Chapter 9
1465 Words
When I woke up, Dad was gone. "Dad?" I called out. I got up and looked around the huge room I was in. He wasn't there. I looked up and down the hall from my door. "Dad!" I yelled down the hall. Still nothing. I wandered around until I found a nurse. "Excuse me, have you seen my Dad?"
"No I don't think I have. What's his name?" I thought for a few moments, but I just couldn't remember his name.
"I don't remember. He's about 5'11, black hair, emerald green eyes. He has a small limp in his left leg. Umm-- He has a tattoo of a lion cub on his right hand."
"Oh yes! He went to get something to eat down at the cafeteria."
"Okay, thank you. Umm-- Where is the cafeteria?"
"Down the hall and to the left. Through the doors on the right and there it is." She gave me a smile.
"Thank you." I walked to the cafeteria and looked around. It took a few moments, but I found him. He was sitting at a table with three other men. "Daddy!" I called out and ran toward him but, stupid me, I tripped and landed on my face.
"Penelope! Penelope, are you okay?" Dad asked. I sat up on my knees, rubbing my nose.
"Ouchy.."
"Did you get hurt?"
"Not really. The floor just hurts to land on."
He let out a sigh of relief. "Alright well, come on." He helped me to my feet
"Daddy, I had a really pretty dream last night!" I smiled at him.
"You did? What was it about?" He seemed curious enough that I fell for it. I dove right in.
"It was a beautiful place! Lots of people and animals! But the people were talking to the animals and the animals were talking back to them. It was weird, but still pretty!"
He smiled lovingly at me. "I bet it was. Penelope, I want you to meet a few people you might remember okay?"
"But I don't want to! They look scary.." I whined. Dad put his hand on my head.
"They aren't scary. They are friends. They won't hurt you, I promise."
"That's what Soil said while I was poisoned by the berries I ate. Then while I was asleep, he hurt her. I don't remember her name, but I know that she is very important to me and I---" I trailed off, looking at nothing in particular. I saw flashes and everything around me vanished. It was only the flashes that I could see. What I saw in those flashes was a small wolf pup, white as snow, following me around. Growing rapidly like any normal wolf would. The name 'Snowflake' came to me like a gust of wind. "Snowflake." I mumbled.
"Penelope, did you hear me?" Dad called to me.
I blinked a coupe times. "What?"
"I said, are you alright?" His eyes and face showed concern now. He wasn't happy or smiley anymore. I didn't like that.
"Yeah but, I just had the weirdest thing happen to me."
"What happened?" He pushed me to tell him what was happening me to.
"I saw a bunch of flashes and in those flashes, I saw a white wolf pup growing by my side. I kept calling her 'Snowflake'."
"You remember Snow?" Dad asked. Was she the important thing to me?
"Yeah apparently. Is she important to me or something?"
"Yes. She is very important to you. She is your life partner. You two have the strongest bond anyone has ever seen. The last person and partner to have that kind of bond were the first partners who found that place. His name was Leone and his partner's name was Alemera. Those two created a heaven there for those who are worthy enough. He's still taught in the school there." Dad explained.
"I guess I have to go see her as soon as possible than."
"Yes but, at this moment, you must come meet a few people you might remember." Dad and I finally sat down at the table with the three men I didn't know. "Penelope, this is Lockwood." Lockwood gave me a nod, but I hid away from him.
"Penelope, I will not harm you in any way." The man named Lockwood smiled lightly at me. I didn't trust him. He seems fake.
"His name is Wolf. He's Lockwood's youngest son."
Wolf held out his hand. "Nice to meet you. Again."
"I've never met you before in my life. Tell me why you look so familiar and where Snowflake is."
"That's because we have met before. Snowflake is in Shadowdale Woods. That's where we live." Wolf explained.
"She has to get her memories back herself, Wolf. Anyways, this young man here is Hunter." Dad pointed at the third man. I looked at him for a long while without saying a word.
"Penelope." He finally spoke.
"You are creepy looking." I was super blunt and I just didn't care. I had no idea who he was or what his story was. I kept staring at him without saying anything until I had to go back to bed. "Dad?"
He turned and looked at me. "Yes?"
"Why did Wolf look familiar but not the creepy guy or your friend?"
"To be honest, I don't know but, tomorrow you have to get some tests done. I'll be back when I am allowed." He left before I could put up a fight about getting the tests done.
It took a while for me to get to sleep, but I did. I dreamed of needles stabbing me all over as Dad watched from the side. His smile was pure evil. I kept asking him why he would do this, but he didn't answer me. The more I spoke, the louder I got. I would scream at him to tell me why, but he would just stand there, smiling.
I woke to Dad's smiling face. "Good morning."
"Why did you let them keep stabbing with needles all over?"
"That was just a bad dream. I would never do anything like that." At that moment, a doctor walked into the room with a needle.
"I'm going to give you thing needle to help you relax. Is that okay?" She smiled at me, but the needle. The needle was in her hand. Dad was going to let this happen!
"No! You aren't touching me with any more needles!" I screamed.
"She had a nightmare last night about needles." Dad said to the doctor.
"Oh, those nightmares. It's alright Penny. It won't hurt a bit. I promise." Another doctor walked into the room.
"The room is ready for you Dr. Kelsey."
"Alright. Now Penny, if you don't get this done, you will have to stay here longer and have more needles and other people are going to pass you in recovery." She leaned forward so Dad couldn't hear her. "It's a race to see who can get better faster with everyone here." I looked at her for a moment, then stuck out my arm to her.
It was noon when I was finished with all the tests. "How are you feeling?" The creepy guy named Hunter asked me.I looked up at Dad.
"Do I have to talk to him, Dad?" I really didn't want to. He's creepy, like really flipping creepy!
"Yes. He is your friend. You have also kissed him." Wait, what? I did what?
"I what?!"
"You have kissed him before." He paused and thought for a moment before a snakey smile spread across his face. "Why don't you try to kiss her, Hunter?"
"No! Dad, no! I'm not going to let that-- thing kiss me!" I saw Hunter's eyes drop to the floor. "You aren't actually thinking of doing that are you?" I was astonished. What the hell! Did they think they could get away with this?! Hunter nodded a bit, looking up at me slightly. My jaw hung open, but I closed it and walked away from them. "I'm going to find Snowflake."
"Penny, wait." Hunter lightly grabbed my hand to stop me.
The flashes started going off around me again. Everything vanished as I watched this boy and I walk around, having fun. "That can't be possible." I thought as the images went on. I watched him and I kiss in my room, then suddenly, the flashes stopped and I fell over.
"Penny!" Hunter caught me before I hit the floor.
"I'm okay, Hunter." I opened my eyes slowly.
"What just happened?" He was worried. It was clear in his voice, on his face and in his eyes. I smiled at him.
"I remember you. I remember that we kissed on the bench when we were walking around and I remember making out with you in my room and waking up the next morning with Snow between us then our Dads walking in and yelling at us." He laughed and helped me back up onto the bed. We sat there and talked about random things for a while. At some point Dad had left, but I didn't notice. I was having fun talking with Hunter.
- Writer
