Graveyard Shifts - A 001 Fan-fiction

Chapter 9: Nightmares and Rainbows

The white halls of the lab made the place feel so cold and empty, even if there was people around, it never quite felt right. Walking out of my room I noticed something strange, the lights flicking out and the red off and on glow of the emergency lights came on. Thuds could be heard throughout the floor as I navigated my way to the emergency staircase.

The commons was dark and empty which was unusual. Checking a clock now was impossible in the low light, hell even finding the staircase was difficult as I had to stop to look around a few time. Finally finding it and making my way up, my white shoes smacking the tile as I come out on the third floor, the red still glowing in its rhythmic beat.

Something strange about this floor is that it was covered in a dense fog...or maybe smoke? I couldn't smell a fire but maybe I became nose blind. "Hello...? What's going on?" I call out into the gloom. Nothing... Nothing except the faint figure of a familiar orderly gesturing me to follow him.

"Peter, wait!" I call out as my hand traces the tiles on the wall as I try to follow him and navigate the murky labyrinth in the flashing red lights. The familiar sound of voices made me perk up as I kept following the faint outline of Peter who was leading me closer to these familiar voices. What had shocked me was what became familiar, the voices. It wasn't Dr. Brenner or Arthur, no...It was my parents.

Why? What are they doing here? They could be in trouble!

I quickly try and find my way to get closer, finally finding my way to familiar double doors. The air seemed to grow cold around me and the thuds across the building seemed to grow more frequent. Pushing the doors open I find the rainbow room with my parents standing on top of the painting on the floor and no Peter.

"Mama?" My voice breaks forgetting about the orderly as I finally see my mother again. She turns, her short jet black hair framing a familiar maternal smile. Before she could speak the mirror at the back of the room shattered like something was thrown into it, a room revealed behind it. The tiles seem to crack and shatter as a blinding white light shines and engulfs me and my parents.

The room was quiet after as the red flashes briefly illuminated the now dark room. Splotches of red decorated the mostly white tiles yet there was no one in the room anymore, just me. "Mama? Dad?" My voice breaks and all that comes out is a raspy whisper. The thuds become louder and a quick bang on the outside of the double doors. The sudden sound cause me to jump, blinking away a couple tears. "Peter? Please don't go... stay with me." More tears ran down my cheeks.

I wasn't exactly sure why I was crying, maybe fear. The only feeling I had was overwhelming loneliness. "Don't leave me alone..." I cry as the doors break open and-

—————————

Shaking broke me of my nightmare, my room only illuminated by the lamp on my desk. "Sophie?" That was the only thing Peter muttered as I sat up. I noticed my back covered in sweat and tears falling down my cheeks, panting just a bit as I realize what had just happen was only a dream, an awful concoction of my fears made by my brain to alert me that my body was too hot.

Even then, it was good to know he was alright. I didn't even think I just wrapped my shaking arms around his neck, bringing my body close to embrace him.

"Is everything alright?" Peter asked, his hands moving to my back to rub it gently. I nod against his shoulder before pulling away, wiping my face and running a hand through my messy black hair. "Yeah...just a dream..." I breathe and adjust myself, pulling my legs in to sit crisscrossed. His brows furrowed with worry, his eyes scanning my face to make sure I was being truthful. "I just wanted to come and make sure you were rested well for your shift with me?"

My eyes move to the window as it was pitch black. My brows furrow with confusion at first but remember this was a new shift I was taking. "Don't the children sleep at night?" I ask, still a bit confused my their play time was in the middle of the night. "They don't have access to windows so they have no concept of day or night. The doctors run their tests during the early mornings and after that they are put to sleep." Peter explained as I tossed my blanket off my legs.