by J. B. Garcia
"Niki, I know you don't want to go to the Lake House, but this is really important to your mother." I can feel a knot of regret building in my throat for being so rude to her. "I know dad, I'm sorry." His face softens and he gives me a playful slap on the leg. "Come on, get up we are leaving in 20 minutes."
I sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed and feel the coldness of the hard wood floor. I glance at the clock... 5 am. Why in the hell do we have to leave at 5am? The Lake house isn't going anywhere, why can’t we leave at 10am. I slowly stand, stretching my arms up to the ceiling and my back pops. I walk into the bathroom at flick on the light. I stand in front of the sink and staring at my reflection in the mirror. My blue eyes staring straight back me, looking over every flaw. What am I going to do with this hair? My long black hair that flows to the middle of my back has been struck with a disease most commonly referred to as bed head. I pull my straighter out of the drawer and plug it in. As I wait for it to heat, I grab my make up bag putting on foundation and mascara. No reason to add eye shadow or blush it’s not like there is anyone to impress. The straighter is finally heated and I run it through my thick wavy hair.
After adding the finishing hair spray, I brush my teeth and I’m done. I go to my closet throw on my brown shorts and a white t-shirt. After I slip on my socks and tennis shoes I grab my bag. Before I turn to walk out my door, I hear my Dad talking to my mom in the other room. Normally I can't hear them in their room but the house is dead silent and there are no cars driving past our house that at this hour.
I hear my dad say with concern,
“Do you really think that this is a good idea Michelle?" my father asks very concerned.
"What was I supposed to do James? We need help. There is no one that can help us more than her." I can hear the worry and stress in her voice. I hear my father take a deep breath “Honey, I know you mean well, but she didn’t take it very well when you left, are you sure that she isn't still harboring anger towards you? Do you think that she is really going to help us? Plus do you think it's safe to have her 18 year old son around Niki. We don’t know anything about him."
" Jeez James, it has been 18 years I highly doubt that she is still holding a grudge. It will be fine honey I promise. I have faith in her, she will help her."
"But what about all those things she said? She had the whole town turned against you two. Can you really trust her?" I hear a long pause and a deep sigh from my mother.
“James, she used to say that she had vision of events before they would happen. She really thought what she was seeing was real. Sometimes she was right. This is something that she told me would happen when I got pregnant. That is why I ran away. I thought she was crazy but I never forgot what she said. She was right. We need to find out how to stop it."
Silence falls and the house is quiet. Mom ran away from home? How could she have never told me this? What was so wrong that she felt like she had to run away? What do they need help with? Denise is crazy? She has visions? So many questions were running through my mind. Though I could get answers for none of them without getting in trouble for eavesdropping. I opened my door and walked down the soft carpeted stairs and made my way to the kitchen. I grab a bagel from the cabinet and pop it in the toaster. I pull the cold steel of the fridge handle to get the cream cheese. As I close the door I see a shape of a person out of the corner of my eye. I jump back and see my Mother staring at me.
"Kind of jumpy this morning aren’t you?" she wraps her arms around my shoulder and gives he a hug. I can feel her energy as she takes me in her arms and she is worried about something. She always squeezes he a little too hard when she is scared our nervous. She almost broke my hand on my 13th birthday when we rode our first roller coaster together.
"What’s up Mom, are we leaving?" I respond, trying to slow my heart rate after the scare she gave me.
"Yes we are, get your bagel and come out to the car." She turns on her heels and begins to walk away as I call out to her "Mom!" she turns with a confused look on her face. "What is it Niki?" I dropped my head down looking at my black and white shoes and then back up at her, "I’m sorry I yelled at you yesterday." A small smile lightens her face "It’s ok Niki, now come on hurry up. We have a 4 hour drive and I want to get it over with." She gives me a playful wink and walks to the front door. I grab my bagel and head for the door.
As I walk down the stone path to the car I can feel the dread in my stomach begin to rise. I really don’t want to go on this "Family Adventure" especially since there has been two surprise guests added that apparently my mother had a falling out with. Hearing my Mom take about this mystery woman is really starting to make me wonder. Why do you need her help? Is there something going on that I am not being told about? I climb in the car and put my ears buds in. Letting the music drown out the world and put me at ease. After about an hour of driving I dose off.
I am back walking through the dark forest; no one is around and panic in running through my veins. I look around for the woman in white and she is still nowhere to be found. I have no idea why I am hear but I know that I am in danger. The trees are tall and towering over me. The whipping wind throws my hair around my shoulders and face. I feel the dry leaves crunching under my feet as a walk through the night. The breeze is cool and blowing mist through my hair and across my face. Again, I get the scent of nature running through my nose. All of a sudden there is a loud CRACK. I stop in my tracks afraid to move. Again there is a loud CRACK. "Is there someone there!?"I yell my voice squeaks from fear. There is no response so I begin to walk deeper into the forest. Where am I? There is the same twinkle off to my left that catches my eye. I begin to walk towards it hoping that the woman in white is at the end of the light. There is something about the light that is drawing me towards it. I almost feel like it’s for me. I get the feeling that the soft light is guiding me to where I need to be. Trumping through the brush the twinkle starts to get brighter. I get to the edge of the forest and reach a shore to a large lake. Suddenly there are foot steps behind me. Fear makes me freeze right where I stand. I can’t move, I can’t speak I am paralyzed. I feel a hand on my shoulder and my voice comes to life and I scream. I snap out of my dream and I am in the car. It was a dream, the same dream I had earlier. God I feel like such an idiot. My Mom turns in her seat "Niki are you ok? What’s wrong?" she asks, staring at me with concern and worry. "I'm fine Mom it was just a bad dream."
"Do you want to tell me about it? You haven’t had nightmares in a long time." she looks at me concerned.
"No Mom it was nothing." I roll over to my side and try to relax. I can feel her eyes on me wanting more information. I am not in the mood to get into a deep conversation with her. She will want to know what it was about every detail I saw. She thinks that she can determine what my dreams mean.
I look at my watch and realize that we have only been driving for 2 hours. Damn, I was hoping I would be able to sleep through it. I don’t want to try and sleep again. I don’t want to re-enter that dream. I have a tendency of starting where I left when it comes to nightmares. I used to get them all the time when I was in the Hospital. My Dad would shake and shake me as I screamed in my bed. Why are they coming back now? Who touched my shoulder in my dream? The thought was burning in my mind. I could still feel the warmth of the hand on my shoulder. How could that be possible? It was just a dream...right? There was something familiar about the person that touched me. I can’t put my finger on it. Although I was afraid when the hand came down on my shoulder I also felt some sense of safety. I try to wipe the thought out of my mind and turn my headphones out trying to forget the dream.
Driving to the lake is a long boring drive. It’s a two way road all the way up to the lake. By car, there is only one way in and one way out. Normally during this time of year there a lot of people coming and going. We have been driving for three hours and I have only seen one other car. I look at my mom who is passed out in the front seat and then look to my father who has his eyes glued to the
road.
"Dad are we almost there?" I asked with annoyance.
"Yes Princess Niki we are almost there, about 45 more minutes." He says with a chuckle.
"Why did we have to leave so early this year?" Rubbing my eyes I’m feeling so tired, but not wanting to sleep with fear of returning into the dark forest.
"Your mom wants to clean up the Cabin before Denise and Travis arrive."
"Travis? Is that her son's name? How old is he anyways I really don’t want to be a built in babysitter for 2 months." I don’t know why I even ask how old he is. I already know.
"Cool your jets brat; he is 18 so I’m sure he can wipe his own ass." I burst out laughing my dad always knew how to cheer me up when I was down.
Finally we pull into the driveway for the Lake House. Brown leaves covered the ground. The car roles to a stop and I let out a deep breath. There is no point of being a brat the whole time; I would only ruin things for myself. I get out of the car and the wilderness air hits my nose. The fresh smell of dirt and flowers; I love that smell. I take a long stretch and walk around the front of the SUV. I stop in front of the grill and look towards the cabin. I do love the one story log cabin style. The moss has taken over the roof and the grass has grown to the bottom of the windows. The cabin is dark inside and looks like a haunted house from the outside. No one has been in for months and leaves cover the wooden porch. The porch swing is swaying and creaking in the warm breeze. I walk up the three steps and get to the front door. I place my hand on the knob and suddenly I feel woozy. Vision of people running out of the cabin in fear rips through my mind. I release the knob and step backing almost falling down the stairs. My Dad notices the fear on my face; "Niki are you ok?" concern is draped over his face. "Ya Dad, I just got... lightheaded." I have to lie to him. The last time I told them I had a vision I ended up in a Mental Hospital being tested, poked and prodded. I haven’t had visions since I was 13 or 14. Honestly I was glad they were gone because that is when the testing stopped. I still have to take medication but at least there is no more testing.
"Ok well go in the house and lay down for a bit your Mom is going to need your help in a little." I turn on my heels and make my may through the large living room with a stone fire place. The sectional couches are still covered in white sheets, just the way we left them. Dust has claimed every inch of the house. I can see now why my mom wanted to clean before our guests arrive. There is no television; just a pool table by the front windows and bookshelves lined the back wall. I love to read. My father filled that case for me with all of his favorite books that he has read over his lifetime. I love to sit for hour’s just absorbing story after story, trying to loss myself in the fantasy novels. I wish it was real sometimes. I feel like to would fit in better.
The cabin is musty since the windows and doors have not been opened in sometime. I walk to the front windows and open them as wide as they go and fresh air pours into the living room. I left the front door open to air out the house. I walk down the hall way passing the guest bedroom on my right, which isn’t much of a room since there isn't a bed. We have never had company in the Lake House so there was never a need to have a bed in there. When I was younger the guest bedroom was my safe haven from my parents. They watched me like a hawk all the time. The spare bedroom is the only place they would let me be alone. I would pretend I was a great actress and I was acting on Broadway or a princess in one of my father’s Fantasy books. I giggle to myself as the memories flood back to me.
The second guest room is technically my Dads office. When we come to the Lake House he still needs to work on his Novels. He seemed to get more work done here then at home. I guess the solitude helped. No phones ringing or T.V. in the background to distract him. I would sit in his office for hours as he read new chapters of his Novel asking my opinion. Even though most of the time he didn't use my ideas, I didn’t care though I just loved hearing my dad’s work.
I looked down the hall to my parents’ room and then take a left to my room. Opening the door I see my queen size bed and run to it. Jumping on, I lay down looking out the window that is directly in the middle of my bed. I would stare out this window at night looking at the stars and wishing for my special someone to come rescue me. I have given up on that thought. Derek has ruined my faith in love and especially men. There is no way that I want to feel that sting of love ever again. It’s a cruel joke and no one gets the punch line. My desk is covered in dust and my small love seat still has a large white sheet covering it. I sit up on the bed and walk over to the love seat. I love this chair, perfect for two even though there has only ever been me in it. Which I have come to realize is even better. I tear away the white sheet and dust fills the air making me cough. I sit down laying my head back on the arm throwing my legs over the other arm. Instantly I relax and I can feel my eyes begin to close.
I drift off into a relaxing nap. I feel a cold chill so I open my eyes and I am back in the dark forest...not again. I am still standing by the edge of the lake looking at the island. I have never seen the lake so still before. It almost looks like glass. Staring over the lake I feel the fear melt away as I get lost in the beauty of the water. Looking out, I see the island about a half mile off the coast. It looks different then it normally does, it’s almost…glowing. Soft white light flows off the tree tops and the shore. There are people standing on the shore staring in my direction. Are they looking at me? There is the bright light I saw earlier and it is right in the middle of all the people staring at me. It’s just hovering above their heads staying in place. It almost looks like a star. For some reason I get the feeling that they are waiting for me. I start to walk down the shore staring at the island. Something is drawing me to it. I have the desire to get to the island. There is something there and it’s for me. I see someone in standing on my side of the lake, on the edge of the shore with their arm stretched out towards me. I begin to walk towards them. As I get closer I can tell that it is a man. He is very tall and I get a scent of cologne wafting into my nose as the breeze swirls around me. I feel the sense of desire building inside me. The feeling takes me over and I continue to walk to him. The full moon casts light down on his face. He has golden brown hair and emerald green eyes. I can’t focus on his face to see what he looks like. It’s just his green eyes burning into my memory and marking my soul. He looks as if he has been waiting for someone. I have never seen a man like this before. There is something about him that draws me to him and I want nothing more than to be his. I want to be in his arms forever. I stop walking towards him and he reaches out his hand. I reach back towards him. Our finger tips touch and I feel the hot pulse of desire. The back of my neck begins to burn and…"Niki, Where are you?" I am snapped awake by my Mom yelling down the hall. "What Mom? I am in my room."
"Can you please come out; I need help cleaning the house before our guests arrive." I let out an annoyed sigh. I hate cleaning. Especially for people in don’t even know.
Who was the man by the shore? I couldn’t see his face but I knew that he was gorgeous and I wanted him for myself. His smell was intoxicating. I have never been able to smell in a dream before. This dream has become more than a nightmare. It has become my own personal fantasy.
I get up from my love seat and walk out my room, down the hall where I see my mother frantically ripping the white sheets off the couch and other furniture. "Mom relax, you look like you are going to have a panic attack." She turns to me, with an unhappy look on her face. She doesn’t like jokes when they are about her. "Will you please stop the jokes and just sweep the deck off" she snaps back. "Ok jeez". I grab the broom from the cleaning closet in the kitchen. I walk out on the deck and begin to sweep. Hundreds of dried leaves have covered the worn wood. I can't help but think about the man and island in my dream. Why would the island be glowing? There is something about that dream that is confusing me. It seems so real when I am in it and at the same time I know it’s not. I could feel the breeze on my face and smell the scent of fresh flowers and the man
by the shore. I felt drawn to the island, like I needed to get to be on it and he was going to take me there. There is something for me there...I know it.
I look off the deck over to the island. It’s covered with a grove of redwoods. Its looks like it normally does. There are no people on it and there is no soft glow. There never is anyone on the island. I don’t think that anyone cares what is on that island. I am the only one that I know that has been there. You have to either swim or paddle there. I swam one summer and sat on the shore. I looked out to the lake house and watched my mother and father search for me frantically for an hour. They didn’t think it was funny and I was grounded for 3 months. But there was nothing on the island. I explored it and all there was were trees and rocks.
I come back into the house after sweeping the deck and my mother snatches the broom from me and begins to sweep the living room floors and kitchen. Why is she so nervous about seeing this woman? I know it has been and long time, and it seems that they had a falling out of some kind, but she is acting like these are her last days and everything must be perfect.
"Is there something else you need help with, Mom?"
“Yes, get the air mattresses and blow them up. Put one in the spare bedroom and one in dad’s office please." Her words are straight and to the point. She doesn’t take her eyes off her task of sweeping. I can see the sweat begin to bead up on her forehead.
