Ch.4: Reliving the Nightmare

The fourth chapter to the book, Missing Pieces. Please read the previous chapters if you haven't already.

Ch.4: Reliving the Nightmare

Anthony turned to his clock, it was already five in the morning so there was no sue in trying to sleep. Even if he did have time, Anthony didn’t think he could sleep. Getting up he quietly made his way out of his room and into the bathroom to try and clear his head. Luckily on his way there Moore didn’t notice his odd behavior.

Laying in the warm bath Anthony let himself cry, his tears mixed with the water as they ran down his cheeks. His ears being underwater blocked out all outside noises, making him feel alone. This way no one would know he was upset, no one would walk in and see him so distraught.

For so long Anthony had forgotten the memory of his mother’s death, but now it wouldn’t leave him. He didn’t’ think he could sleep now that he could remember her death and the man who killed her. There was a knock at the door and Anthony sat up in the tub looking at the door. Tears still stained his face and he knew that if he spoke it would show his emotion.

“Anthony?” Sarah asked in worry making Anthony’s heart constrict with emotion. “I didn’t mean to make you remember something so horrible.”

“It’s okay.” Anthony spoke softly, he bit his lip as more tears escaped and ran down his face. There was silence before he heard her walk off.

After getting dressed and composing himself, Anthony walked out of the bathroom and into the living room. There sat Moore in this normal chair near the chess board, which was unusually not in use. “Feeling better, Anthony?”

So Moore did notice his odd behavior, thought Anthony as he took his seat in front of the detective. “A little.” Anthony looked around the room before asking, “Where is Sarah?”

“She went out.” Moore leaned forward his elbows resting on his knees. “Tell me what upset you this morning?”

Anthony paled, “I’d rather not speak about it.”

“It was about your mother’s death was it not?” Moore asked unemotionally.

Anthony frowned and glared at Moore, “I said I don’t want to talk about it!”

“No one knows who killed your mother; Anthony, do you know?”

Anthony stared at Moore blankly, “Yes, I had forgotten it but I can see it clearly now.”

“Who was it Anthony?”

“James Carter.” Anthony watched Moore’s reaction closely.

Moore’s normally unemotional face turned into a frown. “No. No that is not good.” Anthony was about to ask why, but Moore continued, “You must never reveal this information to Sarah.” His eyes were set on Anthony’s seriously as he said this.

Anthony nodded and jumped once he noticed Sarah was standing right beside him. “What is it that I’m not suppose to know, old man?” She asked as she approched him.

“About how…” Anthony was cut off by Moore.

“About how much I love you.” There was silence as Moore stared at Sarah very seriously.

Surprisingly Sarah blushed and moved away quickly, “Oh well, I should put up my new clothes!”

Anthony stared at the detective in disbelief. Moore turned to him as if nothing had happened, “It worked did it not?”

Anthony nodded, “But why can’t we tell her?”

Moore went to playing a game of chess by himself, “Since no one knew who killed your mother, the blame was put on Sarah. That didn’t bother her because she knew that she didn’t do it, but if she ever finds out she is going to go out and kill him.”

“Then she really will be put in jail.” Moore nodded and Anthony got up to check on Sarah.


Her door was open and Anthony cleared his throat so that she would know that he was there. She didn’t turn around as she continued to put up her new clothes. “What is he hiding from me, Anthony?”

Anthony walked in and watched her put away her clothes, “How did you know he was hiding something?”

Sarah finished what she was doing and turned to Anthony, “Because he only uses that phrase when he wants me to drop a subject, and it always works…”

Now that Anthony was looking at her, Sarah looked different: her blue and brown hair was only colored brown, it was cut to her shoulders and she had her bangs trimmed. Also, her clothes were new and casual, she no longer looked like the woman he had help escape from jail.

“Moore has his reasons.” Anthony said trying to reassure her.

She only frowned, “Does it have anything to do with what happened this morning?”

It was Anthony’s turn to frown. He had almost forgotten what had happened. When he didn’t respond, Sarah unexpectedly went up and hugged him. His hands stayed by his side not knowing if he should hug her back or not.

“Let me help you.” She whispered in his ear before pulling away to look into his hazel eyes.

“Help me with what?” Anthony asked a bit confused.

“Your dream, the memory that haunts you.” For awhile they just stared at each other until Anthony walked away without answering her.

That night Anthony sat in his bed, heavy eyed but awake. If he laid down he would definitely fall asleep, but even while sitting up he occasionally dozed off and woke back up startled by horrible memories. He watched the clock as minutes passed by slowly.
He really wanted to fall asleep, but he knew all he would have were endless nightmares about his mother’s death. Anthony’s door suddenly opened and he watched as Sarah walked in.

“You are normally asleep by now.” She said as she walked over and sat by him on the bed.

Had she done this every night? Anthony sighed deeply in defeat, “How can you help me sleep?”

Sarah grinned sadly, “I will make sure that you don’t have any nightmares, okay?”

Normally Anthony would have argued with her but he was too tired at the moment. He only nodded and laid down, allowing her to lie next to him. She put one hand over his heart and her head laid next to his, “Now sleep, Anthony.”

And before he knew it, he was out like a light.

Sarah found herself being shoved into a small closet by her friend Renee. Her heart was racing with fear. Then she found herself looking at a 13 year old Anthony who was in the closet with her.

“Just hide in here, Anthony.” Renee said hurriedly.

“But mom…” Anthony tried to object but Renee shook her head.

“Stay safe for me, okay?” She kissed Anthony on the forehead before closing the closet door.

Sarah wanted to rush out and stop her friend, and she knew it was also what Anthony felt in that moment. Anthony stood up and was about to run out to find his mother, when the bed room door slammed open and Renee was thrown inside.

They both jumped at the loud thud.

“Where do you think your going?!” Growled James viciously as he came into the room.

Renee stood up bravely, “I told you I’m leaving you, James! I already sent Anthony off.”

James moved forward quickly, anger in his eyes, and punched Renee in the face. Both Anthony and Sarah watched in anger, sadness, and helplessness as she got hit. With the force of the punch, Renee fell against the door of the closet making its occupants jump and cover their mouths to keep from screaming.

James came up behind her and pinned her to the closet door with one hand, while the other lifted the back of Renee’s shirt. For one sickening moment Sarah thought James was going to rape her, but she was wrong; he did something ten times worse.

Placing his hand on Renee’s lower back, James released his fire into her body. Anthony stared in wide eyed shock as his mother began to scream loudly and flail violently.

Suddenly Renee’s voice halted and her lips said a silent, “I love you.” to Anthony before she spat up blood all over the closet door and Anthony’s face and chest.

Renee’s body convulsed as it was consumed in fire, her liquefied organs and blood running out of her mouth and eyes before she fell to the floor, dead. Anthony continued to stare blankly at the spot where his mother use to stand, he was completely paralyzed with fear.

Sarah, shaking with fear and sickness of the act, turned her attention from Anthony and on to James. The angry man made sure to torch the room before he left. Sweating she turned to the frightened boy.

As the fire engulfed and destroyed the room, he just stood there with a look of horrified fear and loss on his face. It was then that Sarah picked up the sound of hissing. Her heart began to speed with panic: It was the sound of compressed air trying to escape at a rapid pace. Quickly she tried to warn the young boy next to her, but the explosion stopped her.


Sarah woke with a jolt that sent her falling off the edge of Anthony’s bed. Sweat covered her body and her ears rang in the silence. Looking around the dark and quiet room, Sarah began to remember the horrible memory and began to scream.

Anthony shot up, awakened by the scream, and turned to find the source. Sarah sat on the floor, her back against the wall, her hands fisting chunks of her hair as tears ran furiously down her terrified face. Her teeth were clinched now, but he was positive she had been the one to scream.

Anthony’s door opened and Moore walked in casually as if nothing unusual was going on. Taking in the scene before him, Moore walked over to Sarah and knelt down next to her, “Sarah, what is wrong?”

Sarah’s horrified gaze that had been staring blankly at nothing, suddenly shot over to look at Moore. Her hands moved form her hair and she leaned over to Moore, slamming a palm to his forehead. Anthony watched in scared curiosity as the detective’s body suddenly stiffened.

Moore’s breathing suddenly increased and it wasn’t long before his eyes opened and tears fell down his cheeks. Anthony felt emotion catch in his throat as he watched the intense emotion cross the unemotional detectives face.

Sarah moved her hand away from Moore’s forehead and looked at him sadly. Quickly Moore stood up and took Sarah with him, before heading out of the room. Anthony got out of his bed worriedly and walked out of his room and down the hall. His frown only deepened as he reached the opened door of the bathroom to see Sarah bending over the toilet, Moore knelt down behind her holding her hair back.

Anthony gulped down his nervousness and ended the strong silence around them, “I’m sorry.”

Moore stood up and looked at Anthony unemotionally as Sarah did the same after flushing her stomach contents down the toilet. Anthony felt judged under their stares and turned his eyes on the tiled floor. “I shouldn’t have let Sarah help me…”

When Anthony looked up again, Moore had a hand on his chin in thought, but Sarah was staring at him just as intensely as before.

“We saw your memory, your nightmare, of your mother’s death.” Moore said making Anthony take his eyes off of Sarah.

“You did what?” He asked baffled, but before he could ask anymore questions, Sarah pinned him to the wall next to Moore. The cold wall pressed against his bare chest as her hand held him firmly against it. Fear sneaked its way into his mind as her other hand made its way to his lower back.

At first he felt heat and he began to panic, but the heat turned into a cooling sensation and it quickly ran through out his whole body. It was as if all his nerves were suddenly awakened and on full alert. He felt strong, calm, safe, and above all filled with a new sense of power. Then Sarah pulled away from Anthony, allowing him to turn around and face her.

Before Anthony could ask Sarah why she had pinned him to the wall, she turned to Moore and said, “He can control water.”

Moore frowned, “That would explain how he survived the explosion.”

Anthony became very confused, “Hold on, what are you two talking about? I can’t control water!”

“Yes you can. Everyone who can control an element has a spot on their lower back where the power is contained, almost like the heart of that element. At first I thought your element was fire because of James, but your element immediately pushed that element away. Also, you have blue streaks in your hair.”

“No I don’t!” Anthony said, but as their silence increased he rushed his way over to the sink to look in the mirror. Sure enough, Anthony had the same dark blue steaks in his hair that Sarah did. He turned around to face her with a confused look on his face. “But you control all the elements, shouldn’t your hair be rainbow colored or something?”

Sarah laughed at his comment which made Anthony smile, he didn’t like to see her so upset. “Yes I control all elements, but my main element, my most powerful, is water.”

Anthony sighed and ran his hand through his hair, “How am I suppose to go to work with blue streaks in my hair?”

“Don’t worry, you are not going to work at the moment.” Moore said.

“What?” Both Sarah and Anthony said at the same time.

Moore walked out of the bathroom without a word. Anthony and Sarah followed him.
“What do you mean I’m not going to work?” Anthony asked as he followed Moore into the living room.

“Your going to go to school with Sarah, only you will go as a student.”

Sarah giggled and Anthony stared at Moore in disbelief. “What? It’s a high school how am I suppose to masquerade as a student?”

“Well you are a bit short…” Started Sarah but Anthony interrupted her.

“I’m 25 for heaven’s sake!” He gesticulated as he spoke.

Moore sat down in his usual seat, “Yes but you are short for your age, have blue streaks in your hair, and have a connection to Sarah.”

Anthony calmed down at the last part. “You want me to keep an eye out for the girl’s activity so nothing happens?”

Moore put his hand on his chin in thought. “Close but not exactly. I want you to pretend to be Sarah’s son.” Anthony and Sarah stared at Moore in opened mouth shock. “This way you both can come here together and hang out around school without it seeming too weird.”

“Sounds reasonable to me, but why does he have to go to the school?” Sarah asked as she took a seat.

“There is only so much information a teacher gets in school, having Anthony as a student gives us an opportunity to get more information on the situation.”

Anthony sat down as well and put his head in this hands, “What do kids even wear these days?”

Sarah perked up, “That’s right, he needs to look the part. Come on emo-kid we are going shopping!”

“I’m not even dressed yet!” Complained Anthony as Sarah dragged him out of his chair and shoved him towards his room.

“Then hurry up and change!”
 

Author's Note

I think I might change Renee's death, it seems really gruesome...tell me what you think? Thanks!