4/28/2017

Dream On. Chapter 67: Mayra.

Previously...

Mayra

John and the twins were waiting for him at the station the following morning. Michael and Mark ran to hug him, Albert was surprised at how much they had grown in so little time. They looked tanned, healthy and happy, it was clear that they were taking profit of the summer holidays. When the twins left him, John patted him on the back.
-I'm glad you are here.
-I am too, dad.
-Your sister is worse, this night she has hardly slept, your mother took her to the emergency unit so they would give her some sedatives to calm her down. I think your presence is going to do her good.
-Albert, Albert, how long are you going to stay in here?- asked Mark and Michael at the same time, paying no heed at the seriousness of both adults.
-I don't know boys, we will see...
During the car trip they told Albert all that they had done so far during the summer, and all that they would be doing. He ended up overwhelmed at so much talking, but he was happy to see the boys doing so well. Asha's car was parked in the driveway, so it meant that both her and Mayra would be home already. And, in fact, they found them in the kitchen preparing lunch. Mayra had a sleepy look on h , and was doing everything in a slower manner than she used to, most probably because of the drugs they had given her. Albert kissed both of them on the cheek and took his backpack upstairs to his room. When he went back downstairs John and the boys were already setting up the table.
-This smells delicious, mom. I've missed your cooking.- he said while raising the lid of a casserole.
-You know you could cook for yourself, right? I'll make sure you get a copy of my book as soon as it gets published.- she teased him.
-Oh, it would never taste as good as this.- he told her as he tried some of the stew.- I would most probably burn the kitchen down.
He helped her to finish prepare everything and then they all sat down on the table. Seeing Mayra so absent did hurt Albert, and he decided he would take her for a walk afterwards. Everyone on the table, but the twins, was tense, looking at Mayra just to make sure she was okay, but she only ate slowly and in silence, not caring about what was happening around her. When they were done he offered to wash the dishes so Asha could rest a bit, however she preferred to stay with him in the kitchen.
-Is she always like this lately?- he asked.
-It's the sedatives, you know? It's the only way she can stay calm, it hurts so much seeing her like this, but she suffers a lot  when she doesn't take them.
-I feel so bad seeing her like this, maybe I can help her, I will take her for a walk this afternoon, unless you have any other plans, that is.
-No, take her, it will do her good. I don't have much time to take her to places other than the hospital, and she needs to get outside the house. She doesn't even want to see her high-school friends, she is becoming a hermit. And some fresh air is going to be good for her lungs too.
When he was gone with the dishes he went to Mayra's room and found her sleeping. He was glad that she looked to be peacefully asleep, maybe the sedatives would help her have a dreamless nap. He left her a note on her nightstand telling her to go find him as soon as she woke up to go for a walk. Then, he himself went to sleep, he hadn't slept much on the train as the seats were extremely uncomfortable and he was feeling tired.
Mayra woke him up shortly after he had fallen asleep. He felt even worse than he had before getting inside his bed, but his sister needed him. She looked calm, but there was something strange in her eyes.
-Are you okay?- he asked.
-Let's go for the walk.- was her only reply.
They walked in silence under the sun for a while. Every attempt that Albert made to get his sister say something was met with a wall of indifference. They arrived to the lighthouse and sat down on the same bank they had seated on months ago.
-I've taken a decision, Al. And I don't want you to stop me.- she said calmly.
-What are you going to do?- he asked anxiously.
-Today, as I was sleeping, I heard a voice, it was a sweet voice, telling me not to be afraid, telling me that everything was going to be okay. Telling me to be brave to do what had to be done.- she stood up.- Goodbye, brother, tell mum that I love her.
He felt how his voice abandoned him, and how a strange force kept him stuck on the bench as his sister walked up to the edge of the cliff and jumped. Only then he was free. He ran to the place her sister had disappeared to see her body crashing against the rocks.

-MAAAAYRAAAAAA.- he could finally shout, clutching to the rocks.

Dream On. Chapter 66: The last visit.

Previously...

The last visit

Following his friend's advice, Albert decided to visit his grandmother. He was extra-cautious because he knew that Marla would be surveying him and he didn't want her to know what he was doing. He found Lara in her living room, pacing nervously up and down the room.
-What happened?- she asked as soon as she saw her grandson. - Something is wrong, I can feel it!
Albert explained her everything they had discovered at that time, including the origin of the Creator, his incursions in Marla's house and her threats.
-What do you mean that you can feel it?- he inquired when he finished.
-She is doing something already. She has been doing something for some time now, but I don't know what. I just feel traces of her power. Be careful, Albert, be really careful. And watch out, you don't know when she will strike.
Albert sat down with his head on his hands.
-I should have given up the first time, nothing would have happened, I might even have had the chance to fight from the inside.
-Don't ever think about this again, do you think you would have been free? Do you seriously think so? They would have closed you inside a room and then submitted you to their will. You are too important, you are the only one who can stop her. Now, listen, don't come again until she is done, even if this house is safe, it is too dangerous for you to get here. You have all the answers inside yourself. Be brave and be confident.- she hugged him.-Take care.
-You too.
-Come on, what could happen to me? Die? That already happened!- she joked.- Now go!
Albert woke up wondering what could Marla be doing. He knew that his friends were okay, he was seeing them every day, if it wasn't his friends, who could it be? He suddenly realized. Mayra. He hadn't talked to her for some time now, he would call his mother and ask about his sister, but she still had to go to the hospital often and he would never find her. He almost had the impulse of calling home that same very moment, but he reconsidered, calling in the middle of the night wouldn't change anything, however, he would make sure to call first thing in the morning. He woke up early in the morning, on his own, and went downstairs to call home as not to wake up his friends.
-Good morning!- he said as his mother picked up the phone.
-Oh, good morning, honey. Why are you calling so early?
-Just to know how are you doing. How is Mayra?
-She is better physically, but she still wakes up at night screaming. I am a bit worried about her, she is going to the psychologist, but she doesn't seem to improve. Maybe she will have to return to the hospital for psychiatric treatment.
-Can I talk to her?- asked Albert feeling a weight on his heart.
-Sure, she will be happy to talk to you.
-Hi, May, how are you?- he said sweetly.
-Al, is it really you? Oh, Al, make it stop please.- she started weeping.
-What happens?
-I keep dreaming the dream I had the night grandma died, and then there's this voice all the time, telling me that I am going to die, that I am next, that I should kill myself. Every night. I try to sleep as little as I can, but these pills I'm taking make me very sleepy,... I don't think I will be able to stand it much longer, Al. I want to be able to sleep in peace.
-Mayra, don't give up, I'll talk to Professor Smith and I will take the train home today, but whatever you do just don't give up. You are strong, and you are not going to die, you understand me?
-I will do my best.- she said tentatively.
-Now, I want to talk to mom, don't cry, ok?
-So how was it, Albert?- asked Asha.
-I'm coming home mom, Mayra needs me by her side. I will call you as soon as I get on the train.
-Are you sure about this?

-I am. Take care.- he hung the phone.
He went back to the room and told his friends that he would be leaving for some days, and advised them, once more, to stick together. Then, he went straight to the professor's office to ask him for a leave. Daniel told him that there wouldn't be any problem and to make sure that his sister was better before going back to work. After that he went straight to the station and waited for his train.

4/25/2017

Dream On. Chapter 65: Realization.

Previously...

Realization


Monday came again and with it another excruciating session of having to be friendly with Marla. Albert had made sure that she would not be able to sleep well the night before, but he was starting to feel tired too. He was going to sleep much sooner than he used to, just to have some normal sleep before his dreams, and he was eating more than he had ever done, but maybe he was pushing a bit too hard. As of late Marla arrived the last and looking terrible, however, she was strangely cheerful.
-So, little rabbit, are you going to tell me what have you been doing at nights lately?
Albert froze on his chair, how could she know?
-You've been messing up with the wrong witch, little rabbit.
-I don't know what you are talking about...- he started.
-Oh, yes, you do know. I know it has been you, who else could it be?
-What did I do?
-Enough! You're going to regret having done this, I'm going to get my revenge and it's going to be as slow and as painful as what I have been through. And don't you dare come see me again, because then, I will have no mercy.
Albert started sweating, regretting all that he had done, thinking of the danger he had put his friends through. Octavia got in at that exact moment and sensed that something was really wrong, however, she didn't know how to break the tension, so she stayed by the doorstep staring in fear.
-I'm so done with you two. Don't worry I will let you play the professors alone from now on, I didn't have any interest in this. Other than torturing both of you, that is. And, also, this way you won't be able to control what I do or when I do it, little rabbit. The war is on.- she said menacingly and then stormed out of the room.
Octavia set herself aside of Marla's way and watched her leave, then she turned to Albert and saw that he was shaking. She sat down next to him and held him until he calmed down.
-What happened?
-She knows, Octavia, she knows! I should have been more careful, now all of you are in danger and just because I didn't think it through.
-Shhh, no one is in danger.- she lied.
-I wish I could believe so, but I know her, I do. She's not going to stop until I drag myself to her feet pleading for mercy.
-You won't have to do that because we are going to take her down before that. Now, focus on the work, you don't want Professor Smith seeing you like this.
Working did actually help him to feel better, it took the worries out of his mind and gave him a distraction. Octavia took care of telling the professor that Marla wouldn't be coming again, which seemed to make him a bit upset. Albert was thankful about it, she was proving to be a good friend and a valuable resource, but that put her in more danger yet. His morning went through several ups and downs, he looked so miserable that even Professor Smith told him to take the afternoon off. During lunch, Octavia and Albert explained what happened to the rest.
-Albert, you have to know that whatever happens, it is not your fault.- said Myriam reaching for his hands over the table.
-Yes, we would have done the same thing.- added Robert.
-We would.- agreed Dalia.
-But she will hurt you, she might even kill you, I'm of no use dead, but she can use me if I'm broken. However, you... you will be casualties in this war.
-Listen to me, we are your friends and we are not going to let her use you for whatever she pleases. Tomorrow I and Dalia are going to talk to her father if it is true that she misses him so much he might be the one that can make the real Marla, that you claim is trapped under the Creator's power, appear again.- she saw that he wanted to say something.- And don't start with the “we need to be together” thing. You know that if she wants to do anything she will do it anyway. And maybe you should go visit your grandmother, shouldn't you? When was the last time you went to see her?
-Before my last exam.- he admitted.
-So, go, maybe she has some answers.- Myriam insisted.
-But then I'll be vulnerable to Marla's power...
-You have to take the chance, and anyway you said it yourself, she doesn't want you dead.- added Robert.
-I agree, we need all we can get, I'll try to look for more information myself.- said Octavia.- We have to finish with her.