Shadowed Dreams & Rippled Water

Coffee Steam

Chapter 13

Coffee Steam

I wobbled in Kane’s embrace as he ushered me forward. My head still ached, swimming with images that seemed to fade with each passing second. Thankfully, the sharp and thrumming pain was nowhere near as bad as earlier.

I finally found my balance when Dean strode into my room, humming Dad’s tune with a glass of water between his hands.

He paused and studied Kane and me. “Lucy, lady, you’re up.” He reached past, placed the cup on the bedside table, and then turned to us. “It’s about time. You’ve been asleep for a few hours, and dinner has gone cold.”

I blinked fast a few times, then shook my head. “It only feels like half an hour.”

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked, studying me. Then his eyes widened. “What happened to your nose?”

I touched my hand to my nose and wiped away dried blood that had turned flaky.

The room went silent as Dean and Kane communicated through stares. I glanced from Dean to Kane and back to Dean again, hoping somehow I could make sense of it. No luck. Sometimes, I thought I was the only one who couldn’t understand these hushed conversations. It took me a while to notice how beyond exhausted they were. The dim light from my bedside lamp defined the puffy, blue bags under their eyes. Their shoulders had sagged, weighted down by the stress of the day.

I opened my mouth to say something when my head throbbed again. I released Kane’s arm and rubbed my forehead.

“Okay, now I know something’s up,” Dean turned to me. “Should I be worried?”

“Nah, big bro,” Kane said, waving his hand to dismiss his worries. “Lucy had a nightmare and woke up with a headache and a bloody nose...”

Memories of the nightmare and the white room, Dad, and Stacey sent shivers down my spine. I held myself, trying to settle the tremors.

Dean raised an eyebrow. “It’s more than that. What else is going on?”

“I heard Lucy crying,” Kane added. “So, I came in to check on her. When you came in, Lucy and I were about to come downstairs and get something to eat. It was only a nightmare, nothing to worry about.” He winked in my direction. “Except, according to Lucy, I’m a wimp.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” Dean teased, his gaze shifting between us, still unsure what to think.

“Hey, you can talk.” Kane gaped, crossing his arms.

“You know I’m right.” Dean nudged Kane in the arm and, without realising his strength, knocked him into me. “And You’re clumsy, too…”

Kane laughed as he steadied himself, then pushed him back. “But I can still take you on…”

“I’d like to see you try…” Dean teased.

The seriousness in the room lifted for a fleeting second. The lines from smiles that wrinkled their eyes temporarily replaced the bags under their eyes.

“At least I still have this over you, little brother.” Dean grabbed Kane around the neck and wrestled him under his arms. “You know I’ve always won this way.”

Kane laughed as he attempted to wrestle free of his headlock. “You wait… one day…”

This was one of the things I missed since Dad’s death. The house had been clouded with never-ending mourning, and at one stage, I thought that happiness would never return. Seeing my brothers as they were at that moment made me realise things could change again. Of course, it wouldn’t be perfect without Dad and Stacey being sick and Dylan harbouring so much anger towards me, but at least the sense of gloom could be replaced with laughter, even for a second. Laughter is the best medicine.

Dean finally freed Kane from his hold, and both boys started panting. I found myself absently staring at the gleeful lines on his face. Dean caught my gaze and grinned. Pretending to yawn, I dropped back on my bed and stretched my arms above my head.

Dean flopped beside me, handing me the glass off the table. His smile faded, and bags darkened his eyes. “Drink up, you look dehydrated.”

“Thanks.” Little did I realise how thirsty I was until I had sculled the entire drink without a breath and placed it back on my bedside table.

He eyed me warily. Something he saw must have revealed my hidden thoughts. Could he see the reverberations left by the nightmare? Maybe the image of the river or the white room in my eyes.

He stroked his thumb across my chin and tucked my fringe behind my ear. “Lucy lady, don’t hide behind the beauty of your eyes and tell me what’s wrong.”

Though I could never understand why, with those simple few words and the penetrating hold of his hypnotising blue eyes, he could make me tell my deepest secrets. “But it was horrible…”

“Tell me about it. You know I’m always here to listen.”

“She’s alright,” Kane interrupted, sitting on my other side. He fixed his eyes on Dean, not me. “It was a crazy nightmare.”

“Maybe Kane’s right,” I sighed. “It was just a nightmare. Where else would I see Dad? And it wasn’t just about Dad–”

“Go on,” Dean urged, keeping his gaze on Kane. “Tell me about Dad.”

“Alright,” I agreed. It was so real. Dad and I were in this weird white room. Dad was the same as I remember—so much like Kane—so much so that it took me a minute to realise it was Kane I saw when I woke up. But I could feel Dad’s hair—his face... Like he was real.”

“Hmm,” Dean rested his hand on my knee. “I’d call that a dream more than a nightmare. I think it would be nice to see Dad one more time.”

“That wasn’t all… I also saw Stacey,” I continued, almost shouting. “She was dead, Dean... dead.”

Both boys exchanged another severe glance. Kane nodded, and Dean’s hand tensed against my leg.

Something’s not right. “You know something you’re not telling me, don't you? You both do.” I glanced from one to the other. “I’ve seen those looks before. What is it? Tell me, please…”

“Ahem, you’re wanted…”

We all turned to see Dylan’s half-hidden figure lingering in the hallway.

“Nice way of making an entrance.” Dean huffed, removing his hand.

“We’re needed downstairs,” Dylan continued, his tone sharp and straight to the point. He avoided me, acting like I was invisible. “Valery wants a word with us...” With a grunt, he turned and stormed down the hallway.

“There’s something wrong with that boy.” Dean groaned, sliding his hands through his hair.

Shaking, that dark pit of worry sitting uncomfortably in my stomach, I scooted closer to him. “Dean, don’t treat me like a child… Tell me what’s going on.”

Dean’s face softened. “It’s Stacey…”

“I’m sorry,” Kane interrupted, hanging his head. He rose from the bed and covered his hands over his face. “I lied before… I wanted to protect you from feeling the way you did with Dad’s accident…”

“No…” I whimpered, pressing my hand to my heart. Had that nightmare been an omen, like the one about Dad? “Is Stacey dead?”

“No,” Kane said, brushing his hair back, resembling Dean for a split second. “But she’s not doing well…”

My heart thumped painfully, each palpation vibrating against my palm. “Why would you lie to me like that?”

He shook his head, making his hair bounce. “I was trying to comfort you, sis, not upset you any more than you already were.”

“I can’t believe you lied to me about it… about Stacey…” Folding my arms in front of me, I turned to Dean. “And why didn’t you say anything? Instead, you both did that creepy mind-reading thing you brothers always do.”

“I was about to…” Dean sighed. “But—”

“I’m beyond upset!” I interrupted, glowering at them, fighting back tears. “Tell me now… I have a right to know… to understand.”

“We should go and see what Valery wants first, Kane,” Dean suggested, glaring at our brother.

“That’s probably best… Let’s go.” Kane broke their link and offered me his hand.

This time, I pushed it away and stood on my own. I understood he was doing everything to keep me calm, but it wasn’t the time. This was important. Stacey’s life was tittering on the edge. In time, I would forgive Kane, but I couldn’t yet.

I swayed slightly until I had grasped at gravity again. Seeing my uneasy footsteps, Dean took me by the arm. I tried to shake him off, angry at him for keeping everything secret. But he refused and wrapped his arm around me.

My nightmares were fast becoming a reality. I half expected to walk out of my bedroom and into the hospital room where Stacey’s body lay. Cringing at the idea, I clung tightly to Dean.

Kane and Dean swapped glances continuously on our way downstairs. Something was being kept from me. I turned to Dean several times, longing to ask him, but the words never came out.

“They’re on their way down, Valery,” Dylan grumbled, his voice travelling upstairs.

The kitchen was bathed in a dim yellow glow from the light above the stove. Dylan was perched on the kitchen counter, his cap shadowing his eyes and his arms folded across his chest. The instant we were in the same space, I could feel the tension. He glared at me, his eyes narrowing into tiny slits, and I shuddered.

The air in the room was thick with a strong scent of coffee. The sour, rich aroma churned my stomach.

“Lucy, I’m glad you’re awake,” Valery said with a curt nod as she glanced up from the table.

I had to blink. She looked so different. Her hair was tied back in a simple, messy ponytail. Her cheeks were streaked with lines of smudged black mascara. Over her shoulders, she had wrapped the knitted purple throw rug. The liveliness in her face had completely drained away.

It’s Stacey—oh gosh, it’s Stacey. My legs turned into spaghetti, and I clung to Dean for balance.

“I’m here for you,” Dean whispered.

I clutched the table as I sat, jarring my fingers against the underside. I winced. The pain was there, but I was too numb to cry out.

Kane sat in the chair beside me and patted my hand. “I’m sorry for before. Please forgive me. I was trying to help…”

I shrugged, but I couldn’t find my voice.

“Thank you all for joining me,” Valery began, carefully picking her words before she continued. “I have been on the phone with your Mum and have some news about Stacey.”

There was a small minute of silence as she sipped her coffee and placed the empty floral mug in the middle of the table. The way Valery slouched and the way she spoke with her calm words unsettled me. There was a need to brace myself for the worst news imaginable.

Dean flopped in a chair close by and folded his hands over his knees, his leg touching mine. It was comforting. Dylan hadn’t moved. Still, he was confined within himself, stewing in his constant anger. Kane was staring at Valery, his mind miles away. It was a distant look all my brothers could produce.

“Now,” Valery cleared her throat and straightened up in her chair.

Everyone straightened.

“Stacey went into another coma. The doctors have placed her on oxygen, but....” Valery glanced around the room, stopping to look at us one by one. “Stacey has been moved to the palliative care unit at the Children’s Hospital and will be there until—” She trailed off.

“What’s palliative care?” I asked, my hands trembling in my lap.

“It’s a place someone goes when—” Again, she trailed off as if the words were too difficult for her to speak.

“s**t…!” Massaging between his eyes, Dean slumped back in the chair and interrupted, “Do they have any clues to the illness, or is it some new kind of virus or disease they’ve discovered?”

Listening to Dean’s question made my nightmare that much more real. She has to fight this!

Dean’s hand was on my leg now, his gentle touch continuing to comfort me.

Valery cleared her throat again. This time, our eyes locked. She cautiously prepared her words before speaking, her chest rising and falling slowly. “So far, there are no clues to what Stacey has. The doctors fear if she does not regain consciousness in the next few days—”

“She’ll die!” I finished for her. I hugged myself as Dean’s hold on my leg tightened. I knew what it meant—my nightmares were telling the truth. “Stacey won’t wake up… I know she won’t…” I sniffled. “I saw it…”

Everyone stared at me. If daggers could kill, then my death would be Dylan’s glower.

For the first time, Valery’s eyes were wet with tears. “Please, Lucy darling, what did you see?” She breathed deeply and reached for my hands. “Tell me…”

I pulled away from her, tucking my hands underneath the table. My nightmare is coming true. Stacey isn't going to wake up. She’s going to die... Stacey is going to die!

“No...!” I growled louder than I had meant to. “It was just a nightmare... nothing more…”

“Lucy, please settle down,” Valery ordered, raising her voice above mine and motioning for me to relax. “Stacey is alive; be thankful for that much. But you need to tell me everything…” She focused on me, and her eyes darkened. “Why do you have a bloody nose...”

Under the table, my hands balled into tight fists. I was seething at me—at the nightmare, at Valery. The heat from my anger pinched the back of my neck.

“I’m here…” Dean whispered, stroking my hands. In my frustration, this touch had no effect, but I didn’t pull away.

“Please, Lucy,” Valery continued pleadingly. “Tell me what you saw…”

Dylan scoffed, and Kane sucked in a trembling breath. Beside me, Dean had gone tense.

“No! I can’t tell you… because Stacey can’t die! She just can’t!” I shouted as I rose stiffly, my hands tensing by my sides. My face was burning. Something warm trickled from my nose. I held my finger under it, feeling a steady stream of blood. “And you can’t come into my home and act like you own it!”

“Lucy, please,” Dean stood beside me and stroked my arm. “Don’t be this way!”

“No,” I yanked my arm away. “Can’t you see? It’s not right. It’s not! It was only a nightmare… Nightmares don’t come true!”

Valery’s eyebrows pinched together, making her face seem older. “Tell me what it was about?”

“It’s none of your business!” I turned my back towards her, cupping my entire nose.

“Lucy!” Valery pleaded.

“No, leave me alone…”

“Lucy lady…” Dean whispered softly.

“No! Just don’t.” I sprinted upstairs, refusing to look back.

I froze in the middle of my bedroom. The dark, haunting eyes of the angel poster above my bed stared back at me. I grabbed the hanky from my bedside table and held it over my nose. The blood continued to flow, coating my forearm. The walls began to spin, growing faster, merging images into a blur. I was trapped inside. My stomach lurched.

When Dad died, I had dreamt of his death. I saw it all right up to the moment he drowned. And now I had seen Stacey’s death—I had seen it.

Everything around me faded as my legs collapsed.

“Lucy!” Dean shouted. “No...!”