Excerpt:
Rebecca knew from experience she didn't have much
time left. A vision came at her, hard and strong...
The
child’s face from the milk carton, about six or seven years old, hovered before
her, similar yet different. Shivers wracked her body as she huddled in a
corner, her long brown curls limp and dull. Smudges on her face spread when she
used a dirty forearm to swipe away tears, and a cut bled through the tear in
her dress. A flickering light illuminated the dark room, hinting at secrets in
the shadows. The sound of water dripping, slow and steady like a leaky faucet,
met Rebecca’s ears and her nose crinkled at the stench of urine and human
waste. The child looked up. All trace of color drained from her face when a
deep voice crept out of the darkness.
“It’s
time.”
“Rebecca,
did you hear me?” Ruby’s voice penetrated the fog surrounding Rebecca’s mind.
“W-What?”
She lifted her head, taking in the dining room around her. The tourist family
still sat waiting for their breakfast. “I’m sorry Ruby, what did you say?”
“You
okay, hon? You were in another world there for a minute.”
“I’m
fine. Really,” she added at Ruby’s doubtful expression. “Didn’t sleep well
again last night, I guess.” She forced a grin. “Good thing you caught me before
I nodded off and started drooling in my coffee.” The mention of coffee drew
Rebecca’s gaze to the carton of milk again. The girl’s innocent face stared
back. Something seemed wrong. Rebecca leaned in, reading the caption under the
photo. Nicole Wilson; missing for six years, before Bree even.
“I
hope you don’t mind that I helped myself to the milk,” Rebecca said, and
explained what happened. “Didn’t want to be a bother.”
“Honey,
it’s no problem at all, but you didn't have to do that.”
“Not
to worry, it’s over and done now.” Rebecca looked down at the pancakes and
fruit before her and knew little would make it past her lips “Breakfast looks
delicious, as usual,” she lied.
Ruby
looked over at the children’s order of pancakes in front of the empty seat
across from Rebecca. She moved her gaze back to Rebecca for a moment longer,
before nodding as if confirming something in her head. “Okay then. Enjoy.” Ruby
picked up the milk carton as a bell dinged from the kitchen area. “Let me know
if you need a refill on your coffee.” Smiling, Ruby went off to deliver the
next order.
Rebecca’s
stomach roiled at the thought of eating. Nausea and a headache overwhelmed her.
She needed to get home where she could decipher what this vision meant. With
Ruby monitoring her every move, coming up with a way out of the diner proved
difficult.
Forcing
another smile, Rebecca picked up her fork and knife and waved them in the air
for Ruby to see. At Ruby’s disappointed frown, Rebecca cut the pancakes, and
placed a small piece between her lips. Once Ruby smiled and turned away,
Rebecca spit the bite out into a napkin. She spent another few minutes cutting
and moving food around, hiding small bits under the second pancake. Pulling
some money out of her wallet, she kept an eye out. As soon as Ruby went back to
the kitchen for the next order pick-up, Rebecca threw the bills down on the
table and made her escape.
Rebecca’s
first deep breath came when she sat safe inside her car at the other end of
Main Street. Home. She had to hold it together until then. Shoving the key into
the ignition, she crossed her fingers, and then groaned at the dull grind that
met her ears.
“Crap.
Not today!” Rebecca cursed for putting off taking the car in to Joshua. Hands
shaking, she tried again, holding her grimace until the engine caught.
The edge of another vision crept in while she
pulled into the driveway. “Shit. One more minute, come on, one more minute.”
She fumbled at the keyhole, hands shaking too
hard to fit the key in the lock. Rebecca crossed the threshold and fell to her
knees as the pain sliced in again, worse this time. Never before had two
visions come so close together. What the hell?
Rebecca’s world faded and in its place…
Sabrina appeared. Her baby. Sitting on the
floor in a room of shadows, chin resting on drawn up knees. “Where are you
Mommy? Why haven’t you come?” The shadows opened up, pushing forward to swallow
both the light and Bree.
“Nooooooooo.”
Rebecca came back tears streaming down her face and fell to the floor. Limp,
she laid there, an arm thrown across her eyes. “So close.”
Rebecca
rolled as her stomach revolted, giving up its meager contents. Pushing herself
to her knees with the last heave, she drew the back of a hand across her mouth.
The
memory of losing Sabrina burned in her mind forever, but these fresh images;
God, they made it so much worse. Rebecca crawled the few feet to the still open
door, shoved it closed and leaned against it, shaking with sobs.
The
late morning sun shone through the windows when she refocused. Struggling to her feet, she took in the scene
around her.
Clean this mess up, and then shower.
You can deal with the rest later. Rebecca tossed the soiled clothes in
the washing machine on the way to the bathroom.
Revived
by the hot shower, Rebecca poured a glass of iced tea. She curled up in the big
chair in the living room, rested her chin on her knees, and tried to make sense
of the morning’s events. Break it down. Concentrate on one thing at a time.
Tackle the vision at Ruby’s first.
Who are you, Nicole Wilson,
and why are you in my head?
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