What Dreams May Come - Noreen Malarkey (novel24 .TXT) 📗

against the wall," Well,I'm headed out and I would be happy to give you a ride if you need it. I thought you looked like you may be a hitch hiker of sorts,thought I would help a stranger out. Save you from having to go out on the highway and have your thumb in the air for the next Lord knows how long,it's getting cold out there and night will be here soon. Weather reports say were in for some snowfall. Just wanted to save you from becoming an icicle".

He had started to get up from the table,I grabbed his arm,"Wait! Yes,please,I really could use a ride. I just have to pay for my meal,just give me a minute,okay?"

"Well alright then," He walked ahead of me as I walked to the Till. Holly kept looking back and forth nervously between myself and my mystery saviour,she never said anything,but I could see the worry in her eyes.

I wanted to reassure her,somehow I felt answerable to this kind lady,but I chose instead to say nothing. Holly reached into the souvenir case by the till and pulled out a tiny stuffed husky dog,smiling weakly she tossed it to me," Because everyone needs a friend,"she said.

"It's adorable,but I can't afford it,I'm afraid,"I hung my head a little.

"Take it and enjoy it in good health," She pushed the toy dog towards me,along with my money. "Keep your money hun,it's okay. You may need it,"she gave a slide glance at the strange man behind me.

"Take care of yourself,Lizzie." she looked like she was biting her lip,tears welling up in her eyes. I think it was an ingrown maternal instinct,it was sweet and I appreciated it.

"I will and thanks, for everything," I smiled and held up my little stuffed treasure,"I'm going to name her,Holly"

Holly smiled,"You know...you could stay in town if you liked? I could always use another employee and my nephew runs a Boarding house just down the street,you could stay there if you liked? At least stay the night,think about it and if you don't want to stay,leave in the morning after a good night's rest".

I must admit,Holly's kindness overwhelmed me. I was tempted,man was I tempted. To just stop running away from everything,the town was not that bad,although albeit a bit quiet for my personal taste. But the chance to start my life anew,a tangible future that was different than the rollercoaster lifestyle I had created for myself,it held promise. Before I knew it I shocked even myself on some level,it had been so long since I felt someone cared about me,that I dipped around the counter's edge and through my arms around Holly and gave her a huge hug. I think I had even shocked her momentarily,but she hugged me back warmly.

"I'll be back someday,but I just can't stay. I feel like there's something I'm missing and I have to keep going until I find whatever it is. Then I can rest. But if it's an open offer,I'd like to take you up on that job offer when I come back?"

"You bet,anytime Lizzie,be glad to have you here. Remember Lizzie,whatever you're running from,sometimes no matter how bad it seems,sometimes what we end up running to is worse".

I sensed a hesitation in Holly,I knew she wanted to make me stay. Such a sweet lady.

"Also Lizzie,the only call that's ever too late is the one we fail to make. I'm sure your family must be worried about you sweetie,you should give them a call when you can".

I knew she was right,"Thanks Holly,I'll call them when I reach the next town,I promise".

"Good girl. Bye Lizzie"

"Take care Holly,bye," I waved and walked out the door,I never saw her again..

I followed after my good samaritan like a puppy after a child with an ice-cream cone. I had felt the fortunes of the universe,sometimes the unexpected happens. We approached a nice,sleek looking,black BMW with tinted windows.

"My name is Grear,by the way,Grear Perim," The man announced as he unlocked the doors for us. We slipped inside onto the cool comfort of the lush leather seats,I savoured the feel of it as I buckled up. My family would never be able to afford anything as fancy as this. It was such an amazing experience to ride in such comfort. Usually the people that gave me rides,drove old run down cars and pickup trucks.

"Nice to meet you Grear,my name is Lizzie Daniels," I smirked as I thought of the man's name. It had to be the most unusual name I ever heard and yet,there was something oddly familiar about it, not sure what. "I really appreciate the ride,I wasn't relishing the idea of having to hitch hike in the cold and like you said,it's getting dark." Once I had my backpack adjusted across my lap,I placed my 'Holly' dog on top of it,looking over it thoughtfully.

"Do you mind if I play some music?"

"Not at all,go right ahead," who in their right mind would protest,I had been grateful for the ride,I was not about to tell this man what he could or could not do in his own car.

Grear turned on his radio,instantly playing a song I recognised,but could not remember who sang it. The song 'Highway To Hell' began pulsating out of the speakers. I found myself getting drowsy as the car started to life and he pulled away,the lights of the diner growing dim in the distance. Before I knew it I had fallen asleep,Holly cradled tightly in my arms her ears the only thing peeking over the edge of my arm.

How long I slept I will never know. it could have been hours,or it could have been days. It was strange I felt more rested than I ever had in my life,but I kept thinking it had hardly been any time at all aside from the fact that the gradually darkening sky was now totally pitch black. The only light in the darkness that I could see was some small interior lights and the cars' headlights. Peering out my window I could see trees and such zipping by,but nothing distinguishable to get one's bearings on were we might be. No buildings,or signs that I could see so far.

"I wondered when you might wake up,you've been sleeping for sometime. There was no real reason to wake you and you looked like you could use the sleep. I get the feeling you do a lot of traveling and not much sleeping," He more of stated than asked.

"Yeah,that's okay and it's true,I don't sleep much,I like to keep moving"

"Really? Well I think all of us have something were running from,the illusion of movement and time deludes the reality,the inevitability that all things will catch up to us in the end,doesn't matter how long,or far we run. The only thing that can truly affect that,is death. So might as well sleep when we can,it never changes the outcome".

"I hadn't really thought of it like that before and I suppose you're right," I found myself thinking longingly of my family,how much I truly loved them and regretting deeply any hurt I may have caused them. I had been a handful,I knew it. I wanted to go back to them now,desperately,I needed to say I was sorry. Things would be different now,I would sit and talk to my parents,finish school,help take care of my siblings and get a job. So many plans racing through my head,I was going to home, I would change.

"Grear,how far have we come? I mean,are we that far from the diner?

"We're farther than you'd think. Having second thoughts are we?" Grear raised a questioning eyebrow.

"I've been running so long, I have to face my problems sometime or I'll never stop running and that's no kind of life".

"That's true,"Grear's face look deeply shadowed in the dim light of the car,his good looks somehow hardened and his easy smile had vanished.

"If it's not too much trouble,could you drive me back to the diner? I can call home once I'm there. Or if not,please just let me out,I'll walk back," I tucked the little stuffed Husky into a pocket on the backpack,for some reason I could no longer look at Grear,I felt he was scowling for some reason.

Another classic song started to play on the radio,an 'oldie but a goodie' as my twin Kyle had called songs that were older than when we were born,the song "Wanted Dead Or Alive",it's haunting rhythm pulsating in my ears,like a battle cry warning.

"I'm sorry I can't do that".

"Oh, okay that's fine,just let me out,I can walk".

"No,you don't understand, I can't let you go," Grear punctuated with emphasis ,as he sped the car up noticeably.

"Grear,you're scaring me,please,just let me out," I pleaded to no avail,Grear just shook his head.

"I envy you people. You have every opportunity in the world,to live life to the fullest and you squander it. You go around abusing the gift of life you were given and by the time you realise your mistakes it's too late. I've been sent to collect." a look of wistfulness washed over Grear's chiselled features.

"Collect? What do you mean by that,that you were sent to collect?"

"The tragedy of it honey,whether you truly realise it or not,you knew the second I told you my name. You're a smart girl,smarter than you chose to live to the potential to be,think about it. Who am I?" The car zipped along,trees whizzed by,the car reached a dangerous speed level. If a Deer darted out on the road it would be to late to brake,or swerve,we would crash. The possibility of dying did not seem to phase Grear in the slightest,like he had a death wish and fully intended to take me down with him.

"Well Miss Daniels,who am I? Time is a ticking,what's your answer?" Grear lowered his shades with one hand and quickly glanced over at me and smirked,where his eyes should be appeared as two fiery coals. The longer I stared the more I swear I could see the faces of pleading,voiceless spirits. He pushed his shades back up and refocused his attention on the road once more.

"Your name is an anagram,your name isn't Grear Perim...," my voice caught in my throat,I strangled back a cry as I watched his clothes morph into a black hooded robe,his face turning into that of a skeleton with a menacing grinning smile "it's Grim Reaper!"

"Very good Lizzie,shame you realised what was important in life too late," The Grim's teeth clattered,the sound of brittle bone connecting.

"...but I've changed!" a hopeful note in my voice.

"I know you would sweetheart,but the fact remains that I was already sent. It's nothing personal," the Grim sighed and continued,"It's just,oh how do I put this. If you bought a shirt at a store,nothing wrong with it,but then decided you didn't like it and went to customer service to complain about everything under the sun. Eventually the manager would be sent for and you will be removed from