Dreamwalker

Pursued.

I slowly become conscious, the first things that register are the ringing in my ears, and my throbbing head.

I sit up with a groan and rub my temple, opening my eyes and rapidly blinking away the blurriness. I frown as I'm confronted by my room, early morning sunlight is just starting to leak through my curtains, and the clock hands indicate 6:30.

My head finally clears, and panic seizes hold of me as I remember what happened.

"Jeremy." I gasp, disentangling my legs from the sheets and jumping up. I dress faster than I ever have before, pulling on a pair of jeans and T-shirt, I grab my boots and bolt for the front door.

"Penelope?" I hear my father's startled voice coming from the kitchen as I reach the door and yank it open.

"I have a thing I'm late for! Be back soon." I don't have time to hear his reply as the door bangs shut behind me, and I dash down the sidewalk towards town.

I skid to a stop as I suddenly realize that I have no idea where Jeremy lives. He could be anywhere for all I know, and I have no way of contacting him besides Dreamwalking, and that's out of the question for the moment.

An idea pops into my head, and I almost push it away because of how ridiculous it is. But I don't, entertaining the idea for a moment, thinking over the possibility.

Would it be possible for me to reach out with my mind and find him? I have no idea if I can do that in reality, but what do I have to lose?

I take a deep breath and close my eyes, envisioning Jeremy, his hair, his eyes, his profile, the way he talks, and moves, how his voice sounds, how his hand feels in mine. Anything and everything that make him, him. Then I reach out with the memories and thoughts, willing them to show him to me.

After about a minute, an image suddenly flashes across my vision. I gasp and my eyes snap open, blinking several times as the image fades away, having registered into my mind.

A number on an apartment building. The building is across from the coffee shop downtown, it shouldn't take me more than twenty minutes to reach it if I run. And run I do, as fast as I can, ignoring my burning lungs and stiff legs, I reach the building in record time.

I find the door number 15, and knock loudly. I catch my breath on the doorstep, shifting from one foot to the other anxiously. Fighting the urge to feel guilty about possibly waking Jeremy's mother this early in the morning.

I look up and face the door as I hear the lock click and the doorknob turn. I'm faced with an attractive middle aged woman with auburn hair and green eyes. Jeremy takes after his mother a lot, right down to the prominent cheekbones and bow shaped lips.

"Good morning." She says with a small smile, showing her dimples that also matches Jeremy's. Her voice is tinged with question and I explain quickly.

"Good morning, I'm Penelope Trivette, a friend of Jeremy's." Her eyes light up with recognition when I say my name, and her smile widens as she holds the door open for me.

"Penelope, of course. You're the girl from the hospital. I'm Amelia, it's nice to finally meet you." I step inside and nod as she closes the door.

"He's told you about me then?" She laughs and shakes her head slightly.

"He's hardly stopped talking about you for the past five years. Wouldn't even listen to me when I warned him not to search for your subconscious, it's dangerous." I can't help the look of surprise that crosses my face.

"You know he's a Walker?" She nods, sadness in her eyes as she lets out a sigh.

"I didn't want him to continue after my husband and oldest son were killed, but it's not something you can just stop I suppose."