6. The Dreamer-She Thinks She's Crazy

"What am I looking at?" Nick asked.

"The bruises," Anna insisted.

"Um, nope, no bruises.  Are you ok?" he ran his hands through her hair and pulled her close to his chest.  The anxiety that had been living in Anna since she had woken up dissipated slightly.  It had just been a dream.  A vivid and strange one, but a dream nonetheless.

"Yeah, I guess I'm just stressed about work," she mumbled after fumbling for anything that might have caused the dream.

"It's Saturday night and that means it's a no-stress zone.  Come on, we have a date," and strange dream anxieties were left behind in Anna's apartment.  Dinner came before going to the club, but drinking started at dinner.  Lights flashed in an attempt to be in time with the music and no conversation was possible because of said music.

A song ended and both Nick and Anna left the dance floor to sit.  Nick shouted something, but he indicated their empty drinks.  Anna shook her head, the world was spinning enough as it was.  He shrugged and left for the bar.  As Anna looked around, she saw Michael.

In a flash, she remembered part of her dream.  Michael loved her.  Embarrassed, she looked away as warmth flooded her cheeks.  But it was just a dream.  Telling herself she was being silly, she caught his eye and waved.

"Having fun?" a soft voice asked from beside her.  Anna turned and froze.  Sitting next to her was the girl from her dream.  Except there was no scythe and the girl was sitting on air.  Squeezing her eyes shut, Anna rubbed them furiously.  When she reopened her eyes, the girl looked amused.

"That's it, I'm crazy and hallucinating," Anna giggled to herself.  After all, isn't that what crazy people do?

"Hardly.  You're drunk.  When the mind is in an altered state dreams become more accessible.  Which means you can see me when you're awake and drunk.  Or high," the girl responded.  Anna merely gaped.

Earlier she had not thought to look at the girl.  Being strangled can be rather distracting.  Now, she took time to examine the girl.  The girl's hair was black and straight, but pulled up into two buns on either side of her head.  She wore a pleated skirt that was black and striped with pink.  There was also a matching blouse and a bow at the collar of the blouse.

"You look like an anime character," Anna commented as she searched for Nick.  She could really use a drink right now.

"I try.  You need to be careful.  You're in danger," the girl looked around the club warily as Anna felt a chill go through her.