Culling

Part II • Chapter I

"I don't like this," Kota joined in the conversation. "Hendricks is threatening her directly now. Even if we feed her any kind of information, what if he decides that it isn't enough. Hendricks isn't known to be the most... stable. He could see anything and everything we do as a slight against him and lash out at her. You are safe, she isn't. Not until we go public."

"Relax, Mr Lee. He'll probably wait a few days before calling her back again. We have time." Owen stated, unconcerned. "I have an interview set up already for our next half-day. Do not worry. It will all work out."

☜♡☞

I was having a nice dream involving certain men with naked chests and muscular arms. Halfway through said dream, a familiar, grating voice broke me out of my reverie. "You haven't done shit yet. What are you waiting for?"

Suddenly, I was in a clearing that was reminiscent of the last time I was lost in the woods in my dreams. The moon was out, the same phase as in reality.

The first time I had met Danielle, the location was frightening. Now it was familiar, but in a way I didn't recognize. Why?

Something flashed in front of me and I squinted my eyes as Danielle's ghostly form materialized.

Surprise, surprise, she was frowning at me once again. "You are the worst detective ever." She snapped.

For someone that was a figment of my imagination, she was awfully demanding. "I'm...sorry? I've been kind of busy."

"Well, get un-busy!" She growled at me as she pointed in my direction. "You haven't even spoken to my brother yet, don't think I haven't noticed. This isn't just for my sake, you know."

I didn't recall Danielle being quite this... aggressive. Well maybe. Abrasive? Didn't that mean the same thing? She had never been the nicest person in the world, but seriously?

I thought we remembered people to be nicer than they actually were; besides, we were kids back then. Perhaps she'd have grown up to be more pleasant if she had lived? What if I was insulting her memory?

She gave me a weird look before she slapped a hand to her forehead, exasperated. "Don't tell me that you still think you are dreaming?"

Wasn't I? I cocked my head to the side as I gazed at her.

"Listen, you twat. If you were dreaming could I do this?" She waved her arm at me and a sharp pain shot through the skin of my arm, which had covered my face out of instinct. I fell backwards onto my butt.

Much like the last time I had hurt myself in my dreams, I didn't wake up.

I remained on the ground, too stunned to move, as I watched the cut on my arm bleed. It wasn't terribly deep, but it was enough to need treatment.

Oh boy, I wasn't dreaming at all, was I?

"Hurts, doesn't it?" Danielle looked down at me disdainfully. "I don't want to talk to you either, but I have no choice. Are you going to take me seriously now?"

Ok, deep breaths. This was beyond weird, but freaking out never solved anything. Besides, after everything that had happened lately, seeing ghosts in my dreams seemed to be the least weird thing of all.

Also, I had already spoken to her once before and survived, so clearly Danielle wasn't out to get me. Yet.

I needed answers. Maybe Danielle would be nice enough to give me some. Most likely not in the kindest manner, but still... I had to be nice. "I believe you. What's going on? How are you able to-"