Waking In The South

Chapter 3

I'm sprinting full speed down a dark cobblestone hallway. Adrenaline forces my heart to pump faster and faster. Wall-mounted flame torches blow with a heavy swish as I race past each one of them. I can't catch my breath. This never-ending hallway leads into more darkness, and, suddenly, I fall to the ground. My brain demands my legs to move, but they don't budge. I can hear voices get closer but, I slowly lose consciousness.

Then, in one swoop, I launch out of bed, landing on my two feet. Guarding myself, I throw my arms out in front of me. Sweat is dripping from my forehead. After a minute, I come to my senses and I realize my surroundings.

I'm safe, I'm okay. The night terrors have been consistent since my breakup, each one more vivid than the last. I count two nights in a row, but those are only the nights I remember, or have evidence of.

Remaining still, I try to hear if I've woken Madison in the next room. My ears don't register any noise, so I deem it safe to get quietly back in bed.

In the morning, I wake on my own to the smell of greasy breakfast foods.

"Get up lazy pants," I hear Madison call out from our sitting room. We ended up booking the two bedroom suite at the Haymarket Hotel. It wasn't my first choice, but Madison insisted. And, I can't say my bank account agrees with her decision.

"Coming!," I answer back.

Trying to fully wake up as I walk, I find Madison waiting patiently for me before she eats.

"Ah, took you long enough. I'm starved." She takes in a mouthful of chocolate pancakes, syrup dripping down her chin. She ignores the mess on her face and adds, "Eat up. We have a huge day ahead of us. Bus tour, shopping, and that famous cafe you talked about."

She's all smiles. I want to go with her, I really do, but I haven't felt myself since that night. It's an uneasy feeling I can't quite pinpoint. With these batty dreams and the cryptic note still in my purse, I'm impatient. I know waiting around playing tourist is not going to ease my stress today.

Taking a bite of bacon, I start with an unpromising intro, "I don't want you to be mad at me."

"Yeah, why?" She's pissed already. Her left eyebrow arches so far up it looks like it's leaving her face.

"I think I want to stay around the hotel today," I come clean. "I'm feeling not so hot. You know period problems."

I give her an exaggerated look and point to my belly to make myself look convincing.

I'm of course lying to her, yet again.

Quickly, I add, "But, you should totally go and enjoy yourself."

I smile and hope my act was enough to get rid of her for today.

At the front desk last night, I heard the London Library was just around the corner from here. If I could just get away from Madison for a bit, maybe I could get my brain juices flowing and focus on Ryan's note. I'm obsessed and I don't even care.

"You're kidding," she says rolling her eyes. Throwing her hair in a high bun, she gets up from the table and walks to the bathroom.

Now I've done it. Introducing Madison the almighty roller coaster from hell, full of degrading language, tantrums, and a dash of spiteful best friend.

I scrunch my facing preparing for her blow as she carries on from afar, "It's actually fine." Madison lets out a huff. "I can call Philippe, the one I did study abroad with. He'll go with me."

I force out my paused breath and look up to the ceiling. Bringing my hands together in prayer, I silently thank God. Now, my only real problem is making it back before she finds me missing.