Chapter 31 Dream

*Diana*

Although I was so happy getting a new car on my birthday, I was sad I wouldn't be able to attend the annual Christmas program of my senior year in high school. I had promised John I was going to clap the loudest for him, but unfortunately I would have to miss his performance. I didn't know how to tell him. I just knew I had to.

Before we closed up the diner, I called up John. He didn't like that fact I wasn't going. It's been tradition to attend the Christmas program, however this year, I had to break tradition.

"Hey D! What's up? You on your way back to the school?" I could hear the enthusiasm in his voice, knowing his bestfriend would be there to support him.

"No. I'm about to leave the diner, but I'll be heading home, not to the school. I have some bad news. I won't be coming to watch you perform." I tried to break it gently to him.

"What?! D, this is our final year in high school. You need to come."

"I can't John, my Dad surprised me with a trip to The Bahamas and our flight leaves tonight. I need to get home and pack. I am so sorry, John. I wasn't expecting this. But our trip is non-refundable so I have to go."

"Awww. That's a bummer. Well, it's your birthday so I guess I'll let this slide. You better get me something from The Bahamas like a cool shirt or maybe Rihanna's autograph." He laughed and I felt better he wasn't angry at me.

"Sure thing, John. I'll get you something from our trip. The diner is going to be closed until we get back. My dad said he sent you your Christmas bonus to your bank account. You have a Merry Christmas okay? I'll see you when I get back."

"Tell your dad I said thank you. Sure, D, I'll see you when you get back. Have fun!" Well, that went well. Good thing it's my birthday.

Ethan went to Didi's to get his stuff while my dad and I pack. We would all meet up at Uncle Mike's house after he drops off Nana at the airport. Nana was going to spend Christmas with some friends in Florida where it was warm and safe. Too bad she couldn't be with me on my birthday, but it was better this way. I don't think my conscience could take having a small old lady like Nana get hurt. I would rather she go into hiding for the meantime.

I drove home with my dad in my brand new SUV. Once we got home, my dad told me to pack all of my essentials and my favorite clothing and limit everything to one suitcase which I could carry. I took my carry-on that had wheels from my closet and just started throwing in everything I needed. I packed some of my toiletries in my toiletries case and made sure I didn't forget my blow dryer, charger, laptop and some of my shoes.

I looked at all my stuff that I haphazardly packed in my suitcase and I remembered I needed to bring my bedroom slippers. I went down on my knees to get my slippers from underneath my bed when suddenly my bedroom went all dark and a red hue poured inside my room from the window. The wind started howling outside and the branches of the tree beside my bedroom window started to hit and scratch my window.

I don't know what came over me, but I felt sleepy all of sudden. I got up from the floor and sat on my bed, then I just blacked out.

I found myself on a long stretch of pavement surrounded by tall trees covered in snow. The street lights which were spaced far from each other, casted a foggy yellow hue from above. I walked in the middle of the road, my bare feet painfully aware of the freezing temperature of the concrete.

I didn't know where I was. There were no vehicles of any sort passing through nor did I see any houses. I was alone in the middle of nowhere, wearing a thin white gown with no shoes in the cold.

Then I saw it. It was seated near one of the light poles, the yellow light giving it a menacing appearance. It was the huge black wolf which plagued my dreams when I was a child. I stopped walking and just stood in the middle of the road, rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do. I was scared it was going to eat me.

It got up and walked toward me, wagging its tail. I need to run away from it, yet my feet weren't doing what my mind told it to do.

"Do not run away. I will not hurt you." The humongous black wolf was speaking to me and the sound of its voice was familiar. It was the voice inside my head.

"I am Onyx, your wolf, Diana." The wolf stopped in front of me, it's dark green eyes staring into mine. I extend my hand to Onyx and she licks it, her tongue almost the size of my hand.

"You are huge. Are all wolves as big as you?" I actually felt small beside her. She towered over me.

"Some I would say are as big as me. Usually the Alphas of a pack." Her voice was husky and motherly. I felt comfortable talking to her.

"You were the wolf in my dreams when I was a kid. You kept chasing me." She made a sound from her nose, obviously disagreeing with me.

"I was not chasing you. I was following you. Wherever you go, I follow. You and I are one. When you shift into me, you and I will become one with the darkness. We will hunt our prey and pounce without their knowledge. They will ask for forgiveness from the Moon Goddess above, however it will be too late for them. Their blood will be the price for their atonement." Suddenly, the moon comes out from the clouds, but instead of its blue white light, it shines red making everything look like blood. The symbol of the lotus flower on my arm appears, glowing white amidst the red light. I touched it, mesmerized by its beauty. I glance up thinking Onyx was still sitting in front of me, but she wasn't. She had approached a woman who had the same color hair as mine, in blue scrubs and white sneakers. The woman was caressing Onyx's neck with her hands and rubbing her face against the wolf's neck. Apparently, they were friends.

"Justice, Diana. I deserve justice." The woman in the blue scrubs turns to me, her face covered by the shadows of the trees beside her. I noticed there was blood gushing out from a wound on her neck which slowly trickled down her clothes. She inched her way closer to me and I tried to move away from her.

"No. Stop. I don't know what you want." I screamed. My voice echoed through the vastness of the forest. I was screaming in vain, there was no one else here except the three of us.

"You do know, Diana. You've always known. You were there, Diana when I was attacked. Think back. Remember how I felt, how you felt during that tragic night." She was so close to me now. I could see her face was contorted into pain, her blue eyes the saddest blue eyes I have ever seen

She extended her blood stained hands towards me and I felt her fingertips brush against my arm. I suddenly felt a sharp stabbing pain in my head. I fell to the cold icy pavement on my knees, holding my head, wincing as the pain seared through my brain and radiated throughout my body. I tried to breathe, but couldn't. The air around me so thin that my vision started to blur.

"You die, your baby dies and no one will ever find your body." I hear a man's voice. It was muffled, but I could hear it. Then I hear a woman screaming, a heart wrenching, blood curdling scream. The women's scream reverberated right through me, frightening me and causing my heart rate to go up.

"That's what you Rogues get when you enter my territory!", the man declared. I felt someone punch me and I rolled over.

I could feel the women's hopelessness. She was crying, but barely moving. I hear her heartbeat continously slow down and I noticed her breathing had become shallow. She was dying.

Wait a minute, I was dying, too. I fell on the icy pavement, barely moving, feeling as if I was drowning. I could not breathe.

"Do you feel that, Diana. That is the pain we went through, you and I. Remember our pain, Diana, and remember I want justice. Make them pay. Make everyone pay." Onyx barks and growls, promising the woman that justice will be served.

"Help me, I'm dying." I say in a whisper, but the woman just stood there, watching me. I was waiting for her to help me, but she didn't. My eyelids started to close, my vision had gone black, my heart rate was slowing down, and I had no one to help me. It's true what they say...E everyone does alone.

"Diana, wake up! Diana!" My eyes flew open to see my dad trying to wake me up. I sit up, trying to breathe.

"Dad, I can't breathe." I cry out.

"Yes, you can. Inhale, exhale." He rubs my back. "There you go."

"I thought I was going to die." I start crying and my dad scoops me in his arms like he used to when I was a little girl.

"It was just a dream." He pulls me back and tries to look at me. Then he hugs me again. "Don't worry, Dad's here. Good thing I came to check on you. I was wondering what was taking you so long. I know it only takes you a couple of minutes to pack." He points to the mess in my carry-on. We both laugh and I grab a tissue on my nightstand to wipe my nose.

"It just felt so real. There was this woman in blue scrubs with long hair the same color as mine. She had blood gushing out from her neck. She touched me and I felt this blinding pain in the middle of my head. I heard a man say some things and a woman screaming, then I was dying. I just couldn't breathe."

"A woman in blue scrubs with long hair the same color as yours?" My dad's forehead furrowed in confusion.

"Yeah, she had a neck wound."

"You dreamt of your mother, Diana."