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Chapter 19: Shadow Play

Dakota was bored. She was considered to be very patient either and waiting for something to happen was not something she was very good at especially since the thing she was waiting for was taking forever. 'Wait' her master had said 'wait you will know what to do when the time is right.' Well, Dakota had been waiting for too long. She needed something to do. She sat in the armchair by the window just looking at the street outside. Jack walked into the room behind her but she didn't turn to look at him.

"Hey Dakota . . . are you alright?" Jack asked

Dakota plastered a smile on her face before turning around to greet him" Yeah, Yeah I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm great, fine umm have you been there all day?"

"Yeah is that an issue?" She got up laid her hand on his chest "I hope it isn't I don't wanna upset you" Her eyes never left his as she caressed his chest. She heard a sharp intake of breath; it was working like it did every time. Ever since the first time she'd seduced him he was like putty in her hands, ready for her to bend. She leaned up to kiss him as he placed his hands on her waist.

"Do you wanna go upstairs honey?" Jack asked looking at her hopefully.

"Not today darling' I gotta do something, I'll see you later ok?" She left him with a peck on the cheek before hurrying out the front door. She smirked before heading down the road. 'Like putty in her hands.'

It was getting dark out by the time Dekka got home. The sun had finished setting and the darkness was starting to settle in. Not many people went out at this time, so the streets were relatively empty except for a random worker making their way back home. Dekka went upstairs and headed straight for the bedroom, she was exhausted but could barely concentrate on that when Brianna lay in the church basement unconscious. Dahra had tried to reassure her that it was ok that Brianna was just tired and trying to rest but something within her told her that she should be worried. Nevertheless Dekka took off her clothes and settled into bed trying unsuccessfully to forget about her unconscious girlfriend.

Astrid paced her room; she stopped then looked at her bed. She stood staring at it for a few minutes before sighing and pacing the room again. Her drooped and she kept stopping to yawn and stretch. She was dressed in her pyjamas and was as physically ready for bed as she could get but she couldn't bring herself to get into bed. Astrid knew as soon as she laid her head on her pillow she would fall asleep. And the nightmares would begin once again.

The same corridor.

The same door.

But every time a different way in which she would fail to open it. Recently she'd had one nasty dream where a wall had appeared out of nowhere and crushed her against the door. That night was particularly nasty. Astrid ran her hand through her hair, this wasn't getting her anywhere.

Sighing again she got into bed, there was no way she could stay awake all night and since there was nothing else she could do she might as well sleep besides her argument with Sam had tired her out. She pulled the covers over herself and snuggled in. Astrid had no energy left in her to fight so when sleep came along she gladly embraced it.

Astrid was running but this time she wasn't in a corridor. In fact Astrid wasn't even sure she was inside. There was a wind blowing which was strange even if she was in the FAYZ. Astrid continued running there was voices' shouting behind her but she couldn't make out what they were saying she just kept running. Something in the back of her mind told her she had to go somewhere had to be somewhere but Astrid couldn't decipher where this place was, in fact she didn't even know where she was. The ground was hard and rough under her feet she looked down and realised she wasn't wearing shoes. Astrid stopped suddenly and looked around it was eerily quiet. Then out of nowhere a voice talked.

"Astrid. . . You came . . . and where is *muffle*" Astrid's eyes started watering and fear gripped her throat. The voice came from beside her, she recognized that voice and it scared her.

"I've come instead." She whispered tears rolling down her cheeks.

"What's the matter Astrid? Aren't you happy you're gonna be the hero this time?" The voice came from behind her this time. Astrid grew tired of this she knew but just to confirm.

"Show Yourself!" She screamed even though she already knew who she was speaking to.

"As you wish" She froze as Drake emerged from behind her. He looked at her taking in her sad expression. "Now now there is no need to be scared I'll make it quick and painless you don't have to worry about anything."

He flicked his wrist back and forth a few times. The Whip snapping each time. Astrid looked down and saw her middle had been slashed, her T-shirt hanging off her and blood oozing out of her in a never ending flow. Astrid could hear screaming later realizing it was her. She stood still frozen in pain as he snapped his arm again this time slashing her face. Drake laughed as if he was having fun he continued whipping her each time laughing harder than the last.

Astrid writhed on the floor in pain, screaming at the top of her voice. Her head felt numb and her ears were ringing.

"Now Astrid I hope you feel better knowing that your little sacrifice only slowed me down I am still going after your little family and now that I have your disgusting child all I need to add to my little collection is Sam. . .Goodbye Astrid it's been fun." And with one last whip he ended her life.

She was screaming again and he could hear it very clearly through the walls. Sam could only imagine how Little Pete managed to sleep through all this. Personally it was killing him. Tonight sounded worse than usual it wasn't just screams of fear but cries of pain as well. Sam turned over and put the pillow over his head. He just couldn't stand the sound Astrid being in pain and Sam having a mere wall between them and not being able to help her. She screamed again this time really loudly then silence. Sam sat up.

What could have happened? All of a Sudden Sam could hear Astrid's door being flung open and the sound of running feet. She burst into his room standing in the door way searching for him in the darkness of the room breathing heavily and dressed in only her flimsy nightdress. Sam sat up a little straighter; Astrid caught the movement and ran towards him. She flung herself onto him and clutched at his t-shirt.

"Sam!" she cried voice muffled by his t-shirt "Sam I was so scared! Thank goodness you're ok!" She started sobbing into his chest; Sam rubbed her back comfortingly pulling her into his lap. Her shoulders shook and all he could hear was sobbing and gasping. He could feel his shirt getting wet from the tears but still held her close.

"It's alright Astrid I'm fine." He grabbed her shoulders and brought them back forcing her to look at him. "Look I'm fine It's alright everything's going to be fine." She held onto him keeping him close to her.

After a while Astrid began to calm down and the sobbing ended. Soon Sam realized she had fallen asleep again. Carefully he manoeuvred himself onto his back still holding Astrid; he pulled the covers over them both before succumbing to the darkness.

It didn't take long for Dakota to find the right house. Brianna had alot of recent memories of the place so it made sifting them quicker than usual. She crept through the door and up the stairs being cautious not to make any noise. Dakota paused and listened she could hear soft snoring coming from one of the doors. She turned towards the room and smiled. A grin that stretched ear to ear in the most eerie way possible.

Brianna still invaded her dreams, she was everywhere. Anything she thought about Brianna managed to ease her way in. Dekka felt guilty about what had happened but she had to stop thinking about Briana or she would eventually pass out from exhaustion. Right now she was sitting in a full classroom, the teacher's voice flowing over in a dull, monotonic hum. The lesson was no concern of hers, even in her dream she felt like sleeping.

Suddenly someone burst into the class face flushed, panting and eyes searching. Briana leaned heavily on the doorway then stood straight and looked right at Dekka. Dekka felt her breathe catch in her throat as Briana slowly stalked over to her weaving between the desks, hand trailing behind her seductively. She smirked then leaned down and pressed her lips against Dekka's. It felt wrong. The kiss didn't feel right there was no passion. It was just skin on skin. Grudgingly Dekka pulled away but when she opened her eyes Briana was nowhere to be seen. Dekka searched the room but alas she was gone then just as quickly as it had started her dream changed again taking her to a field filled with flowers of every colour.

The light crept slowly into the room passing through the window and hitting the pair of teenagers curled up in the bed. Astrid moaned at the invasion the light immediately waking her up. She looked around confused then suddenly remembering the events from the previous night. Astrid then noticed the arm around her waist and the legs intertwined with hers.

"Morning Sunshine" came the husky voice from behind her. Astrid smiled then turned around to face Sam. She snuggled into his chest and sighed.

"Oh Sam what are we going to do?" She asked tracing intricate patterns on Sam's chest with her fingers.

Sam cuddled her closer "I can't tell the future Astrid but I do know that no matter what happens no matter what anybody says I'll be here for you."

"I know Sam and I'm really sorry. I don't mean to shout and argue. I don't even know what I'm angry about half the time."

"It's alright Astrid I know it's not technically your fault." He paused for a bit. "I'm sorry too; I guess I haven't made this any easier for you."

"It's not you Sam, it's these nightmares. I haven't gotten a proper night's sleep in days. The nightmare comes and scares me half to death then I can't get to sleep for the rest of the night. I've tried sleeping during the day but I can never get to sleep unless it is completely dark in the room. Believe me I've tried." Sam sympathised with her he knew Astrid had been having nightmares but he didn't know that they were stopping her from sleeping altogether.

"Astrid you slept well enough tonight." He pointed out. Astrid drew back and stared out him.

"Yeah well . . . we were cuddling so I guess I felt kinda safer." She lay back down. "I feel safe in your arms." Sam stared at Astrid contemplating her words. She slept better when they were sleeping in the same bed but wasn't that what got them into this mess in the first place. Two hormonal teenagers in one bed with a lot of time to themselves. Even at this moment they were quite close. But Astrid and his child welfare was definitely more important than his raging libido. He took a deep breath and spoke.

"Astrid you know you are welcome to sleep in my bed if you want to?" he whispered trying to sound not nearly as nervous as he actually was.

Astrid drew back once again but avoided looking him in the eye "Sam, I don't know. . . "

"It's alright I was just asking I mean you did say yourself that you had slept better tonight while you were in my arms. But it's alright I mean it was just a suggestion it's not like you had to but you know. . ." Sam drifted off when he realised he was rambling. 'Perfect now he sounded like a bumbling idiot (!)' Astrid chuckled softly.

"Calm down Sam I'll have to think about it for a while but I'll definitely give you an answer by dinner." She smiled at him cupping her hand on his cheek.

"Dinner? Alright, mind you what time is it?" He looked around the room starting to get up, but Astrid flattened her hand against his chest and pushed him back down. Sam looked at her questioningly but Astrid just smirked at him through half-lidded eyes.

"I think it's time for one more kiss." She brushed her lips against his in a ghost of a kiss but Sam wasn't letting her get away so easily. He ran his hand through her hair and kissed her firmly his hand on the small of her back. Astrid sighed into the kiss relaxing against him running her tongue over his top lip. Sam gasped allowing her access to his mouth, her tongue slipped in touching Sam's sensually.

Unfortunately Sam and Astrid were so occupied in each other that they missed the sound of running footsteps until it was too late. Edilio flung the door open, looking frantic.

"Sam! Thank goodness I found yo-"he stopped suddenly realising just what he had walked in on."Umm, guys what is going on here?"

"Edilio . . ." Sam laughed nervously "This is not what it looks like . . ."

Edilio looked at him credulously. "I'll be waiting in the sitting room I want to speak to both of you downstairs." His voice was stern which didn't leave much room for joking around. He gave them both a look as if to say 'I'm watching you' then he left.

Sam got up and stared at where Edilio had been, 'what were they going to do now?' he turned back to Astrid and was shocked to say the least. She was laughing and it wasn't ordinary laughing it was 'I'm laughing so hard you can't hear me' laughing. Her face was red, her eyes shut tight and she rolling back and forth in mirth.

"You find this funny." He asked

She continued laughing for a bit before taking a few deep breaths trying to calm down. When her face was blank she looked at him.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN YOUR FACE!" Astrid burst out laughing again, laying on her back clutching her middle. Sam just stared at her; he couldn't believe that normal level-headed Astrid was laughing at him as if she'd just heard the funniest joke ever. He smiled at her then climbed onto the bed with her.

Awww! So Sam and Astrid have made up but Astrid is continuing to have bad dreams.

Will she accept Sam's offer and put an end to her nightmares?

What does Edilio want to talk about?

And what was going on in Dekka's dream?

And What is Dakota up to?

All will be explained soon. . . .

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