Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 8

"What? What bad man?" she asked, coming closer to me. Her blue eyes burned into mine, but her eyebrows knitted together.

"I don’t know his name. That’s what she called him. That’s what he is. In the nightmare that I had he was scary. But then seeing him? He gave me the creeps. And then in this other dream, I was him. I watched her a-and felt…him. I’m sorry, it's kind of hard to explain."

"So…what? You’re saying you know who did it? Who has her?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. She’s trying to understand. I know she’s trying to understand. Or at least trying to understand why I feel bothered by this. "Annabel, if you know something, saw something, you need to tell someone.”

"No. I didn't. Well, kind of, but not really. I dreamed it. But then I also saw them both yesterday. He was standing at the bank.”

"You saw them both at the bank together?”

"No. He was. I saw her on my way to school.”

Mom took a deep breath and put her hands on my shoulders. She closed her eyes, letting out her breath. My heart raced and I bit my lip. I know I’m not making sense, but how can I?

“Annabel, I know your nightmare got to you. It sounds like it’s a crazy coincidence. You know just as much as I do that you cannot accuse somebody of kidnap based off of a nightmare you had. I’m sorry, honey. I understand how this situation can be scary, but you can’t be sure that it’s actually connected,” She said quietly. “Honey, if you saw something, really saw something that can be counted as evidence, you need to tell the police.”

"I didn't mom. All I know is what I just told you. I had a dream. That's it."

"Okay. So. Coincidence?" She said as she lifted my chin to bring my eyes to hers. I shrugged. If that’s what she wants me to believe. I mean, I don’t actually have proof. But then again, why can’t I shake the dream?

"I guess. How else could you explain it?" I said, wrapping my arms around myself. I turned and walked out of the hospital room as my mom followed quietly behind me. "Do we need to call Noah so he can give us a ride home?”

"No. He's waiting for us in the parking lot. I kept him home from school too. That note you got from the doctor will cover both of you guys," she said, opening the door to the exit. Noah sat on the hood of his car. Even though TVs were in the waiting room, you couldn’t see one from where he sat. He wore jeans and a graphic black tee. When he spotted us coming towards him, he met us half way.

"So is there something wrong? Or did you scare mom for no reason?" he asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him. I could end up in the hospital and he treats me the same.

"Well, they released her. They'll call for some more results later. I swear, sometimes I don't think doctors know as much as they think they do and certainly don't do as much as they get paid to do," she said, tapping her foot. I waited for her to talk about suing someone again, but it didn’t come. Instead, she walked to the passenger side door and got in.

When we got home, I walked into the kitchen to get something to eat. My stomach growled and the loss of blood made me hungrier. My cereal bowl was still on the table where I had been sitting. Most of the milk was drained by the very soggy remnants of cereal. "Hungry?" I asked Noah, pushing the bowl towards him.

"Gross" he replied, not bothering to touch it. I picked up the bowl and put it in the sink. While he had the freezer open, I pulled out a hot pocket. “You know that’s the last one, right?”

“And?” I asked as I walked to the microwave to cook the hot pocket.

"And are you making it for me? Cause I was clearly about to grab it.”

"Well, snooze you lose. Plus, I’m just as hungry as you."

"I wouldn't say that. The bowl of cereal you moved to the sink looked like you had enough before you hit the ground," he said with a laugh. My mouth dropped open and my fingers curled into fists at my side. He's making fun of me!

"Jerk!" I said, kicking towards him. He hit my foot out of the way before holding his hands in mock surrender.

"Whoa. Calm down, killer. I was only joking.”

Hearing him say that reminded me of my nightmares and the missing Katrina. The playfulness I just had with my brother, turned to a pit in my stomach like someone kicked me. Noah let out a growl. "I said that I was only joking, Anna," he said, slamming a cupboard. I started biting at my bottom lip.

"It's not that," I said, sitting at the table. I thought about the man and how he watched Katrina. He was so bold and nonchalant. The teacher! In my dream the teacher saw me, so does that mean the teacher saw him?

The microwave beeped and Noah took out the hot pocket. I held my hand out, but he opened it slightly, steam rose from the inside. He blew into it before taking a bite. My mouth dropped open and I poked him in the stomach. "Hey!” I shouted, “That was mine!"

"It doesn't have your name on it!"

"You're a jerk," I said, going back to the refrigerator.

"Yeah, yeah," he called out before his door closed. I decided on an egg salad sandwich. Mom always left boiled eggs in case we wanted a fast breakfast like that. After I made my sandwich, I sat at the table and thought about my day. After I eat, I'm going to go to Sierra Hills Elementary to ask the teacher if she saw the man. If she did, that confirms my dream. But if my dream is confirmed, does that mean that mean that I’m losing it? Or not? A teenage girl who…what? Dreams of the future? Who dreams she is in a body of someone during a moment in the future? This isn’t a movie or TV show. Things like this don’t happen.

"Okay Anna,” my mom said, walking into the kitchen, startling me. I almost spit my soda out. I thought she had left for work and Noah and I were alone. My mom didn’t see me or was unbothered by her startling me because she continued to adjust the watch on her wrist. “I'm going to work now, my boss said for me to come in now. If you need me for anything, give me a call, okay?"

"Aye, aye, captain," I said with a salute. The way her face dropped, I don't think she liked that. She shook her head at me, walking to Noah’s room. After a moment, my mom's range rover backed out of the driveway. Hmm. I guess she left through Noah's door. I still find it annoying that they give him a room with access to the backyard. Why not me? Are they afraid that I will sneak out? Not very likely! Noah actually has snuck out more than a few times, but does he ever get in trouble? No!

After I finished eating, I went upstairs to grab my favorite cardigan. Once I got back downstairs, I reached for the doorknob to the front door, but was interrupted by Noah. He ran and stood in front of it.

"What are you doing?" I asked, putting a hand on my hip.

"I'm under strict orders not to let you out of my sight. It was too quiet so I knew you were up to something. Tell me, what's going on?"

"I'm just going to the school to drop off my note. Probably see Xavier and Cara too. If I'm grounded for two weeks and can't see them, I at least have to tell them. I was planning on telling them today, but since I'm here and they're at school, I have to go to them," I said, trying to push him out of the way or maneuver around him. I doubt he can handle the truth. That I want to go to the elementary school to talk to a teacher about a possible lead in the a*******n of Katrina?

"Sorry, but no. If Ms. Lawrence see’s you hanging around the school, she'll call mom and we'll both be in very big trouble. Is that what you want?"

"Ugh! Fine!" I shouted with my eyes closed. I whirled around, slapping him with my hair. I stomped upstairs and into my room, slamming the door behind me.

"I can't believe I am locked in my own house!" I shouted into my pillow. I sat up and looked around the room. My eyes passed, then came back to the window in my room. "Hmmm," I hummed, getting to my feet and walking to the window. I opened it and saw that the roof led to my mom's flower lattice on the side of the house. I honestly don't know what kind of flowers they are, but they're a pretty light blue color. I also happen to know that since they're not roses, they don't have thorns.

I climbed on the bench attached to my room, and out the opened window. I quietly shut the window behind me and started climbing down the lattice. They made it seem so easy in the movies, but I’m winded by the time I make it to the bottom.

"And where do you think you're going?" Noah asked, standing with his arms crossed in front of the gate that led to the front. Crap! I stared at him frozen. How the heck did he hear me? I was sure to be quiet. Well, with the exception of when I almost fell to my death. "You’re not very good at being bad, you know that, right? You can’t even sneak out correctly. The "ouch" and "oh my gosh!" squeal gave you away," he continued, making sure to mimic me perfectly. "Let me guess, you almost fell?"

"Noah, since you see that I've gone through a lot to get out, just let me go!" I whined, to which he shook his head. "I even have battle scars!"

I held up my palm so he could see the splinter. His eyes danced as he choked back a laugh. After a second, he rested his head against the door.

"Seeing your boyfriend means that much to you? To almost put you in the hospital? Again?"

"Yes," I lied. "How would you feel if you couldn't see your girlfriend for two weeks? Wouldn't you try to see them every possible moment?"

He eyed me through narrowed eyes for a moment before stepping aside. "Do me a favor,” He started as I made my way around him. “Try not to get caught."