The Dream Theory

(6) November

Something didn't feel right. As Erik arrived at Owen's house, there was a strange gray small car parked outside in front of the gate. Erik stopped his motorcycle suddenly as he caught sight of something lying on the ground outside the door of the house. He carefully crossed the road with swift feet and approached the lump. As he grew closer, his breath was caught in his lungs as he identified it.

There-in a pool of cold, almost dried blood-was Owen. The man he barely met yesterday. Erik immediately ran over to his care and analyzed the body. He was not breathing and felt ice cold, meaning he was long gone to be brought back. Something cold touched his knees. He looked down and frowned to find that his knees has been soaked with blood.

Erik stood up, looking at his knees with a mumble and looked up at the ajar door. He looked down at Owen's body and stepped over it with caution. "Sorry." He apologized briefly and made it inside, pushing the door all the way open. He was surprised to see that the door's lock was kicked right open. This was a forced entry.

Bloody footprints belonging to whomever did this led to the living room. The 10" footprints then stopped by book shelves, which were dislocated and even damaged. The footsteps moved over to the ruined velvet and white couches and broken coffee table. Erik followed the footprints up to the kitchen, where jars were pushed off into pieces and boxes were ripped open.

The footprints stopped up to a broken door down at the end of the hall across from the kitchen. Erik cautiously moved his feet silently over the uncovered floorboards, stepping over lumps of rugs and pillows. Erik eyed the open door, ignoring the rest of the rooms. The broken down door led him into the backyard.

Who was in here? And what did they want? Erik wondered to himself as he stepped over shards of glass and wood. The sunlight was missing from this scenario as he walked outside. The faint footprints were drying out the more it traveled here. But the wind kept him company.

Erik clenched his hand as he caught sight of the cemetery. Something there wanted him to go, but his phone said otherwise.

Erik answered an incoming call. "Hello?"

"It's James. You're late to the meeting. Where are you?"

"Right." Erik exhaled harshly as his eyes remained locked with the cemetery. "Look, something came up. I might not get there in time. Fill in for me, yes?"

There was a small groan on the other end. "Ugh. Fine. Last time I do this for you. But if Trevor asks any questions, I'm going to have to spill it."

"Thanks dude." Erik said sincerely. "Call me if anything happens." He then hung up and jogged his way to the cemetery.

Erik approached a worn out fence with the label, Warning: Do not enter. And all that annoying trespassing stuff. He looked to one side for any type of opening and caught one off to his right side. He went to it. He grabbed one side and the loose end and pryed it open, forcing his body through the hole he made. His camera sunk in front of him to the hard ground as it met the other side.

"You."

Erik shot his head up, still not through the fence yet, and caught a guy standing in front of him. "Robert Valeri." He breathed.

"Somehow I knew you'd be here." Robert said and faced Erik straight up. His hand was holding something. Erik struggled as he lost his strength to the fence. "Ha, you're stuck. Like a dog tied to a post in the park."

"Did you kill him?"

"Pardon?" Robert looked at him with a calm expression. Erik shook.

"You killed the man, didn't you?"

Robert stood silent. But then he nodded slowly. "Yes I did. Owen. Silly old man stood no chance."

Erik clenched his teeth together. "You're looking for something, aren't you?" He asked softly with anger. "And you killed an innocent person for it."

"I wouldn't call him innocent. Besides, my old man didn't trust me and was going to die sooner or later." Robert explained and pointed to his chest. "He had a heart condition. And he has something I need."

"Why did you tell me to quit my job?" Erik asked, staying still, but was on guard.

Robert eyed Erik down. He then chuckled and rose the wing collar of his jacket up. "Because that job is a killer of time. Trevor only uses people to his own benefit and makes up stories of me because he's jealous."

He quickly changed subjects. Erik didn't seem surprised at that. Long term anger always comes up like a strong storm.

Robert took quick steps forward, startling Erik. He tried to back up but a loose piece of the fence pierced his bare hand. He winced at the pain but was able to successfully make it back to the side where he came from.

Robert slammed his hands on the fence and rattled it harshly. "You have visitors coming to your world." He said, gritting his teeth together. "The demons are coming for you. But you can stop them! All you need to do is come to me."

Erik backed away from the fence and walked back to the house, holding his bleeding hand.

"November, 1999! Page 1 to 12. Look into it!" Robert called after him then stayed silent.

Erik stopped for a moment. November 1999? He turned around, "What's in it?"

Too late. Robert was gone.