She was sitting on a bench at the park and watching kids play on the jungle gym. She didn’t know where Rachel was, but she wasn’t worried. It was nice just watching the kids. “I don’t know how you did it, but thanks.”
She turned to Vicky who had just appeared sitting beside her or had she been there the whole time? Mary shook her head. “What?” Was she dreaming? Why weren’t they in the hospital room?
“The monster’s gone. How’d you kill it?”
“You’re out of your coma?”
“Not yet. So how’d you do it?”
So she was dreaming? “Why aren’t we in your hospital room?”
Vicky shrugged. “Don’t know. So what’d you do?”
Mary looked towards the kids. She didn’t feel like she was dreaming, but she decided to go along with it for now. “We haven’t done anything yet. How do you know the Shadowman’s gone?”
“Don’t feel him lurking around. Can tell he’s gone. So if you didn’t do anything, who did?”
Mary rubbed her forehead. Was the Shadowman really gone? Was she really dreaming of Vicky in the park? Was this really Vicky or was she dreaming a fake Vicky? Her head hurt, and she didn’t feel well.
“I don’t know if anyone has done anything.”
Vicky huffed and crossed her arms. “Then what happened?”
Mary stared across the park. “Maybe it moved on.”
“So it’s still out there hurting people?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but a tugging at her pant leg made her look down, but nothing was there. She shook her foot to get rid of the sensation.
“How’d we end up at the park? We were always in hospital room before.”
“I don’t know. You’re the freak not me.”
Mary hoped that this was really Vicky and not a dreamed up one because dreaming up a Vicky to insult her meant her subconscious was just mean.
“Pot meet kettle, Vicky. You pulled me into your dreams.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Everything seemed to go darker and sharper. “What?” The tugging on her pant leg began again.
“I’m not the one doing this. I never have been. Don’t you know that?”
Wind picked up and began whipping their hair around their faces. “I’m not doing this. I don’t know how.”
“Are you sure? You can talk to ghosts. Why not pull me into your dreams?”
“I didn’t pull you in; you pulled me.” She kicked her foot out to get rid of the annoying tugging on it.
“Nuh uh, and why’s everything going scary movie ominous?”
“I don’t know, maybe because you’re pissing me off.”
“Aha! So you admit it. You’re the one causing this.”
Mary jumped up. “Talking to ghosts does not mean that I can have telepathic dreams! Having one does not mean I can do the other.”
Vicky jumped up too to square off with her. “Just admit it! You’re a complete freak who does all sorts of freakish stuff.”
Mary shook her head. She was really beginning to feel sick. “I’ve never entered people’s dreams before. Why would I be able to all of a sudden?”
Vicky threw her hands up. “How should I know? I’m in a coma.”
“That’s right, you’re in a coma. I’m not the one who needed help and had no way to ask for it. You did this. You somehow tapped into my head or pulled me into yours so you could tell me about the Shadowman. We shared the first dream before I knew you were hurt, so you have to be the one doing this. If I could do this, which I can’t, why would I suddenly start having telepathic dreams with you when I didn’t even know anything was wrong? Welcome to Freaknation, Hickey. Here’s your citizen card.”
Vicky’s face screwed up with repugnance. Mary wasn't sure if it was for her or Vicky. Then something bit Mary’s foot. Hard. She grabbed her injured foot and started hopping. She shot Vicky a glare. “Ow! Stop that!”
“I am not doing this!”
“You bit me!”
Vicky opened her mouth to yell back at her but all that came out was barking. Despite her anger and queasiness, Mary couldn’t help laughing at her. Vicky’s face became red. The scene began to waver. Vicky screamed at her, but all that came out was more loud barking. It suited her.
Mary woke up chuckling. The barking was still going on. “Chowder!” She sat up to throw something in Chowder’s direction and felt the strangest and most awful sensation as she came up off the bed like she was covered in static electricity and motor oil. She fell back and off the bed. She looked up and stared into two red glowing eyes suspended in a black nebulous form. A dark translucent hand reached out to her.
“No, no, no!” She tried to scramble away, but her back met the wall. She was on the wrong side of her bed to reach her lamp. Max’s sword was downstairs in its sheath, even though she still didn’t know if he could do anything. She gathered her legs to run to the other side of the room and dart around the Shadowman to the door, but it could tell what she planned and moved in closer to block her escape. Chowder continued to bark his head off.
Her bedroom door opened, and Gran came in. “What in the world is going—” her voice cut off when she saw the Shadowman. Her hand slapped the light switch by the door and the ceiling light came on illuminating the room. The Shadowman hissed and flew to the window. It was open a couple of inches. Mary hadn’t opened it.
Gran rushed over to her. “Mary, are you all right?” She knelt and helped her off the floor. They sat down on the side of the bed. Gran was running her hands over Mary, checking to see if she were hurt. She still felt unwell and wanted to take a two hour shower, but she wasn’t hurt.
“Vicky was just asking me what had happened to the Shadowman.”
“You were dreaming about her?” She nodded and turned toward the window. Gran turned to. She saw it was open and got up to close it. She turned the lock as well. She stayed at the window looking outside into the quiet night.
“Where do you think it went?” Mary asked.
“I don’t know, dear. I really don’t.”
Her voice had sounded odd. Watery. Mary got off the bed and put her hand on her shoulder. “Gran, you okay?”
She didn’t turn around when she nodded her head. “I’m fine, dear. You should try going back to sleep.”
“Gran?” Chowder whined. He could tell she was upset too.
Her shoulders sagged. “I’m just tired.”
Mary was starting to crash hard from her adrenaline rush too. She began to weave where she stood. She saw Gran quickly wipe her eyes before she turned around. She didn’t like seeing her upset, but she didn’t know what to say. She tried anyway. “We’ll be okay. If we sleep with the lights on, he shouldn’t be able to get us, and Chowder’s a good guard dog. We’ll know if he’s in the house.”
Gran patted her cheek as she moved past her. “Yes, we’ll be fine.”
When Mary crawled back into bed, she pulled the blankets up to her chin but couldn’t get her eyes to shut. She looked at the door and wished Gran had stayed or told her to come sleep in her room. There was good reason now to be scared of the dark.
“Would you like me to sing you a lullaby?”She startled and looked quickly around the room, though she knew she couldn’t see Max.
“Gran let you out?”
“Yes, she asked me to guard you while you slept. I’m so sorry I wasn’t available before.”“No, it’s okay. We were the ones that thought it’d be better to keep you sheathed. Sorry.” Actually, it had been more Mary’s idea. Though Max seemed okay, the thought of him wandering around the house had made her feel uncomfortable. Having an invisible guest meant privacy was always in question, but she was okay with him now. Someone watching over her was a comfort. Being alone was the scary option. Max started crooning ‘Hush Little Baby’. He had a nice soft baritone. Mary’s eyelids grew heavy.
