Chapter 31

Chapter 31
DREAMS & NIGHTMARES

Laila went to the creek to take her bath. They had been very careful when roaming around keeping in mind the warning Logan had given to them. Adam had become worried not knowing what exactly to do. The cave was the best place they could be according to him. The moment they got on the road then every wolf around could smell them. She hadn't been going for her runs lately as Adam worried they might catch up on her. She was only permitted to move around the cave. She decided to take a quick bath in the creek since it was just behind the cave.
She scrubbed her body as fast as she could and cleaned herself. When she was done, she tied her robe around herself and walked back to the cave. She changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. The day wasn't over yet but she was starting to feel sleepy. She sprawled on the bed hibernating in thoughts as she waited for Adam to return from his supply run. She didn't realize when she fell asleep forgetting about everything around her.
In her sleeping, Laila was in a different yet familiar world. She saw herself walking towards the house she shared with Elena back in Southern California. She looked at it and her heart started beating. She couldn't go back! What would become of her? What if the police were there? She can't afford to go to jail! She won't survive in there!
Then another thought came to her, what if it wasn't even the police but the council? What would she do then? It would be better to go with the police than with the council. The formal only wanted her arrested while the latter wanted her dead.
Her heart was beating so fast, she feared it would leave its cage. She tried to hold herself and stop her legs from moving forward but it kept going. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't stop herself. No matter how hard she pressed her legs to stop going, it just refused to listen to her commands. It was like it had developed a mind of its own. She couldn't stop it. It was like walking into a fire and being unable to stop yourself.
"Stop! Stop moving!" She yelled but it was in vain. For her legs kept going as if being pulled forward by a force she couldn't see.
The house was right in front of her. The grey color swaying and shifts in balance from a thicker grey to a lighter grey like in a horror movie. The windows were opening and closing violently and air seemed to seize. The winds were no longer blowing. She tried to scream but her mouth wasn't producing a sound, no matter how hard she tried. She had become mute and had lost total control of her limbs. It just did as it pleased.
Against her will she got to the foot of the building and thereby the stair, she saw the blood trail. It was like somebody was dragged along the stair upward or downward she couldn't tell, but a bloodied person was moved nevertheless.
Slowly yet surely, her body took the stairs, leading her to her doom. Laila tried to hold the railing to stop herself from going further into the building, but her legs kept going.
What was going on? What was happening? This was a dream, that's why her limbs were not listening to her. She had to do something to wake up! Since she couldn't stop herself from entering into doom.
She tried to scream out for help again, but just like the first time, no sound left her mouth. She struggled with her throat trying to get out of it but nothing happens.
In little time she was standing right in front of her apartment and the door was wide open. The blood trail at the staircase went straight into their apartment. And Laila understood that it was Elena's blood. She covered her mouth to keep the bile from coming up her throat. This couldn't be happening again. She was reliving the moment all over again and she didn't want to be a part of It.
She pinched herself trying to wake up but nothing happened. She was still stuck in the dream. It had become a never-ending nightmare.
"Why are you covering your mouth?"
A gentle voice asked making Laila jump out of her skin. She turned her head and found Elena. She didn't have the wound on her neck. There was no blood on her dress. The strong smell of blood had also washed away and it was replaced with the familiar smell of flowers. She blinked, gazing at Elena. She couldn't believe her eyes. Was she dreaming in her dream?
Elena looked at her and narrowed her eyes at her lover. "What is wrong Laila, are you up to no good again?" She asked drawing closer to Laila.
Laila held her breath as she didn't know if she was talking to the real Elena or imagination of her. The dream was starting to feel too real and she didn't know what to do.
Elena got closer to her and gently pulled Laila's pale hands away from her mouth. She then placed two soft kisses on Laila's palm before dropping it to her side. She then leaned in on Laila and pulled her closer
"I have missed you, Laila," she said, placing her lips on hers.
Laila was frozen. She grew paler. She couldn't respond to Elena's gentle kiss. Her whole body went limp and she couldn't bring herself to move. How could she be kissing an imagination? Elena wasn't real. Yet Laila could feel Elena's lips on hers like she was real.
Elena noticed Laila's stillness and she pulled back from her. A small playful frown played on her forehead. "Is something wrong?" She asked Laila. "You don't want to kiss me?"
There was a pain in her voice and Laila felt her insides squeeze in on herself. She always hated it when Elena was sad. Elena wasn't made to be sad. She was made to be loved and Laila tried her best to fulfill it but it wasn't enough. But even if this was a dream, Laila would try his best to make Elena smile.
"No no, Elena it's not like that!" She cried out.
This was like one of the regular fights they had on some days but it wasn't the way it looked. Elena was supposed to be dead and Laila was not supposed to be kissing her. But Laila didn't want to be the one to tell her that she was dead.
"If it isn't like that why don't you kiss me back? Don't you love me?" Elena asked.
"I love you, Elena, I love you very much," Laila whispered.
"Them show me how much you love me," Elena said with a toothy smile dancing on her lips.
Laila not knowing the right words to say to make Elena happy, pulled Elena closer and allowed their lips to meet in romantic dance against one another. She sucked on Elena's lips, allowing herself to enjoy the fullness of her lips, even if it was only in a dream.
Elena moved her hands to cup Laila's breast feeling the roundness through her t-shirt. Laila's body was slowly starting to give in and she let her doubts and constant reminder of the happening being a dream fade away. Elena slipped a cold finger to her nipple and she moaned in pleasure. Laila pushed her chest forward and Elena used the opportunity to deepen the kiss, tasting every part of Laila's sweet mouth.
"I love you, Elena..." Laila moaned out as Elena moved from her mouth to her neck.
She was sucking the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder blades and Laila felt her toes curl with need. Her core tightened and she felt her clothes become a hindrance to her. Elena had unhooked Laila's bra through the t-shirt and her hands were under it, as she felt over Laila's breasts. She tipped Laila's hardened nipples with her thumb and forefinger, massaging it gently as she kissed a trail along her neck.
Laila was about to release another moan when she felt Elena giggle against her neck. She blinked her eyes and pulled Elena's face upward. "What's funny my El?"
The question was like a tickle to Elena, she started a burst of full-on laughter and broke from the embrace. As they separated that's when Laila saw it, the room changed. There was the smell of death in the air. Elena was no longer clean and pretty, there was a long gash on her neck and there was blood spewing from it, flowing down and soaking her dress.
Her laughter was no longer light, it became dark. It became cynical. Laila's hormonal bliss dropped and fear crawled into her. Her heart was hammering deep within her and the sound was nerve-wracking in her ears.
"What did you think!? That you will kill me and get away with it! You fool!" Elena barked.
Laila's feet started moving backward on their own. She was slowly looking for a way to run out of the cursed room. The pungent metallic smell of blood filled everywhere and Laila fought the urge to throw up again that threatened her.
"I loved" you Laila! I loved you with the whole of my being! And what did you do? You killed me!" Elena was saying.
"No, no, no! I didn't kill you. I didn't kill you!" Laila cried shaking her head wildly in denial.  This could be happening to her. She didn't kill Elena. She could have stopped it if she could. She tried to reach there early. She tried.