Chapter 7: The Dream Part 3

Caleb continued explaining the remaining rules and took his turn. I let Judith ask any questions and I stayed quiet, drank when the rules demanded I did, and waited for my turn. The game was actually a lot of fun and everyone was laughing and joking around with each other.

A drink and a half later, I was starting to feel a buzz. There was also this pressure building up in my lower stomach and I had to pee.

Not being able to hold it in much longer I leaned over to Judith and said, “Hey, I have to pee, I’ll be right back”. Barely acknowledging what I had said, she nodded and didn’t even look in my direction.

She and Caleb had been getting along so well during the game. They hadn’t stopped talking to each other since the beginning.

As I got up, she looked at me again, having realized she had barely acknowledged me. Her eyes held a glint if guilt in them. She was probably remembering our conversation from earlier. She must have thought she was taking Caleb away from me. I felt love well up in my chest. No matter what she always managed to think of others over her happiness.

I wanted to stop her from feeling guilty but she didn’t know that Evan and I set her up with Caleb. Of course, neither did Caleb. But, I had practically pushed her into the seat next to him without allowing her time to protest. I will have to break it to her when we get a second alone. She needs to enjoy tonight and not worry about my feelings for a change.

Getting up from the bench, I walked towards the couch that Evan was still at, playing video games. Walking around the TV, I avoided blocking anyone’s view from it. Though secretly I wanted to block Evan from seeing what he was doing. Getting under Evan’s skin was what I did best.

I walked towards the big room where the pool table and dart board were and more people were over here hanging out and drinking. I smiled at a couple people who I made eye contact with, even though I didn’t know them. I continued to the far right towards the hallway with the bathroom, which had a ceiling light. A string was attached to it and I reached up and pulled it. The light turned on and started flickering. I looked behind me and could barely see around the corner where everyone else was. But I could hear their voices and the noise of the pool balls as they collided with each other.

The hallway wasn’t that long but long enough to not allow the light from the basement to carry down the hall towards the bathroom door. So the only light I had was flickering and it was rather dark even with it on.

I walked over to the bathroom door and reached for the door handle…

The flickering light went out for the briefest second and the temperature of the air seemed to drop several degrees. It got really cold and it felt as if the oxygen had been sucked out of the roomand I started gasping for air. The light started flickering again at an unusually fast rate like a disco ball in a night club. My heart started racing and my lungs were begging for air to fill them. Panic set in and I thrust my hands out to the walls for anything to grab…but there was nothing. I vaguely was aware that I no longer could hear the noises from everyone in the basement.

In desperation to breath and to know that I wasn’t trapped in some black pit of nothingness, I reached for anything I could hold on to, but nothing was there. The hallway was gone and I was alone suffocating. Tears came to my eyes as questions raced through my head, which felt like it was going to explode. I saw no escape, no way to save myself…

Just as quickly as the air had gone it was back again and I could breath but the lights were still flickering and it got faster and faster. The space around me was eerily quiet. All I wanted to do was bolt back down the hallway towards the opening but I couldn’t remember which way that was or if it even existed anymore. I was terrified. Whatever was happening was so unreal and with how fast it had come about made me want to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t sleeping or if I had some how hit my head on the way to the bathroom and I was passed out on the floor.

I turned in circles looking for anything but all I saw was nothing. No light, no shapes. Absolute nothingness. My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest and I continued to turn in circles.

There was something in the distance that caught my eye and it was moving closer to me…

I froze in place and was at the mercy of whatever the thing was that was coming my way…

Then I saw a shape and it was a human. A woman.

“Judith?” The being had her hair and eyes even the face resembled her.

I looked around her and there was darkness.

I brought my attention back to her and she was now standing directly in front of me. I saw her warm breath in the cold air as a cloud. Her eyes were wide open, her skin paler than I have ever seen. Her lips were purple and then when I went to look into her eyes they started to roll back into her head. There was blood trailing down from her lips.

I stood there terrified, not knowing what I was seeing, or experiencing. With a shortness of breath, a shooting pain was sent through my head knocking me to my knees as I held my head for what seemed like a lifetime…

My head pulsed and the air warmed up around me, the noises from the basement came back. I looked up and saw the door handle to the bathroom. I got up off my knees and bolted towards it. I ripped the bathroom door open, rushed inside, and turned the lights on, slamming the doorbehind me. I leaned against the door and sank down to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees and bent my head into them.

My heart raced as I sat on the cold tiled floor as my mind tried rationalizing whatever the hell all that was. I had to have been drugged or something. Maybe Ashley slipped something into my drink when I wasn’t looking? But I don’t think even she was that evil or vindictive. We have known each other for years going to the same school. We never crossed paths but I knew she existed, everyone knew she existed.

I stayed curled in on myself for a long time trying to catch my breath, trying hard to forget what that was. God was that supposed to be some messed up vision or something.

A sneaking thought reared its ugly head in my mind. I never had let my drink out of my sight, no one could have drugged me. Pushing that away, my psyche wouldn’t allow me to contemplate the things I had seen without being drugged.

But it felt so real the cold air, her breathe against my face. I can’t handle anything happening to Judith.

I shook my head trying to get rid of those horrible thoughts, but they wouldn’t go away.

Could I have had a premonition? Like what you see in the movies? Am I some supernatural being or something? Shit, I really hope I am high and was drugged. I don’t normally drink, so maybe this caused me to see things.

This couldn’t be one of those sixth sense things could it be? You know, like when you know someone is about to knock on the door before they do? I had a lot of those feelings as a child…but seriously, that couldn’t have been real. I am definitely drunk. I need to go home. But first I have to get out of here. I groaned inwardly at the idea of venturing back out into that godforsaken hallway.

I needed to calm down, catch my breath, my head was so fuzzy. I focused on the feeling in my belly. It was a tightening sensation reminding me I still had to pee. That building pressure I felt earlier was becoming unbearable.

How had I not peed myself ?

I weakly got myself up off the floor and headed to the toilet to relieve myself. All I wantedto do right now is head home and pass out in my bed. But Judith would get suspicious and worry about me. Then Evan and I’s plan would have been for nothing.

Weak and exhausted, I struggled getting off the toilet and pulling skirt back up. My head spun and my body felt like it was floating. The floor was coming pretty close to me and so I plopped right back down in the seat for a second.

I took a minute before getting up again. This time it was slow and awkward. But it was managed, and I was standing on wobbly legs. Ready to get out of this confined space, I unlocked the bathroom door hoping so much that nothing was out there. That the light was back on and flickering at a normal pace. I opened the door and ran out of the bathroom, looking down at my feet instead of ahead of me…

But then I saw feet directly in my path and it was too late…

I collided right into a strong, unmoving chest. Arms wrapped around me and stopped me from falling over. With my balance gained, my face was pressed up against a chest, and I could hear a steady heart beat…

I looked up into the most beautiful eyes and recognized, Caleb. I did not want to move. Not because he felt good but because he was real and not some premonition or ghost or spirit or whatever Judith had been. All I wanted was comfort right now.

He began to let go and for an instant I did not want him too, so I held on very tightly. Soon I realized how pathetic I was being, he had no idea what I just saw. I had to let go.

Taking a deep breath, I made myself let go of him and took a good step backwards, “Oh mygod I am so sorry. I don’t know what got over me I think I drank too much and was dizzy and could not walk straight, I am so sorry.” I know I was saying sorry so much, I just did not know what else to say. I was still scared and was really embarrassed for holding on so tightly to him. He must think I’m insane.

“Um, relax its ok. I sometimes drink too much, too, and lose my mind, running into people.” He smiled at me jokingly as if trying to lighten the mood. He turned serious, “Though I do not get as scared as you look right now. Are you ok? You look like something just scared the hell out of you”.

I thought I was holding my composure pretty well. But I guess not. He had seen right through me. What was I going to tell him? I stuttered not knowing what to say so I just replied with, “I am not sure I just saw something and sometimes Evan’s basement freaks me out.Especially this side where there is not much lighting down the hall. Plus, I feel a strong buzz. I am sorry for running into you, but I am sure Judith is looking for me. You must have to go the bathroom, sorry for holding you up.” I heard myself rambling, but I didn’t want to tell him what happened. I could barely think of a way to tell Judith what I saw. And I barely know Caleb.

I managed to laugh for a second, hoping to get rid of the tense feeling between us, though it could just be me being paranoid again.

After the small, somewhat hysterical laugh, I started to feel a little nauseous and began to sway a little. I was able to hold on the wall so I did not fall over.

I hoped he did not see, and looked up at him. Looking down at me he seemed to be worried. He must have seen what just happened. I think he chose not to say anything probably because he was really starting to think I was weird.

“Yea, actually that’s why I came over. Judith was wondering if you were still here and thateverything was alright. Since I had to use the restrooms as well, I told her I would check up on you.”

I blushed thinking of how I ran into his arms by accident as he spoke, I shook it out of my head and said, “Oh then I guess I better go tell her I am alright. She is like a mother worrying every two seconds where I am. I will get out of your way now, Caleb.” I smiled up at him hoping that I wasn’t too rude before, and what I said maybe fixed matters.

I smiled up at him and stepped out of his way saying thank you, hoping he would step in the bathroom close the door and not say anything else. I had to get out of here before I leave with no grace at all.

“Well no offense but looking at you right now I can see why she would be worried. You areso pale, like you are anemic or something. Have you had any water since you have been here? Maybe you should get some upstairs?” I was very flattered that he was so worried about me and I thought maybe he is right, maybe I do need some water.

I nodded my head and went to agree, but he interrupted me and said, “But if you are up for it I may have some ‘medicine’ that you could try.” Once he began to talk about medicine I got the feeling it was more than what he was saying and hoped I was right.

“Possibly”, really hoping that he had some pot. “Where’s the medicine?”, I smiled a little and laughed.

“Well, it will be outside whenever you feel like coming out. I already asked a few people who want to join; Judith, Evan, and the other two girls who were playing ‘Kings’ with us will be out there. I asked them to meet me outside in the backyard behind that big tree that Evan has” He tried to act all mysterious, and I thought it was cute.

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