this place; it made her uneasy, but she couldn't give it up. There was this. . . certainty inside her that became increasingly stronger as the days went by and she kept returning here. The scientist, who had grown to become her friend, had such a sureness about her that sometimes it brought a smile to her face. She had to trust that this would work.
She walked straight up to her friend and offered a hand, acting as if they'd never met. She did not want him to know she had been here before several times. She could tell by the look on his face that he was disgusted, utterly disgusted by this place. He couldn't understand why this was so important; why this could help him.
"This is your friend, correct?" her friend questioned, motioning toward him. She extended a hand to him, smiling slightly. He glanced at it briefly, as if he took it, the world might end.
"Yes, this is Hikaru." She said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hikaru meet Devlyn." Hikaru finally raised his hand, but only a short distance. Devlyn caught the apprehension and closed the space, grasping his hand lightly. She shook once, dropping his hand slowly, as not to alarm him. She smiled once more, letting her eyes roam over Hikaru. She observed the dark circles around his eyes indicating his lack of sleep and his obvious discontent with this part of the train.
"Might I ask what you're suffering from, Hikaru?" Devlyn asked, making eye contact with him. He flinched slightly at her question, the memories flooding back into his mind. He looked dazzled, like he'd been transferred to a different world. Devlyn thought for a brief moment he was experiencing an OBE, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Might I have a word with my friend before answering any questions Devlyn?" Hikaru asked, flickering his eyes over to the woman still softly squeezing his shoulder with her hand.
"Of course." Devlyn answered, returning to the work she'd previously been doing.
Hikaru grabbed her wrist, pulling her to what seemed to be a deserted corner of the cart, except for an empty bed. He pushed her up against the wall, placing one hand on the right of her and the other on the left. She was trapped by his body, which seemed to inch closer and closer to her as the seconds rolled by. He stared intensely at her, a mixture of anger and annoyance sweeping across his features.
Hikaru's thoughts were everywhere; he was deeply confused. Why would she take him to a place like this? The moment he walked through the door, he felt sick. The. . . patients in the beds looked dead, like the life had been sucked form their bodies. The scientists in the chairs doing treatments were unnerving, sending brittle chills up his spine. Devlyn looked out of place here; she was too perfect. How could she hold her head up and smile when she worked in a. . . profession like this? There was nothing right about this place.
"Why did you bring me here, Annata!" he screamed, staring straight into her eyes.
She acted calmly, knowing well this was to happen. "You need this Hikaru." She glanced quickly at Devlyn, who was staring straight at them with a worried look. She nodded slightly, waiting for a response. Annata shook her head, turning her attention back to Hikaru.
Hikaru seemed to unhinge at that point, like she'd crossed the line. He slammed his hands up against the wall, surprising her. Christ, he wanted to hit something.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what I need! Annata, look at these people. They look like zombies, like they're not in their own skin." He lifted off the wall, freeing her from his trap. He slid his hands through his hair and pointed fiercely in the direction of the patients.
"This is all wrong, Annata! This is unnatural. . .it's all wrong. . . all. . ." he trailed off, his attention seeming to wander. His head dropped to the floor, as if there was something more interesting on the ground. Annata was confused, but she stayed glued to the wall, afraid to move.
Instantaneously, his head shot up, and eyes rested directly on Annata's. But these weren't the same eyes she had just looked upon seconds before; they were filled to the brim with an unnatural craving. . . or was that lust? He began to walk over to her, taking each step slowly. His eyes trailed over her body, memorizing every curve. He licked his lips, a disconcerting smile creeping across his lips.
Devlyn lifted from her seat, calling two of scientists over.
Hikaru finally reached his destination, returning to his previous position. He lifted a hand from the wall and let it slide down her forearm gently. He stared at it for a moment, memorizing the feeling of her skin. Then, he looked up at her noticing the disturbing look on her face; he didn't like that. He took both hands off the wall and placed one around her waste, resting it on the small of her back. He ringed the other through her hair, playing with the strands. He smiled once more, a devious grin that shook Annata's soul. She despised that she wanted him to continue.
He caught her wanting and delved into it, pushing her head towards his with his hand. Their lips crushed together, and Hikaru instantly pulled her closer. The pure lust was enveloping him completely, and although he was fighting it, these alarming emotions were winning. He slipped his hand up her shirt, tracing enticing circles down her spine. Although Hikaru could feel Annata melting, she held her stiff stance, not giving in.
Devlyn was issuing the men to grab Hikaru, but Annata raised a slight hand, giving a negative signal. Devlyn gave her a puzzling look, but Annata just continued to say "no".
Hikaru was growing impatient; Annata was holding off well. He smiled into the kiss, enjoying every second of her withdrawal. He slipped his tongue through her lips and into the wet, cavern of her mouth while he fairly pushed his pelvis upward into hers. He, in turn, received a husky moan from Annata who was struggling to hold back. Hikaru smirked, repeating the action.
Annata, about ready to give in, looked at Devlyn with a glazed over glare. She nodded her head slightly, making it seem as if she wanted to deepen the kiss. Devlyn signaled the two men, and they rushed over grabbing Hikaru by his arms and waist. They ripped him off of Annata and pushed him onto the empty bed. Devlyn looked at Annata once more holding up a syrenge. Annata looked on the verge of tears.
"Do it." She whispered, letting her tears fall.
Devlyn walked over to Hikaru, who was struggling to be released from the men's hold.
"But I want her. I need her!" He kept screaming, clawing at the men. Devlyn sighed sadly, wiping the sweat from her brow. She put a strong hand on Hikaru's wrist and held it down while she slipped the needle in. She delivered the clear liquid to his veins, and his eyes closed quickly. He was sent to a deep, dreamless sleep. Something he hadn't experienced in months.
Devlyn felt her presence next to her and looked up, meeting Annata's sad stare. She turned away from Hikaru, putting a hand on Annata's arm. She led her away from the bed and lent a listening ear.
"He's asleep now. There's nothing to worry about. It's over." she whispered, spreading her arms for Annata to accept. Annata did, leaning into her and wrapping her arms around her.
"That wasn't Hikaru. That. . ." she stopped, sobbing into Devlyn's shoulder.
"If there is one thing I want to accomplish in this world, it's helping you and your friends. I promise, if it's the last thing I do, to rid your friend of these paranormal occurrences. Annata, I promise." Devlyn whispered, her eyes drifting to Hikaru. He looked peaceful, for now. A tear dropped down her cheek, landing on her lips. It's salty taste foreign to her for so long.
"I promise."
A/N: Yay, I put up two chapters! I hope you enjoyed. I have somber news. I will again be gone next week. So, you will be receiving two more updates the week after next.
"No, no che non è." - No, No it isn't
"Seguimi, caro" - Follow me, darling
"Sonno, Alessandra, Sonno" Sleep, Alessandra, Sleep
Until Next time my Lovely Readers,
Ona