Chapter 2 In the bathroom

The shock was overwhelming that she couldn't move a limb. She stood transfixed.

"Step aside everyone. Give him space." Fred said pushing the crowd away from getting too close to the scene. As a medical student, he thought of helping till official help arrived.

"Has anyone called the ambulance?" He asked squatting beside the boy.

"They are on their way" someone answered from the crowd. He nodded and checked the pulse of the child.

"His pulse is getting weak" he muttered to himself and glanced at Gabriella who stood like someone on trance.

" C'mon Ella don't just stand there, come help save a life." He said bringing her back from her reverie.

"Does anyone by any means know this boy?" Fred asked as no one admit to know him.

"I...I...I know this boy" Gabby stuttered trying to put her words together.

"You do?" Fred asked puzzled.

"No, i mean I've seen him before." She said not knowing how best to explain herself as Fred shook his head with a sigh and placed his head on the chest of the victim to feel his heart beat.

"Jezz!" He exclaimed and started pressing his chest. The child's heart beat was rapidly depleting.

They heard the blaring sound of siren as the ambulance and a police van arrived. They immediately placed the boy on a stretcher and took him away in the ambulance but the police stayed behind to investigate. The ruthless driver had ran off after running over the little boy.

After answering a few question from the cops, Fred led Gabriella away from the scene and back to the eatery.

"What happened to you back there? It's not your first time witnessing something like this so, why where you so shocked?" Of course it was not her first time witnessing an accident infact, she had seen even worst than what had happened moments ago. She was known to be the bravest in their department.

She didn't answer to Fred as she solemnly took her bag and made her way out of the eatery. What was she gonna tell him? That she knew the boy was gonna die before hand? Hell no! He was gonna see her as a pyscho so, she had rather not say anything.

"What's wrong with her?" He asked rhetorically as he dropped some dollar note on the table and hurried to catch up with her.

Through out the rest of school for that day, Gabby was awfully quiet and this made Fred to begin to worry about her.

" Are you sure you're ok?" He asked for the up tenth time as they came out of their department building.

"I'm alright." She said yet again as Fred sighed in surrender. They said their byes and parted ways as Gabby got on her bicycle and rod away, heading straight home.

On getting home, she parked her ride on it's usual spot and made for the main entrance door. She twisted the knob but the door won't bulge and that was when she remembered nobody was home. Her mother was probably at her mall running her business as usual but Gabriella's mind was far away that she had literally forgot that. She lifted the flower pot at the verandah and brought out a key which she inserted into the keyhole and this time, the door cracked open.

Entering into the house, she headed straight for her room. She flung her bag on the bed and sat at the edge as she palmed her face. The image of the accident still playing in her head. She somehow felt guilty. Maybe if she had taken what she felt earlier serious, the accident would have been prevented. She checked the time on her phone and it was already past four (4). She decided to go for a cool bath and afterwards, make an attempt on her assignment. Maybe it could help her mind off the incident.

Dressed in a baggy green T-shirt and a jean trouser, she sat on her bed with her laptop before her as she set to work.

Soon, she started dozing off and when she couldn't resist the sleep anymore, she gently closed her system, shifted it aside and immediately drove into a slumber.

**********

"GABRIELLA!" The whispers of her name echoed in the silent forest. She began to run on that familiar route. Oh yes! It was the same route from her first dream. She kept running until she reach the same cliff and without a second thought, she jumped again with a scream.

She gasped opening her eyes and sitting up from the bed. Her face was covered in hot sweat as she had a hand over her chest feeling her own heart beat. The same dream again? Why would she have the same dream twice in a day?

She unconsciously glanced at the window and it was almost dark. She came down fully from the bed and slipped her feet into her feet wears as she found her way out of the room and went down to the living room. Everywhere was as she had left it indicating that her mother was yet to return. She decided to go out for an evening walk to cool off.

Without a destination at mind, she let her legs lead her to wherever it felt like going. As she wandered, her mind reflected on all that had happened throughout the day. From waking up from a strange dream to the wonder at the dinning and then the mysterious boy and the accident. She couldn't help but feel lost. Something was wrong somewhere and she could feel it. There was something that she suppose to know that no one was telling her. she spotted a perfect place under a tree and went for it. She sat down with her face buried in her palms. It was her birthday day and was suppose to be cheerful but so far, it had been the worst birthday. The cool evening breeze soothed her skin as she shivered a bit. She lifted her head to the ringing of her phone as she brought it out of her pocket.

"Hello Mom"

"Gabby? Where are you? You got me worried" her mother said.

"Just went for a stroll but I'm on my way now" she said getting to her feet.

" Alright. Hurry up." Her mother said and disconnected. She didn't even know she had already spent a lot of time already.

She was in time for dinner as both mother and daughter sat at the dinning eating in silence.

"Mother?" She called dropping her spoon.

"Yes dear."

"What really happened to my father?" She asked out of the blues as her mother almost choked on her food.

"What brought about that question?" She said trying to hide her nervousness under a frown which of course Gabby noticed.

"Don't I have the right to talk about my father?"

"I thought we've already discussed about this. I told you he lost his life before you were born. What more do you want to know? How he died? Well he died in battle. Are you now satisfied?" Her mother asked rising her voice a bit. She sighed when Gabby didn't say a word but stare at her.

"Your father was in the military and...."

"It's ok. you've said that before" Gabriella cut her mother short standing up from the dinning. She had barely even touched her food.

"Where are you going?"

"I lost my appetite" she replied and left the table heading up the stairs. Her mother was definitely hiding something from her. That she knows but what? And why?

She reached her room and decided to prepare herself for the night as she entered the bathroom. She reached for her tooth brush and added some paste as she began brushing her teeth. She rinsed her mouth and splash water on her face. Facing the mirror, she wiped her face with a towel and looking back at the mirror, she froze in shock as the towel fell from her hands. It was the creature she saw in her dreams standing behind her. The creature looked more like a zombie with it's face covered in blood. The sight was more scary than irritating. She could swear she heard a growl behind her and when she turned to her ultimate surprise, she saw nothing.