Broken Nightmare

Chapter 23

  The ceiling mocked me as I lay awake in my bed next to Derek. The recent events taunted my mind, worrying about what would have happened if Nathan had not found us when he did. Would I have ended up like Steve O'Hara? How did he know where to find us? And how did Junto get there so fast without a car? Would he run around the city as a wolf for hundreds to see?

Derek shifted from next to me and I froze, as if my thinking too loud was going to wake him. Peeling the covers back slowly, I slipped out of the bed, making a commitment to leave him alone so he can sleep. He was offered a room to himself, but he was still terrified of the Walkers, so he opted to stay in my room for the time being. I didn't mind, it helped me keep him safe.

My mind spun with unanswered questions, driving my nerves to their maximum. Crawling out of my bed, I snuck over to the door and crept down the stairs, being careful not to make any noise.

The sun still hasn't risen, but I woke up hours ago. I grabbed a light blanket from the hall closet and pulled it over my shoulders, knowing the cold would come to me soon. Stepping into the family room, I looked around as if that room has all the answers to my questions. The picture of a wolf came into view and I stepped toward it again. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the wolves and moon were made up of names. Tons of names that circled and swirled into patterns and revealed beautiful Shape Shifters running after the midnight moon.

"Those are the names of all the people we've helped." Nathan stated and came to stand be me. "We started out in New Mexico, helping whoever we could, but then had to expand. Stephan chose Colorado and this place was fixed up."

I didn't look at Nathan again, just admired the names in front of me. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep, either. When I heard you come downstairs, I saw it was an opportunity to check up on you." Nathan stepped to my side. "Stephan had helped dozens of people, each one of them going off to do wonderful things, fulfilling their dreams, even. He pretty much saved their lives, gave them whatever they needed.

"I know you are worried about Derek right now. That and the fact that you are wanted for murder. But what I need you to understand is Stephan has always had a plan. He always knows what to do. Whatever he decides here, just know that he has put a lot of thought into it and is doing what he thinks is best for everybody."

I looked back at the names. What he thinks is best for everybody. All these people got help from Stephan, got a chance. Did Derek have that opportunity to have the same help? He was different, like me. "When we first met, you told me that people like me were rare. Does that mean there aren't many Foreseers anymore?"

Nathan didn't say anything. I pulled the blanket tighter around me and turned to face him. "Please. Nobody is telling me anything and I need to know what is going on here. I at least deserve that."

Nathan took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Foreseers are the weakest strength wise of the supernatural powers, but have the strongest power. That makes them targets for the Keepers and Walkers. The population has decreased in the matter of five years to only a handful left. It's extremely rare to have two in one state like you and Derek are," he explained. "Most foreseers now travel with another supernatural, such as a Mind Manipulator, Shape Shifter pack, or even Vampire. On their own, they usually don't make it."

I thought about what this means to me. I will probably never be able to go home. Unless I want to die. "Why didn't anybody find me in Nevada?"

"Spencer said when he went to your house, he felt a spell your mother had probably set on your siblings and home. When you go too far from where the spell was first set, it will fade away. I don't know how your mother could find a witch, they are even more scarce, but it protects you from any supernatural or keeper to find you. That's the only reason why you were safe there."