More Than One: A Novel (4 page)

I rubbed my eyes to finish reading the script on the television. It stung even harder when I learned where the crimes took place. First in an alley, the next on the top of a building, a man was shoved after having his throat cut, then behind a restaurant. The list went on. It was like the reporter was reading from my journal.

I looked around the room, and saw faces, so many faces; some looking at me, others still talking amongst their group. I felt like I was spinning, I wanted to throw up.

I looked toward the restroom and saw Rach walking up with her arm wrapped around some guy. She was smiling and laughing until she looked at me; everything drained from her face. She sped up as she walked toward me, but I couldn’t wait, I had to get out of there. I grabbed my purse and bolted for the door.

Once outside, I started pacing in front of the building, trying to figure out what to do, what to think. I held back the tears and the scream that wanted to explode out of me. Then Rach was by my side.

“What the hell Jay, what happened in there?” She demanded.

“We gotta go, I gotta get out of here,” I whispered, unable to speak above anything but that.

“Why, what’s going on? I thought you were having a good time.”

“Rach, listen to me,” I finally spoke up, “I need to get back to the room. I have to get away from here. I need to think and I can’t do it with everyone staring at me.”

“Who is staring at you?”

“The faces, the people,” I choked out, “they were innocent people who had wonderful lives and now they are gone. It’s all real.”

“What people? Who is gone? You’re not making any sense. Please tell me what’s going on,” she pleaded.

“We have to go. I have to show you something first. Please just trust me.”

“Okay, I trust you,” she said.

We ran to the car, and by the time we made it there, I was crying. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. When I got in the car, I fastened my seat belt, but put the chest strap behind my seat. I had to lean over to put my head between my knees.

Rach was finally in and turned on the car. She sat there for a moment, turned the music down, and patted me on my back. I lifted up to rub my temples, but the pain wouldn’t go away.

“Please hurry,” I mumbled. I felt sick.

Rach weaved in and out of traffic, not saying a word. The silence was unbearable. I wanted to start talking, but words left me. I just sat, rocking and rubbing my head.

We finally made it to our room and I raced upstairs, with Rach on my heels.

Once inside the room, I ran straight for my nightstand. Rach was on the other side of the room with her arms folded across her chest.

“So, what’s this about? You’re scaring me,” she said.

I pulled the journal out and opened it.

“I want you to read this first and then I will tell you what this is all about.”

“What is it?”

“It’s my journal. After every dream, I wake up and write down everything that happens. I need you to read this before I explain and maybe it will make more sense.”

She was reluctant, but she grabbed the book and sat down on her bed. While she was reading, I opened my laptop, went to the search engine, and found the news report on what I’d watched earlier.

I glanced at Rach and noticed her eyes were wide with fright. She didn’t say anything other than the occasional gasp here and there. As she flipped the pages, my heart raced even more. What was she thinking?

I closed my eyes and saw the face of the first victim who, from the report, had a daughter my age. I started crying again. Finally Rach looked up, face filled with horror.

“What does this all mean? These are your dreams. OMG, I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through.”

“That’s not the half of it. Now look at this,” I said turning the laptop around and pressing play.

Rach came and knelt down by my bed. We sat in silence watching the report.

I looked away when the reporter started showing the pictures of the victims. I couldn’t watch that again. Then it hit Rach like a bolt of lightning. She fell to the floor, pulled her knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her legs.

“Are these the same people from your dreams?”

I couldn’t speak. I just nodded.

“So are you like a psychic or something?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know why I’m having these dreams. I can’t figure out why this is happening to me.” I started to hyperventilate. I stuck my head between my legs.

“We have to tell someone,” she said.

“Who can we tell? Should I go to the police and tell them I’m having dreams about murdering people and oh, by the way, it’s the same people who were killed in Rome.”

Rach was still rocking. “You’re right. So what do we do then?”

“I don’t know. I can’t tell my parents, they’ll throw me in a rubber room. I mean, let’s slow down here, this might not mean anything,” I said.

“And it could mean everything. You’re dreaming about murders that are really happening, there’s gotta be something to it.”

“How do I figure that out though?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I think you should talk to someone. Maybe a psychiatrist can catch something we’re missing.”

“A shrink?” I steamed. “Not this again.”

“Yes,” she cut me off, “don’t you want your life to go back to normal. You know, like before the nightmares. This might help you.”

I sighed and realized maybe she was right. It would be nice to put this all behind me. I just hate the thought of seeing a shrink.

“Okay, I’ll try it, but you have to go with me,” I said.

“Of course,” she agreed.

We sat in silence for another fifteen minutes. It

seemed the time just lingered on. Rach finally got up and sat on the bed next to me. The look on her face screamed panic on the inside, but she was trying to stay calm for me. I was lucky to have her as a best friend. I just hoped it wouldn’t change after all this was over.

Chapter Four

I woke up that morning feeling sluggish from the restless night I had. Once again, my mind was blank, which meant my dream was filled with nothingness.

I should be happy since I was spared the depravity of my once normal dreams, but it was hard to get excited. Instead, I lie in bed contemplating on the day ahead. It was Monday and I didn't want to go to class, but I definitely had to go to work.

Rach wanted me to call and set up an appointment with some psychiatrist and I promised her I would. I still didn’t know what to think or how to feel about the situation.

I needed to know what was causing me to have these nightmares, so seeing someone would be my best resolve.

I got up, stretched, and turned on the television. I didn’t want to watch the news for fear of a report on more dead bodies being found, so I put it on the cooking channel. 

I turned on my laptop to find a therapist to talk to. When the screen popped up, I saw an email from my mom.

I hadn’t talked to her in a couple of days and she worries if I don’t communicate in some form. I opened the email and it was her usual rant about what was going on with her and my dad. Then she started grilling me about not calling.

By the end of the email, she was asking me to come home for the weekend because she was missing me. Oddly enough, I was missing them, too.

I wondered if Rach would want to go. My parents adored her and I could have her there for comfort, since she was the only one I’d talked to about what was going on.

I quickly realized that Rach was becoming my support system. I smiled at the thought because for whatever reason, she knew it, but didn’t mind.

I emailed her back explaining about the extra hours at work and school. Then I apologized over and over again about not calling. I told her that I would make plans to come the weekend and asked if it was okay to invite Rach.

In the mist of checking the rest of my emails, I forgot why I was online in the first place. I backed up my thoughts and remembered the shrink.

I knew there were therapists on campus that I could talk to, but my parents knew most of the staff. I couldn’t risk one of them telling my parents, even if it is supposed to be confidential. They would find a loophole and then I’d have an angry mother, who would be hurt for not coming to her first.

I put that out of my mind and finished putting my request in the search engine and waited. Seconds later, over a dozen of sites pulled up. I clicked on them one at a time to see which one appealed to me. Half way down the list, I saw an ad for a Dr. Brian Silverman.

Maybe it was because I was tired of looking, but I picked my cell phone up and dialed the number.

I listened as the phone rang, trying to figure out what I should say was happening if they asked.

“Dr. Silverman’s office, how can I help you?” the woman’s voice was chipper on the other end.

“Uh, yes, my name is Wendy Smith and I was trying to schedule a time to talk to the doctor,” I said. I knew I didn’t sound believable. I couldn’t even fool myself.

“We have an opening for tomorrow, what time can you come in?”

“One would be the best time for me.”

“Okay Miss Smith, I’ll schedule you for a consultation and if something comes up, please call and let us know in advance.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Have a nice day and we’ll see you tomorrow at one,” she said.

“Bye,” I said and quickly hung up the phone before she could say anything else.

This is insane. What am I going to say to this man tomorrow? I wondered what kind of patients he normally had and if they were anything like me.

I closed my laptop and went to the bathroom to get cleaned up. After I was done, I came out and Rach was up on the phone. I turned down the television and went to my closet.

I pulled out some jeans and a black fitted tee. I put my clothes on and waited for Rach to get off the phone. I wanted to tell her about the consultation and make sure she was available.

She finally looked up and saw I was waiting. She told the person on the phone that she had to go.

“Hey, I called and set up an appointment for tomorrow at one. Are you free?” I asked.

“Yeah I’m free. I’m glad you called. Maybe this guy can help,” she said.

“I hope so,” I sighed. “I was going to get something to eat, you wanna come with me?”

“I would, but I have so much homework I need to catch up on and I’m scared if I don’t get started right now, I’ll never do it.”

“Oh, okay, you want me to bring you something back?”

“If you don’t mind, where are you going?”

“I don’t know yet, but I can call you and let you know where I stop.”

“Sounds good to me. Thanks.”

“Oh, and my mom wants me to visit this weekend and I wanted to see if you would come, too.”

“I don’t have any plans other than hanging out with Derrick, but I can do that any time. I haven’t seen your parents in a while, it would be great. Do you plan on telling them about the dreams?”

“I haven’t decided yet, I’ll know if I should when I see them.”

“I think you should, but that’s up to you.”

“I’ll give it a lot of thought,” I said grabbing my keys, “I’ll be back.”

“Okay, be safe,” she said.

I didn’t respond, I just nodded and headed for the door. I walked out of the room and stood there in a daze. I really hadn’t thought about what I would say to my parents. They are reasonable people, but I still wasn’t sure how to tell them about this.

Once on the street, I started scanning places to eat. Nothing caught my attention. I stopped at the stoplight and was looking forward when I saw the dark S.U.V. on the other side across from me. When the truck passed, I saw my mystery guy behind the wheel.

He smiled as he went by and I stopped short. Was this the same S.U.V. I thought was following me a while back? I doubt if he was so into me that he would stoop to stalking. But he was real, I didn’t imagine him and the thought tickled me.

He was gorgeous, just like he was the first time I saw him. I was so caught up in my own fantasy, that it startled me when the car behind me honked the horn for me to go. I pressed the gas hard and zoomed across the street.

After grabbing our food, I hurried back to the dorm. As usual, Rech was eyeballing me.

“What are you grinning about?” she asked.

“I was thinking about my mystery guy,” I lied.

“Who is this mystery guy?”

“You remember the guy we saw at the Junction a while back?”

“Um, yeah I guess. So why were you thinking about him?”

“Well, I saw him today on the way to get the food.”

“Wow, okay, and then what happened?”

“That’s it. I mean what else was I supposed to do, flag him down and make him stop?”

“Uh, yeah. Your love life is about as exciting as me having a conversation with my grandmother about her sewing circle. I just want you to get some kind of groove going.”

“Excuse me? My groove is just fine, thank you very much. You know I’m not that forward anyway.”

“I know. I have to be forward for you. If we see him again, you’re going to talk to him.”

“Whatever,” I replied.

“You need this more than you know,” she said.

I ignored her and sat down on my bed to eat. I did want to see him again, and it would be nice to have some type of relationship outside of my friends. My main fear was thinking I wasn’t ready for anything new. With everything that was going on, I didn’t want to over exert myself with trying to hide my crazy from someone who didn’t know me.

I hadn’t touched my salad while I was thinking and I felt Rach looking at me. I started to poke at my food even though my appetite was gone.

I finally finished my salad and put the remains in the trash. I started getting ready for work since I had to go in early.

When I came out of the bathroom, I heard my cell phone ringing. I grabbed it and noticed it was Ash. I was immediately excited. I hadn’t talked to him in a while because we’ve both been so busy.

“Hey Ash, how are you?” I said.

“I’m good. How have you been? It seems like I’ve been seeing more of Rach than you lately.”

“I know, I was just thinking that. I’ve been so swamped at work and of course school. I’m headed to work right now.”

“What time do you get off?” he asked.

“I’ll probably get out of there around ten thirty.”

“You want to stop by here after you get off?”

“Sure, I’ll call you when I leave work.”

“Cool, see you tonight.”

I hung up the phone with a smile on my face and I didn’t know why.

“So, what’s this grin about?” Rach asked.

“Nothing, I just haven’t talked to Ash in a while and it was nice to hear from him.”

“Uh huh,” she said with one eyebrow raised, “Okay.”

I threw one of my pillows at her and she caught it.

“You suck, you know that,” I said.

After a minute, she finally went back to reading. I grabbed some random clothes from my closet when I realized I was going to be late for work. I threw my outfit on and grabbed my keys to head out the door. Rach stopped me.

“Hey, tell Ash I said hello and don’t stay out too late,” she smiled.

“Okay, I won’t. See you later mom.”

I walked out of the room and tried to prepare myself for a boring day at work.

Work went by fast and I was glad to close down the store and see Ash.

I got in my car and pulled out my phone to call him, but before I could dial the number, he was calling me.

“Hey, are you off work yet?” he asked.

“Yeah, I was just about to call you. I’m on my way to you now.”

“Awesome. I’m leaving the door unlocked, so just come in when you get here.”

“Okay.”

The streets seemed quiet as I drove to Ash’s place. He had a condo downtown, compliments of his parents.

I loved the view of the city from his balcony. His place gave new meaning to the phrase bachelor pad. He only had the bare essentials with a couple of extras that I could only believe his mother contributed to. Although it was simple, the place was still nice.

I went to the door and waited for the doorman to buzz me in. I’m here a lot, so they remember me. I never have to sign in. I guess I’m on a permanent guest list.

I got to the elevator and pushed the button for the 32
nd
floor. Once on his floor, I started to walk slowly to his door. I don’t know what made me slow down. For some reason, I didn’t want him to think I was too anxious to see him.

I got to the door and opened it. The lights were all on and so was the television. The stereo was blasting while the television was muted. I walked to the bar area and put down my things.

“Ash,” I called out while taking a seat on the couch.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” he yelled back.

Ash came around the corner and I caught a glimpse of his abs before he slipped a shirt on.
Wow
, I thought. He has been working out and he looks great. My cheeks started burning so I quickly looked away.

“Give me a hug. It feels like I haven’t seen you in ages,” he said.

I stood up and he squeezed me in a bear hug.

“It hasn’t been that long, but I have missed hanging out with you,” I said while we were still engrossed in our embrace.

He finally let me go and we sat down on the couch.

“You want anything to eat or drink? I actually went grocery shopping today.” He grinned, obviously pleased with himself.

“Good job, I’m proud of you,” I teased, “What do you have?”

“What do you want?”

“Um, I could go for some chips and some sweet tea, if you have it.”

“Coming right up.”

He got up to go to the kitchen and I immediately got up and followed him.

“So, what’s been up with you lately?” he said, “Anything new going on?”

I flushed out all the bad stuff and focused on only the positive things. Sadly, there wasn’t much to talk about.

“Well, Rach and I are going to see my parents this weekend. My mom has been missing me and the feeling is mutual.”

“I didn’t get invited. I’m hurt,” he said.

“I’m sorry Ash, I didn’t think you would want to go to Kansas and be bored with my parents. You know you’re always welcome to come.”

“So, Rach likes going to Kansas and being bored with your family?”

“Well, I don’t know, I haven’t asked, but she wanted to get away for a couple of days and that’s why I asked her,” I lied.