The Lost Sister

Chapter Three

Nicole

I tiptoed from my room down the hall to my brother's room. It's raining with thunder and lightning which scares me. Slowly, I open the door only to see my brother's empty bed. I frown, he's usually always in his room when I sneak in.

"Court?" I whisper. I push the door open but he's not there. The sound of thunder booming in the background makes me jump. I slowly walk down the hall to the living room where I see the table light shining. Maybe Court is there. I tiptoed down the hall. I have to be extra quiet because I'll pass daddy's room and if I wake him he'll ne angry and probably hit me again.

Today was the first time he's hit me. I gently brush my fingers against the bruise that's already there. Court made sure to put ice on it to keep the swelling down but the bruise is still big. I don't know what I did to make daddy so angry. I was just playing with my doll when he raised his hand at me. I can still feel the sting of his hand. I think he's angry because mommy is not here anymore. I miss her too. She always used to sing to me before bed while she played with my hair. Sometimes Court does that for me when I have a bad dream.

I peek behind the couch and see daddy asleep and snoring. I hear footsteps behind me so I quickly crawl to the closet. I can still see through the shutters but I don't want whoever is up to get mad at me. The footsteps are getting closer until I see Court standing in front of daddy. He raises his arm towards daddy but I can't see what he has. Another thunder booms so loud I scream. My eyes are closed and I'm crying.

Strong arms engulf me but I'm scared. I start kicking and screaming. But the arms hold me tighter.

"Nicole! Nicole! It's me, it's Court!"

My eyes fly open and I see Court's eyes. He looks sad but also angry.

"What are you doing out here?" He asks.

"I was scared. I was looking for you."

He sighs as he nods his head. "Come on, we need to get out of here." He carries me to my room and sets me on my bed. I watch as he starts packing my suitcase with my clothes. I don't know what's going on but I start putting some of my stuffed animals in the suitcase as well. Matt appears in my doorway with his own suitcase. He starts helping Court pack the rest of my clothes. Once they are done Court picks me up and starts carrying me towards the door but before we reach the living room he stops.

"Can you close your eyes for me, little one?" He asks.

I nod and do as he asks. I feel us start to move again and then I hear him open the door.

"Okay, open your eyes."

I open them and notice we're outside. The rain has stopped but I still see lightning in the sky. Court starts pulling us towards the car and ushers us in. Matt helps buckle me into my booster seat as Court puts our luggage in the trunk. He jumps into the driver's seat, starts the car, and then takes off.  I don't know how long we're on the road for but soon I see red and blue lights behind us. Court is cursing and Matt is rocking back and forth. Court starts driving faster but the sirens are getting louder and closer. I tell Court that I am scared and he promises that everything is going to be alright.

Court pulls over and turns to look back at me. He's saying something but I can't hear him. I watch as his lips continue to move before I see a red dot right in the middle of his forehead.
                               
~~~~~~~~~

I jolt awake as thunder booms in the background. I'm so disoriented that it takes me a minute to figure out where I am. Looking around the room I notice the bunk beds then the small window on the wall across from the door. I'm at the hospital. I'm currently on hour 18 of a 24 hour shift. It's not too bad since we can sleep in the on-call room. However, the dream I just had has left me shaken up. During every thunderstorm I have the same dream. I don't know what it means though. I've never once met the people in my dream. I tried talking to my parents about it once but they insisted it was just something my brain made up. Of course, once I got older I realized it was bullshit. I can't help feeling like it's a memory more than a dream. I know I was adopted but my parents told me my birth parents died in a car crash.

But I'm starting to think that's not true.

Groaning, I get out of bed and go in search of Jake. We're working the same shift for once. I step into my shoes then stretch. My body is sore from sleeping on the uncomfortable mattresses. Slipping out of the room I make my way down the hall towards the nurses station. I spot Jake talking to the charge nurse. I also notice he's standing a little too close.

I roll my eyes as I continue making my way towards him. Jake has always been a flirt and I would think he would never cross that line but lately I'm not so sure. We've been two ships passing in the night lately plus his lack of enthusiasm for our wedding. I'm going to have to talk to him and nip his flirting in the butt because I won't have him making me look like a fool in front of my colleagues.

"Hey, what are you guys laughing about?" I ask as I place myself in the middle of Jake and Rose, forcing them to take a step back. Rose's face is flushed like she just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. I raise my eyebrow at her as she mumbles an excuse and scurries away.

I chuckle as I turn to look back at Jake. "So, what was so funny?"

Jake shrugs nonchalantly as he clicks his pen. "Just something one of the patients did."

"You know Jake." I say while hooking an arm around his neck and then the other snakes down his pants. I discreetly rub his crotch causing him to moan. "If you're going to flirt with the nurses, at least do it when I'm not here." I whisper before digging my nails into his crotch. "And don't ever think about fucking anyone else. Understood?"

Jake groans in pain, "Yes."

I kiss his lips and then grab my tablet with my next patient's information on it.

"Good. See you later."

Before I'm even ten feet away Jake is back at my side. "What the fuck has gotten into you?" He spits out.

I scoff, "I should be asking you that. Or rather what you've been getting into." He grabs my arm forcing me to stop and face him.

"It was harmless flirting, I'd never actually do anything." He soothes while running a hand up and down my arm.

"You better not. Because I won't stick around if you're sticking your dick in anyone that's not me."

"I promise". He says while making an x across his heart. Then he leans in to kiss me on the lips and takes off in the opposite direction. The same direction Rose just scurried down.

I roll my eyes and turn back around and walk towards my next patient. For the remainder of my shift I focus on all my patients but in my downtime I keep replaying my dream.

I know there's more to this dream. I just don't know what.

After my shift, Jake and I drive home. We're both too tired to do any planning for the wedding and we're definitely too tired for sex. As soon as we're in the house we both slip into bed and fall asleep.

That night I don't have that dream but I do dream about the man in the coffee shop I ran into. The one who seemed familiar. The one who looks a lot like the man who I've been dreaming about since I was a kid.

Who the hell is he?