Hidden In The Shadows

7. Overestimating the Real World

The sights that stood before me were blurred and misty, as though I was not in the real world, not in the world of dreams either, but somewhere in between. I was in a realm where everything around me was unclear. I wanted to shout at the figures surrounding me. I wanted to reach out and grab the nearest person's hand as tightly as they were gripping mine. I wanted more than ever to run down the streets of this hospital and out of these doors to finally be free of this confinement.

In the misty haze, even though everything was blurred, one figure remained crystal clear. His dark demeanour staring into the depths of my equally as dark soul. The cloak which seemed to shade him from the world acted like a shelter to remove any sort of humane feelings. Then appeared the most recognisable trait: the scythe. Standing in the corner of the dusty hospital room was the grim reaper himself.

"Well hello Emi." He began
I was unable to speak. No due to shock because I had encountered him before when I was on the edge of life itself, but due to physical limitations- possibly because of surgery- which caused me to have no sense of speech.

"I wanted to tell you something. Something which you need to take heed of before you can finally be at peace and wallowing in your so-called freedom."
He approached the end of the hospital bed and sat on the edge, resting his magnificent stick on the floor under him.

"I take the lives of people at the time of death. That was why I appeared when you were escaping your kidnapping."
Oh wow so I wasn't going crazy and hallucinating, it was really the dark angel himself.
"But somehow you carried on living. I couldn't take your soul."

Honestly, I don't get this whole thing. So I've somehow got a reason to live? I didn't think so but doesn't everyone else?

He carried on "I wanted to remind you of some things before you get too comfortable. Firstly, don't forget to visit the house of Samuel Rogers' wife, she is important." He seemed to take a breath- sigh even- and carried on "I took Rogers' soul earlier today. They broke him. But you have to make sure his life does not go to waste."

"Secondly, beware of the people closest to you, for you might not pay attention to the face on your glowing screen, but they will hold the key to the rest of your life."

"Thirdly, I know you have always been different to your parents, but remember to respect how much they took care of you. Also, after you have done and found out everything about this killer, question them on what they withhold from you." He said with one final word, stood up and made his way out of the door.

"Goodbye Emi." He said with a sad smile and walked away.
Really? A riddle. Just as you think things can't get any worse I have to be the one to find out who killed Sam and kidnapped me. Great (!) But wait. What could my parents be hiding from me?

Did I really just have an encounter with the grim reaper? I must be going mad. A face popped up at the side of the door. "No you're not going mad." Grim winked. I smiled at the thought of the Grim Reaper actually talking to me, but frowned when I remembered his words.

Suddenly, the walls started shaking; the ground started moving; the ceiling started collapsing and I was spun around and around and around. My head was dizzy and eyes glued shut because of the pressure. I begged whatever it was to stop "STOP!"

Everything stood still for one moment, then two, then nothing moved again. I tried opening my eyes, but it seemed as though my eyeballs were stuck to my eyelids. I finally heard the noises. Th noises of the 'real' world gripping onto my hand and wailing at the sight of my injury. My brain was alive though, very much alive, just not this useless body that I was placed into.

I remembered Grim's words clearly "...face on your glowing screen..."
What face? On what screen? I hated riddles when it came to important things and this was frankly the difference between life and death. I didn't need no unnecessary messing about. I've had enough of that with my parents as it is.

My eyelids stayed glued for about a minute more before they started to pry away from my eyeballs. I opened them slowly and carefully to observe my surroundings and find the owner to the gripping hand that was clutching onto me. I looked up and saw my mother as the owner and my father sitting across from the hospital bed.

A nurse was standing over me with a clipboard in her hand and a scowling expression planted on her face. The scowl morphed into a fake smile as she looked down on me beginning to awaken.

"Hello Miss Emi." She spoke and my mother's eyes snapped my way with shock. Her eyes were bloodshot with the hours of crying she probably endured. Her face pale, highlighting her dark circles even more which symbolised her lack of sleep.

I saw it on my mother's face for the first time ever today, she was worried. She cared. But my happy thoughts were immediaty destroyed as the mask of terror was placed back on her face and she became the mother that I knew and hated.

"Where have you been?" She started. Oh that's just like her no 'hello how have you been?'
"Here" I replied almost with sarcasm because she could see with her own eyes that I had been in hospital.

"I meant before you came here." She said sternly "they said that you were admitted here last night. Where were you before then?"
The nurse noticing the anger on my mum's face cut me off before I could say anything and gave me the news I was looking for.

"Okay Emi you are discharged. Here are your papers, crutches are on the side of your bed and it seems as though your leg will heal perfectly in about 6 weeks time. Have plenty of rest during that time."

Yess! I was free! Now I could get this killer situation under control and find out what my parents are hiding from me. I lept out of the bed and began limping to the door. My mother followed behind me and whispered in my ear "don't think this gets you off the hook. Kareem's family are still visiting for your proposal."

I frowned at the thought. I swear my face will probably have morphed into a permanant frown because of all the frowning I'm doing.

I had 5 days to prevent this proposal from happening. Another thing to add onto my list of things I need to do. This was going to be an eventful week.