Dream Child

Chapter Twelve

Amanda woke slowly, her consciousness not yet allowing her to ascend from the comfort of the nothingness that her body sought.

Fighting against the urge to succumb back down, Amanda emerged from the murkiness and cracked open her eyes. Immediately she was blinded by light.

Surging upwards she butted heads with her husband.

"Amanda," he murmured.

She lay back and bit her bottom lip and looked anxiously around the room, avoiding contact with his eyes.

He moved closer to her face, taking a hold of her jaw gently and pulled it towards him.

She looked into his eyes, his brows knitted in a frown as his eyes searched hers, worry and concern filling them. She squirmed under his gaze, though it was full of compassion, she detected and could sense that he was inches away from falling apart. She didn't want her eyes to betray her and fill up with tears, so she lowered her eyes and broke eye contact.

"Amanda," he whispered urgently. "Please look at me."

The bed shifted as his weight came down beside her, and he placed his arms on each side of her head and stared down at her.

She raised her eyes again and his penetrating gaze probed hers.

"What happened?" he asked quietly.

Instead of answering, she shook her head and hooked her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her. She reveled in the solidarity of his form and his warmth, soaking up his heat. She was still so cold, the cold was not natural, it seemed to be radiating from within her.

"Talk to me baby, please," he whispered against her neck.

"She's back Eric. She's back and she's evil and she wants to kill me. I think she's trying to hurt more than just me... I think she wants to kill the baby. I don't know why... I loved her so much, I tried to save her. I wanted to die with her. " she finally let go and sobbed against him.

He shifted his arms to slip behind her and crushed her against him.

Her sobs racked both of their bodies and he was fearful. What happened at the other house had no explanation, he could not for the life of him find a logical reason to what she described. The water on the floor, her soaking wet and passed out. There was no running water in the bathroom or kitchen, there was no reason that he could figure out. He was not one to believe in the supernatural, he couldn't grasp the idea that his daughter was coming back and trying to murder her own mother.
He thought it was behind them, the house, the memories were left behind. For months' life was normal and they were looking forward to the arrival of the baby; they were moving past the trauma of losing her.

And now this. He didn't know what to do except to hold her and believe her.

"Okay," he reassured her.

He detached from her and lifted her up.

"Tell me what happened."

"I..." she stopped. Took a breath.

"I was outside and relaxing on the swing, and I guess I fell asleep. Except it didn't feel like I fell asleep, it felt real. I heard something and I got up to see what it was. The music cut off and I walked over to the steps and was scanning the yard when hands pushed me. I was falling and then I woke up on the swing."

He nodded and rubbed her leg.

"I got scared because the music was off like in my dream. When I was walking into the house, I felt that there was something there, that what I heard wasn't just a dream... there was something there."

She looked over at him, her eyes searching his for his reaction. She felt relief when she only detected empathy, his facial expression was washed in worry, his hand rubbing her leg, his foot was rapidly tapping on the floor.

Taking a deep breath she continued.

"So I came in the house and locked the door. I went upstairs and laid on the bed, trying to gather my thoughts and get myself together. Then I heard walking. I had my eyes closed and I thought you had come home from work so I sat up, waiting for you to come into the room."

She stopped, tears filling her eyes as she tried to explain what happened. The coldness she felt was still wrapped around her, and she drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. Only her stomach wouldn't allow it.

"Can you come closer? Hold me please?" she pleaded.

He obliged and once they were settled, she began again.

"The steps... they weren't coming from the stairs... they were coming from above me. And I called out and said they weren't welcomed here. Then the footsteps began running, and I jumped up the the head of the bed and that's when I saw her. The bathroom door was opened, and she was there. She ran out and to the edge of the bed, and she was so angry. And she was freezing me... her mouth distorted open like you see in the movies, and this cold air erupted from her and to me. I was so cold. She came right into my face, looking me in my eyes. They were so empty Eric... they were so utterly empty and void. I felt the coldness in my body. She screamed so loudly in my face... I felt it in my head. It was like she was trying to shatter my mind. All I could think of was to pray and pray... and that's when you came in."

Silence filled the room, Eric now feeling his skin crawling as he visualized what had taken place. He saw the bathroom door was opened, and she was freezing and clammy.

"I believe you," he rasped, holding her closer. "But...I don't know what to do."