Chapter 36: Dreams Part I

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Dreams Part I

Penelope’s POV

I could feel my legs becoming heavier with every step I took. I almost believed I would not make it to my room. Luckily for me, I had enough strength to make it there.

My legs gave out the minute I made it in. I practically had to crawl my way to the bed. I managed to pull myself up on the bed. I didn’t even get a chance to lay properly when I lost consciousness.

I felt so disoriented, even in my dreams. I could vaguely remember hearing someone telling me to return. It sounded like a young man crying, begging for someone to return home. He kept saying "bring her back please. Bring my sister back." But I couldn’t make out the face or voice.

I wanted to tell him that everything would be alright, she would be back soon. Just be patient. The devastation in his voice was surreal. I wanted to reach out and hug him. Comfort him. Just when I thought I could reach him, everything changed.

I kept walking forward, until I saw Killian. Why was Killian in my dreams? He was leaning forward with both hands grabbing at his chest. He had so many expressions all at once. Confused. Shocked. Anger. Sadness? Just when I was going to reach him his image disappeared.

This was starting to creep me out. What exactly was I seeing?

"Charles, baby. open your eyes. C’mon baby, open them." I saw Aunt Mary crying. Holding her dead husband’s body. Shaking him, her fingers kept trying to open his eyes. Next to her stood Erik. Always Erik. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. "Charles, wake up already. They are going to take you away if you don’t wake up." She pleaded. "WAKE UP ALREADY! WAKE UP! FUCKEN WAKE UP!" she screamed. Her voice kept breaking as she yelled. At one point she stopped screaming. She just sobbed. "Why? Why? We were supposed to...how could you do this to me? How could you leave me? Why? Why would you leave me?" She whispered. Erik walked up to her and clenched his fist. He had tears rolling down his face, but he kept his lips shut. refusing to let a sound out.

I could feel my cheeks wet. I felt the tears in my own eyes. Kai and I weren’t fully aware of the details. We just knew Uncle Charles died in a car accident. Aunt Mary and Erik were the ones who were at the scene of the crime. So, was this what happened? How heartbreaking.

I kept walking, I didn’t want to see more of this scene. As I walked I saw Ben and Aunt Lucy. They were hugging and crying. Crying for the death of Ben’s father.

I walked further down. That’s when I saw him. Kai. He was a young boy. Looking around, asking if anyone had seen his sister. He had taken the predecessor out to the community park. However he had just turned around when she went missing. He was panicking. "Penny, Penny where are you? stop hiding." He hollered. "Penny, quit sulking. Please come out. I’m starting to worry." Why did this memory feel so familiar?

His image disappeared and soon, everything was blank again. I felt myself walking. step by step. until I heard a noise.

Beep. beep. beep.

I knew this sound. I knew it like the back of my palm. This was a cardiac monitor found in hospital.

Beep..beep..beep.

"Mel, why are you so kind to this girl?" An older nurse asked the nurse sitting next to her.

"What do you mean?" Nurse Mel answered.

"Well, although you’re kind with others, you tend to be more indulgent to the patient in room 2145" the older nurse said.

Nurse Mel stayed silent for a brief moment before sighing and replied "She’s such a pitiful girl. Both her parents died a few months ago. She has no one by her side."

"So that’s why..." the older nurse did not question any further.

Nurse Mel got up and walked up to room 2145. She knocked on the door and heard a faint ’enter’.

"Penelope, dear. How are you feeling today?" She said with a beaming smile.

I stood there, watching myself. To say I was not shocked would be a lie. I was seeing a scene from my past life. I saw myself answer "Not so great." My eyes were listless, and my voice had no more life in it.

Nurse Mel had a sad smile on her face. She could tell that my time was almost up.

"Penny, have you....." she couldn’t bring herself to finish her question. But I knew. I knew what she wanted to ask.

"Mel, may I know your full name?" I heard myself asking. trying my best to sound as cheery as possible.

"My full name?....Melinda Stravos. Why do you ask?" she asked.

"No specific reason. I was just wondering about your full name one. You’ve been taking care of me these past few months. I wanted to give you a proper thank you gift." I said quietly. My voice was so hoarse, it sounded like I hadn’t had a drink of water in weeks.

"Melinda... Ms. Melinda Stravos can I request a favor from you?" I asked.

"Oh my, you mean business huh. Calling me by my god given name." She joked. "What’s this favor you wish to ask?"

I coughed. "Well...I can tell...I know my body well enough...and I can tell that...that I’m almost at my end. I...I already paid for the burial packet. I’ll be..laid to rest next to my parents. I was hoping...you could...attend my goodbye? I don’t really have anyone else to send me off."

Mel’s eyes reddened as she held my hand and said "of course, it is an honor..to be the one to send you off." That’s what I liked about her, she didn’t give me false hope. She did not sit there and tell me everything was going to get better. To stay positive and all that nonsense. She was just there. She made sure to make me feel less lonely. A few days past after that conversation and I saw it. It was my last day alive. I was suffering. I saw her holding my hand. humming a soothing song. I tried to reach out and wipe the tear that threatened to fall from her eyes. But my hands never made it to her cheek. I saw myself take my last deep breath and say "thank you for being here" as life left me.

Melinda bawled her eyes out. I wanted to reach out and hug her when everything went black. Just as I was bracing myself for another vision, I felt energy float throughout my body. Before I could process what was happening, I felt a burst of energy and my eyes flew open.

Well hell, that was..an interesting dream. I thought as I looked at my hands. I was desperate to find out what kind of superpowers I’d awakened.