Lydia

Once again I find myself in that room.

There's total darkness all around me but I could still tell that that I'm in that room. In that dark, empty and creepy room with no windows. There's no light bulb here either.

"Hello?" I call out. But all I get is the echo of my own voice.

I walk forward, hands in front searching for the door. I need to get out of here. But it didn't matter where I went, there were no walls or a door. It was as if the room had expanded.

Suddenly, I hear a whimper behind me. An all too familiar sound.

I turn around. Even though it's dark and I can't see a thing, I can tell it's her.

" Judy" I smile as I call out to her.

She doesn't answer, just whimpers and cries.

" Judy, it's ok. Your alright." I say, comforting her. As I get closer to her, the voice gets more clearer and I imagine her sitting in the corner of the room, in a fetal position, face red with tears.

"Let me out" She whispers softly and continues to cry.

"No. It's ok. Your safe." I say to her.

In a flash, Behind me, a door is opened.

The bright light from the other side fills up the room. I could see her clearly now. In her little white dress and big innocent eyes.

All of a sudden, the light is obscured by someone standing at the doorway. I freeze, unable to look back. I know who it is.

It's the big monster.

"Come here!" The monster says in a deep hoarse voice.

The girl looks up, wipes her tears away and stands up.

"No. Judy. Don't listen to him." I try to tell her. But she starts walking towards the door.

The monster then moves away from the doorway, once again filling the room with light.

"JUDY. STOP! It's not safe out there! You need to stay here!" I say to her as I try to grab her arm but surprisingly, my hand passes through her body like a ghost.

She keeps walking into the light. Not looking back. No matter how much I yell at her or how much I tried to stop her, she just kept walking forward.

As soon as she steps outside the room, she starts to slowly fade away. Regardless of that, she doesn't stop moving.

"No, no, no, no, no! COME BACK! DON'T GO!" I shout as I try to get hold of her only for my hands to slip away again.

Then she fades away completely.

My eyes shot open and I find myself, sweating and breathing heavily.

It was just a dream.

I sit up straight and try to calm myself down. "It's ok. It's going to be ok. It was just a dream. It was just a dream." I keep telling myself as my voice starts cracking and tears well up in my eyes. My heart races so fast and a huge wave of paranoia washes over me. I reach for the glass of water on the bedside table. Grabbing it with shaking hands, I take a sip. Looking at the clock, it's almost evening. Time for my medicine.

Opening the drawer of the bedside table, I take out a brown translucent bottle of pills. Spilling one into my hand, I close the bottle and put it back in the drawer. Drinking the water after taking the medicine, I try to slow down my breathing.

It's getting worse. I keep having those nightmares every 2 to 3 days. Now every time I try to sleep, I'm afraid I'd end up in that room again...with her.

The sudden sound of my phone ringing makes me flinch and feel like I had a mini heart attack.

I pick it up and check who it is. It's just Richard.

" Talk to me" I answer him as I get out of bed.

"Were you sleeping? Who sleeps at this hour?" He says in a mocking tone.

"None of your business. It was supposed to be my afternoon nap but whatever. So, what is it?" I go over to the bathroom. This isn't a five-star hotel for nothing. Even the bathrooms are big and glamorous. The mirror above the counter is huge with gemstones decorated at the edges.

"You pulled off that murder really smoothly. Great job. I was worried that you might need my expertise once again." He laughs. He can be so annoying sometimes. Scratch that, he's always annoying. But at least he gets the job done.

"Need I remind you, I'm just as capable as you are. Not being a hitman doesn't make me incompetent. Anyway, it was a high school. They'd never let an unknown man in there." I put the phone at a safe distance away from the basin and put it on speaker.

"What about Zane? Do you think he'll figure out where Morgan is this time?" He asks. I can tell he's smirking.

"Maybe. I suppose now he will consider the possibility that Morgan is moving around disguised. The false image he has of Morgan being a shy, meek and cowardly person was preventing him from thinking that she can do that." I answer him as I tie my blonde hair with a rubber band.

"Ok. So, Were you seen by anyone?" He asks as he chews. He's eating something.

I on the tap and wash my face " No but...I did bump into someone." That was a surprise though. I wasn't expecting him to be there.

"Who? You know that person?" He asks curiously.

"Yeah, it was Ethan. Zane's younger brother. I was just going down the stairs when I bumped into him. He was in a rush and going upstairs." Grabbing a clean towel from the rack, I dry my face.

"I see. And he didn't suspect you or anything did he?"

Picking up the phone, I go back into the bedroom and place it on the vanity table. "No, he doesn't know me. Nor did he suspect me. But what's odd is him being there." Opening the emerald coloured wardrobe, I decide on what to wear.

"What do you mean?"

"He doesn't go to our school. So what was he doing there? I may not know him well but I do know the kind of person he is to an extent and according to what Zane told me. He's a smart guy. Likes to solve mysteries and even has good intuition. I bet he was investigating on his own about Morgan." That does seem like a more logical explanation than him just being outside the school at the wrong time.

"Sounds like a threat. Need something done about him?" He asks. So he was just bored I see.

"Yeah, he saw me. If he starts connecting the dots and everything he'll find out it was me. Take care of him will you." Finally, I decide on a plain old shirt and jeans. I never normally wear this since I'm more of a dress person but it'll do I guess.

"Ok sure. But what about Zane? That's his younger brother after all."

"Zane doesn't need to know. But Don't kill Ethan too, just fatally wound him enough to send him to a hospital. He's a fragile boy so it'll be a piece of cake." Taking out the wig from the drawer, I place it on the vanity table.

"Hey, what are you doing by the way?" He asks. Must have heard the noises.

"Nothing. I'm just going shopping." I answer him with a smile.

"Ok then. Talk to you later." He says and hangs up. I'm thinking maybe I should take a quick shower.

As soon as I turn on the tap, warm water gushes over my head with pressure and I sign in relief as I feel my worries and problems wash away.

I admit that whatever I'm doing is wrong. I know it. But...it's become a necessity for me. My goal in life. I suppose, at some level, I can relate to Morgan.

When you have nothing to lose. It gives you a strange sense of confidence. Like you can do whatever you want and you won't be at a loss.

I step out of the shower and wear my violet robe. As I dry my hair with the blow dryer, I look at myself closely in the mirror.

It's either I've changed a lot or this is who I was from the start and I've just been suppressing it this whole time.

After changing into the shirt and jeans, I put on the wig carefully. Nice, I look so...different. This really isn't my style. I love all things elegant and graceful. But I'll just have to bear with it for a little while.

As I begin to apply makeup, I notice how prominent my dark circles are becoming due to lack of proper sleep and...other reasons. I look so tired. Need to fix that. After that, I take out the syringe from the drawer. Putting it, and the tiny bottle of liquid medicine inside a lunchbox, I take out my bag from the wardrobe. I then put the lunchbox inside my bag and stand in front of the mirror to get a good look at myself. Perfect.

After I'm done with my transformation, I walk out of my room. The wide red-carpeted hallway is empty but I can hear people talking in another hallway. As I make my way towards the elevator, I think about what Morgan must be up to.

Pressing the elevator button, I wait patiently. As I think about how frustrated Morgan would have been when she saw the morning news I feel myself chuckle.

The elevator arrives and The doors open, revealing a wide golden area. I walk in and press the ground floor.

The doors are about to close when suddenly I see a woman with a kid running up to the elevator.

"Wait! Hold it!" She says.

I stick my arm out between the doors preventing them from closing.

"Oh, thank you, dear. Much appreciated." The woman says as she enters the elevator along with her little girl.

"Sure, no problem," I say politely.

The woman also presses the ground floor and fixes her hair in the shiny mirror-like surface of the elevator wall. The doors close and the elevator starts moving down.

The woman is dressed smartly in a royal blue velvet dress and coat wearing a shiny pearl necklace. The girl is also dressed in a pretty white frock wearing a silver tiara on her golden hair.

"Fancy party this evening?" I ask the woman. The girl stares at me blankly. Guess I look out of place in my ordinary outfit. I give her a bright smile.

"Oh, yes. It is. Need to be there in about 30 minutes. My husband is very serious about arriving on time." She laughs.

The elevator finally reaches the ground floor. The door opens revealing a giant lobby crowded with people. The little girl rushes out to a man in a fine suit.

"Daddy!" She cries and runs into his arms.

"Come on! We're getting late!" He says to his wife as he picks up his daughter.

"Yes! Yes! Coming. Hold on a second will you." She says and the family moves towards the exit.

I walk out of the elevator and watch as the girl smiles and waves her hand to me. I simply smile and wave back.

Watching this family feels so nostalgic. Reminds me of my time with my family and how we went to those fancy parties and events. Good times.

I too walk out of the building and look around. No Taxi insight. Should have arranged an Uber before.

I go down the stairs. The Grand Hotel sparkling with dazzling golden light behind me. People in nice dressed and suits walking in snd out of there.

I wait for a taxi to pass by on the sidewalk. After few minutes, I notice one coming down this road.

Holding up my hand, I yell " Over here! Taxi! Taxi!"

The driver notices me and pulls over to where I am. Once he does, I quickly get in the back seat and close the door.

As I sigh in relief the driver turns back and asks " Where to, miss?"

I look at him and answer

"Nicholson children's hospital"