DREAMS
Part One
By Moonstar
**********
As long as she could remember, Stephanie Edwards had despised her name. When she was only five years old, her earliest memory, her mother had been shot and killed in a dark alley. Even now, as she slept, she could feel her mother's pain as if it had been her own.
"Please... I beg you... leave my little girl alone...she ain't done nuthin' to yo-"
"Shut-up, bitch! "
Stephanie remembered recoiling in the shadows, hoping the bad man wouldn't find her. Her mother had sounded so weak....as if she knew something was coming.
"Please..... Let me go.... Step-"
"I am tired of your shit, bitch," he bellowed, slapping her across the face as she sobbed out her daughter's name.... right before the gun went off in her face. Stephanie cried, her sobs soon turning into full-fledged wails. Suddenly she woke up, still sweating from the horrible dream. A soft knock on her door drew her gaze towards the door.
"Come-come in," she said, her voice shaking from the vividness of the memory she had thought was left behind all those years ago. The door opened a crack, and a familiar face poked in.
"Rogue? Are you okay?" Bobby looked in, concern written all over his face.
"Yeah, Bobby. Ah just had a nightmare. These past couple a days have been rough, what with Remy and Bishop gone," She bit her lip to keep from crying, not wanting to look like a baby in front of Bobby. She missed Remy so much, it took all her will not to scream every time someone said his name.
"Are you sure?" He still sounded wary, as if he didn't believe her.
"Yeah. Ah just need some shut-eye," she said, hoping that she sounded convincing. He looked her way and smiled weakly at her.
"Okay. Just make sure you don't wake the dead with those screams. I happen to be one of those people when I sleep, and I don't need to be woken from my eternal beauty rest. Not till' noon, anyway." She laughed, then returned the smile.
"Okay, Bobby. G'night." She sighed as he turned out the lights and shut the door. She feared going to sleep, but also knew that it might be the only way to face her past. She rolled onto her back and her breathing slowed as she soon fell into a deep, steady slumber: One that promised both heaven and damnation.
******
Somewhere in Louisiana, 1978.....
Stephanie remembered running as fast as she could. She didn't know where, just that she had to get there. It was if her life depended on it. And it probably did. She could hear the man running after her. She tripped over a rock and fell to her knees, knowing that soon she would be joining her mother in Heaven. She began repeating a prayer her mother had recently taught her.
"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Now-" Her words were cut off as a small hand reached down and grabbed her own, leading her into the protective darkness of the shadows. She opened her mouth to speak, but was once again cut off as the hand covered her mouth.
"Shhh. You gonna bring de wrath o' Moe down on us." She gazed up at blue eyes and noticed how different they were from her green ones. She didn't have time to think any more about this, though, as the bad man came running down the alley.
"Where are ya, girl? I'm gonna enjoy you like I did you're Maman! Too bad you left so soon.You missed all de action!" His words cut into her heart, like a knife. She didn't quite know what he meant, but Stephanie knew he had done something to defile her beautiful mother after he had killed her. Sudden police sirens filled the air, bringing tears of relief to her eyes. The man went running down the alley, surely afraid of being caught. Tears spilled down her cheeks, each one for her mother, to know he had gotten away. She looked up at the boy, seeing him as only a year or two older than herself.
"What's your name?" she asked, suddenly compelled to ask him.
"Michael." Was all he said, his eyes avoiding hers. She boldly reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank-you, Michael. I owe-"
"Non. You don'. I'm just sorry I couldn't save your maman." She doubted he could have saved her, but she still felt a bond growing between them, as if she were going to meet up with him some day. She looked at the approaching cars, then back at Michael.
"Come with-" She was stunned to see he had once again fled into the night from which he had so mysteriously come, like an angel.
"Mah Knight in shinin' armor," she said to herself,"Someday Ah'll find you. And Ah'll be able ta thank you proper for savin' my life," she vowed, then ran towards the blaring sirens.
*********
Rogue woke in a cold sweat. She touched her hand and suddenly remembered so much that she had tried to leave behind, including the mysterious boy she had vowed to find. She had wanted to keep searching for him, but forgot after 7 years of unsuccessful searching. She suddenly paled when she remembered the voice.
"Remy..."
*********
End of part 1
Note: The next chapters will be longer, I promise. I hope someone out there
wants to archive this, but if you do, please inform me first. Thanx!!:-)
Moonstar
dbooker@gte.net