<\/p>\n
Author’s Note:<\/strong> This is a special episode, outside the norm of the typical CB chapters. This episode is all characters\u2019 dreams. Or almost all dreams; the parts not in italics are real. Most of the episode takes place in dreams, however. The idea to do an episode like this came several years ago from Louise, who was then a reader and is now a member of the writing team! We loved the idea then and still loved it when it came time to plan out this episode with the Code Team. It gave us a chance to be creative and write something fun and different, and we thought it would be a good way for you to get some more insight into what is happening, has happened, or will happen to some of the characters. Many of the dreams are symbolic, and if some of them don\u2019t quite make sense, remember them for later because they should at some point. <\/em>\ud83d\ude09 Enjoy the episode, and thanks for reading!!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kevin sighed loudly to himself as he pulled his bloody gloves off. This was the second person this week to die on his operating table, and he didn\u2019t like that one bit. Sure, the man may have been half-dead when he was rolled into his OR, but wasn\u2019t his job to save people?<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t take it too hard, Kevin, you did all you could for that gentleman,\u201d Hayley said as she finished washing her hands, placing one on the back of his shoulder.<\/p>\n Kevin ran a tired hand down his face. \u201cI know,\u201d he said dryly as he looked out the window that was beside the door. The family was there, sitting in the hard chairs of the waiting room, waiting for good news that he couldn\u2019t bring them. \u201cI guess I should go tell the family now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like me to come with you?\u201d Hayley asked as she took in Kevin\u2019s worn-out stature.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, really, it\u2019s okay. It\u2019s been a long shift; you should go on and head home.\u201d Kevin was pulling off his blood-covered gown; the family didn\u2019t need to see that.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure? It\u2019s really no problem. Maybe we can get a bite to eat and talk about it?\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin almost said yes, but then remembered he was supposed to have dinner with Elizabeth once his shift had ended. Looking at his watch, he realized that was almost two hours ago. \u201cI would, but I\u2019m supposed to catch up with Liz before I head home. Maybe tomorrow though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t beat yourself up over this, Kev; I\u2019ll see ya tomorrow.\u201d Hayley gave him one last friendly smile before she made her way out the door.<\/p>\n Kevin pulled the cap off from his head as he slowly made his way to the family whose heart he was about to break. He may have done this many times, but it still was never easy.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was over two hours ago, Kevin. Sorry, but I already ate\u2026 by myself, thank you very much,\u201d Elizabeth said gruffly as she looked over a patient\u2019s chart.<\/p>\n Kevin was taken aback by her attitude; she of all people should understand. \u201cI had them page you to let you know that an emergency Lap had been brought up. What did you expect me to do, not try to help the guy?\u201d<\/p>\n Elizabeth didn\u2019t even look up from her chart. \u201cWell, he died anyway, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin just stared at her for a moment. \u201cI\u2019m just gonna forget you even said that and blame it on the 36-hour shift that you\u2019re in the middle of, and that I just finished. Are you gonna at least still come by my place when you get done?\u201d<\/p>\n Elizabeth finally looked up at him and met his eyes. \u201cYeah, I plan to.\u201d Her look seemed to soften a little.<\/p>\n \u201cJust wake me up when you get there. I\u2019ll make you breakfast or something, okay?\u201d He let a smile cross his face for a moment before he leaned in to kiss her goodbye.<\/p>\n She wanted none of that, however, and lightly pushed him away. \u201cKevin, we\u2019re at work.\u201d<\/p>\n Kevin blinked. \u201cI\u2026 ummm\u2026 okay\u2026\u201d He lightly squeezed her hand. \u201cUntil then\u2026\u201d Kevin slowly made his way out into the parking lot; his body felt so drained.<\/p>\n Once he got home, he jumped in the shower. The warm water cascading down his tired body almost caused him to fall asleep right there, standing up. With a shake of his head, he leaned over and turned off the water. Once dried-off, he wrapped the towel around his waist with a big yawn. He hated the 36-hour shifts; luckily, they didn\u2019t happen too often.<\/p>\n Quickly, he pulled on his boxers and climbed into his warm, comfy bed. He was asleep before his head even touched the pillow\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cWake up, sleepy head.\u201d The soft feminine voice filled his mind. A giggle soon followed, \u201cCome on, wakey wakey\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Kevin let out a moan when the voice began to shake his arm. \u201cI\u2019m up\u2026\u201d His voice sounded extremely rough.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s about time. I\u2019ve been waiting forever.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Kevin slowly blinked his eyes open, clearing away some of the grime that seemed to nearly seal his eyes shut. \u201cIs it already morning, Liz?\u201d He felt like he had hardly slept.<\/em><\/p>\n Through blurry eyes, he saw her nod. \u201cI wanted to apologize for the way I acted last night. I was just tired and aggravated is all. Do you forgive me?\u201d she asked with a pout.<\/em><\/p>\n Kevin smiled sleepily at her. \u201cOf course I do; I know all too well how it is.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I just don\u2019t want you mad at me. Maybe this will help?\u201d She then slowly leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.<\/em><\/p>\n Kevin, of course, welcomed the kiss, morning breath and all; he didn\u2019t care. He began to smile against her lips as the kiss grew more heated, more passionate. He almost let out a whimper when she pulled away for a second.<\/em><\/p>\n He felt her move her lips over next to his ear. \u201cWe\u2019re still friends, right?\u201d she whispered huskily. Kevin blinked in confusion; what in the world was she talking about? Her lips once again captured his heatedly, and he was forced to open his eyes. Red hair?? What in the\u2026??<\/em><\/p>\n Alarms started going off in his head. Hayley\u2026 What was Hayley doing in his bedroom? Never mind that! What was he doing kissing her??<\/em><\/p>\n Kevin shot up suddenly from his bed, quickly glancing around his empty room. Reaching over, he turned his alarm clock towards him to check the time. It was only two in the morning; he still had hours to go before it was time for his next shift. Hours before Elizabeth got off.<\/p>\n Licking his lips, he noticed the tingle they still held. Had he really just dreamed about Hayley?? In that way??<\/p>\n \u201cI must really have been tired,\u201d Kevin said out loud to himself, rolling over and burying his head in his pillow once more.<\/p>\n Josh punched in figures on the calculator and frowned as the number that had popped up did not in any way come close to the one he\u2019d been hoping for. He hated doing the bills, and, just once, he would have liked to see the credit card company charge him incorrectly. But no, the jackasses were always right.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDamn, bloodsucking leeches,\u201d he mumbled under his breath.<\/em><\/p>\n When he heard the faint cries from the baby monitor, he sighed. Well, at least he wouldn\u2019t have to stare at the bill for a while. He pushed away from the table and made his way towards the nursery.<\/em><\/p>\n He froze with his hand on the nursery\u2019s doorknob.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat the hell is going on?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He didn\u2019t have a kid. Last he checked, Kylie was only a couple months along. There was no way there was a kid in that room. It was obvious that his tired mind was getting confused because he was tired, cranky, didn\u2019t want to pay the bills, and was anxious about the coming baby. That was it. His brain was jumbling things up and making him hallucinate.<\/em><\/p>\n Shaking his head at himself and deciding it was time to hit the sack, Josh turned away from the closed door and headed towards the bedroom. Kylie wasn\u2019t home because she\u2019d gotten stuck with the night shift. He hoped she didn\u2019t overdo it because, as he\u2019d often joked with her already, he didn\u2019t want their kid coming out with wrinkles from all the stress Mommy caused him. He shook his head again. The joke was starting to get old\u2014even for him.<\/em><\/p>\n The baby was crying again. Josh smacked himself on the head and shook his head, hoping he was really hallucinating from a lack of sleep. There was no way he was really hearing a baby crying because there was no baby in his home. Not for the next few months, anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n When the wailing didn\u2019t subside but grew steadily louder, he gnawed on his lower lip anxiously. What the heck was he supposed to do? Open the door and see if there really was a baby? Maybe no one had told him that the place was haunted when he and Kylie were first getting ready to move in. Maybe a baby had died there a long time ago, and its ghost was stuck in limbo now.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMaybe, maybe, maybe! Jesus, Josh, there\u2019s no such thing as ghosts! Just go in the room and see what\u2019s what. It\u2019s probably just your imagination,\u201d he scolded himself, trying to goad himself into opening the door. \u201cJesus, if one of the guys from work saw me, he\u2019d laugh himself silly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door\u2026and sighed happily. He could feel all the love he had for his child flow through him and fill him up to bursting.<\/em><\/p>\n Josh walked over to the crib and gazed down at the wailing baby, its face scrunched up as it screamed its lungs out.<\/em><\/p>\n A grin breaking out on his face, he reached in and lifted the little boy out and, placing him on his shoulder, began to rock him. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, buddy. It\u2019s all right. Shh, daddy\u2019s here. You don\u2019t have to cry anymore,\u201d he soothed the baby.<\/em><\/p>\n As the cries subsided and the baby\u2019s breathing grew even again, Josh knew he had fallen asleep again. Careful not to wake him, he carried the baby towards the crib and stopped when wails filled the air again. Though he winced a little, he began to pat the baby\u2019s back again and stopped again when he realized the baby in his arms was sleeping peacefully.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat the\u2026\u201d Josh leaned over and looked in the crib again. There was another child crying, lying on his back. \u201cHow\u2026?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Knowing he didn\u2019t want the baby in his arms to wake again, he set the sleeping child down in the crib and lifted the weeping one. As soon as he had managed to quiet the second one down, another\u2019s sobbing filled the room. And then another. Followed by yet another.<\/em><\/p>\n Josh looked over at the crib and found three more babies accompanied by the one that had initially been awake. All of them were screaming. As panic began to fill him, he heard more crying and found another couple babies in a rocking chair. There were two more on the changing table. He noticed three more in the playpen.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOh, man, oh, jeez. Oh, god,\u201d he muttered as he placed the toddler in his arms in the crib and tried to soothe the children in the crib. When they wouldn\u2019t stop screaming and the screams from the others in the room grew in volume, panic had him nearly screaming. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to quiet all of them when they were all wailing like he\u2019d committed the biggest injustice towards them? He wished for Kylie desperately.<\/em><\/p>\n Taking deep breaths, he decided to pick one, or two, to start with and go from there. Deciding on the ones in the rocking chair, he picked them up and tried to sing a song. When their shrieking didn\u2019t quiet down so much as a decibel, he shook his head. What the hell had he been thinking, singing a song? That was Dr. Littrell\u2019s territory, not his.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOkay, okay. Stay calm, Josh. What would you do if this was an accident?\u201d he asked himself. Then he laughed. Like this would ever happen.<\/em><\/p>\n When the screaming behind him started up again, he frowned down at the children in his arms. \u201cWeren\u2019t you the ones I picked up from that rocking chair?\u201d he wondered, knowing the rocking chair was behind him.<\/em><\/p>\n He turned around slowly and tried not to yelp. There were two more toddlers wailing away in the rocking chair. As he looked around the room, he realized that not only were there more babies in the playpen, crib, and on top of the changing table, he was surrounded by more on the floor. Every last one was screaming at the top of his lungs.<\/em><\/p>\n Knowing he was going to pass out from the sheer terror that was enveloping him as he knew, just knew, that he\u2019d never be able to help them all, Josh tried to grab onto something to keep himself from falling over. In front of his eyes, more babies appeared from God knew where, and the stress had his heart pounding and his breath clogging in his throat.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHelp!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Josh sat up, gasping, and tried to shake off the disorienting feeling the dream\u2014no, no, nightmare<\/em>, he reminded himself\u2014had left him. What the heck had happened in that damned nursery, he wondered, dazedly.<\/p>\n He looked down at Kylie, who slept on peacefully by his side. Reaching over, he lay a hand gently on her still-flat stomach where he knew their child was sleeping. Thank God, it had all been a dream. Just a dream because, if they ended up having more than one child at a time, he was afraid his mind would be blown.<\/p>\n Lying back down next to his wife, he moved closer to her, keeping his hand on her belly. When their baby arrived, he was going to be ready. He would not panic as he had in that stupid dream.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be the best daddy,\u201d he whispered and drifted back to sleep.<\/p>\n \u201cAndele, andele mami, E.I., E.I., uh-ohhhhhhh! What\u2019s poppin\u2019 tonight??\u201d Justin sang along to his Nelly album, waving his arms from side to side above his head as he stood on his bed, using the mattress for his stage.<\/em><\/p>\n Britney giggled softly at his feet. \u201cI just love your dope rhymes, Justy,\u201d she cooed, her Southern drawl as thick and syrupy sweet as molasses. She batted her heavily-mascaraed eyelashes up at him. \u201cYou sing \u2018em even better than Nelly himself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSt. Lou, representin\u2019,\u201d said Justin, even though he was originally from Tennessee and had never even been to St. Louis. He bounced on the balls of his feet to the phat beats of the song, until Britney shifted her weight on the bed, causing the mattress to jiggle. Before he knew it, he was careening over the edge. He heard Britney giggling again as hit the floor. Luckily, it didn\u2019t hurt, and he looked up to find her hand reaching down to help him up.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo more Nelly,\u201d she purred, her voice low and husky, the unmistakable look of seduction in her pretty brown eyes. \u201cThis mami wants her sexy Justy to pop her tonight.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Justin crept towards her on his hands and knees, like a tiger stalking its prey. He felt like a hungry tiger too; he was certainly hungry for her. He had a perfect view of her ample cleavage as she leaned over the side of the bed, and he could practically feel himself starting to salivate as he drank in the sight. Rising up onto his haunches, he leaned close to her so that his lips were right at her ear. \u201cGonna have you nekkid by da end of dis song,\u201d he growled. And then he pounced.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOhhhhhh!!! Ohhhhhhh, Justy!!!\u201d Britney moaned throatily as he tore away her sheer camisole and buried his face in her bosom, his tongue dipping into the crevasse he\u2019d been eyeing earlier, thirstily lapping up the sheen of perspiration that glistened on her soft skin. God, she tasted good.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI used to dream about dis when I was a li\u2019l boy,\u201d he murmured into her breasts, realizing how lucky he was to have a girlfriend that looked like the centerfolds he\u2019d used to ogle in his Dad\u2019s Playboys as a teenager. \u201cNevah thought it would end up dis way\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI love it when you talk like a dirty black man,\u201d she whispered breathlessly, her long fingernails clawing through his tight curls.<\/em><\/p>\n He smiled as he heard her sultry voice in his ear, her warm breath on his neck as she leaned down, her lips caressing his skin. He let out a soft moan, which quickly turned into a yelp of pain. \u201cOw!\u201d he exclaimed, his head jerking up in surprise. He\u2019d felt a sharp prick on the side of his neck, almost like a bee sting or a needle stick. She\u2019d bitten him! \u201cWhat, you wanna get kinky tonight, babe?\u201d he asked, excitement starting to melt his shock as he considered the possibilities.<\/em><\/p>\n When Britney raised her head, there was a wicked look in her eyes\u2026 but not the kind of wicked he was interested in. Her eyes were suddenly bright red \u2013 literally! They were practically glowing scarlet and emanating an evil that practically caused his heart to stop. \u201cWhat the fuck!\u201d he cried, leaping back, away from her. He nearly toppled backwards off the foot of the bed, catching himself just in time and landing shakily on his feet. \u201cWh-what\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d he stammered nervously, slowly backing away, step by step.<\/em><\/p>\n Her eyes gleamed with seduction and sin, and slowly, her lips began to curve back, revealing a set of pointy, pearly white fangs. Fangs that dripped with a drop of crimson blood. His blood.<\/em><\/p>\n He gasped in horror. \u201cYou\u2019re\u2026 you\u2019re a\u2026 a vampire!\u201d he cried hoarsely, his throat as tight as if he were being strangled. He raised a trembling hand to his gently throbbing neck and felt the beads of blood quivering where her fangs had sunk through his flesh. \u201cDoes this mean I\u2019m a vampire too?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Britney just arched an eyebrow, never answering him. Not that he waited long. Within a few seconds, his brain delivered the message to his feet \u2013 run! He scrambled out of the apartment and down several flights of stairs before he burst out into the cold December night and raced for his car.<\/em><\/p>\n He drove blindly, and in a matter of seconds, or so it seemed, he found himself sitting at the bar of a trendy club, the kind you saw on TV, not the kind you found in small, coastal North Carolina cities. And certainly not the kind impoverished med students could afford to drink in. Nevertheless, there he was, sipping on Courvoisier and feeling much like the pimp he often wished he was.<\/em><\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take long for a hot woman to make her way up to him and slide onto the stool next to him. He turned to her, prepared to switch on the old Timberlake charm and make up for the fact that his girlfriend was now a member of the undead. But as soon as she met his eyes, a look of fright crossed the girl\u2019s face, and she scrambled off the stool and disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.<\/em><\/p>\n He was too surprised to react at first, but before he had a chance, another woman took his place. Yet she soon hurried away, before he even had a chance to introduce himself. This happened several more times with several more women who came up and then backed away from him, as if he were carrying the plague.<\/em><\/p>\n What\u2019s wrong with me? he thought anxiously. He ran his tongue cautiously over his teeth, feeling for sharp points, in case he was starting to grow fangs. But he felt perfectly normal. He couldn\u2019t be\u2026 like her, could he?<\/em><\/p>\n He was distracted when yet another woman slipped onto the again empty stool next to him. He cast her a nervous look out of the corner of his eye, afraid of scaring her off the way he had the others. But he instantly knew she was not like them. She only confirmed his suspicions when she turned to him and, without blinking, extended her hand. \u201cI\u2019m Ivy. Ivy Hill,\u201d she said, her voice low and silky. It had almost an eerie calmness to it, like the way the atmosphere feels right before the winds of a storm. And yet, he was instantly intrigued by her.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHi, Ivy,\u201d he said slowly, shaking her hand. \u201cI\u2019m Justin. Justin Timberlake.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI know who you are.\u201d She never blinked.<\/em><\/p>\n Okay, so that was a little creepy. But he was glad to at least have found a woman who would look at him, so he didn\u2019t let it phase him. \u201cHave we met?\u201d he asked, cocking his head to the side. He couldn\u2019t place her and thought for sure that he would have remembered her if he had. Maybe she\u2019d been a patient at the hospital?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot directly. We\u2019ve crossed paths, I suppose you could say. I know your girlfriend well.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBritney? She\u2019s a vampire!\u201d Justin blurted, and he felt the familiar tremor of horror that ran down his spine every time he pictured her glowing red eyes.<\/em><\/p>\n Ivy licked her lips, her pink tongue lingering on her dark red lips. It was then that he saw them \u2013 her fangs. \u201cYou are too!\u201d he gasped, nearly falling off his stool. \u201cYou\u2019re just like her!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Ivy inhaled, shaking her head. \u201cI\u2019m not just like her\u2026 I\u2019m a part of her now. We are one.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201c\u2026What?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBeware\u2026 or you shall become one with me too\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Justin couldn\u2019t say why, but all of a sudden, he was terrified. His chest felt tight; he couldn\u2019t breathe. His heart pounded rapidly in his ears, but above the rush of blood, he could just make out a faint cry, like that of a distressed infant. His own scream joined the other as Ivy reached her scarlet-clawed hand out to him\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Justin jerked and found himself surrounded by darkness. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust, but gradually he realized he was in Britney\u2019s bedroom, twisted up in her hot pink sheets. A dream, he thought with relief. Just a dream. He turned his head, and there was Britney, sound asleep at his side, her blonde hair framing her face in loose tangles. She looked perfectly innocent, like an angel, not the monster she\u2019d been in his nightmare.<\/p>\n His heart was still racing as he leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek, mostly to assure himself that she still felt and tasted like the Hooters waitress he loved. When he brought his head back up, his eyes found the clock on the bedside table. It was just after 3:00 a.m. He still had a couple hours to sleep before he had to get up for his early shift at the hospital.<\/p>\n Sighing, he flopped back onto his pillows and closed his eyes, hoping the image of Britney with red eyes and fangs would disappear. He wanted to awake from sweet dreams to the sight of her pretty brown eyes and sexy smile as she leaned over him, begging for a quickie before he had to get ready for work.<\/p>\n Melissa stirred as he climbed onto the bed, the mattress caving beneath his weight. Raising her head off the pillow, she looked at him blearily through a curtain of tangled hair. \u201cJoey? What time is it?\u201d she croaked, her voice hoarse from sleep.<\/p>\n He swallowed, taking a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking. He was terrified she would hear the deception in his voice; he was such a bad liar. \u201cIt\u2019s only 3:30, babe. Go back to sleep,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n She grunted in response, flopping back against her pillows. A few seconds later, her muffled voice asked, \u201cHow was the graveyard shift?\u201d<\/p>\n Joey hesitated a moment before answering. \u201cDead,\u201d he said finally, smirking, but without humor. He couldn\u2019t laugh; he was too tense, too afraid to let down his guard. What if she found out? Don\u2019t start acting weird, dude<\/em>, he scolded himself. Then she really will notice something\u2019s going on<\/em>.<\/p>\n But not tonight. Within a few seconds, she was out like a light again, a sleepy smile plumping her lips. Slithering under the covers next to her, he leaned over and lightly kissed them, but as he did, his stomach did a somersault. He was kissing Mel\u2026 but all he could taste was Mariah.<\/p>\n He\u2019d told her not to call him, but she had, earlier that night. Melissa had picked up the line in his apartment before he could stop her. Thankfully, Mariah was smarter than she pretended to be. His stomach had clenched when Mel cupped her hand over the mouthpiece and said, \u201cJoey, it\u2019s Mariah from the hospital.\u201d But then she\u2019d added, \u201cShe\u2019s calling to see if you can work the graveyard shift tonight\u2026 Shawn was supposed to, but she had some kind of family emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n Joey knew that wasn\u2019t the real reason Mariah was calling. Taking the phone from Melissa, he turned his back to her as he asked, \u201cMariah? Uhh\u2026 you can\u2019t find anybody to work the desk tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot the desk,\u201d Mariah purred, her voice turning much more sexual than it must have been when she was talking to Melissa. \u201cI\u2019m looking for someone to work me<\/em> tonight\u2026 would you like the job?\u201d<\/p>\n Joey could feel his face getting hot and was glad he wasn\u2019t facing his girlfriend. God damn you, Mariah<\/em>, he thought, groaning inwardly. He\u2019d been annoyed with her\u2026 and yet, somehow he\u2019d ended up in her apartment again that night, taking out his aggravation in a tangle of sweat-soaked sheets and twisted limbs. Even worse, Melissa had stayed behind at his apartment, waiting for him to get home in the morning.<\/p>\n Why had he gone and left her? Joey didn\u2019t know. He loved Mel\u2026 didn\u2019t he? Maybe\u2026 maybe not. He cared about her, but\u2026 she didn\u2019t make his pulse race the way Mariah did. She didn\u2019t excite him to the point that he would lie and leave someone he loved in the middle of the night just for sex. But, any reason aside, he knew what he was doing was horribly wrong, and he felt guiltier and guiltier every day it continued. And yet he couldn\u2019t stop. Mariah was like an addiction and he, the addict.<\/p>\n He tossed and turned, his mind alternating between lust for Mariah and guilt towards Melissa, until he finally drifted into a restless sleep\u2026<\/p>\n A string quartet played Pachelbel\u2019s \u201cCanon\u201d as she came down the flower-lined aisle toward him. He couldn\u2019t see her feet beneath the long, full skirt of her gown; it was almost as if she were floating. Like an angel dressed in white, her wings carried her down the aisle, her veil fluttering delicately in front of her face, masking her features.<\/em><\/p>\n He took her hand, and together, they climbed the altar to stand before the minister and the Lord. The minister\u2019s words were a blur as he went through the sermon; Joey barely comprehended a word until it was time for the vows. And even then, only certain phrases stood out.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 do you take Melissa to be your wedded wife\u2026? Will you love her\u2026 honor and keep her\u2026 and forsaking all others, be faithful to her\u2026?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He felt a stabbing sensation in his chest, but he answered, \u201cI do.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n A few moments later, she whispered the same, and before he knew it, he had slid a ring on her finger, and a gold band gleamed on his.<\/em><\/p>\n There was a kindly smile on the minister\u2019s noble, lined face as he looked between the two of them. \u201cBy the power vested in me and in the name of the state of North Carolina, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He took a step towards her then, moving more on instinct than his own conscious direction. It was as if someone else were controlling his limbs; he felt like a robot. He reached for the wispy white tulle that covered her face and gently lifted it back. When, for the first time, he got a clear view of her face, he gasped and backpedaled in shock.<\/em><\/p>\n The beautiful face beneath the veil of his angelic bride was not the face of his angel at all. It wasn\u2019t Mel. It was the succubus herself\u2026 Mariah.<\/em><\/p>\n No, he thought in shock, this is a mistake. This is all a huge mistake. I don\u2019t love you. I don\u2019t want to marry you.<\/em><\/p>\n He tried to say this, but he couldn\u2019t get the words out. He just stood there on the altar, his mouth hanging open as he gaped at his unintended bride.<\/em><\/p>\n Mariah took hold of the opportunity and pounced, flinging her arms around him and shoving her tongue down his throat as she kissed him deeply. A chorus of shocked gasps rang through the church, but all of a sudden, Joey no longer cared. His heart started to race again as his arms snaked around the lacy bodice of her wedding gown and pulled her close, kissing back with a sudden burst of fiery passion.<\/em><\/p>\n It no longer mattered whether it was Melissa he was kissing or not, or whether or not he loved Mariah. All he could think was that he couldn\u2019t wait for the honeymoon\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n The honeymoon?!<\/em> Joey\u2019s mind seemed to exclaim as he woke up in a panic, the image of Mariah in a bridal gown fresh in his mind, the taste of her still on his tongue. He looked around wildly, but gone were the beautifully decorated church and the shocked faces of its guests. He was surrounded by darkness and twisted up in his covers, which he\u2019d managed to pull off of Melissa.<\/p>\n Melissa\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n She was still sleeping soundly next to him, curled up in a little ball\u2026 looking cute, yet sort of forlorn. Or maybe she only looked that way because of how he felt \u2013 guilty, like he\u2019d abandoned her. She didn\u2019t deserve that. She was a good person, far better than him. She deserved better. As he watched her sleep, he became more and more sure of that and knew that something had to change.<\/p>\n Holli ran through the field, content, happy. The field around her shone with spring, colorful flowers popping up everywhere. Before her was her future, and a tall figure she couldn\u2019t make out. Everything was perfect. She laughed as she picked up her medical degree from the top of a flower. She kept running further with joy, picking up awards that appeared on flowers along her path. Up ahead was the figure, holding his arms out to her with happiness.<\/em><\/p>\n A bright light suddenly flashed, blinding her for a moment\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n She shrieked in terrible pain as the ground fell from under her and she slammed hard to the ground. Pain radiated throughout her body. Her legs felt numb. She screamed in panic. She tried to get up but was unable to get her lower half to work. The sound of a young girl\u2019s laughter surrounded her mockingly. A pungent smell filled the air. She couldn\u2019t breathe\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n The phone rang shrilly, and Holli rolled over, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She sighed as the pain from her dream still ached within her. She answered the phone, annoyed at the early wake up since she didn\u2019t have the night shift for once.<\/p>\n \u201cHello?\u201d she listens for a moment before nodding sharply. \u201cI\u2019ll be right there.\u201d<\/p>\n Rita stood in front of the stove frying bacon, eggs and pancakes when Howie came downstairs, dressed in his suit and tie, ready for his day. Greeting Rita with a smile, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, darling,\u201d he said.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, sweetheart\u2026 breakfast is almost ready. Did you wake Dani up?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYes, she should be down any minute.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Howie then took his seat at the table, where, as always, his newspaper was waiting for him. He glanced over it as Rita served him his breakfast.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHere you go, darling,\u201d she said.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt looks wonderful, Rita. Honestly, I don\u2019t know how you do it. You\u2019re a surgeon, mother, the president of the PTA at Dani\u2019s school, and yet you still have time to cook me and Dani a hot breakfast every morning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all in a day\u2019s work, sweetheart. You\u2019re my husband; I want everything to be perfect for you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n At that moment, Dani came skipping down the stairs, her pigtails swinging from side to side.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, Daddy,\u201d she said cheerfully.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s my girl this morning?\u201d Howie asked her.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m terrific, Daddy; today my class is taking a field trip to the zoo.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI bet you\u2019re going to see-\u201d Dani and Howie finished the sentence together, \u201c-lions and tigers and bears, oh my!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Dani then took her seat at the table.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s your pancakes, sweetheart,\u201d Rita said, serving Dani. \u201cThey\u2019re blueberry, just how you like them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re too good to me, Mommy,\u201d the little girl said happily.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnything for my best girl. Now eat up so Daddy can drive you to school before his shift at the hospital.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Rita awoke with a start. \u201cDear God, I must be losing my mind,\u201d she said, as she reflected on the dream. \u201cWho do I look like, June Cleaver?\u201d Needless to say, the dream had not projected her life at all.<\/p>\n Her breakfast on most days consisted of a Pop-Tart that she grabbed on her way out the door or whatever the vending machine at the hospital offered on a given day. She hated cooking and hadn\u2019t fixed a decent meal for anyone in years\u2026 Well, okay, make that never. When the hospital asked what everyone was bringing to their annual dinners, she was the first to volunteer to bring the napkins or bottles of soda.<\/p>\n Rita at last lay back and closed her eyes, vowing that Howie would never ever hear about the dream. Then right before she fell asleep, Rita snickered to herself, thinking: Howard Cleaver<\/em>. She would never be able to look at him the same way again.<\/p>\n Isabel Rivera sighed, as she sat on her bed surrounded by different medical books. Her eyes blinked several times before she rubbed them, her curly brown locks tied back, with a few framing her tired face. She scribbled something down as she turned a page. She needed to get this case profile done tonight. She flipped open another book and started searching. She couldn\u2019t let anyone down. If she got it done tonight, she could spend time with Nick tomorrow. Or would that be today? She glanced at the clock, 4:30 a.m. The young student sighed once more. She wasn\u2019t getting any sleep tonight. A yawn escaped her as her eyes kept attempting to close. She leaned back against her pillow with a book still propped up in her arms. She skimmed the page, but not absorbing any of the material within. Her eyes begin to close once again\u2026<\/p>\n She looked around as she walked along the dark path, unsure of where she was going. Her gaze could find nothing recognizable in her sight. Her mind pictured Nick and she smiled; maybe she could see if she could find him and sort out this mess.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYour sister has gone on to great things.\u201d Her father\u2019s voice boomed around her, echoing throughout the area. Suddenly a huge back of bricks dropped into her arms and she grunted painfully, forced to catch them. She turned and looked around for a source as she stumbled backwards from the force.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDancing?! Ha, there\u2019s no way you could make it in dancing\u2026\u201d Another load of bricks fell towards her and she caught it once again, not sure of why she had to do so. She stepped backwards again.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLook at your sister and father, Isabel; you could be great if you only put the effort into it\u2026.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not working nearly hard enough\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t you be more like your sister?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n More bags of bricks began to fall at her, with the expectation of her to catch them all. The voices became a critical, loud blur around her. There were just so many\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t do this; why are you trying?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou need to pay more attention in class if you are to succeed\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIsabel, you were never meant to be a dancer. You don\u2019t have the strength.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n She screamed as they kept pounding upon her in a massive rain. She stepped back to slowly try to escape it. Suddenly she stepped back to feel no ground beneath her. The piles of bags of bricks within her arms fell from her grasp, and she screamed with a deathly fear as she began to tumble into the dark abyss below\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n She tossed and turned in the bed, the books falling to the floor in the room. Her skin was damp with sweat as the bed sheets tangled about her squirming body, unable to escape the nightmare her mind created\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n She fell, still hearing the voices. They were yelling at her now. All in agreement about one thing. She couldn\u2019t do this. Isabel had given up her first dream to accept her new one of being a doctor like her father and sister before her. Now she was just going to fail. She was never enough.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou were never adequate enough to be a member of this family.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNO!\u201d she shrieked back, \u201cI\u2019m trying!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Her coffee eyes searched about for something, anything to hold onto to stop her endless fall into what seemed to be a bottomless pit. She couldn\u2019t die like this. No. Her eyes almost bugged out when she spotted a branch, and she reached for it wildly, barely holding on. She screamed when she heard it begin to crack. She looked up to see the top of a ledge above her, but it was too far to reach\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSOMEBODY HELP!\u201d she screamed in desperate hope that someone would hear. The voices continued to fill her head, confirming her doubts and fears.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIsabel!?\u201d she heard a familiar voice cry out.<\/em><\/p>\n No, it couldn\u2019t be could it? \u201cNick!?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIz! Where are you?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m below the ledge! Nick hurry! The branch is gonna break!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m coming!\u201d She could hear him run towards her. She looked up and was relieved when she saw his beautiful, comforting, sapphire eyes, where she saw his fear for her within. The voices silenced at that moment. She could see a soft pale light coming from behind him. She sighed with obvious relief.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNick, oh\u2026\u201d The branch cracked, and she knew there wasn\u2019t much time left. \u201cThank God.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n+++<\/h4>\n
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