Blood of the Rainbow

by Shelia Chapman

  “Slightly?” Jared laughed. “The last time I heard Myra sing - and that was too soon – it sounded like two cats fighting in a sack.”

  “Yes, I know. Don’t you think it’s unusual?”

  Jared laughed out loud. “Unusual is one way of putting it. Torment is a better description.”

  Sara looked out the window, and drifted as though she was floating. She reached out to touch the leaves on the trees, but there was nothing but thin air. “Oh my God, Jared. I’m dying. I can’t feel the leaves,” Sara cried.

  “Sara, you’re not dying. You can’t feel the leaves because you’re nowhere near them. It just seems that way.”

  “Oh,” she said, seeming to accept his explanation. Sara kept staring out the window at all the different colors of the leaves, trees and bark. She could see a tiny ladybug crawling on the edge of a limb. Sara slapped at it because it looked as if it were going to crawl on her nose. It tickled. Sara could feel its tiny scratchy legs.

  “What’s wrong now, Sara? What do you see? Why are you slapping at your nose?”

  “Because, there’s a lady bug on this limb,” she said, reaching just beyond herself. “It’s crawling across my nose.”

  Jared walked over and gently rubbed the end of her nose. “There’s nothing there Sara. It’s half past three now Honey. Can you feel it changing? Time is still passing. You should start to feel better any time. Are you feeling thirsty, hungry, or sleepy? Do you need to go to the bathroom?”

  “I think I could use a trip to the bathroom.”

  “All right,” he said, putting his arm around her waist, and helping her to her feet. He led her in the bathroom, and stood there, waiting.

  Sara raised an eyebrow at him. “Um, you can, ah - there are some things I can handle on my own regardless of how stupid I may sound.”

  “Oh, I just thought - I’ll be right outside the door here if you get scared, just call me, and I’ll be there.”

  Sara heard the door shut. She finished doing her business, and reached to flush the commode. All of a sudden, the swirling waters in the bottom changed into a snake with massive fangs, and bright crimson eyes. It jumped out at Sara, and she screamed. “Jared! Jared! It’s a snake! The commode is a snake, and it’s trying to bite my butt! Help!”

  It seemed to take Jared ages to get in the room and then his arms were around her, holding her. “Oh God Sara. When I find out who did this to you, I’m going to kill him! My poor baby, I’m so sorry this is happening to you. Just keep remembering, it’s three thirty now. Time is still moving forward and so are you. You’re going to be over this in a few hours. I love you Baby. Just remember that and hang in there.”

  Jared led her back to the bed and lay beside her, cuddling her in his arms. “Do me a favor. Lay your head on my shoulder. Close your eyes and I’ll sing for you. Would you like that?”

  “Yes, very much, but kiss me first, please? Kiss me like a lover, as if you want me. I want to taste your desire for me.”

  Jared looked her in the eyes for a while, glancing from one eye to the other, studying her. “I do want you,” he whispered and lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers. His kiss slow and sensual, long and lingering. With the full length of his body pressed against hers, it was easy for Sara to feel his desire for her, his kiss was changing, deepening and growing with hunger. When he finally pulled away, they were both breathless. “I do desire you, Sara. I desire you more than life.”

  “I love you Jared,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder and inhaling his masculine scent. She could see his essence as it penetrated every cell in her body. His soul, melding with hers in eternal bliss.

  Jared started singing. His voice was so clear and beautiful. It sounded like a cold mountain stream. Sara could taste him on her tongue - the coolness quenching the fire in her soul.

  Sara looked up into his eyes. They were filled with love. “You do love me, don’t you?” she said, smiling at him.

  Jared smiled back. “Yes, I do.”

  The effects of the drug were starting to fade. Sara was thinking a little clearer now, and at least the room had stopped spinning. “Have you ever sung for anybody else?”

  “No, Sara,” he said, tucking some loose hairs behind her ear.

  “Can I ask you another question?”

  Jared smiled. “What do you want to know?”

  “You said you were in love with Eve. How come you never sang to her like you do me?”

  “Because, I had strong feelings for Eve. I don’t think I was ever in love with her. I know I’m in love with you. I would do anything for you. I would give you anything, within my power to give you.”

  “I don’t feel so good.”

  “How? What’s wrong?”

  “I’m so tired and sleepy, but I’m afraid to sleep.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m afraid when I wake up you won’t be here.”

  “Sara, I am not going anywhere. I will lay right here beside you and hold you. Close your eyes and sleep, if you’re sleepy. You’ve been through a traumatic ordeal. You have a right to feel tired and sleepy.”

  “But I’m afraid the monsters will come back. I’m afraid I’ll be alone.”

  Jared turned her face till their eyes met. “Listen to me… I will not leave you… I will not let anything harm you. I will stay here and chase all your monsters and all your fears away. So close your eyes and sleep.”

  “Will you sing to me again?”

  Jared didn’t say anything. He smiled, and started singing again. Tears filled Sara’s eyes. She’d never been loved like this before. It was almost as if his love was tangible. As if she could feel it being pulled into her lungs with each breath she took, fire and ice.

  ------------

  Sara soon drifted off to sleep listening to the sound of his voice, and the constant beating of his heart, the most precious sounds she knew. The sound that meant safety and security to her, but only in the waking world. His arms couldn’t protect her in the land of dreams. A land full of uncertainty and scary monsters.

  Sara’s sleep was restless. Her dreams were bizarre, filled with old men, totem poles of red-eyed wolves, coming to life, and chasing her across the desert, in an endless night, as hot as Hell. Sweat was dripping down her temples. Sara’s hair was damp and matted, plastered to her face and neck, and filled with all kinds of dried weeds, thorns and sand. The only visible light was that of the full moon.

  There was snow on the ground. The air felt as if it were coming off a bonfire. Snow on the ground with blazing hot air? That’s not possible! I must still be hallucinating.

  Sara was white-hot. Not from a physical fire, but a fire around, and deep inside her. Each labored breath she took scorched her lungs. They hurt. Sara wanted water. She was so thirsty from the hot air parching her mouth and throat.

  There was water, always water in sight, but no matter how fast she ran, or how close she came, Sara couldn’t even touch it with the tips of her fingers. And the strange wooden wolves were closing in on her. Sara could feel their hot breath on the back of her neck as she fell, desperately reaching for the water.

  Sara tried to scream. She knew if she screamed for help, Jared would come and save her, but she couldn’t make a sound. This was it. She was going to die, devoured by animated symbols of wolves from a totem pole. They crept closer. Baring their sharp splintery teeth. Flames licking their wooden grins as though they had been soaked in gasoline, but it didn’t burn them. They should have been burnt to a cinder!

  Sara felt its teeth grab her by the neck, searing into her flesh as one of them started to shake her. Shaking the life from her. Sara drew in one last breath trying to scream. As the sound left her mouth, it was swallowed up by a fierce howl from across the desert. The sound was so loud and fierce it made every bone in Sara’s body ring. Her attacker turned her loose, and cowered several steps back, its head lowered in submission. The other wooden wolves followed suit, slowly backing away.

  Out of nowhere,
a real white wolf appeared and stood in front of her, eyes burning with fire. Sara didn’t know what to expect. The white wolf whined, licked her face, and turned to face her attackers. Sara felt safe with him in front of her, but she feared for his life. He couldn’t fight all of them alone.

  Sara started trying to scream out again. Then she heard something – a faint, familiar voice – hope – her salvation.

  “Sara! Wake up! Sara, you’re having a nightmare – wake up!”

  The voice shouted to her from afar across the burning sands, and the white wolf vanished. Sara didn’t want to open her eyes for fear the wooden wolves would be there.

  “Sara – Honey, you’ve got to wake up. Open your eyes; you’re dreaming Sweetheart.”

  Sara knew the voice, but she was still reluctant to open her eyes, even though she was awake now. “No!” she shouted. “He left me, and they’ll be back if I open my eyes. They’ll be there!”

  “Sara, there are no wolves here. You’re safe, Honey, open your eyes and see that it’s just me – Jared.”

  Sara flicked her lashes and slowly opened her eyes. She didn’t know who or where she was. In her confused and disoriented mind, the monsters in her dream were real. One of them with long, black tousled hair and glowing eyes was inches from her face. It reached out for her, and she screamed, scrambling back against the head of the bed again.

  “Stay away from me!” she cried. “You’re not real! Wolves aren’t made of wood! You’re just a dream - wood burns!” Sara started crying and hugging her pillow in front of her as a shield.

  “Sara! Angel! It’s me – Jared! It’s all right. You’re safe,” he said, his arms open, reaching for her.

  Sara pulled away – eyes wide with fear. “Don’t you dare touch me! Stay away!” she warned. She stared at Jared, disbelieving, still trying to sort out her chaotic mind. All she wanted to do was get away. She pushed her back even further against the headboard, desperately trying to put more distance between them. Sara clenched her hands and charged at Jared, slamming her fists against his chest.

  Jared grabbed her wrists, holding her in his iron grip. Blood started to ooze from Sara’s hands at the tips of her long fingernails.

  Jared’s eyes glossed. He fought a wave of bitter tears. “You’re dead you bastard!” he mused. “If I ever find out who you are - you’re fucking dead!”

  Jared shook Sara more violently this time. “Sara! Honey! Please! Calm down – you’re safe! Whatever is trying to hurt you is gone – you’re awake! Please!” He frantically tried to reach her, but it was useless; Sara was beyond reason, locked somewhere in a world between, separated from reality and screaming at the top of her lungs. Sara started having a seizure.

  Jared grabbed Sara as best he could, silent tears streaming down his cheeks. “Myra!” he called out. “Myra – get in here – I need you – now!”

  Myra ran into the room. “What is it? What’s happening?” Myra shouted, frightened at being awaken so suddenly. “I thought the drug had worn off.”

  “Get my bag – from the bedroom – now!”

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “Just get me my damn bag and do it now; I’ll explain later. I’ve got to calm her down before she hurts herself!”

  Myra hurried in the room and handed him a small black leather case. Jared had pushed Sara down on the bed and was holding her there. “Here – hold her arm!”

  “No! No! No!” Sara screamed as her body continued to convulse uncontrollably. “Stay away from me!”

  It was all Myra could do, but she held Sara’s arm still while Jared quickly put a tourniquet on it.

  Sara felt something sting her arm. “No!” she screamed again. “Leave me… alone!” Sara’s last words were unintelligible. She felt lightheaded and dizzy. Jared’s face changed to the face of her dream protector, the white wolf. Sara started to calm, and she smiled, reaching out to him.

  Sara was barely aware of anything. All around her things looked different, like they had a rainbow halo around them, and she could see other things. Things that couldn’t be real, pictures of places she’d never seen.

  Jared kissed her, and smoothed her hair down, pushing it out of her eyes. “All right, now, don’t fight, Angel. It’s all right. You’re safe, Sara. Nothing is going to hurt you – I won’t let it. It was just a dream, Honey,” he cooed to her, as he cleaned her hand where she’d dug her fingernails in her palms.

  Sara felt calmer, and started to drift. Her eyes slowly closed, but she could still vaguely understand what was being said. Jared’s parents were in the room now. Their voices filled with worry, asking questions. Sara could hear the voices, but they were getting hazy now, distant.

  “I thought you said the effects of the drug had worn off.”

  “It should have Mother. It’s three in the morning. The drugs should have played out around six or seven last night. It could be flashbacks, but normally you have those when you’re awake. When you’re under the effects of the drug, you normally don’t want to, or can’t sleep. It stimulates the brain, and there’s so much to see and experience; you simply don’t want to sleep.”

  “What do you think is wrong, then?”

  “I don’t know, Dad. She woke up from a nightmare, and it was as though she was still in it. She wouldn’t let me touch her. I couldn’t bring her around. She was screaming something about wooden wolves and wood that wouldn’t burn. I gave her a sedative to calm her down, so she wouldn’t hurt herself.”

  “How long will she be out?”

  “At least a couple of hours Mother, maybe more. It depends on how her system reacts to the drug. I tried to calm her. I didn’t want to give her the sedative, but she was hysterical.”

  “Well, the best thing to do is go back to bed and let her sleep it off. The Poor Baby. She must have had one hell of a nightmare.”

  “I’m sure you did the right thing for Sara, Jared.”

  “I’m staying here with her. I can’t help feeling this is my fault Mother.”

  “Considering how things have gone – it probably was your fault!” Myra said her voice accusing. At least Sara thought it was Myra. There was so much fog in Sara’s head; it was hard to distinguish her voice from Nadine’s.

  “Myra!” Tom scolded. “Do you think this is easy for your brother, seeing her like this?”

  “No, but….”

  Jared growled. “What are you getting at Myra?”

  Sara tried to listen, but she kept fading in and out of consciousness.

  “You, Jared! You’re so busy running from your future and chasing your past that you’re destroying the present! What you have with Sara is precious, Jared. Not all of us have that or ever will have that. Whether you accept it or not, however long or short it may be, you have a future with Sara - don’t throw it away!”

  “She’s right, Son,” Tom added. “Some things are meant to happen, and no matter what you do, you can’t change the outcome. Even, if you never have a child with her, Sara could still die, but her death could be horrible, and at the hands of someone that don’t give a damn! If it has to be, wouldn’t you rather it be with you, someone who loves her? Someone who would die for her or with her?”

  Sara lay still, floating and drifting between worlds, silently listening – or at least trying to listen to their conversation. What were they talking about? Someone said something about her dying no matter what was done. Well, that part was destined. Sara knew she would die, eventually; everyone did – didn’t they? Was this what they were talking about – or was it something else?

  Sara thought about the book – the secret she hid. About everything that had happened to her today – or was it yesterday now? It was today. That’s right – Jared had said it was three in the morning, so it had to be today.

  Sara’s head was filling with mist. It was getting harder to concentrate. Something warm and wet touched her forehead, like being licked by a puppy - gentle, soft, and sweet. What was that smell – it wasn’t a puppy. There was s
omething warm near her ear, the tiniest flutter of a warm summer’s breeze – or was it – Jared?

  “I love you Sara. I didn’t spend half my life looking for you, only to let you go. We’ll find a way past this Baby - both of us - together – I promise.”

  That’s the last thing Sara had remembered before she woke up later that morning.

  Chapter 13

  Sara opened her eyes to the morning sun. The first sight she saw was breathtaking. Lying, peacefully sleeping under her head was the object of her obsession. She watched as his lashes fluttered gently from whatever dream he was having. It must have been nice. A smile played on his lips.

  Sara smiled. Words could not explain the feelings she got just from looking at his face. How could one person be so blessed? Anyone Jared gave his heart to, would be the luckiest girl in the world. Sara softly caressed his lips with the tip of her fingers.

  Jared reached up, pressed Sara’s fingers to his lips, and kissed them.

  Sara jumped. Jared wasn’t asleep after all.

  He softly chuckled. “Feeling better Angel?”

  “Yes. I think I’ll live, but my head hurts.”

  Jared lifted her chin and kissed her. “I’m glad. I couldn’t take life without you in it. Feel like talking about it?”

  “It?”

  “What happened yesterday? Your nightmare?”

  “Would that be before or after I took a ride on the psychedelic Ferris wheel, or strolled down the yellow brick road?”

  Jared smiled. “Do you remember anything about that?”

  “Oh yes, I remember everything, vividly, every ridiculous scene.”

  “How about who did that to you? Do you have any idea where it might have happened?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Can you remember exactly when you started feeling strange? Where you were at the time?”

  “You would have to ask me questions I can’t answer. I started feeling queasy when we left the feed store. My vision started blurring right after we left the house to come back to the hospital.”