Welcome to Dreadville (On Hold)

Chapter Nine

My eyes widen with fear and shock. What had I just witnessed. My knees start to shake and my vision blurs. In my dream I had seen the boy transform into a cat, but seeing the reverse left me dumbstruck. I couldn't speak. My legs gave out and I felt myself fall onto something soft.

***

"She doesn't know anything," I heard Nick say.

"What did you tell her?" A voice asked him.

"She hasn't read the book. So I told her you'd explain everything to her," Nick replied.

The other guy sighed.

I felt as if I was in between being awake and being in a dream. Their voices sounded a bit muffled and everything felt soft. I was lying comfortably on something like a bed. It felt like I was floating on a cloud. Everything was nice. Everything other than the chilly air around me.

I open my eyes and sit up. I take in my surroundings. I was in a small room with dark walls. I was on a bed that seemed to be made out of all kinds of animal hides. There was a faint light coming from behind a wooden door.

I stand up but fail miserably. My vision turns black and I fall back on the bed glad that I hadn't made a noise revealing myself. I didn't want Nick and the other guy knowing that I was awake. The other guy, if I remember well, is named Terry. I recall what had happened before I had blacked out.

Oh my. I had blacked out. I have never blacked out in my life. This shocked me. I was suddenly overcome with a fear I couldn't explain. I like to be in control at all times and falling on the ground with no way to get back up scared me. How had this happened. Seeing the black cat transform into a teenage boy had left me stupefied.

I shake that thought out of my head and try again to stand. This time I close my eyes while taking another attempt. I successfully stand and take a step towards the door. I open my eyes cautiously and continue making my way towards the door.

Nick and Terry had continued talking, but I had been so concentrated on getting up that I had missed their conversation.

"So what do you want me to tell her?" Terry asked Nick.

"I don't know, but you should be really careful to what you say to her. You saw how she reacted when she saw you transform," Nick tells him.

"Why didn't you tell her?" Terry asked raising his voice a bit. "Why did you have to make me tell her?"

"I don't know, Terry. I guess it's because I had done everything else," Nick replied also raising his voice a bit.

"Look its not my fault I can't change in her world. We both know you were the only one who could have done those tasks."

"Well, how would you feel if you had to do all that work?"

Terry sighed exasperatedly. He hesitated before answering, "I'm sorry, Nick. I should have known that is wasn't easy for you. I'll tell her."

After what seemed like hours and an extraneous effort, I made it to the door. I opened the door only a crack and peeked through. Nick and Terry were standing in a hallway a couple feet away from the door. Terry was running his hand through his hair in exasperatedly way. Nick was pacing back and forth. They seemed to be worried.

"Do you think she is dead?" Terry asked asked.

Nick shook his head. "No, but she has been out cold for a while now."

"Do you think she will speak to me. I did kind of scare her out of her soul," Terry asks Nick.

Nick laughed. "She'll speak to you. She was pretty cool when I met her. She'll get over it. Anyways, humans don't die as easily as you may think"

"Maybe one of us should check up on her," Terry suggested. Nick raised his eyebrows. "You know, just to make sure she's ok," he added.

"You can go if you want," Nick replied. "I'm a bit hungry. I'll make something to eat."

He got up and left the hallway. Terry grunted as Nick walked past him. Terry looked nervous, but he turned around and started walking towards the door. He stopped in mid stride when he realized I was looking at him. He had jumped a bit when he saw me, too. I had also jumped a bit when I realized I had been caught. I opened the door all the way, ready to ask my questions. A shadow fell upon his face. He spoke before I did.

"How long have you been standing there?" He asked a bit angrily.

A shiver went down my spine. "I-I'm s-sorry," I stuttered speaking very softly. I would have been surprised if he had even heard me.

His expression softened. He probably thought I was afraid of him. I wasn't though; not even a bit intimidated. He wasn't intimidating at all. He was tall and handsome, I guess. He had messy dark hair that stood up in a disordered way and eyes that could possibly glow in the dark. They were as green as a dark forest. Beautiful yet possibly dangerous.

"Is there something wrong with your speaking?" He asked.

I look at him puzzled.

He saw my confusion and said. "You seem to repeat sounds. You also speak very quietly."

I shook my head. "I'm j-just a bit st-startled," I reply cursing myself for continuing to stutter. I did however manage to raise my voice a bit.

"Well what did you hear while you were eavesdropping?"

My face got hot. "I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean t-to eavesdrop. I was j-just curious."

"Well I hope you're feeling better," he said nervously. "I'll take you to Nick. You'll probably feel more comfortable seeing a familiar face. It'll also calm your nerves."

"How can y-you tell I-I'm nervous?" I ask him.

"I can smell it on you," he replies casually.

I nod and pretend to look as if that is totally normal. "I'll follow you."

He walks out of the hallway with me behind him.

"How did you do what you did?" I ask him on our way to Nick.

"What do you mean?" He asks bewildered at my question.

"I mean, how did you turn from a cat into a boy?"

"That is just how I am," he replies sounding almost as if no one has ever asked him that.

It wasn't a well explanation. I decided not to inquire any further. I'll just wait to see Nick. I'll ask him the questions. he would answer them, and he wouldn't confuse me.