I Must Be Dreaming

by Seay, S.

  TRY TO REMEMBER

  The next day when I woke or night not sure anymore, I decided to get in the bath. Karri had bought me some clothes the night before. She did buy me some with color but a lot was still black. The shower felt great. I was feeling great and then for the first time I noticed I had two little holes on my upper left thigh. “What is that?” I said aloud. I rubbed my hand over the tiny holes and I saw a tiny star shaped mark between the holes. It felt like the holes were healing but I knew it would leave a scar. All of a sudden I had a flash. I was running, tears coming down my face. My shirt was tore. Someone was behind me talking. There was a man, his voice sounded as if he were underwater, but I somehow recognized the voice. I still couldn’t make out what he was saying. I was in chains and I saw the whip going in the air about to strike. I was being shaken hard, and then I opened my eyes. Jake was standing there asking me if I was ok, his hands still on my arms looking scared. I blinked my eyes a few times and before I could say anything, I realized I was naked. Everyone was staring at me. Even the two guys who I assumed were the body guards, which were pretty scary looking. They both had dark hair and tattoos running up their arms to their face. I think they are twins. The only difference is one had a scar that started across his neck and ended by his hair line. “Can I have a towel?” Jake grabbed the one hanging on the rack and handed it to me. “Ok, can I have a minute?” I stayed staring at the two guards. Both waited for Jake to give the ok for them to leave. “Izzy are you alright he asked again? You were screaming.” His voice was full of panic. I looked at him he was dripping wet from getting in the shower with me. “I was. Oh, well I uh…, Jake can I talk to you alone?” Jake gave everyone a nod and turned back to me. He grabbed my hand and guided me out of the bath as one by one they all stepped out of the room without a word until it was just me and him. “Izzy really are you ok?” He had so much worry on his face. “Yes, I just had a memory I think.” I felt unstable. “Shhhh! They can still hear you.” He said pointing behind us. “Well tell them to stop listening” I said with A LOT of attitude and almost screaming. Jake didn’t say a word; he just helped me wrap another towel around me and then into the bedroom. “I want you to see something.” Jake raised his eyebrows up when I moved the towel up. But when I pointed to the holes his eyes narrowed in. He gently rubbed his hand over the holes. Then he saw the star shaped mark. He started to shake, his eyes turned red. “What’s wrong?” I got scared with his reaction. “Normally when we turn someone we usually bite on the arm, shoulder, sometimes the neck. Biting you on the thigh shows intimacy. Like someone saying you’re theirs, and that mark is like a signature.” He sounded like he was growling now. “What do you mean signature?” My voice was rising. “You belong to someone else.” His whole body was shaking and his fists where in tight balls ready to kill. “Jake, I don’t belong to no one except you! Whoever did this is trying to piss you off and it’s working. I don’t want anyone but you.” I was talking like a mother would to her baby. Trying to gently soothe her baby back to sleep. “Jake can’t you see that?” I can’t lose him not now, he is all I have! “It doesn’t matter Izzy it’s like you’re branded. You are someone else’s now. I cannot touch you.” He said that with hatred in his voice. “Have you lost your mind? Is this some kind of sick joke? Touch me Jake.” Now I was pissed! No one claims me! “No.” He said with a blank stare. “Touch me right NOW!!!” I was screaming at him. I grabbed his hand and put it to were my heart is. He snatched it away. “STOP IZZY!” I had never seen him like this. “If anyone finds out.” “What, what are they going to do Jake punish you, me. I’d rather DIE than you never touch me again.” I was enraged. I could feel my blood boiling inside me. “Never say that again. I never want to hear you talk like that, do you understand me.” He was yelling now. “I can’t stay here anymore. I want to go home.” I walked to the door ready to leave in my towel. “You are home Izzy.” His voice had become a whisper. “No, this is not my room, my clothes, my house. Get out of my way.” I shoved him as hard as I could. “Calm down.” “No, I did not ask for this. I just wanted us to be together and now you won’t even touch me.” I was standing up ready to fight anyone that came my way. “There is a way for you to be free of this claim.” He said in a low almost dark tone. “You have to recant your maker.” His eyes had turned from blood red to almost black as night. “Fine let’s do it.” “Izzy, first we don’t know who did this to you and two when you recant YOU also have to kill them.” I didn’t care only Jake mattered. “I don’t care. I just have to remember right. Will you help me?” “What can I do to help you?” His eyes were starting to turn back to their brilliant green. “Take me back to the woods, where you found me to start with.” I was already fumbling for clothes through the dresser. “No, I don’t think that’s safe.” “Well you take me or I go alone.” I was going to put my fate in my hands starting now. “Alright we can go tomorrow.” He was trying to stall me. “No, I’m going now, with or without you.” “Izzy I have to go with the others.” He was pleading with me now. “Well you better get going.” I had never sounded so mean before but I was mad. And damit someone was messing with me and my future. “Izzy please don’t go yet, let me go with you.” He was starting to beg grabbing me. “Jake I’m going weather you go or not. So you better decide and do it quick because I’m getting dressed and I’m going end of discussion.” He looked at me for a min and then said “Just give me a few minutes to explain to the others and I will go with you.” I gave a nod with my head and he took off out the door.