When dreams become nightmares

Chapter ten - brothers

A light pressure awoke me from the uneventful sleep I had fallen into. Garfield sat in the driver seat, the engine lay quiet as his hands tightened and fidgeted around the wheel. I readjusted my position so that the side of the chair was no longer digging into my hip. I glanced over at Garfield. He looked nervous. It wasn't a good sign, he wasn't suppose to be nervous, I was suppose to be the nervous one. I smiled, expectantly. He took a deep breath and released the wheel from his grip. "Right. We're here." He announced. I smiled, lightly. He trailed his fingers over the door handle, preparing. He turned quickly towards me, as if he had just decided to tell me something. He took a moment to compose himself, just looking at me before he finally opened his mouth. However, he didn't say anything, he just bit his lip and turned back to the door. I lightly grabbed his arm. He followed his arm with his body as I pulled him back. I took a breath.

"What is it?" I questioned. He looked to the floor, contemplating. "Tell me." I pushed harder. He sighed.

"It's just-" I jumped as the car door on Garfield's side was swung open. Caden stood outside it, his muscular arm resting on the top of the door. He smiled. I smiled back, but something inside me had changed, I didn't trust him as I did before, in fact I didn't trust him at all. Garfield flopped back against the seat in something similar to relief, but with a hint of irritation. His black hair flopping over his eyes.

"Hello brother." Caden chimed, "Kiara." He looked into me, as if he could see the sudden doubt that was slowly forming inside me. I performed my best smile and the look faded. I felt a quick hand squeeze mine as Garfield slipped out of the car seat. I turned to my door, but it was already swinging open.

"Hi, hello, I'm Callum. I'm fast, as in that's my thing, ya know, like my 'gift', what's yours? Wait, no, you don't have to tell me, but you can tell me, if you want to, but if you don't want to that's fine, I'm won't push it, I feel like I'm pushing it, am I pushing it? It's fine, welcome." Was he even breathing? His hair was bright blue and pulled back in bun, he wore a leather jacket with silver studs and tight black jeans. He had a 'squirrel on coffee' mood about him. He talked so fast I could hardly understand what he was saying. Garfield was behind him in seconds, stirring him away like a parent would a small child.

"Sorry." He smiled, "we're all a little full on here." I returned his smile, before hopping out the car. The building was huge, created from big black planks, with huge dark windows, I suspected they were the ones you can see out of, but can't see in. It had a clear spinning door that Caden was now guarding with a smile. I took a deep breath, the nervous feeling in my gut rising to my throat. I felt a hand placed in my shoulder. Garfield gave me a reassuring look, before returning his eyes to the building. "You wanna go inside?" He asked. I stared for a bit, and then, finally, I nodded. I felt something weirdly sinister about this place, and the feeling only grew as we neared the entrance. I looked to Caden, he was still smiling, but something about it was disturbing, something about this place. A smell was beginning to set in my nose, a very familiar smell, the smell of burning plastic and burning flesh. I gripped the end of my coat and stopped. Garfield stopped beside me his hand falling slowly against mine. He seemed to have deliberately not held my hand as he brushed his fingers against the back of my hand. I looked towards him, his eyes stuck on the building in front of us. "What is it?" Garfield asked, just managing to drag his eyes from the building.

"It's nothing." I lied. Unfortunately, I could feel myself turning bright red revealing the obvious lie. Garfield looked worried.

"Tell me." He stared. I bit my lip. I didn't want to make a fuss, I didn't want him to know that in my head my parents were waiting for me inside that building. A tingle of hope in the back of my head that they survived and I was just moments from a perfect reunion. It was a stupid thought, but that smell, it pulled at my memories like a musician, playing the exact tune I wanted to hear. Your parents are alive. It wasn't your fault. They're alive. Garfield pulled me from my spiral when his hand grasped mine. I looked to him, his eyes forward. I followed his gaze to the no longer smiling Caden, who was now giving us the evils. I squeezed Garfield's hand and he returned the gesture.  "Let's just go in, the moment you wanna leave, you can." He pushed. I gave him a reluctant look. "For me." He added. I rolled my eyes. I guess this is where he cashed in all the time he saved my 'bacon'. I grunted and let myself get tugged towards the building as Garfield trekked towards the building. Caden was waiting for us.

Inside, the black wood planks turned to white marble and stone. The ceiling was a considerable way up, with a square staircase that was wrapped around the walls. Apart from the main structure of the building, the rest was bare. The whole place smelled of bleach and other disinfectants. The lingering sense of grief had faded, but something still felt slightly off about it all. Garfield's hand was clutching mine as though he was the one that was new here and Caden hadn't stopped staring us down since we walked in. It all seemed; odd. I glanced down at my bare legs, pale and cold from all the action. I could really do with some clothes.
"Hey, guys," they both shot a look in my direction, "I could really use something to wear." I pointed.

"Right, yeah, clothes, got it." Garfield said, removing his hand from mine. Caden remained still, watching Garfield rush up the stairs. Both Caden and I stood, heads back, watching Garfield trot up each layer of stairs. Once the sound of his steps had faded and neither of us could see his feet, our eyes fell on each other. I gave him an awkward smile. His eyes looked sad, but his face was stone cold. I looked to the floor. I don't know why I was feeling so guilty. Maybe it was just awkward, after all he wasn't who he said he was, or he wasn't who I thought he was. The silence was burrowing into me. Someone had to say something. Anything.

"How's Dariella?" He finally murmured. I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear to avoid eye contact.

"Fine, as far as I know." I replied. He glanced upward towards me.

"As far as you know?" He questioned. I sighed.

"Well, actually I was a busy, literally dying, to babysit, thank you." I said, only slightly raising my voice. I felt the tension rise between us.

"I'm sorry to hear that-"

"What? That I died, or I couldn't babysit Ella?" I interrupted.

"Ella?" He started. I sighed. He was so frustrating. I just wanted an 'I missed you', a 'it's good to see you', literally anything that would remind me that he still was, even remotely, who I thought he was.

"Yes. Ella!" I yelled. So maybe I overreacted. But everyone says near death experiences effected people in different ways. Finally, I heard footsteps heading down the staircase. Both mine and Caden's eyes shot up, eager to escape this awkward exchange. Garfield rushed down, until he stood before us, holding a pile of black and leathery clothes. He smiled, handing me the pile.

"You can get changed in the toilets, right there." He pointed and I nodded.

"Thanks, Gar." He flashed yet another smile.