Chapter 04: Erin's Dream
Erin moaned softly as she started waking up, her hand grabbing some grass, making her eyes pop open in confusion feeling grass under her instead of hard concrete.
'What the hell?' she muttered, fully awake now as she stood up, looking around. She touched her head to stop the spinning and headache. The brunette frowned, not feeling any pain in her stomach, between her legs, or even in her chest.
'What's happening? Why am I not in pain?' She whispered and lifted her shirt to check for the bullet wound, but it was gone too. Erin tried to stay calm, wondering if she was dead or just dreaming.
It was all so perplexing. Erin was startled when Justin called her name, looking up from examining her stomach to see him standing a few feet away. Her hazel eyes widened with sadness as she looked at her foster brother.
" Justin?" Erin whispered, totally confused by seeing him. She wondered if she was actually dead or if her eyes were just messing with her. "What's going on? Why are you here? Why am I here?" she bombarded him with questions.
She had so many things she wanted answers to. Justin gazed at his sister with a mix of love and sadness in his eyes, but Erin didn't give him a chance to respond.
"Am I dead? What's going on?" she asked, trying to make sense of the situation in the tranquil setting surrounded by meadows and trees, with birds fluttering about. She turned her attention back to Justin who just shook his head.
"Do you remember what happened?" Justin asked gently as he approached Erin, who eyed him suspiciously. "I was shot," she recalled, still confused about the events leading up to that moment and how she ended up in this peaceful place instead of lying on the hard ground.
Erin saw Justin's face change to a frown and concern. 'Erin, you were attacked,' he reminded her. He didn't expect this to happen while he was dead, and he noticed the distance between his father and sister since then. Justin also witnessed Voight driving Erin away when she tried to stop him from killing Kevin, despite knowing Justin wouldn't approve.
Erin nodded as she listened to Justin, recalling the incident. 'But why was I attacked? And how am I dead?' she asked, puzzled. Justin shook his head, 'I don't know, Erin. Why does anyone attack someone? But I have an answer for you.' He said sadly.
'You're not dead, and it's not your time yet,' Justin said with a smile, embracing Erin. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. 'But I'm not sure if I want to go back,' she whispered, her voice muffled.
Erin was thinking about it and really didn't wanna go back, there was so much pain and suffering. But here, she didn't feel any pain, not even the one in her stomach or the pain of her being raped.
But here, she didn't feel any pain, and she could be with the people she loved and cared about. She could see Nadia, Camelle, stay here with Justin, and even Julie.
Justin kissed her head and chuckled softly, 'You gotta go back, Erin, and you know it,' he said, running his fingers through her hair.
The woman shook her head, 'No, I don't, who needs me down there?' she asked.
'There's no pain here, and I can be happy just being with you, Nadia, and Camelle,' Erin whispered, looking into Justin's eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'I know, but you can't stay, you have so many others who care for you,' Justin said.
'You got dad, and that firefighter lieutenant who won't even leave your side,' Justin said, watching Erin look confused. 'Firefighter?' Erin asked, causing Justin to laugh at her puzzled expression.
'Kelly, or something like that, he hasn't left your side since you got attacked,' Justin told Erin, who couldn't help but be confused.
'Why is he sitting with me? I mean, I understand Hank, and maybe Jay.' Erin watched Justin shake his head. 'Because he cares for you, Erin, and so does dad, even if he hasn't visited since he heard about the attack,' he said, causing the brunette to frown.
Why wouldn't Voight visit her at the hospital? Doesn't he care about her anymore, or is it just stubbornness? 'Don't think that dad doesn't care about you or anything, but I think you need to go back to ask those questions and learn the truth about who your real family is,' Justin said, already reading Erin's puzzled expression.
Erin was about to argue about going back, but ended up agreeing when Justin kissed her head and disappeared. "Justin, wait, come back!" Erin yelled after her brother, tears streaming down her face.
"What do you mean about my real family? You are my family," she questioned before passing out.