Past to Present

Chapter One

Breaking through the water surface, Lexi sucked in a lung full of water. Shaking her head, she tipped it back and stared up at the empty, black sky. Closing her eyes fragments of her nightmare flashed before her. Her running, her falling into a dark, black hole, and his face....

Lexi snapped her eyes open. Why now? Her life was back in order.... Taking in another deep breath, she ducked the rest of her body under the water's surface and began her fifth lap around the pool. She refused to get out and go to bed if she had to relieve that nightmare again...

"Alexa."

When her head broke the surface, she treaded water as she wiped droplets off her goggles. Pushing them up on her head, she plastered her blond bangs back. Looking up at her dad, she swallowed. He had his arms folded across his chest and his mouth was set in a straight line. He was not happy. "Yes."

Jake narrowed his eyes. "Lexi, it's one in the morning. What are you doing out here?"

Not looking at her dad, she made sure to keep her head above the water as she made her way to the pool ladder. Pulling her body out of the water, she rung out her long hair. "I...um..." She lowered her voice. "I had another nightmare."

Approaching her, towel in hand, Jake furrowed his eyebrows. "Another nightmare? I thought those stopped years ago?"

She wrapped the towel around her body and sighed. "They did, but then out of the blue I had one tonight." She took a shallow breath and bit her lower lip. "I don't know why? I was doing fine after they went away..."

The muscles in his arms relaxed and Jake's eyes softened. "I know you were...Was it the same?"

Lexi nodded. "Yes, almost exactly like the other ones..." She gestured her arm to the pool. "I took a swim because I didn't want to go back to sleep."

Stepping forward, Jake wrapped his arms around Lexi. "I wish I could help you..." He stepped back and held her at an arm's length. "But I do know you need to get some sleep, Lex. You start school tomorrow morning and not sleeping isn't healthy."

She sighed. "Yes, sir."

A faint smile appeared on her dad's face as he gave her upper arm a gentle squeeze. "Then would you do your old man a favor and try and get some sleep."

Lexi gave him a small smile. "I'll try. It wouldn't do me any good to be tired and falling asleep in class."

Jake opened the back, glass door and allowed her to walk in first. "If you need either of us, you can come down to our room."

Stopping at the first staircase, Lexi turned and nodded. "Thanks, Dad." She wrapped her arms around him. "I love you."

Her dad returned the hug. "And I love you." He kissed her head. "Goodnight."

She smiled, turned and started for her room. "Goodnight, Dad."

Her dad followed her to the stairs before turning toward his room as she continued up the stairs to her room.

~~

Tossing and turning for what had seemed like hours, Lexi awoke again when her alarm went off.

The shrill alarm also awoke her cat, who was in her customary spot curled up against Lexi's side. Stretching her long legs and claws, the cat jumped onto Lexi's chest and meowed loudly in her ear.

With her hands still under the covers, Lexi shooed her cat onto the floor and kicked the covers off her sweaty body. Rubbing her sore neck and silencing the alarm, she lay back down. She had gotten a little more sleep, but with her mind wandering all night and going on alert every time she heard a sound...