Every Waking Dream

by Lauren Eason

  Principal Norman stepped out of her office and gestured for me to come in. Following silently behind her, I sat down in a cloth-covered chair and laid my backpack in my lap. She straightened out her skirts as she clasped her hands on top of her desk.

  “You’re not in trouble, Aislin,” she began. I released a sigh of relief. “I’ve called all the students from your horticulture class in here today.”

  “Is Mrs. Richards alright?” I asked, worried that something terrible had befallen her.

  “Yes. However, I have received her resignation—a surprise to all of us here,” Principal Norman went on. “So, in light of the circumstance, your horticulture class will be substituted by Susan Ridgway.”

  “What?” I asked, shocked.

  “She’s one of our substitute teachers on call,” Principal Norman explained. “Is there a problem?”

  “No—no,” I said quickly. “I didn’t know she could teach.”

  “Do you have any questions for me?” she asked, leaning forward in her chair.

  “I do, actually,” I answered. “Did they find out what happened to Mrs. Richards?”

  Principal Norman pursed her lips. “We have yet to apprehend anyone.”

  “So, she was attacked?”

  “I believe that’s all I’m at liberty to say, Aislin.” Principal Norman scribbled furiously on a sticky note and handed it to me. “This is a pass for your classes. If you would like to talk to someone, the counselor will be available. You are free to take up study hall in the library until lunch this afternoon. Do try and have a good day.”

  “Thanks,” I grumbled as I stood from my seat.

  I walked out of Norman’s office and headed past the reception area into the main hallway. Glancing down at the note, I sighed and headed towards the library. It was the preferred option considering I didn’t want to deal with the anxiety of walking into a classroom late again with all eyes on me.

  Opening the wooden door, I walked into the quiet space, passing the circulation desk where the media specialist had taken up residence to read the latest teen romance. I smiled to myself, wondering how easy it was to escape into a different world within the pages of a good book. Much simpler than real life.

  Settling down at a wide table, I placed my backpack on top. Unzipping it, I reached in and took out a few books. Writing a few notes down, I grew bored and decided to peruse the shelves to see if I could find anything of interest to read. There were a few other students in the area who I recognized from Mrs. Richard's class.

  “Hmm, I wonder...” I whispered to myself as I walked over to a computer. Typing in my username and password into the library catalog system, I searched for books about dreams. Scrolling through the list, I found a few about lucid dreaming and one about dream telepathy. Although they seemed like spiritual books—something I wasn’t particularly interested in—I decided to give it a shot.

  I imagined Raven would be cheering me on if she were around, knowing that I was stepping out of my comfort zone to try and understand my ability better. It was the only thought driving my feet forward towards the back of the library as I entered the nonfiction area, a space that was rarely used. Running my hand down the spines of the rows of books, I finally found the index numbers of the ones I was looking for.

  Pulling them from the shelf, I turned to head back towards my desk, colliding with the person in front of me. Dropping my books to the ground with a loud clatter, I saw Ben standing in front of me. He bent down as I went to collect my spilled contents.

  “What are you doing in here?” I whispered as he glanced at a title before handing me one of my books back.

  “What does it look like? I’m looking for a book, obviously.” Ben flashed a grin in my direction as I rolled my eyes. Shrugging, I went to pass him as he stepped in front of me.

  I sighed heavily, indicating my annoyance. “Do you need something?”

  Ben pursed his lips, drawing his eyebrows together. “Are you okay? Melissa told me about...well, you know.”

  “Raven?” I inquired, a little surprised Melissa would talk to Ben about it. “Are you and Melissa friends now?”

  “Well, no...not exactly. We’re on speaking terms—but that’s not the point. You’re deflecting. How are you holding up?” Ben leaned against the bookcase, as I rested against the one opposite him.

  “I’m okay, I guess. It sucks, but I understand why she needed to do this. She knows Melissa, and I will be waiting for her when she gets out. At least I know she’s safe.” I hated that my voice cracked at the end of my last sentence. I hadn’t realized how much it hurt that I wasn’t the one she could get help from.

  Ben shuffled his feet on the ground, thinking about his response. “I know how you feel, Aislin. Raven has been my best friend for a while now, and I felt it was my responsibility to keep her safe. It took some time for me to realize that the only person who can save her is herself. I know it was a hard decision for her to make. She did it for herself, but she did it for us too.”

  “I guess...I never thought of it that way. I can’t help being a little lost without her here. Gym class won’t be the same,” I chuckled under my breath. “Who will be my partner now?”

  “Well, I happen to know a certain redhead that could really use a friend right now—a real friend.” Ben plucked a book off the shelf from beside me. “I’m willing to give her another chance if you are.”

  I smiled. “I suppose everyone deserves a second chance. I know that I did.”

  Ben squeezed my arm. “I have to get back to class. My pass runs out in the next few minutes. See you at lunch?”

  I nodded as he turned to leave me behind. Heading back to my seat, I laid out my bounty upon the table. Dr. Clayborn had been right when she told me about Sigmund Freud and his theories about dreams. It was nice to know that there were people out there who believed in such abilities and were still respected within the scientific world—even though Freud had grown to be a little questionable over the years.

  The sound of the shrill bell startled me as I snapped the book shut. Collecting them from the table, I grabbed my backpack and headed over to the circulation desk to check them out before leaving the library altogether. I wasn’t sure why I was so self-conscious about my reading material. It wasn’t like anyone would actually know about my secret from reading a few book titles. Still, here I was, shoving books into my overstuffed backpack and trying to race down the hall towards the cafeteria for lunch.

  “Hey! Ais, wait up!” I turned, holding the door open, to see who was calling my name. Spotting Melissa walking briskly towards me, I walked through the door and held it open for her. We made our way over to a table as she whipped out her phone, handing it to me.

  “Uh...?” I held her phone back out to her, unsure of what she expected me to do with it.

  “Listen to the voicemail,” she instructed. Grabbing my hand, she held it up to my ear as the cafeteria filled with hungry students.

  “I need you to come get me. I know what’s going on, and I’m afraid that—”

  “Raven?” I asked, taking the phone away from my face. “What’s going on?”

  Melissa took her phone back and scooted her chair closer to me. “I don’t know. I think she’s in trouble, but I just saw her this morning. You know the rehab center better than I do. Will you go with me?”

  “Of course,” I assured as we stood up. Jason and Ben came over to us as we were about to leave.

  “What’s the hurry?” Jason asked, spotting our worried faces from across the room.

  “I’ll explain later. I’ll be back.” I left Jason with a kiss on the cheek as I grabbed Melissa’s hand and guided her through the crowd of incoming students towards the exit.

  “Was that Raven’s phone?” I asked as we made our way out to the parking lot towards my car.

  “Yes, but I know she’s not supposed to have it on her once admitted to the hospital,” Melissa replied, clicking her seatbelt into place. I started the engine and pulled ou
t of the parking lot, wheels squealing on the asphalt.

  “Yeah, but they would’ve taken it from her before she even made it through the doors to the main part of the center. I wonder if Jo’s still there.” I stopped behind a car at a red light, impatiently drumming my nails against the steering wheel.

  “Who’s that?”

  The light turned green, and I turned down the main road towards the center. “She was in training at the reception counter. Joanna something. She used to let me borrow her phone to call Jess when I needed to talk to her.”

  “They told me when I was there that Raven wouldn’t be able to see or speak to anyone for 72 hours.” Melissa scrolled through her phone as though she were trying to will Raven to call her and explain what she meant in her voicemail.

  I sighed. “That’s the rule. We’re only going to check on her. I’ll ask for Dr. Clayborn. Let me handle it.”

  Pulling the car under the overhang, we jumped out and entered through the automatic glass doors making a beeline for the receptionist. Jo smiled at me as she straightened from peering over the shoulder of one of the nurses.

  “Aislin, what brings you here?” she asked, leaning over the counter.

  I slowed my stride as I neared the desk noticing Jo sporting a new pair of scrubs. “Are you a nurse here now?”

  “Oh, this?” She ran her hands over her scrub top and badge. “Yeah, finally. What can I do for you?”

  “Have you seen Raven?” I asked in a low voice.

  “Uh, yeah. She’s in her initial therapy session with Dr. Clayborn. Sorry, Ais. I had to confiscate her phone today, so I figured you’d be coming in. You know the rules around here for people entering the system again. Did you need to talk to Dr. Clayborn while you’re here?”

  “Lockhart, we need you in room 35B. The group session is about to end, and we need help dispersing medication,” another nurse said from near the doorway of the treatment area.

  “Lockhart?” Jo didn’t hear me but turned to tell her she’d be right with them.

  “Sorry, but I have to get back to work. I’m not a receptionist anymore. Liz can help you. Good luck!” She left through the doorway towards the back of the center as I stood rooted to the spot.

  My mouth went dry as I placed my sweaty palms deep into my jean pockets. Liz hung up the phone to give me her attention as I tried to find my words. “Um, Liz, could you let Dr. Clayborn know I was here and to call me after school today?”

  “Sure,” she answered. “Is there anything else?”

  “Nurse Lockhart,” I blurted out, trying to remain calm. “How long has she been around here?”

  “She’s been here for over a year now. It was a trial period for her before she was taken in as full-time staff,” Liz replied, leaning in close. There was nothing I liked better than a resident gossip. “I heard her last job was at the asylum in Wayward County. They put her on reception duty for her probation period here which was a little unusual.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled as Liz went back to typing on the computer.

  “Ais?” I heard Melissa whisper next to me as I began to walk away. She grabbed my hand and stopped me in the foyer. “What’s wrong? You look pale.”

  Ignoring her question, I glanced at the wall noticing a framed picture of the rehab center's grand opening for the first time. I had passed that exact spot before, but now my eyes were wide open. Hunter Mathis and Samuel Lockhart shook hands as they cut the red ribbon across the front entryway.

  Stepping outside, we got into my car as I drove away, trying to put as much distance between myself and the hospital as I could. “Raven’s in danger.”

  “How do you know?”

  “If Denise and Samuel are cousins, then who is Joanna Lockhart to them?” I asked Melissa.

  “I don’t know, but I can definitely find out. Perhaps, we should take a closer look at Nathan Lockhart, the father, since he was closer to Susan and Elias.”

  “Can you meet me at my house later tonight? I have to do something first,” I mentioned. It wasn’t long before I pulled the car back into the school parking lot.

  “Sure,” Melissa agreed. “Anything for Raven.”

  “Good, because I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  I rushed down the corridors towards the classroom where Abby and Zahara were waiting for me. As I burst through the door, they turned their attention to me with a warm smile. Clutching the article tightly in my hand, I set it down on the desk in front of them, trying desperately to catch my breath.

  “We were wondering if you would show up,” Zahara commented with a smirk. I knew she was only joking, but I did feel a slight twinge of guilt at not being as invested in their newspaper as I should’ve been.

  She leaned over and pulled out a thick folder, laying it on the desk and sliding it towards me. It was almost as if we were making a drug deal, except she had no idea how badly I needed it right now.

  “These are the files you’ve collected about the kidnappings?” I asked, thumbing through the first few pages. “This is extensive work.”

  “Detective Highwater volunteered some of the information. I’m supposed to do an interview with him later this afternoon—”

  “Don’t,” I cut her off. “I—I mean...um...”

  Words failed me. My throat was closing. I couldn’t figure out a good enough lie to make it sound plausible enough for Zahara to understand why she shouldn’t be alone with him right now. She eyed me with suspicion as my heart pounded in my ears.

  “Is there something we should know about?” Abby asked from beside her with her arms crossed over her chest.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket as I took it out and turned away from them. Jess had sent a text asking where I was. “I’m sorry. I have to go, but my article is there about the homecoming floats and the game. I’ll see you two tomorrow.”

  I heard a chair screech across the floor as Zahara leaped in front of me, blocking the door. “I’m not stupid, Ais. I’m a journalist. I know when someone isn’t giving me the full story. Now spill.”

  I heard Abby walk up behind me. “Look, I know you two have been following this case pretty closely—”

  “Very,” Abby muttered.

  “Right,” I started again. “I—I don’t think the detective has been telling the full truth.”

  “Oh, I know.” Zahara waved a dismissive hand. “That’s why I’m interviewing him. I have questions.”

  “I don’t think poking a bear is a very good idea,” I replied as she moved away from the door and leaned against the teacher’s desk in front of the classroom.

  “How about you tell us what you know, and we’ll tell you what we know,” Abby offered, sitting on the window sill. “I know all the gossip in this school. I’ve heard you and Raven talking with each other around here.”

  “Heard what exactly?” My fingernails dug into the palm of my hand as I tried to control my nerves.

  “Aislin, we’re not trying to get you to spill any personal secrets here. We only want to help the police find these people. We know you and Raven have been researching the youth outreach program, that your neighbor, Steven, was Gabrielle’s tutor, and that he was recently involved in arson. But, we don’t think he was alone in the fire,” Zahara revealed.

  “What makes you say that?” I took a seat in a desk chair.

  “Steven was seen by an eyewitness in the back office of Mrs. Lee. The fire started behind the bar area where that same witness noticed a Denise Lockhart enter to have a chat with the bartender before disappearing,” Zahara stated. “I know she’s Raven’s step-mother.”

  “Don’t worry. They’re not on good terms,” I scoffed.

  “The police have been looking for her for questioning, but they can’t seem to find her. Do you know where she is?” Abby asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “No. I only saw her once at the flower shop when I was picking up stuff for homecoming. You think she’s the one who set the fire?”


  The hinges of the door creaked as Jess rushed in, her cheeks bright red. Bypassing Zahara, she halted directly in front of me with her hands on her hips. “Why did you leave school today?”

  “Jess, not here,” I said in a low tone as I waved a hand towards the company in the classroom.

  “Oh...I didn’t see you two there.” Jess’s face flushed even more as anger quickly dissipated into embarrassment. “We need to talk, Ais.”

  “Take this before you go,” Abby said, handing me a flash drive. “I think you’ll want to see what’s on it.”

  “You trust me with this?” I held the drive up in my hand.

  “We have reason to believe that you’re closer to this case than we are. Just make sure we get the scoop before anyone else, okay?” Zahara replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. I knew she was dying to know the details I had failed to reveal to them, but Jess was pressing me for her own answers.

  I followed Jess out the door, leaving Zahara and Abby behind. The halls were silent as school had let out some time ago. The sound of our footsteps against the tiled floor reverberated around the empty corridor until we finally stepped through the front double doors. I welcomed the burst of wind that met us on the stone steps as we walked towards my car.

  “Did you want to talk or—”

  “Keep your eyes straight ahead,” Jess warned in a low tone as she increased her stride. She was avoiding something or someone.

  Once comfortably inside the car, she released a sigh of relief as she buckled her seatbelt. As I glanced out through the windshield, I saw Detective Highwater sitting in a patrol car near the side of the main campus building. Averting my gaze, I started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, trying to act as though I hadn’t noticed.

  “Jess, what’s going on?” I asked after some time on the road.

  She shifted in her seat. “Detective Highwater pulled me out of class today to ask me some questions.”