The Immortals

Chapter 6

    The first thing Vanessa felt when she woke up was the splitting headache. It felt like someone was taking a hammer to her skull. She tried to get her bearings. Where was she? What happened? Vanessa didn’t have the energy to sit up, but she did manage to turn her head. Everything seemed fuzzy and she couldn’t quite get her bearings.

     “Oh my God sweetie, you’re awake! How are you feeling?” 

    Vanessa slowly turned her head towards the voice. Why was her brain so foggy? It took as second, but her vision started to clear, and she realized her face was inches away from Kelsey’s.

    Kelsey was lying on the bed next to her. She was in sweats and a long sleeve shirt and her eyes were tired like she just woke up.

     “What happened?” Vanessa asked, trying to sit up. Kelsey gently helped her up so she was sitting against her pillow. At the foot of her bed lied a sleeping Tiffany.

     “You were drugged sweetie. You’ve been out all night. Well except for when you were throwing up. We all stayed in here with you until you woke up.”

    She was drugged? Vanessa rubber her face trying to remember what happened. And this damn headache. She couldn’t think straight. And then suddenly the memories started to come back. Sitting in the restaurant with Ryan, trying to leave and feeling dizzy, lying in an alleyway…

     “I’m gonna be sick.” These words somehow woke Tiffany up out of a deep sleep and right as Vanessa leaned over the bed, Tiff was there with the trash can.

     “It’s ok babe. Let it all out. The doctor said you might be sick.”

    Doctor? Vanessa was trying to remember.

    “Oh she’s up?” Vanessa looked up and saw Ben in her desk chair. Great, so they all saw me puke my brains out.

     “My head is killing me. And everything seems really foggy.”

    “Yeah the note said that will probably happen. Here drink some water.” Kelsey handed her a water bottle which Vanessa guzzled down.

     “What note? What the hell is going on?”

    “What do you remember Nessa? Tell us everything that happened and then we will fill in the blanks from what we know.”

    Vanessa looked down at the almost empty water bottle in her hand trying to gather her thoughts. For some reason her hands were shaking. “Um, I can’t seem to piece everything together. I remember being at the restaurant with Ryan and being miserable. I was bored out of my mind and he was so condescending. He kept talking about how his dad was a judge and how rich he was. I remember he said some chauvinistic bullshit and I decided to leave. When I stood up I felt really dizzy and off balance, like I was drunk, but I only had one glass of wine…” The memories started to come back though everything still seemed off, like she was re watching a dream.

     “He drugged me didn’t he?” Kelsey nodded and squeezed her hand. Both girls were sitting on the bed with her, and Ben had rolled the chair closer. Vanessa nodded resolute, “Ok well that’s why things aren’t as clear. I remember being led outside. I was trying to get away but I couldn’t. I remember trying to yell for help but no words were coming out. He led me into an alley or parking garage or something, there was a dumpster, so I guess an alley. I don’t know what happened. I vaguely remember laying on the ground behind the dumpster and him lying on top of me, and then….Oh s**t! Wait!” Vanessa jumped up from bed so fast her head began to spin and she had to grab Ben’s shoulder to support herself.

     “Nessa, what are you doing? Lay back down, “ Ben said while keeping a hand on her arm to steady her.

     “I remember something. I think I can do it. I have to try.” The three friends looked at each other confused, but still allowed Vanessa to do whatever it was she wanted to do.

    She grabbed a book off of her desk, staring at it. “I pushed Ryan off of me. But not a normal push, it was like he went flying and I never even touched him. I’m sure of it. And I feel like I can do it again.”

    Vanessa held the paperback book in her hand, figuring she should start light. She tried to remember what she did to get Ryan off of her. She was in such a panic she knew it was mostly instinct. But as foggy as her brain was she remembered this clearly. Focusing on the book, she pushed everything else out of her mind. The events of last night, her friends, and focused solely on the book. Then she imagined the book flying across the room and hitting the bedroom door. Hesitantly, Vanessa lifting her arm, her hand out as if she was asking someone to stop. MOVE!  The book went flying and violently hit the bedroom door. Despite it being a paperback, the force of it actually tore the book in half and left a dent on the door.

    “Well damn…” Vanessa looked around at her friends who all looked shocked and more than a little impressed.

     “You really are telekinetic!” Kelsey squealed.

      “I guess.” It took a lot out of her and Vanessa sat back on her bed, exhausted. She finished the water bottle.

       “I hope you did as much damage to that bastard as you did to our poor wall,” Tiffany commented, still staring at the torn up book lying on the ground.

     “I don’t remember. Wait, where is he? Did anyone call the police? How did I get here?”

     “Take a deep breath Nessa, we will get there. After you, uh, pushed, him, what do you remember?”

     “Not much. I think I passed out shortly after that. This thing is exhausting. Wait, there was someone else, a man. He had an accent, British maybe?”

    Ben perked up, “Did you say British?”

     “I think so. I think he told Ryan to get off of me and then that’s when I pushed him. The guy I think he checked on me to see if I was ok, I remember seeing his face, maybe, and….grey eyes…Shit! It was him! My f*****g dream guy.”

    The two girls looked at each other it was like they already knew all of this. “He was telling the truth.”

    “Who was telling the truth? What the hell do you guys know? Did you speak to him? If he found me, where is he now? Where’s Ryan?”

    Kelsey leaned back and grabbed two pieces of paper off the table. “So last night, I texted you 3 times and got no response. I was starting to get nervous. I knew you should’ve been home by then and it’s not like you to ignore texts. I was just about to call you when I got a text, it was around 11 at night. It was weird and basically asked Tiff and I, and Ben too, to come back to the apartment. It was from your phone, but we figured out once we got here it wasn’t from you. I was like 45 minutes away so Ben and Tiff got here first.”

     “When we got here, “Tiffany took over, “The apartment was empty, except you passed out in the bed. But we found a note on the coffee table. And there was another one on the bed next to you, addressed to you.” Tiffany glanced at Kelsey again, “Sorry babe, we read that one too.”

     Normally, Vanessa would be annoyed they were reading something addressed to her but she was still so confused and frightened, she wasn’t going to worry about that. Vanessa took the letters from Kelsey. The first one was the one addressed to the three friends.

                Kelsey, Ben, and Tiffany,

                I know the three of you are probably very confused and I hope this provides some answers. I unfortunately could not be here when you arrived, but I did not want to leave you completely uninformed. Vanessa is sleeping in her room. Her date last night was able to put a drug into her wine that has caused her to lose control of her senses and eventually she lost consciousness.

                I deeply regret that I missed him drugging the wine and wished I was able to stop him before she ingested it. Vanessa was not harmed physically. It is not my place to tell you details of what happened, but it was stopped before anything got too far. Ryan Levine is being dealt with. As of five minutes ago the police found him still unconscious in the alley. He is currently in police custody, though I can not say for how long. Regardless, he will be dealt with.

                I had a physician who I trust examine Vanessa. Physically she will be fine once the dose leaves her system. The doctor said she will have a bad headache and be confused. She may experience vomiting.  She will also be very thirsty.

                I know none of this makes sense, and I wish I could explain more. Just trust that there is something far larger going on that I can not jeopardize right now. I am confident everything will be clear shortly.

                Please take care of Vanessa, and know that I am looking out for her. Her safety and wellbeing is my upmost concern. I’m sorry I cannot explain more are this time. I’m sure we will be in touch shortly.

                My Regards,

                Caleb Black

    Vanessa looked at her friends, “What the hell?”

      “Yeah we got nothing. I tried looking up a Caleb Black and can’t find anyone that fits his description from Kelsey’s drawing or what you said. But he was telling the truth it seems.”

     Vanessa was furious. So the guy who had been haunting her dreams for weeks was here, in her apartment, apparently protecting her and making sure she was safe, yet he didn’t stay to even make sure she woke up? Who the hell was this guy?

    “One thing is true,” Ben spoke up, “You know my buddy Nick that’s a cop. I called him last night and he did me a favor. Ryan was taken into police custody last night. Apparently, there was a strange 9-1-1 call made from his phone and the cops went to check it out. They found him passed out in the alley with the s**t beat out of him, broken nose, broken ribs, the works. He had his cell phone in his hand where he apparently texted his dealer and told him he drugged you, and a baggy full of pills in his pocket.”

     “He was beat up? Do you think it was this guy? Caleb?”

     Ben shrugged, “It seems like it, but who knows for sure.”

    “So he’s still in police custody?”

     Ben shifted in his chair, “Um, actually Nick texted me right after you woke up. He was released on bail this morning. And apparently he’s already talking lawsuit.”

    “What!” Vanessa began to panic. “He’s out? I got to go! I can’t stay here! I…I” For the first time since this all started Vanessa felt the tears begin to flow. Kelsey, grabbed her hand and gently pulled her back to the bed.

     “Shh, Nessa, it’s ok, relax. Ben and Tiff were able to push an emergency restraining order through last night, though you do have to talk to the police at some point today and give your statement in order to get a more permanent one. And if you want to press charges.”

     Vanessa nodded, wiping her eyes, “Yeah, ok I definitely want to talk to them. Do I have to go there?”

    Ben shook his head, “No we’ll have an officer come to the house if you want.”

     “Yeah please. Oh my parents. I’m gonna have to tell my parents. My dad is going to lose his damn mind.”

 “We’ll help you with that Nessa. One step at a time. That Caleb guy wrote you a letter too. Do you want to read it now, or shower and eat something first?”

     She looked at the second letter in her hands. Why would her hands not stop shaking? “I need a minute. I really want to take a shower. I feel so dirty. And I’m starving.”

    “Well you’ve been throwing up all night, so it’s no surprise. Go take a shower, we’ll make you some breakfast, and then you can read the other letter and we will go from there.” Vanessa smiled at Tiffany and grabbed her hand.

     “Can you guys stay in the bathroom with me? I know that sounds stupid, I just don’t want to be alone right now.”

    “It’s not stupid of course we will,” Tiffany glanced at her boyfriend, “Ben can you make us something to eat?” She smiled at Vanessa, “He’s a better cook anyway.”

“That’s true,” Kelsey replied, “It would be nice to eat something other than cereal.”

     Ben laughed, “You girls go, I’ll figure out something.”

    The two girls each grabbed one of Vanessa’s hands and led her into the bathroom. Once they were gone, Ben went into Kelsey’s room and grabbed her sketch pad. She had mentioned last night that she had drawn the guy from Vanessa’s dreams. When Vanessa mentioned he sounded British something clicked for him and he wanted to confirm before he brought it up to the girls.

     Ben flipped to the last page, and sure enough and incredibly detailed drawing of the man at the bar who bought Ben a whiskey stared back at him. “Son of a bitch.” So whoever this guy was, and whatever his connection to Vanessa was, he’d been following her for a while.

    Ben left the notebook on Kelsey’s desk and went into the kitchen, thinking. Something was up with this guy and he didn’t know what. Even though he had only known Nessa and Kelsey for two years, they were like little sisters to him. He didn’t like the idea of some strange man following one of them around. s**t, he even was able to get in their apartment. He knew the most important thing now was to take care of Vanessa and make sure that son of a b***h who did this to her pays. But, he was going to find out more about this Caleb Black and see what his intentions were for his little sister.