Dream Girl: Chapter 7 - Assurance

"Ms. Sullivan? Ms. Sullivan? Will wake up for us, please?"

A suave voice floated into her ear as someone shook her shoulder. How embarrassing! She'd fallen asleep during class! And what a dream, Chloe thought. Opening her eyes, she stared into icy blue pools and Chloe knew it hadn't been a dream. She was still strapped inside the hospital prison. Chloe guessed the man leering down at her must be her warden. He was young, much younger than she initially guessed. Long blonde hair was pulled back from a startling handsome face in a loose pony tail. His mouth curled into a sinister smile, banishing whatever good looks he possessed, making Chloe's blood run cold.

"Ah, there we are. I had a suspicion you were awake and playing, what do they call it? Possum?" He giggled. "Now, since you seem to be alert would you like to share your experience? Did I make a believer of you?"

Chloe could tell he really thought he was making a difference in peoples' lives; a difference in the medical world. If only his drug didn't come with fatal consequences or dealt with death. Okay, Chloe thought, so there's no way to spin this drug as a positive. She took a deep breath.

"Listen, I know you mean well, but this is not something I'd want to go through on a weekly basis. I don't think you're helping anybody. And there are no upsides to using this drug long term." Chloe watched his face harden with every word.

"You still don't understand," he said quietly.

"You're right. I don't understand and probably never will. But neither do you. With every shot, you're killing someone. The last time I checked, that wasn't what medicine was about," Chloe countered gently.

"What do you know? You're just a journalism student. What do you know about life and death and the possibilities each hold?" He asked as he reached behind him and lifted a syringe from the surgical tray. Chloe began to struggle again but couldn't move away. She looked down at her wrists and ankles encased in leather restraints that weren't there when she woke up the first time. A tear coursed down her cheek as she laid her head back down on the pillow, staring at the ceiling above her. "It's also about testing the limits of the human body," he finished as he waved his green cocktail at her.

"Why are you doing this?" Chloe asked, her voice quivering around a sob.

"I have to make you understand," he repeated doggedly, pulling up the hem of her hospital gown.

Chloe flinched as the needle sank into her thigh, biting back her scream as the burning ensued followed by racking chills…

Chloe woke in dirt. Sitting up, she was in some kind of field with tall golden grass rippled by the wind. Chloe got to her feet, dusted herself off and gazed around. Off in the distance stood a butter yellow house and closer to her, Jonathon Kent rode his tractor. How did she end up here?

"My son is coming, Chloe! He's coming soon!" Jonathon yelled over the hum of his tractor.

"I know!" Chloe yelled back. She wandered around for a little while, hoping to glimpse Clark doing his chores. As she rounded the corner of the barn, she collided with Mr. Kent.

"Chloe!" His smile, so welcoming and familiar, made Chloe's eyes water. She reached out and touched him, his chest warm and solid as it had been in life. Taking her hand in his own, Jonathon led Chloe around the farm. "You look wonderful. I want you to know I appreciate all you've done for Clark. He needs friends like you and Pete. He needs you, Chloe. No matter how far he runs or how hard he denies it, he knows he needs you. You take care of him."

"Thank you, Mr. Kent. It means so much you feel that way," Chloe responded.

"What are you doing here, Chloe?" Jonathon asked, pulling her to a stop beside him.

The sun was beginning to set over the fields and Chloe could think of no other place she'd rather be than here on the Kent Family Farm. "I don't know. I can't remember."

"You need to go back. Clark's trying to find you and he won't find you here," Jonathon pointed out.

"But I don't want to leave," Chloe said wistfully, looking around at the far reaching Kansas prairie. "It's too beautiful here. Mr. Kent, why is Clark trying to find me?"

Jonathon Kent smiled as he answered, "Isn't Clark always trying to find you?" Chloe watched as the wind blew up around them, dissolving him like sugar in iced tea.

"Chloe!"

Chloe turned her head and wasn't surprised to see Clark bounding across the tall grass of the open field toward her. Like a drowning man, Clark reached out and pulled Chloe roughly to him, wrapping her tight within his arms as if she were a life preserver.

"I've been looking for you. Where have you been?" Clark whispered lovingly into her hair.

"I've always been here," Chloe answered, squeezing him back.

"Then why am I still looking for you?" Clark questioned with confusion.

"You'll find me. I know you will," She assured him gently, stepping out of his grasp. Chloe walked a few paces ahead and turned to face him. Clark still stood where she left him, a look of alarm on his face.

"You always find me, Clark," and with that, Chloe fell backwards into an abyss before Clark could catch her.

As before, she fell faster and faster only it was so easy to step out this time. Instead of breaking she landed softly on her bed with a soft gasp. But it wasn't soft enough.

"Did you enjoy your ride this time, little one?" The deranged man asked from her beside, seated in a plastic chair. He reached out and wiped a tear away almost sweetly.

"Please…" Chloe begged quietly. "Please leave me alone."

"You seem tired." The man stood, towering above her once more. "Sleep. I assure you, I won't do anything while you rest." He leaned over and pressed a kiss against Chloe's sweat drenched forehead, causing Chloe to sob deep in her throat.

"I'll be back shortly," he told her as he left the room.

            Slowly Chloe closed her eyes and fought the sobs tearing at her throat for release. She prayed she wouldn't actually fall asleep. Who knew what dreams awaited her in the darkness of slumber?

     To read Ch. 8, click here.