I walk in the night and let my feet take me where they will. I find myself in front of an old looking building, cracks on the wall and broken windows, windows with bars. I look at the large building and stare at the entrance.
I sigh before opening the door and steeling myself for what comes next. I look around the small waiting room, lit brightly and surprisingly clean. Behind a receptionist's desk is a young woman staring at a magazine. She doesn't look up at me as I close the door behind me quietly.
I walk up to her and she glances up at me, her eyes widening slightly as if surprised by my arrival. In a bored tone she asks "Can I help you?"
I take a deep breath and then open my eyes. "Yes, I'm here to see the hol-"
A bump in the road and my eyes snap open, and I look around the back of the van that our group is situated in. First I look to my right to see Rose, her head on my shoulder and her breathing even. A small smile makes its way on to my face. 'She looks so peaceful, you wouldn't even know we just almost died.'
I look across from me at one of the other woman in the veichle. Her unruly black hair cascades down her heart shaped face, her skin deathly pale. Her black lips are curved downward into a frown and I can only wonder about the nightmares she must be having. Two small arms are wrapped around her, the same pale shade of skin color.
Looking to the woman's left I see the owner of the arms. A young girl, no older than eight, bright blond hair falling down and reaching the middle of her back. She holds on to the older woman tightly as she sleeps. I was surprised that Alice could even sleep.
My vision begins to blur as I fall back asleep.
"-the end please."
She looks at me with what I could only describe as child like fear. She stands and leads me down the hallway to the right and stopping in front of a door. Without a word she turns and leaves.
I open the door and begin to hear someone talking to themself. In a language that I couldn't understand. Fast forward a few seconds and I'm at the end of the hall. I walk into a windowless room, a single man sitting against a wall and cradling something while muttering to himself.
Knowing what I have to do I take another deep breath and ask "What happ-" My lip move but I can't hear what it is I speak. My hearing back."-come together?"
The man stops muttering and looks up into my eyes. The look in his eyes nearly makes me scream. He opens his eyes and begins to to answer. I'm back at the entrance of the hallway. I hear the mans raspy voice echo throughout the hall. "They must never come together, Never."
"Roy!"
My eyes open once again to be blinded by sunlight and see everyone in the van awake. The woman already outside and Alice following closely behind. I look to my right to see Rose looking at me with concern.
"Roy....are you okay?" I look away when she asks me.
"I'm fine." My simple response.
She doesn't seem convinced. "Are you lying to me?"
I ignore the question, not wanting to talk about my dream. "Why are we stopping?"
Rose stares at me for a few moments, probably trying to decide whether or not to ask again. She sighs. "Blaire said were eating breakfast at a Cracker Barrel she spotted. Jane didn't seem to mind, and neither did Alice." Ah, Blaire is our driver.
"Cracker Barrel?"
Rose nods. "Cracker Barrel."
I grin "Alrighty then."
