Back to the Dream Page
Chapter 12
It was beginning to become difficult to distinguish what was reality and what wasn't. In both dream and reality, she tried to hide. Her fevered mind mixed everything together and nothing made sense except that she had to get away… Hide… Anything to stop the stares. Anything to stop the hands that reached out to her and touched her, making her uncomfortable. It was like that all night long.
Groaning, Mel rolled over again, trying to get some rest but it was too hopeless. Her mind was too awake and the ground just too rocky for her liking. Her eyes felt dry and her throat was raw from coughing all night. Her sweats and thin shirt had provided little comfort in the cold and her arm had given her torture all night. She tossed and turned, trying to find a way she could keep her cold arm warmer, but that had meant letting her skin get exposed to the gritty dirt. Then again, that wasn't the only thing it was exposed to.
She couldn't remember if it had been in her dreams or in reality that she felt his presence again. The shadow figure had sometimes kept vigil over her during the night. The malice she'd sensed from him had disappeared as the night had worn on. Nevertheless, she could still feel his intense stare…
From far away, she could see a faint light, signifying the end of the tunnel. With the coming of the light, the shadow figure returned, its wispy form holding a blindfold toward her. Sadly, she obeyed, too tired to attempt any form of resistance.
Once it was in place and the figure was certain that she could no longer see, he gently touched her lips, fascinated as they began to tremble. "Shh," he soothed her, stopping her whimpering. "I won't hurt you," he grinned, knowing she couldn't see the dark glint of his eyes. He withdrew his hand. "Here," he said, pulling close a bag of food he'd brought along. He took out one bowl and dipped a spoon in.
Mel's stomach had begun to grumble when she smelled the first whiff of food, reminding her that she hadn't eaten in almost a day. The small part of her mind left thinking rationally knew she should still be suspicious and wary of this stranger. After all, she could already tell he was behind her abduction in the first place. But if she didn't want to be completely under his control, she had to eat. She smirked at the thought. Either way, she was completely under his control. Being as ill as she was, she had no chance of offering any real resistance against him. Changing forms required Energy she didn't have right now and the rest of her Powers were in a similar state. And so, she both willingly and unwillingly opened her mouth and let him spoon feed her, all the while sensing the shadow's glee. Food was food. She needed to eat to live… But how much longer could she survive like this? What was his plan? Why her?
He took care to make sure she ate every last morsel of food in that bowl, smiling the entire time knowing her dulled senses wouldn't notice the odd flavor of her soup. Anyone healthy enough would have pushed it aside after that first taste. But Mel wasn't healthy. Things were going smoothly. It was only matter of time - hours actually - until she was his. The shadow allowed his smile to grow. For all his years of suffering and waiting, things began to look his way.