Chapter Seven: Nightmares

Tom continues to see visions.

I went back to the waiting room, where I remained, untouched, until Izzy was recovered enough to be released. I held her in my arms; cradling her, not wanting to let go. I carried her all the way to an inn, where we stayed the night. Once I fell asleep, it came again.

I was laying in my bed. It was a bed I had never seen before, in a room completely unfamiliar to me. The door creaked open and the same girl from my previous vision looked at me while rubbing her eyes, holding a teddy bear in her hand. I woke up silently and smiled at her. "What is it?" I asked her from my bed.

"I-I had a nightmare...." She replied. Her voice easily gave away that she was younger than before, Perhaps eight years old now instead of ten.

"C'mere..." I slid over on the bed, making room for the child to come and lay next to me. "I'll protect you from the monsters."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course." I answered sweetly, smiling with closed eyes. I listened as the child crawled up onto the bed and curled up next tome, her head on my arm. I put my other arm protectively around her, and we both fell asleep once more.

Then a voice came once more, with a new message. And now you can sleep, and be with your friends.

I awoke, startled. Izzy was lying in the bed next to me, her head on my arm. I silently calmed down and laid my head back against the pillow. I turned over, and put my other arm protectively around Izzy, as I did in my vision. I felt her heart beat. I felt her breath. I felt her stomach gently rise and fall, and let it lull me back into my slumber.