Emanuel's Gift

Chapter - 11

"I must help her...I must respect her request," The sudden knock on the door startled me as I drifted over to answer it. The two men had returned with the urn of my grandfather's ashes in.

"Mr. Woods, we have your grandfather's remains here as instructed" The man said with an urn in hand.

"Thank you" I said, taking the urn.

Being now the sole proprietor to the family business, vastly becoming the only thing I had left in life. Even with the Christianson's financing the business for us, they also wanted to combine ours with the Davidson's. Whilst the name change did occur the co-working hadn't and I never really see them anymore.

"We will be going now, Mr. Woods. Take care." The man said as they left me at the door holding the urn. As they left, the sun was slowly drifting down over the house roofs as night was settling in. I had locked up the business and went home with my grandfather's ashes in my arms. I never felt so alone, I could call Aunt Fran up though she was the only bright spot in my life I had left.

"Tomorrow is my birthday. I think this will be my last," I said quietly, closing the door and placing the urn down on the table. The wise words from my grandfather were picking in my closed mind.

"Stop sitting in the dark, find someone to carry your beacon of light and show you everything,"

Inside my head I heard Anna-Maria's voice

"You have to help me, you're my only chance," it echoed inside my head

Cilan silvered out of me as I sat down at the table, the newspaper I discarded away, the urn I placed on the mantle of the fireplace.

I was feeling quite tired, it was early evening and it was still quite dark inside the house. After turning on the lamp to illuminate the room. I went over to a draw and opened it, inside my will or my dying wishes and held them in my hands.

"If only I could get someone to fulfil them. I can die like a happy man," I said I looked over to notice Cilan sprawled upon the bed awaiting me

"You will Emanuel..." Cilan smiled at me, I yawned and proceeded out of the bedroom into the kitchen.

Before I went to bed I had my meal, bathed Cilan curled up around me placing gentle kisses and feathery touches. After I bathed I collapsed into my bed pulling the covers over me. The moment I closed my eyes the vague images of my own subconscious was affected heavily by Anna-Maria's visions.

I was standing in Anna-Maria's bedroom. Everything was the moody blue and black colours. Not far from me Anna-Maria was in her nightgown, brushing her hair before she settled into bed. It was then my eyes caught someone entering through the door. Then the horrid attack occurred, Anna-Maria screamed as she tried to escape, the killer grabbed her by the neck and started to choke her.

I stood there in horror watching Anna-Maria struggling to break away from the killer whom I still can not make out.

Feeling utterly helpless and scared I had to wake up from this nightmare. Twisting and turning not even Cilan soothing me wasn't helped as I sat up in bed sweating.

After stumbling out of bed I dragged myself to the bathroom, turned the tap and splashed my face as I stared into the mirror at my sunken face.

"Why do I feel like that man is familiar.....I can't make out his face clearly" I thought then dried my face and wandered back to my room.

For the rest of the night I couldn't sleep, the moment I closed my eyes the vision plagued me. Soon the winter sun shone through the curtain slips on the window, lighting the room up and tickling my eyes to wake up.