Sleep Keeper (3 page)

I walked closer to the tree. It wasn’t like any tree I had seen before. The bark was covered with dark veins protruding through its skin. I ran my fingers across its thick texture, following webbed moss down its trunk. The moss was soft yet prickly. As I examined the intricate lacing, my body began to tingle. Like a switch, I suddenly became aware of the life in the forest. Colonies of insects were busy at work on the ground nearby. Birds high above launched into a melodic trill. I held very still and listened to their song. Something small and furry tickled my leg as it scurried past in a blur. It dove into the protection of the nearby shrubs. I giggled and looked around for more. It was all very strange. I wanted to see them all - the insects, the reptiles, the animals, everything. I was drawn to them. I felt like a part of them - connected to every life here, every creature and every tree. I was part of a whole intertwined universe.

I explored the forest, examining everything with an eager eye. I was a child seeing it for the first time. I continued on, until I entered a break in the trees. A
meadow lay hidden in its folds. It was roughly four acres wide and scattered with tiny yellow wildflowers.
On the far end of the meadow was a single cabin. Something metallic shimmered and I instantly recognized him.

He was standing near the porch with a large ax in hand. With a smooth steady swing, he split a log in two. My curiosity intensified. I moved closer. Beads of sweat rolled off the carved muscles on his shirtless back. His moist skin caught the sun’s rays and made his body appear to glow, like the radiating light of an aura.

I eagerly crossed the field toward him. He looked over as I approached and set down the ax. His physique was extraordinary. Watching his tone body stride confidently forward made me suddenly very nervous.

He stopped in front of me with a wide grin. His lips were shaped to perfection with defined outlines that formed a predominate v at the top. My stomach tightened. I tried to talk but nothing came out. I stood there, speechless, starting at his chiseled chest. I had a sudden urge to reach out and run my fingers down his wet skin. I bet it was firm and smooth. Warmth spread from my gut down my body, enveloping my thighs… suddenly chagrined by my thoughts, I stared at the ground, still remaining silent, like an idiot.

“Hi,” he finally spoke, with no hint of impatience.

“Hi!” I blurted out, and then tried to focus on his face where my eyes belonged.

It was
my
dream after all, I should be able to look where I pleased and think what I wanted, but unfortunately I was just as bashful in my own dreams as I was in reality. These feelings of lust were all too new to me.

“I’m Orion. Orion Nellis,” he introduced and extended his hand.

“Alexis Hartwell,” I smiled, reaching out, excited in anticipation of his touch.

He took my hand into his and my heart nearly stopped.

Oh Alexis get a grip!

He gingerly turned my hand over, and placed a kiss on its back. His lips were warm and soft. My stomach swam with butterflies and I felt lightheaded. I tilted my head up and met his gaze. His hazel eyes started off a lighter shade of brown around the iris, followed by beams of amber that melted into pools of blue and green. Their rich colors appeared to be moving, like a powerful whirlpool sucking me in deeper. They were stunning.

“Pleasure to formally meet you, Alexis… although I have seen you before in a dream,” he said.

I chortled. “That’s ironic.”

“How so?” he asked.

“Considering… this is a dream.”

His tilted head and half smile indicated he didn’t understand. Such an innocent expression, I couldn’t help but smiled again.

“Right now… this is all a dream,” I explained, waving my free hand through the air. Orion still held my right hand and I was in no hurry to reclaim it.

“I’m quite certain this is not,” he chuckled. “Do you feel like you are dreaming?” He traced a finger gently over my hand sending tingling warmth up my arm and through my chest.

“Uh, um, what?” I stuttered. “I mean, um, no.”

Nothing about it felt like a dream. It felt more real than being awake. If it
was
a dream, why did I feel like I had so much control? Why was I shying away, instead of acting out my infatuation? It isn’t flirting if it’s a dream. Then why did I feel like I was cheating on Mitchell by just touching his hand?

“But I have a real life… or a different life… where I have lived for a long time… like, my whole life,” my words spilled out as equally confusing as my thoughts.

Orion appeared amused at my attempted explanation.

Pondering the moment, I took a deep breath and smelled the air. I felt the oxygen enter my lungs and flood through my veins with each breath. I scanned the forest and everything held clarity. I felt the life of the forest moving inside of me.

“I have never felt more alive,” I whispered.

“Where do you come from?” Orion asked.

“I was going to ask you the same thing,” I responded. “Um, I don’t know… Earth?”

Laughing, he released my hand. I was both relieved and disappointed.

“This is Earth,” he announced.

This is not my Earth…

“Come, I’ll show you around.”

He took my hand again and led me behind his house. He probably could have led me anywhere and I’d follow along in a trance. When I noticed he stopped, I looked up. A sandy beige beach and deep blue ocean stretched across the horizon. Foamy waves lapped gently against the shore.

We crossed the rest of the meadow and through the sand. I dipped my feet into the break, allowing the tepid water to wash over them. An array of varicolored fish swam a few feet ahead.

“This is amazing,” I gasped.

Orion seemed pleased by my excitement and opened his mouth to speak.

The ground shifted from underneath me and I suddenly became dizzy. I reached out for him to steady my fall. Everything went black. For a moment I felt panic. I scrabbled for him; afraid I was losing him. My chest filled with anxiety.

“No!”

I peeled my eyes open to the bright morning sun shining in through the shutters. My heart rate was calm and my emotions subdued. I blinked several time, confused. I was lying in bed in the quiet room.

I sat up in a daze. I swear I was literally right there a moment ago… and in a blink, it was gone. A dream. It was all just a dream. How strange that I jumped back into the same dream from the night before. Not exactly the same dream, but similar - the forest, the painted sky, the scent in the air, and of course, him. Orion. A smile snuck in as I remembered his dazzling eyes and how my skin tingled when he touched me.

A noise in the kitchen reminded me that my dream was over and reality was calling. The clock confirmed that I had slept for quite a while, although my tired body disagreed. I crawled out of bed and sauntered to the kitchen.

“Morning sleepyhead,” greeted Mitchell as I walked down the hall. He was perched at the breakfast bar reading the Saturday paper.

“Morning,” I grumbled, as I tried to dismiss my previous thoughts.

The scent of the fresh brewed coffee called my name. I let out a yawn and poured a cup.

“Are you still tired? You slept for a long time.”

“I know… I hope I’m not coming down with something,” I groused and took a sip of the hot coffee. The warm liquid felt good sliding down my throat.

“You tossed and turned all night. Did you have a nightmare?”

“Umm, no…” I stuttered. I stared down at the counter, avoiding eye contact.

“How about I make you some breakfast? Maybe that’ll wake you up,” he offered and headed to the stove.

“That sounds good, thanks.” I took over his newspaper at the breakfast bar. “Oh, I forgot to tell you, Mandy’s sister is having a birthday party for Emma this afternoon and has invited us.”

“Hmmm, a birthday party for a baby… the highlight of my day!” he jeered sarcastically.

“She’s four Mitchell, hardly a baby. I thought you’d be excited,” I teased.

“Mind if I skip it? I’m really not into the whole kid-party scene. Plus, today’s a perfect day for a hike.”

“Um, sure, that’s fine,” I muttered, slightly disappointed.

Mitchell had been skipping out on most gatherings involving our old friends these days. As much as I liked our solo activities, I had been trying recently to get us more involved with other couples. It would be nice to show up with my boyfriend by my side. What would two hours be out of his day?

“Great,” Mitchell answered.

“
Great…
” I repeated, unenthusiastically.

He didn’t seem to notice.

I drove from the toy store to Emma’s party in a daze. I couldn’t get last night’s dream out of my mind. I kept replaying every scene over and over like an obsession. I couldn’t stop thinking about that guy. I had never had those feelings of pure infatuation and lust before - clearly a figment of my fantasy, and I great one at that. I tried to shake it off and think about something else, anything else… but I kept going back to him - Orion.

I finally arrived at the party, alone. I walked up to the entrance and spotted a sign welcoming the birthday guests and pointing toward the side gate. I sauntered over to the side of the house and entered the backyard. Their yard was rather large for the neighborhood, almost an acre, with a gated pool on the right and a raised play-structure and sandbox toward the back.

Mandy spotted me wandering through the yard and waved me over to the covered patio. There were several couches and an outdoor bar, where most of the adults were parked. I sat on one of the lounge chairs, partially under the sun.

“Hi Alexis. Where’s Mitchell?” asked Robert, as he leaned close avoiding the sun.

“He couldn’t make it, but he really wanted to come,” I lied.

“That’s too bad. I wanted to show him my new truck,” Robert pouted.

“Oh wow, I’m sure he’ll be disappointed he missed it.” Another lie.

Robert joined the other men and they headed out front. I laid my head back against the chair and listened absentmindedly to the women chatter on about the latest fads and celebrity gossip. Emma and the other children ran back and forth through the sprinkler, screaming and giggling when the water sprayed them. Watching them play filled me with a sense of carefree innocence. I was actually glad Mitchell decided not to come. I could just picture him now; stirring restlessly in his chair, continuously glancing at his watch and waiting for me to decide I had tortured him enough and we could leave.

For reasons unknown to me, Mitchell was always anxious around children. He had expressed, on several occasions, that he would be perfectly fine never having any kids. I, on the other hand, always wanted children. I was in no hurry though, so for now I just ignore his comments. In a few years I was certain he’d change his mind… but watching the children play stirred nervousness that I may never get my chance.

A few hours later, on my way home from the party, I stopped by Luigi’s to pick up Italian take-out for dinner.
As I walked out of the restaurant carrying the food, I saw something to my left. A young boy, maybe five or six years old, with golden brown hair, was standing alone in the parking lot at the end of the building. He was staring down the alley behind the restaurant. I searched around for his parents but there was no one else nearby. I couldn’t just leave him there alone. I headed in his direction but before I came close, he ran down the alley and disappeared from my view. Only a few yards from the entrance, I sped up my walk and turned the corner. I peered down the long stark alley. There was no sign of the boy. There was also no sign of where he could have gone. No exits, no doors, no fences - just an empty alley and a dumpster near the end.

A soft cry came from farther down the alley. The dumpster.

I paused. A boy needed my help. I should run to his aid… but I kept still. Another faint whimper carried by the breeze. That was enough to get me moving. With a racing heart I hurried to the dumpster. I scolded myself for being so paranoid and delaying. It was daylight in a busy area. All I had to do was scream.

I reached the end of the alley and peered behind the dumpster, still nervous about what I might find. Before my eyes were a concrete wall and the dirty ground, and nothing else.

Huh.

As I turned back around, I caught a split-second glance of a man standing inches from my face. I gasped, then he slammed into me with such force that my body was thrown back against the building. My head whipped backwards and smacked the wall. Pain shot through my skull and my vision blurred. His body crushed against mine and a sharp pain sliced through my abdomen. I glanced down - a blade partially protruded from both our stomachs. I blinked in confusion for a moment, not able to process the image. A jolt of panic hit me.

His entire body was pushing hard against mine. I cried out and tried to push him off. The blade fell on the ground and a flash of fresh pain shot up. My entire midsection screamed. I shielded the wound with one hand. The weight of his massive body crushing me against the wall made my legs cave. We both slid down and hit the concrete ground. He fell directly on top of me. I tried to push and kick him off as he lay limp across my legs, but each time I moved my stomach felt like it was ripping open even more. My vision started to tunnel. I took quick breaths, trying to contain the pain and fear.