What Lies Beneath The Clearing

14.3

"Lennox."

Lennox woke up with a start. After that horrible dream, she was disappointed to see that it was still dark out. Her phone said just after 3 'o' clock - she had hours before she needed to be awake. She sighed as she dropped her phone beside her, running her hands over her face.

"Lennox."

She gasped at the voice in front of her, quickly taking her hands away from her face. In front of her, sitting comfortably on the end of the bed, was Kaila.

Lennox stared at her as she smiled. "What? Don't recognise me?"

Of course she did. How could Lennox ever forget the girl she considered closer than family? Only she didn't look...dead. She didn't look ghostly or pale, she looked healthy. She looked real.

"Kaila?"

"Oh, so you do recognise me. Thank goodness, I haven't been gone that long."

Lennox just shook her head. "How...this- how is this possible? It's not...I'm dreaming."

Kaila chuckled as she raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"

"No, you're not real, I must be. You can't...it's not possible."

Kaila just smiled that playful smile she always had. "Okay. Maybe you are dreaming. But I am here. Just in a different way." She tapped her temple as Lennox frowned. Kaila was in her head. "I've been sent to give you a message, so I won't be here long."

"No no no, just..." Lennox waved her hand at Kaila, closing her eyes and rubbing them both hard as if to wake herself up. When she opened her eyes again Kaila was still there.

"Really? You thought that would work?"

"It has to, this isn't happening you're gone, you've been too long now for this to be happening."

"Yet here I am. Lennox listen to me,"

"No," She shook her head as Kaila took her hand.

Whatever was happening, Lennox couldn't deny how real Kaila's touch felt.

"Don't fight this. Please. I need to give you this message and you can't be stubborn enough to not let me give it to you, it could save your life." She didn't let go of Lennox's hand and she was squeezing tight enough for Lennox to know that she was being serious.

So she sat silently, and whether she knew she was doing it or not, reciprocated Kaila's tight grasp for a few seconds.

Her friend smiled slightly and nodded. "It's good to see you. Truly. I didn't ever think I'd get the chance again."