Sleep Keeper (30 page)

“It’s over, my love,” Orion assured as he stroked my hair.

“I pray that’s true,” I whispered.

“I don’t understand what happened. Who was that?” Orion questioned.

“Mom,” I muttered. The reality of it hadn’t quite sunk in.

“Your
Mother?
” Orion repeated in shock.

“My family has secrets too,” I replied.

“What did she do to him?”

“She shot him.”

Orion’s perplexed expression summoned me to continue.

“With a gun,” I added.

That same blank stare peered back at me.

“It’s a… weapon. When you pull the trigger, a small explosion shoots out a metal bullet at a high speed that penetrates your victim, leaving a gaping hole in its place.”

“Wow, I think we need to ramp up our weaponry,” he replied.

“No!” I quickly rebutted. “I’ve seen it… once you go down that path, the destruction will spread and consume this world. Please, let it be.”

A warm smile spread across Orion’s cheeks.

“What?” I asked.

“You always know just want to say,” he teased.

I smiled in return. We sat on the beach in silence and watched the picturesque sky.

“We should go help the others,” I suggested.

“No, they’ll be fine,” he responded and pulled me into his arms.

I woke in the morning to the howling wind. I sat up in bed and peeked at the clock, 7:08 A.M.

Oh great…
late for work already on this dreadful Monday morning. My head danced with a million questions from last night; I couldn’t possibly go to work today. My first priority was Mom. I picked up the phone and dialed her number. It rang and rang with no answer. I jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes and brushed my teeth. I was searching for my keys when my stomach scolded me and demanded that I eat. As I was making a snack, there was a knock on my door. I peered through the peek-hole… Mom! I flew open to door and wrapped my arms around her.

“Mom, thank God you’re all right!” I held on for a long moment, and then finally let her go.

“You’re probably waiting for an explanation,” she asked.

I threw my hands in the air, “Well, of course I am, Mom!”

She sauntered to kitchen and I impatiently followed.

“I was at home, sitting on the couch when I had another vision. I was standing in a forest. I could smell death around me. I heard screaming and saw Jeremy stabbing you with a knife over and over,” she winced and turned away.

Tears beaded in her eyes. She wiped them away and continued.

“Then, I was back at home. I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer. After all this time I recognized that forest and knew I had to go back to that forsaken world to warn you. I wasn’t sure if I remembered how, but it came back to me. I concentrated on the scene of my vision…” she looked back down, “… you know the rest.”

“You can control it that easily?” I asked.

“Can’t you?” she asked.

I shook my head. “And where did you get a gun?”

“A few months back, when the visions of
him
first returned, I was scared and bought one. Last night, I thought it might be useful so I loaded it and put it in my jacket pocket.”

“You can bring things with you?” I stuttered. “I… don’t know what to say.”

I was surprised and proud of her for coming to my rescue. Even more so, I was impressed at her ability to cross the lines between the worlds with ease. Over the past few weeks, I was staring to realize that the division between the worlds wasn’t only in the mind. It wasn’t as black and white as I had originally thought. I wondered if she could teach me how to control my entrance into that world the way she could. The possibilities that would open… the chance to see Orion whenever I pleased. My mind began to wander toward a brighter future.

“Alexis? Are you okay?”

It was probably not the right time to ask her.

“Sorry, Mom… I’m just… forever grateful to you,” I placed my hand on hers.

“Anything for my daughter,” she beamed.

“But there’s still one more thing - Jeremy,” I spoke carefully, trying to measure her reaction to my inquisition.

“Oh, yes, what happened to Jeremy? After I shot
him
, I searched for Jeremy, but couldn’t find him,” Mom responded cautiously.

“I don’t know. He appears to be missing,” I replied and studied her face.

She kept a composed expression, “That’s terrible news.”

“Yes, terrible. I guess it’s not over after all,” I dejected.

“I wouldn’t worry about him sweetheart. Sometimes things have a way of working out,” she answered as she patted my hand gently.

“What do you mean?” I queried.

She shrugged her shoulders and curled down her lips in an ignorant manner. I remained quiet and studied her face. I wondered if Mom helped him escape. Maybe she brought him back to this world? Or she did something with him so he couldn’t hurt anyone again. Maybe Jeremy came back to this world and fled on his own. Or was he was able to stay in that world? Given whom both of his parents were, the possibilities were endless.

Her face gave me no clues and we spoke no more on the topic. Mom thought it would be good for us both to get out of the condo. After a quick “pregnancy emergency” call into work, Mom and I spent the remainder of the day together – pedicures, a movie, and then dinner. After we parted, I climbed into my car to head home, but there was something still left unfinished. I drove by Jeremy’s apartment.

My stomach sank when I spotted his car parked outside. I was unsure what to do next. I didn’t expect to see it there. I knew I shouldn’t go in there alone and unprotected, but I couldn’t bring myself to drive away. I threw the car into park and sat outside of his apartment, waiting.

An hour went by when Anna emerged from the apartment. I stiffened in my seat with my eyes glued at the door. She turned back to lock the door behind her. She stomped across the parking lot pavement and I jumped out of my car after her.

“Anna,” I called.

She turned toward me with tired eyes. “Alexis?” She curled up her nose. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see Jeremy.”

“Well, he’s not here,” she shot back and began to walk away.

I grabbed her shoulder. “When will he be back? Do you know where he is?”

She shrugged it free. “He’s not coming back. I came home last night and found a note on the door. Says he left and ain’t coming back.”

“A note? Can I see it?”

She flashed a look of disgust, “What the hell’s it to ya?”

I didn’t respond.

“Besides, I burned it. Screw him!” She turned and stomped away.

I returned to my car and waiting the remainder of the night to validate if what she said was true. Besides several runs to the Quick Mart for snacks and bathroom break, I managed to stay awake and parked in front of his apartment for most of the night. In the early morning light, with no sign of Jeremy, I drove back home in defeat.

Twenty yards ahead stood a deer, drinking from a gentle brook. His lean body was a smooth grayish-brown color with white painted around his eyes, on his nose, across his stomach and under his tail. He lifted his head and looked in my direction. His antlers were smooth and pronounced. I remained still, admiring his beauty. I took a step closer and he leapt behind a tree just as something whizzed past. In his place was an arrow protruding from the trunk of a nearby tree. The deer disappeared into the forest. I turned around toward the source of the attack.

“Orion?” I huffed in surprise.

“Alexis!” he hollered from the nearby brush.

“So you’re who scared away our buck,” accused Apollo from behind him.

“Don’t go blaming her for your bad shot,” teased Orion.

“You guys were trying to kill that deer?” I cried.

“Gotta kill it before we eat it!” laughed Apollo.

I cringed at the idea. I could see Orion smiling at my innocence from across the way. He jogged over and leaned down for a kiss.

“Hi beautiful,” he smiled.

“Beautiful? Oh yeah right, I’m huge! At least it will be over any day now. Speaking of which, I finished moving the last of my things from the condo. Mom will be happy I’m back at home, I’m sure,” I ran my hands across my belly and let out a deep sigh.

Mitchell’s parents weren’t too happy hearing the baby wasn’t his. I didn’t tell them that I wasn’t sure. I probably should have – it was selfish of me not to, but every time they called I thought of Mitchell. I wanted that life behind me. When I offered to move out of their condo, they quickly agreed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I wish you could be there - when the baby’s born,” I pouted and stared at a twig lying in the dirt.

“I do too, my love. You have no idea how much. I don’t know if I will ever meet my child,” he frowned.

“Don’t say that. You will, I promise.”

“Since when did you become so optimistic?” he teased.

“I don’t know, since no one has tried to kill me lately,” I jabbed back as a joke, but it left the air hanging in an unsettling silence.

“Speaking of killing, have you heard from your brother?” Apollo interrupted.

“Apollo!” Orion scorned.

“What?” he asked innocently.

“It’s okay,” I laughed. I adored Apollo’s candor. “No. Haven’t seen or heard from him since… well, you know.”

Apollo frowned and meandered away.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Leyland sent a package from Anhawk for you… or actually for the baby. It’s back at home,” Orion said.

“That was sweet of him. I… ohhh!” I moaned and cradled my belly.

“What is it?” Orion voice was alarmed.

I took several deep breaths. “I don’t know, I just had a cramp… but it went away.”

“It just went away?” he asked.

“Yeah, I feel fine now. It’s been happening off and on all day. The doctors say it’s common in this week. I think I just need to sit down. My back is killing me. Can we go back to the cabin?”

“Of course,” Orion replied and put his arm around me to support some of the weight. “Hey! Apollo! We’re heading back!” Orion called.

“Okay, I’ll meet you later!” Apollo hollered back.

I transported us back to the cabin. I’d been able to do it more frequently these days with practice, but only when I’m touching Orion. I sat on the couch while Orion went into the kitchen to get me some water. I stretched out my legs to rest my aching feet. I felt unusually uncomfortable and shifted restlessly. An aching tightness started in my back and radiated around to my abdomen. It felt like it was squeezing my insides to death.

“Ohhh...” I moaned and curled to my side.

Orion jolted in and fell to his knees, “What’s wrong?”

“Cramping…” I huffed out.

His panic-stricken face turned white at the realization of what was happening. “We need to get you… somewhere,” he stuttered, his eyes darting around the room.

I found his sudden distress and confusion quite adorable. “What did you have in mind, the shower?” I teased.

He gave a hardened glare, “I’m glad you think this is amusing. Wait an hour and we’ll see if you still agree,” he shot back.

That was a low blow.

“Relax, I feel fine again. Besides, I read these things take hours, even days. My body hasn’t even woke up yet,” I reassured him.

“Still, I would feel better if we went to the doctor’s office,” he insisted.

“Ugh, fine,” I grumbled and he helped me to my feet.

I suddenly felt something warm and wet against my legs. I never had to pee in this world before. My face flushed with humiliation. I stood petrified, especially when I realized that it wasn’t stopping. Orion’s face was mortified. The humiliation washed away by an intense pain that made me buckle.

Orion gasped, “I think your water broke! We need to get you to a doctor,” he urged. “Take us into town.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

This was becoming a little too real for me to mess around. I took his hand and focused on the town’s border, but nothing happened.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I don’t know. It’s kinda hard to focus.”

“Well try harder!”

I sighed in irritation and focused on the border. With my eyes still a blur, another debilitating pain swept across my stomach. I cried out in pain, bent over and sucked in deep breaths.

“I thought this was supposed to take a long time?” he asked.

“I don’t know all the rules! Besides, I pictured myself giving birth in
my
world! Who knows how it works here! Oh, why am I not waking up?! Oh no… am I in labor while I’m asleep?! What’s happening to me?!” I shrieked.

I started to panic and everything began to spin.

“Calm down,” Orion grabbed my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. “You’re fine. Just relax…”

“Relax?! Easy for you to say! I want to wake up now!” I demanded and started pinching my arm profusely.

“Alexis, stop it!”

“Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” I yelled and started slapping my cheeks with both hands.

Orion threw up his arms and groaned, waiting for me to snap out of my hysteria. My tirade was rudely interrupted by another pain that sent me to my knees.

“This seems too fast. I’m calling the doctor,” Orion announced and hurried out of the room.

After the call, Orion moved me to his bed and paced the room anxiously. The shuffling of his feet was greatly irritating, but I managed to bite my tongue. The contractions increase significantly in duration and intensity as the hour passed. With each contraction, I vowed that it was the worst pain I had ever felt, but was disappointed to discover that each subsequent contraction was even worse. How could a cramping muscle cause this much pain? I pictured a scalding dull blade twisting into my lower back and abdomen every several minutes, ripping my insides to shreds.

“I’m sorry,” Orion murmured and held my hand.

His constant apologies were also freaking me out. All I could think about was how much I wished Mom were here.

“I want to go home,” I cried.

“I’m sorry, my love.”

“Stop saying that!” I snapped.

Finally, an elderly gentleman doctor arrived with two young female assistants in tow.

“How’s my patient doing?” he calmly asked.

“Not good,” I sobbed.

“Let’s take a look.”

“Wait, I think I need to use the bathroom,” I said as a sudden urge to poop hit.

“Oh, that’s a good sign,” he replied as he lifted the blanket.

Orion’s mouth dropped open.

Just then Apollo strolled into the room, “What’s going on in… oh gross!”

I was seriously contemplating dying from embarrassment. Luckily I didn’t have to look at Apollo because he disappeared out of the room in a heartbeat.

“Looks like you’re ready to go. The baby’s crowning,” the doctor smiled.

“Wait, I need drugs. Please!” I begged.

“No time now, darling,” he answered.

“What do you mean ‘no time’? How long does it take to poke a needle in my arm?! Owe!” I screamed and bore down.

“The next time you feel the urge to push I want you to relax your upper body, inhale and focus on pushing from the top of your abdomen as you slowly exhale,” he explained calmly.

“Huh?” I grunted.

Everything sounded blurred from the pain. I let my body take over and pushed for what seemed like forever, but Orion assured me later that it was only twenty minutes. Suddenly, an overwhelming urge took over and I involuntarily bore down and pushed. The pain was excruciating and burned with a ferocious intensity. I screamed and begged for it to stop. Within a minute, it ended and I heard the sweet wailing of my baby.

“Congratulations Mom! It’s a boy!” one of the assistants cheered.

Tears rolled down my cheeks and Orion kissed them away. They laid the baby on my chest and he instantly settled down. He looked up at me with steel blue eyes. My heart melted and all the pain I had endured quickly ceased.

“Have you picked out a name?” the doctor asked.

I looked over at Orion.

“Well, I was thinking of Jason,” he suggested.

I smiled, “Jason is perfect.”

An overpowering wave of exhaustion hit me and I closed my eyes for a moment.

I awoke feeling surprisingly refreshed. My body no longer ached but my mouth was utterly parched. I let out a soft yawn and peeled open my eyes.

“Hi honey, did I wake you?” Mom whispered.

“Mom?” I muttered and rubbed my eyes.

“I’m here, Alexis.”

I focused my eyes and saw Mom sitting on a chair next to my bed. I glided my hand down my perfectly flattened stomach.

“My baby!” I gasped and jumped out of bed easily.

“Calm down!” she ordered and grabbed my arm. “He’s with Orion in the other room.”

“Huh?” I turned my head and surveyed the room. I was still in Orion’s house.

“But… you…” I sputtered.

“I’m here with you.”

“How? Why? I don’t understand what’s happening.”

“Calm down. I was sleeping when I heard you moaning. I came in to check on you, but you were gone. I searched around the house and couldn’t find you anywhere. I checked the garage but your car was still here. I went outside, but the neighborhood was quiet. I thought this might be the next logical place,” she explained.

“Logical?” her choice of word was puzzling. “I don’t understand. Am I missing?” I gasped.

Mom chuckled, “You’re not missing, you’re just not dreaming.”

“Is that… possible?”

“Anything’s possible,” she shrugged.

“How do you know I wasn’t kidnapped and am actually dreaming right now?” I cross-examined.

Orion walked in holding Jason and let out a subdued laugh, “Why am I not surprised by your hypothesis?”

I crossed my brows and frowned.

“Will you just relax… you’re always so pessimistic. That must be from your father,” Mom insisted. “My body crosses over as well, Alexis.”

I turned toward Orion. “Do others cross over in body too?”

He gave a shrug, “I don’t know… but you aren’t ‘others’ Alexis. You belong here,” he said, as he laid my sleeping baby in my arms.

His light brown hair glistened against the sunshine that peaked in through the window. His delicate rosy skin was smooth and pearly. I leaned down and kissed the top of his head. He smelled amazing.

“My angel,” I whispered.

Months pasted by and my body never returned to my old world. Mom visited often. I asked her numerous times to teach me how to cross over between worlds but she says she doesn’t know how she does it. She told my friends and family that I found a job in another state and had moved to start a new life. I had lost touch with most since Mitchell’s death, so no one really questioned my lack of communication; which was good, but also somewhat sad.

I still hadn’t heard from Jeremy, but he hadn’t been a stranger to stalking my nightmares. Mom became tense and quiet whenever I brought up his name or questioned his disappearance. I knew in the pit of my stomach that he was still lurking around somewhere. Maybe he was somewhere in this world... or maybe somewhere in between.

Half sleep keeper, half sleep walker, but full dream stalker.