Immaculate

Dr Green

Part Fifty-Six

Sang's POV

I was at the beach, standing in the water facing the shoreline. The water was coming up higher with each wave that broke around me. I tried to move through the sand, but every time I lifted my foot, the sand would suck my other foot down deeper. The waves were up to my armpits now and I tried to launch myself forward to let the waves take me into the shoreline, but the sand would not let my feet go free. I was bending forwards and backwards with the waves, almost losing balance, but then righting again with the ebb and flow. I was screaming, but no sound came from mouth; there was no one to hear me anyway. The beach was deserted, the sound of gulls overhead and the waves crashing on the shore were the only noises. The water was covering my chin now and I knew I was going to drown. I clamped my mouth shut as the water covered my head, the tide completely in, while I remained stuck beneath the waves. My lungs were bursting for air, my eyes unseeing in the gloomy water. I had to breathe, I needed air so badly. I was going to die, the instinct to breathe stronger than the knowledge I would drown. My mouth opened wide in a gasp

I sat upright, my breathing heavy as I fought to regain the air that I had denied my lungs. I was dreaming, it was just as dream. The false light just before the dawn was creeping through the windows and I looked around me, trying to centre myself, desperately trying to push the images from my head. I could hear the light snores of Mr Blackbourne beside me as he lay flat out on his stomach, one arm above his head. I looked over at Dr Green and saw him on his side facing away from me, still fast asleep. I was safe, I wasn't dreaming, I was with them and I was safe.

I sank back against the pillows and wondered if I should go and see North. It seemed silly to wake him now when we would all be getting up soon anyway. I would tell him later. I had caused enough problems recently.

I was still breathing erratically, unable to shift the images of the water closing over my head, the finality of knowing that I was about to die.

I climbed from the bed, careful not to disturb of either of them and left the room, closing the door quietly.

I crept down the stairs, able to avoid the noisy areas now. I looked at where the hip bath they had bought for me stood. It was a cream tub really, set on clawed feet that must have set Victor back a bit. I had felt even more guilty when they had dragged it in last night with huge grins on their faces. I had apologised for hiding it from them and I had apologised to Victor for putting him in an awkward position and they had all just taken it in their stride, kissing me and telling me not to worry about it.

I had watched as Mr Blackbourne had taken Victor to one side and quietly apologised for the way he had reacted. Victor had apologised for not telling him earlier and Mr Blackbourne had shrugged it off, saying that promises were not to be broken and then he had pulled Victor into a back slapping hug which Victor had returned. I had not expected that kind of outward affection. It had taken me by surprise but it had reinforced just how close they all were. There was history that bound them all together, a history that was represented in the many pictures that Mr Blackbourne had on the wall in his house. A history that I didn't really know yet and may never know completely.

I went into the bathroom, used the toilet and brushed my teeth, the images of my dream receding. I went back out into the living area and jumped when I saw Dr Green at the foot of the stairs.

"There you are, Pookie," he gave me a sleepy smile and held out his hand to me. "Come on, back to bed, we still have an hour or two."

"I'm sorry, if I woke you up," I said to him and he shook his head.

"You didn't wake me up, the space where you should be woke me up," he said and taking my hand he pulled me back up the stairs. I giggled at his words and he sent me a look over his shoulder.