In the Shadows of the Night

Chapter 3

Once we were back home I sat in my room all day, waiting and contemplating what I would do that night when my masked protector came. The hours seemed to tick by slowly, making me edgy, I just wish I could make time spin by faster, unfortunately I don't have that power.

I sat on the seat by the windowsill and waited for the day to end, so I could see him again. Once it was dark, I didn't take my eyes off the window, afraid that I'd miss him if I did. After a while my dad came into the room, thinking nothing about me sitting there as he kissed me on the head.

"Dad."

"What is it, dear?"

I sat there for a moment. I wanted to talk to him about the masked man and the dreams I have been having about him and the blonde woman, but I was afraid he would call the police again if I did, that and I knew what he would say, the same thing he always said about the dreams. "Never mind," I forced a smile, letting him know it wasn't important.

"Why don't you try to get some rest, you look tired." He shut the door behind him after leaving my room.

The house grew quiet and the room grew dark, sending shadows from the trees outside, all over the walls, but none of them were the masked man. I folded my arms on the open windowsill under my chin, while I waited for him to show up. Before I knew it, my eyes were getting heavy. I fought to keep them open, wanting to see him, to catch just a glimpse, but the weekend caught up with me eventually.

Just as she fell asleep I stepped out from behind a tree and saw her sleeping, she looked so peaceful from this distance. I could have let her see me earlier, but I knew that in doing so it would only add to her curiosity, so I waited until she fell asleep before stepping out of the tree line to see her more clearly.

That night wasn't any different from any other night. My dream started out with me as a child running down the white sandy beach with my hair flowing behind me as I ran into the beautiful blonde woman's arms. She said the same thing she said the last time I dreamt about her.

"My little Summer I'll love you forever and even after my death. I know you are young, and you don't understand but I hope you will never forget me."

And then, my dream instantly went from there to the masked man and the night he helped me in the woods, when we hid from the storm in the cave. I turned to look up into his eyes and was swept away by them, almost mesmerized. It's as if his soul was speaking to mine. Suddenly his stare became too intense, waking me from my sleep.

When I lifted my head, I saw a rose petal on my arm. I looked around to see where it could have come from, but there weren't any roses anywhere around my bedroom window. I lifted the rose petal from my arm and stood up, amazed that I could put all my weight on my foot. Somehow during the night, I had healed completely.

I sat back down in the chair and unwrapped my ankle. The bruising and swelling were almost gone. I wasn't sure how I had healed so quickly but I was grateful that I had. I put the little rose petal in the small drawer of my jewelry box and went to take a shower.

After my shower I got out and quickly dressed, then picked up the phone and called my friends.

Once I had made plans to go to the beach with all my friends I ran down stairs wearing my shorts and swimsuit top.

"Hey, where are you going," dad hollered from the sofa?

"To the beach."

"What about your ankle," He looked down at my ankle looking as surprised as I was when I woke up this morning.

"It's better, see." I said with a wiggle of my foot. "It doesn't hurt at all."