What the fuck?
“Sorry about that. Humans would diagnose me with Dissociative Identity Disorder, but I’m really an Interdimensional Pythoness or a witch that uses dreams or nightmares to interpret hidden knowledge.”
Picking my jaw off the floor, I ask the first thing that comes to mind. “Soooo, does that mean there’s two of you? Or…” I trail off because I'm really not sure what I’m asking.
“You could say that. I’m Sarah and my brown-eyed twin is Destiney. She’s a little shy and tends to stick to dreamscapes normally.”
Okaaay. So I wasn’t losing my mind when I saw the blue then brown eyes.
“So do you tell fortunes or something? How did you know I was mourning someone? Do you read minds?” A small part of me panics that I had let my barriers drop but then again, do I really care?
Sarah lets out a chuckle that brightens up her face. “No, not at all. Like we said, we are IP’s. We read your dreams or nightmares depending on what your mind conjures up. And there’s an aura surrounding you indicating that you’re mourning someone, but their essence is still attached to you somehow.” I visibly watch as Destiney pushes through and the change is spontaneous.
“Your dreams are clinging to you like a shield. I can see grays, teals, and greens swirling around you. The grays are trying to overpower the teal, but the greens will win out in the end, though it will be a long journey. So, therefore, there’s no need to mourn. He’s not gone,” the creepy, shy woman says before Sarah peeks out through her blue eyes again.
“We can help you with your connection to him if you want,” Sarah throws out with a smile.
“Umm. Yeah. I’m not sure about that. I just wanted to come down here and eat my salad,” I admit, right as my food appears. I quickly dig into it and try to ignore the warring contest between Sarah and Destiney as they both spend time stealing glances my way.
I eat in peace, but before I go, a hand reaches out and grabs my arm. “Please, don’t hesitate to reach out to me if your dreams need to be clarified,” Sarah says, reaching for my phone. She expertly puts her number in and hands it back.
“We can always strengthen your connection so you can communicate easier,” Destiny whispers and gives me a meek smile. I’m sure she meant for it to be reassuring, but it reminds me of the time I did a ritual with Lilith. I so didn’t have the best outcome with that. If it wasn’t for the reminder of that shitshow, I might have jumped at the offer. I am intrigued, but I can’t help but be a little hesitant. Who’s to say they actually know what they’re talking about?
“Okay, thanks I guess...” I trail off, looking down at the name she put in there. “Desar?”
“Yep, that’s us,” Sarah pipes up.
Nodding, I give them a small wave as I book it out of there only to pause when I come to the intersection for either going back to the dorm or outside. Taking another step toward healing, I choose to head out to the science building Zeke had once shown me where wild animals are nursed back to health. Maybe I can get out of my head if I can help someone else instead.
ChapterTwenty
ITTY BITTY BABIES
Rez
Walking around to the rear of the building I see the enclosure sticking out and check the door. It’s unlocked which I find strange, but what do I know? I’ve never been here before so I don’t know if this is normal or not. Entering the huge enclosure, the first thing I notice is the smell. There isn’t a strong one. If anything there’s a faint lemony one that reminds me of home.
The second thing I notice is the size of the place. It’s massive, as in I can barely see the end of the room. Stalls and a few cages are lined up against the left wall with a few large water tanks in between for what I can only assume are used for aquatic animals. Glancing up, I notice that the room must be spelled because the ceiling doesn’t look this big from the outside, yet there’s a few fully grown trees dotting the room.Are those Sequoias and Redwoods?Looking closer, I can barely see something hopping from limb to limb with the natural light filtering in from the walls and ceiling of windows.
“Oh! Hello. You must be Nerezza,” a tiny voice calls out, having me looking around like a madwoman.
Great. Now I’m hearing shit.
“Up here,” the feminine voice laughs, I glance up and see a figure swirling as they float down out of the tree boughs in a white mist.
“Y–yeah. How did you know?” I ask, tracking her movements until she lands in front of me. Her slight frame almost blends in with the tan babydoll dress she’s wearing. Her long, curly purple hair matches her eyes and her smile is intoxicating.
She laughs as she waves the last of the mist away from her body. “Dr. Steinbeck mentioned he was going to try and coerce you into coming. I’m Taffy,” she says, extending her arm out for a handshake.
Giving her a firm handshake, I smile back and try to fight off the sudden nerves that she was expecting me. “Nerezza, but you can call me Rez.”
“Rez! I like that. So have you ever worked with animals before?” she asks and turns around beckoning me to follow.
“Yeah. Some. My mother and I used to take care of any injured wildlife that we found and nursed them back to health. She always told me I had a knack for it.” I try to smile but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes. I came here to get away from my emotions, not wallow in them as the past rears up, reminding me of Mom and Lynx.
Taffy gives me a smile over her shoulder. “She was right, you do have an affinity for it.”
“Wait. I do? How do you know?” I ask, reaching out to stop her.
