Bound by Radiant Shadows

Chapter 1:Nightmares

Lynette snapped awake once again from another confusing dream that pulled her out of her slumber and left her feeling groggy. Lynette had these dreams more often these days. Usually, she doesn't have any issues remembering her dreams. She had always been a vivid dreamer, but for the last few nights, her dreams were dark and foggy. Lynette snapped awake once again from another confusing dream that pulled her out of her slumber and left her feeling groggy. Lynette had these dreams more often these days. Usually, she doesn't have any issues remembering her dreams. She had always been a vivid dreamer, but the last few nights her dreams were dark and foggy, leaving her with only the vague memory of fear and arousal which made her weak and confused.

She looked at the clock. It was 5 till 7:00 AM and her alarm for work would go off soon. Lynette sat up rubbing her eyes. She combed her hands through her long fine hair, separating the light brown strands at the end with her fingers.

She stretched her arms and made her way to the bathroom sink. While splashing water on her soft round face, she looked into her big round blue eyes. She breathed a sigh, lately it seemed no matter how much she slept she was always tired.

She took a breath before she began her morning pep talk out of nowhere. A heat flushed over her which made her dizzy. She grabbed the bathroom vanity in an attempt to sturdy herself against the overwhelming feeling of dread taking over her. When she felt like she had got her bearings, she looked up in the bathroom mirror.

Her disheveled image in the mirror began to change. The mirror darkened as if there was a shadow creeping behind her. She could not move, frozen in fear like a statue as she watched What was once her soft features staring out at her morph into a dark-haired woman with smooth caramel skin and crimson eyes. The woman's full red lips turned upwards in a smirk. She bit her lips as she pulled her hourglass form closer to the mirror. In her head, she screamed, "Run!" But her legs were frozen in position. The room fell away from her and all she could see was the woman's body in front of her. The woman took a deep breath, her full chest moving under her red and gold bodice. The woman's eyes fixated on her as if she was seeing her for the first time. She breathed out the word, "you." That one-word sigh sent shivers up and down Lynette's spine as if she knew there was nowhere she could escape the woman's pursuit. The woman was beautiful and terrifying. Lynette found herself lost between fear and arousal. Lynette tried to speak but nothing came out. The women smirked as the room filled with dread.

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I sat straight up, a scream escaping my lips. My heart was racing like I had just run a marathon. What the hell! I tried to calm myself by taking a few deep breaths. I looked around the room, "It was just a dream." I said to myself. Unconvinced, I pinched the skin on my forearm, "Ouch!" Yup, this is real.

My phone started ringing, making me jump out of my skin. I took a breath and answered it without looking at the caller ID, "Hello." It was Tammy, panic seething through her voice. "Lyne, where are you? Did you know you were supposed to be here at eight?" A different fear started to take over. I looked at the clock and sure enough, it was a quarter to nine. "I'm so sorry Tammy, I slept in." I quickly apologized and told Tammy I was going to be there right away. Tammy is going to kill me. How could I sleep in? I quickly got dressed in jeans and a gray t-shirt with a Marly's Diner logo on it. I threw my hair up in a ponytail and walked over to check myself out in the mirror, then I froze. It was just my face in the mirror. A little puffy from sleep and desperately needing some T.L.C. I closed my eyes. "Lyne, it was just a dream."

When I made it to work, I quickly grabbed my name tag and blue apron and started checking on my section. Tammy was right to be panicked over the phone. This place was busier than I'd seen in a while. I apologized to Tammy profusely. I felt so bad for putting Tammy in that situation. She was a hard worker and had enough stress as it was. She had to take care of her two rowdy boys by herself. We were to have only two waitresses scheduled today and had to ask the dishwasher to bus the tables to even be able to keep up with the pace.

After we got everything under control, I found Tammy taking a second to herself and lighting a cigarette behind the dumpster. "Ugh, Tammy I thought you quit!" I said. Tammy has been saying she was going to quit smoking for months now. "You just got right off your high horse. Miss. 45 min late, I won't be quitting today not with it like that in there." I shrugged it off. Tammy can be blunt, but she wasn't wrong.

"How about I take you out tonight to apologize, drink on me." She bit her bottom lip in thought "Well, the boys are at their father's this weekend." She seemed hesitant but she agreed. "Yay!" I exclaimed I think it would be good for the both of us to get out, especially after today" I normally didn't go out to the bars much I didn't have many close friends besides Tammy, and she rarely had free time. Her deadbeat ex would often skip out on weekends with his children using all the excuses in the book.

I honestly don't know how Tammy ended up with him. Tammy was very pretty. She was constantly shooting down truckers and bro-types alike, making clear she didn't take any bull. She was slim with long blond hair and brown eyes. Even though she had two kids and worked constantly, she always had a ton of energy and sass. I admired her for that. After a few drags of her cigarette, she clapped her hands and announced that it was time to go back to work. I let her know I would pick her up at 8, and I would splurge on some food before we went out.

When I made it to work, I grabbed my name tag and started checking on my section. Tammy was right to be panicked over the phone. This place was busier than I'd seen it in a while. I apologized to Tammy profusely. I felt so bad for putting Tammy in that situation. She was a hard worker and had enough stress as it was. She had to take care of her two rowdy boys by herself. We were to have only two waitresses scheduled today and had to ask the dishwasher to bus the tables to even be able to keep up with the pace.

After we got everything under control, I found Tammy taking a second to herself and lighting a cigarette behind the dumpster. "Ugh, Tammy I thought you quit!" I said. Tammy had been saying she was going to quit smoking for months now. "You just get right off your high horse. Miss 45 minutes late, I won't be quitting today not with it like that in there!" Tammy can be blunt but she wasn't wrong.

I shrugged off her comments and came up with what I thought was a great idea. "How about I take you out tonight to apologize, drinks on me." She bit her bottom lip in thought "Well, the boys are at their father's this weekend" She seemed hesitant, but she agreed. "Yay!" I exclaimed. "I think it would be good for both of us to get out, especially after today". I normally didn't go out to the bars much. I didn't have many close friends besides Tammy and she rarely had free time. Her deadbeat ex would often skip out on weekends with his children using all the excuses in the book.

I honestly don't know how Tammy ended up with him. Tammy was very pretty. She was constantly shooting down truckers and bro-types alike, making clear she didn't take any bull. She was slim with long blond hair and brown eyes. Even though she had two kids and worked constantly, she always had a ton of energy and sass. I admired her for that. After a few drags of her cigarette, she clapped her hands and announced that it was time to go back to work. I let her know I would pick her up at eight, and I would splurge on some food before we went out.

The rest of the day went by in a flash of disgruntled customers and messy tables. Before I knew it, I was hanging up my apron and putting my name tag in my locker. I said goodbye to Tammy and the rest of the staff and headed home. Tammy had a few stragglers in her section. I offered to stay behind, but she assured me that they were on their way out and that she didn't need any help.

On my way towards the door, I noticed a strange man in the corner of the restaurant looking at me. He was a tall man with a muscular build and tattoos on both arms and up his neck they seemed to be strange symbols with dark bands around his wrist. He had blond hair and ice-blue eyes that were focused on me. He looked out of place. This town was small. Our crowds usually consisted of townies, college students from the local community college, and truckers. I don't know how I didn't notice him before given his large stature and distinctive looks.

When he saw me noticing him, he smirked. We locked eyes and I started getting lightheaded. I had always been uncomfortable getting attention, even though I had learned to flit a little as a waitress, but it had always felt like I was acting. I quickly turned to the door to head out to the parking lot and, distracted by my unease, I ran right into the glass door. Luckily, no one else was paying attention. I glanced back up at the chiseled blond sitting in the back booth, and he was gone. I sighed, thankful that he didn't see me make a fool out of myself, but I was curious about where he disappeared too. I brushed it off and made my way to the parking lot.