Sleep Keeper
Page 28
“Honey, say something,” Martha’s voice sounded a mile away as it echoed in Jeremy’s ears.
“What?” he muttered, as he collected his thoughts and tamed his wild temper.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Her voice became clearer to him as he took deep breaths and relaxed his hands. “Uh, yes mother. I’m fine,” he answered stiffly.
“Listen honey, you need to get out of here for a while. Your sister won’t understand,” Martha said as she rushed across the room and pulled out a wad of cash from a drawer. “Here, take this. Do you remember the cabin your father and I used to take you and Alexis to when you were younger?”
“Yes,” Jeremy muttered with unfocused eyes.
“Go there and I will come for you in a few days, okay? After the baby is born, I’ll explain things to Alexis. She’ll be a mother then, she’ll understand,” Martha explained, although the look on her face said she knew that was false hope.
Jeremy snatched the cash from his mother’s hand and ran out the door without looking back.
As he walked the five miles to his apartment, he thought about his father. Not the feeble human his mother choose to wed, but his true father; his blood. Even after death, he could still hear his voice echoing in his head, just as it had for most of his life… the whispers guiding him when everyone else turned their backs. It comforted him; consumed him; taught him how to sustain from the social piranhas of this pathetic world and overcome the binds that held him down for so long.
He remembered the first time his father appeared in his dreams last year and finally confirmed that he was meant for so much more. His father brought him to the world he was born to rule; then showed him who was standing in his way… his sister.
To please his father, Jeremy rushed and tried to take care of the problem himself, but he underestimated his sister’s resistance and Mitchell’s defense. Marked with revenge for his failure, he was consumed with rage toward them both. He allowed his father to use his mind to cross into this world and kill Mitchell, in exchange for Jeremy’s vow to destroy Alexis in this world. He planned to keep that promise.
Jeremy reached his apartment and paused outside the door. His hardened heart didn’t skip a beat as he scribbled good-bye on the paper and stuck it on the apartment door without entering. He turned away, and never gave a second thought about the menial life he was leaving behind.
As he left his life behind, he finally embraced the taunting voice inside his head that had haunted him for so many years. He embraced his true self and let them mold into his mind. She was right - now he was free.
Free to roam wherever he pleased.
Free to do whatever he wanted.
And what he wanted was everything.
He walked across the parking lot and instantly vanished.