I shuddered in revulsion.
“This is what happens when you’re doused with gasoline and lit on fire,” he rasped. “Yes, people actually did this to me on purpose.” His eyes narrowed. “Your father, being one of them.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “My father?”
Marie laughed coldly. “Your father, Tara’s father, Amy’s uncle, and Anna’s husband. Oh, and Gloria’s husband. You never got the chance to meet her. Daddy did, though, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, she just wasn’t enough to fix all of this damage,” he said, looking down at himself. “Hopefully, your blood along with the others… will do the trick.”
“I had nothing to do with this,” I protested, wishing I’d just wake up soon. This dream was disturbing and not getting any better.
“No, but your father’s platoon did and I had to suffer being buried alive. If it wasn’t for my children finding me…” He coughed several times.
“Daddy?” said Celeste.
He cleared his throat and raised his hand. “I’m okay.” After several seconds, his eyes drifted back to mine. “I had to endure twenty years of being trapped underground. You have no idea how something like that can destroy a man’s will to live.” He closed his eyes. “How many times a day, I prayed for death and asked for God’s mercy. Well, my prayers were ignored.” He opened his eyes. “The only other thing that kept me sane was planning my revenge the last few years. Vengeance against those who buried me alive.”
I swallowed. “Vengeance? You mean, killing innocent people.”
“Unfortunately, yes. I agree… you’re all innocent, but losing you will hurt your father more than his own death.”
“There’s another way.”
We all turned to see Martin standing next to the loft window.
“What do you mean?” asked the ghoulish creature.
“He tried killing you because of what you are. What if we make his daughter a Roamer too?” said Martin.
A Roamer?
“No!” hollered Celeste. “You just want her for yourself, that’s why you’re coming up with this nonsense.”
His eyes flickered to me. “I won’t lie, I fancy Emily. But, still… think about it. She will become what he tried to destroy.” he smiled. “It’s poetic justice.”
He sighed. “Son…”
Martin moved closer. “Father, I’ve never asked for much. You know that.”
“That’s because he hasn’t seen you in twenty years,” muttered Celeste.
As they argued my fate, I looked around the barn, wondering what I was going to do. There was no way I’d allow them to make me a Roamer, whatever the hell that meant. And dying… well obviously that had to be far worse and more painful.
I thought about my overprotective father and it was obvious how he figured into this dream. After everything I’d seen, and now hearing this nonsense of how the creature before me had been buried alive for twenty years, I was now fully convinced that I was sleeping.
Well, it was time to wake up.
“Okay,” I said, standing up. “This is the longest nightmare I’ve ever had and… well… I’m really sick of being in it.”
They all stared at me.
I sighed. “Look, I have a lot of things to do before school starts – unpacking, grocery shopping, finding a part-time job. Anyway, it’s been interesting, but… I really need to wake up, so,” I turned towards the edge of the loft. “I’m waking up.”
“Emily!” hollered Martin.
Ignoring him, I stepped off the ledge and dropped, expecting to wake up in my warm bed.
Instead I landed with a loud thud.
The pain was excruciating at first. And then, there was nothing.
Martin flew down from the loft and kneeled next to me. He touched my arm, but I couldn’t feel anything.
“Oh, Emily,” he sighed.
I tried to speak, but couldn’t.
“Is she alive?” asked Celeste, staring down at me.
Yes, I am!
“She’s blinking,” said Martin, his eyes softening.
“Look at the way she landed. She probably shattered every bone in her body,” said Celeste.
I didn’t hear his answer because everything went black.
Chapter Six
I opened my eyes and heaved a huge sigh of relief.
“Thank God,” I said, sitting up in bed. I chuckled and stood up. “No more peanut butter before bed. Never again.”
Hell, the thought of peanut butter almost made me nauseous.
My cell phone rang.
I walked over to my dresser and picked it up.
My dad.
“Hi, dad.”