17 Dreams

Chapter 3: It's Happening Again

Really, every day is the perfect day to boss up. Every day that you wake up is a perfect day to boss up. It's all about continuing to put one foot in front of the next. That's what it's about. Whatever you think you're going through, just put one foot in front of the next - Rick Ross

"You know, you better have a good reason for doing that in front of my boyfriend."

"Don't worry, we do. Now would be a good time to call your lawyer."

"Don't need to. But I would like to make a call."

"Who?"

"Detective Michael Fields."

"Your father? We already made the call, he's on his way here."

I knew it wouldn't be long until my father showed up, but I thought I'd have at least some time to gather information about what just happened before my dad goes into detective mode and start asking me questions I hadn't already been asked.

"Explain." Michael said.

"I got arrested for something I don't know."

"They told me you were arrested for the murder of a young woman."

"Whoever she was, I don't know her."

"That's not what they think."

Before I could even say more, a detective walked in. He was a heavy looking guy, probably in his late forties or early fifties and had short black hair.

"So are you actually gonna charge me for something?"

"I'm charging you for the murder of Ava Knight."

"Who?"

"Ava Knight, she was a young grad student studying to be a vet. She was only 25."

"And you think I killed some rando from the street."

"I know you killed her, because security cameras showed that you were talking to her today. You bumped into her while you were walking. This is her."

The detective showed me a picture of the victim. I felt chills run down my spine. It was her, the same woman from my dream.

"I swear, I didn't know her."

"Funny. Because she turns up dead 2 hours later. Her boyfriend reported her missing when she didn't show up for dinner. She was strangled, and you were the last person to see her alive. So I'll ask again, how do you know Ava Knight?"

"I don't! I mean, not personally."

"And what does that mean?"

"Ok, I know this will sound crazy but hear me out. Last night...I had a dream."

"A dream?"

"Yes."

"About what?"

"I'm from Sacramento, and there was a series of murders. Students at Valley High School were being murdered, and I was almost one of them. But my boyfriend Jake and I survived, and after that I started having nightmares about it. That woman, Ava Knight, was in my dream. She was killed by Jason Ambrose."

"Who's Jason Ambrose?"

"The killer. He was killing students who 'wronged' me, thinking it would make me love him."

"Ava Knight doesn't match this Jason Ambrose's MO. Ava was 25, studying to become a vet, and she didn't even go to Valley High. So what's the connection?"

"Copycat."

I mumbled under my breath, not thinking anyone heard me.

"Pardon me?"