The Heirloom Ring: Haunted Book 3

Chapter 5

Mark’s POV

Last night I woke up sweating and panting after the nightmare I had. I was holding a beautiful girl that was not Destiny and I leaned in to kiss her, and stuck a dagger in her belly. When I pulled back, the girl's face changed into my beautiful Destiny. She had blood bubbling out of her mouth and a look of utter betrayal plastered on her face.

My chest felt like it was on fire. My heart almost refused to beat after that. How could I have such an awful dream? And I would never kiss another woman… I didn’t understand how I was dreaming of another woman in the first place! I had no feelings for her in the dream. Even so, I would never stab anyone!

I woke up crying. I would never do anything like in my dream. I loved Destiny with all my heart and all I ever wanted to do is make her happy. I want to be happy with her and have our own happily ever after.

I got up and went straight to the shower hoping the hot water would wash the remnants of the unholy visions dancing in my brain… Taunting me.

Stepping into the hot spray only woke me up more, remembering the dream in crystal clarity. I saw the knife in my hand dripping with blood. I saw the ring I’d placed in Destiny’s finger splattered in red.

I wanted to vomit! I heaved in the shower, but there was nothing coming up. But the convulsions caused my body to tighten up and I started to panic. What was going on? I just didn’t understand! This wasn’t me! I swear, it wasn’t me in the dream… It was like I was someone else. Someone possessed with the need to hurt.

I needed to see Destiny to make sure she was okay! I needed to talk to her about my dream! I needed her to reassure me that it was only a dream. That she believed in me and knows I’d never be that evil monster that was in my dream!

I couldn’t think what would happen if I ever lost her! She was my everything. My Destiny! She would be my wife and the mother of my children. We would grow old together and watch our grandchildren grow up. And when it was time for me to leave this earth, she would be there holding my hand while I passed. Because there is no way I could let her die before me!

I know for a fact that if she died, I would die of a broken heart shortly after she left me. I just can’t live in a place that she is not. That’s why I know I will have to die before she does. And I don’t plan on dying for a long time! I want a long and happy life with my sweet Destiny.

As soon as I was dressed I ran to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. I hope the jolt of caffeine will shock some sense into my system and get my brain to think clearly.  The sun wasn’t even up yet. I checked the time and it was only 4:57 a.m.

But I didn’t care. I had to talk to her.

Before the coffee was even finished I reached for my phone and dialed Destiny’s number without a second thought.

Surprisingly, my call was picked up on the first ring. I was glad she answered, but surprised she was awake to answer so fast. Then I heard it… Destiny was crying and my gut twisted.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” I panicked. Was she sick or hurt? Is there some way I can fix the problem?

“I had a bad dream…” she sobbed. “There was a man-” Then she couldn’t stop crying. The sound cracked something in me. I had to see her now!

“Baby, I’ll be there in a minute!” I said and hung up my phone.

I grabbed my jacket on the way out the door and dashed a few blocks to my sweet Destiny’s house.

I knocked on the door and James opened the door immediately. He looked tired and sad. I was sure he hadn’t had much sleep either.

“Come in, Mark,” James welcomed me in. “You know the way to her room,” he said with a tired smile.

I rushed into her room, almost tripping on her faux fur rug on my way to her side. I wrapped my arms around her and she buried her face into my chest. She felt so good in my arms. She was warm and alive, even if she was crying.

I let her sob all she wanted. I could feel her tears stain my shirt but I didn’t really care about that. If I could give her comfort at the moment that would also give me the comfort I needed to know I wasn’t some monster from a terrible dream. I needed to prove to myself that I was still me!

After a half hour of rocking my sweet girl in my arms she calmed down and pulled away, but not by much. Her arms were still possessively holding me, but just enough to look up at my face.

“How did you know I needed you?” she asked so sweetly.

I pressed a soft kiss into her forehead and breathed her in. “I actually had a nightmare too, and I just needed to hear your soft voice,” I admitted, with my lips still pressed against her skin. I needed to feel her as much as possible.

“What did you dream about?” she asked so innocently I almost panicked again. I’m not sure I want her to look at me differently after I told her what it was. I didn’t want her to hate me or ever be scared of me… But it was just a dream. Right?

And she deserved to know…

“I don’t understand why, but there was a woman in my dream,” I started. She looked confused but didn’t say anything, so I continued. “I kissed her…” I almost cried out.

Still, she just waited.

“And then I stabbed her,” my voice came out in staccato syllables. “And then she changed into you…”

Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.

“Please don’t hate me…” I blubbered.

All of a sudden her arms were tightening around me, comforting me, just like I’d comforted her a few minutes ago.

“I could never hate you, my love. It was just a dream… I am just surprised because that was exactly the dream I had. Except it wasn’t you who killed me, it was another man that I don’t know.”

“I don’t understand… How did we both have the same dream?” I asked after I finally calmed down.

“I don’t know either. But something tells me these aren’t just normal dreams,” she whispers into my shoulder.

That’s what I was afraid of.