The Sandman's Daughter

Sixteen

Cassie stepped forward, encouraged by Riley's words. Sam had brought him back. Maybe they all could be brought back.

"No," the Taker hissed, grabbing Cassie's arm. "This small thing of hope is nothing, little Betweener. One moment of clarity isn't enough to save anyone. It's especially not enough to keep my pet from taking your friend."

Cassie's head dropped even as she tried to pull away from his iron grip. He was right. There was nothing they could do to save themselves now. They'd be just two more victims lost to some unnamable illness.

"Please," Riley begged as he watched the creature move closer to the girl before him. "Sam, I love you. I can't lose you to that thing. Run!"

"There is no place to run," the Taker bellowed as his fingers dug harder into Cassie's arm. "There is only here and I already have you both."

Sam felt hot breath on the back of her neck, but held Riley's gaze, never wavering from the look in his eyes. If these were her last few minutes, she wanted to hold onto the love contained in his eyes. Suddenly she jerked, her body becoming rigid as her hands flew to her chest. She doubled over in pain, her hands clawing at something unseen.

"Sam!" Riley yelled as he slammed his fists against the glass.

Cassie watched in amazement as the bald thing stopped, tilting his head as he tried to work out what was wrong with the Sam. "What are you doing to her?" she demanded as she jerked away from the hideous man holding her arm.

"It's not me," he hissed, pulling Cassie back even harder.

Sam's eyes went wide and she looked up, a curious expression on her face. "Cassie," she said softly. And just like that, she was gone, nothing but empty space remaining where she had been.

"No!" the Taker growled. "That's not possible."

Relief trickled into Cassie's chest as she realized what had happened. "Someone woke her up," she said, turning a smug grin to her captor. "She safe from you and your pet now."

The man pulled his face even with Cassie's, venom pooling in his eyes as his foul breath came out in rasping pants against her skin. "She can't stay awake forever," he warned, his smooth voice deep with hatred. "She will be mine eventually. You all will."

Fire erupted in Cassie's chest as weight slammed down into her. She clawed frantically at herself, trying to rid the invisible vice crushing her lungs. Her heart gave a loud thump and relief poured through her. Phantom voices swirled, calling out her name.

The waking world edged in on her. She could feel it. It would be only a matter of seconds before she followed Sam back into the real world. "We won't be yours today," she told the Taker with as much defiance as she could. "Catch you next time." His fingers on her arm became less solid and the hallway blurred around her, becoming nothing but a white smear on black.

Cold tile bit into Cassie's back and she sat up, looking around in a daze. People stared back at her, bewilderment and concern written all over their faces. "Sam?" she said, her thoughts immediately going to her best friend. She'd disappeared before she had. Had she returned as well?

"I'm here, Cass," she said softly from the floor on the other side of Riley's bed. "We're both okay."

"What happened?" Cassie asked, straightening her shirt and standing up.

"Easy," a man in a white coat said as Riley's nurse slid an arm around her shoulders. "Take it slow. You and your friend's heart stopped. Mr. Jones' friend found you both lying on the floor. We resuscitated you, but I'm not sure if moving you is such a good idea." The doctor turned and looked at Sam. "With everything going on, you both should be admitted so we can run some tests."

"No," Cassie said, pulling away from the nurse. "We're good." She stepped closer to the bed as Sam stood. "We'll only be a few minutes longer. We're not going anywhere until we say our goodbyes."

The doctor stood there a moment longer. "You at least need an examination before you leave. Come find me when you're done. We'll set something up for you." He glanced over at Sam. "For both of you." He turned and left, the rest of the hospital staff following him out as well.

She took a deep breath, realizing how close that had been. If the doctors hadn't intervened when they did, they'd both be locked in glass cells right along with the rest of their friends.

Sam's eyes wandered to Riley, his slumbering body still prone in the bed. "We didn't save Riley, though," she said as a single tear slipped down her cheek.

No, they never even stood a chance. How in the world was she supposed to save anyone?

A warm hand closed over her shoulder, the grip gentle but firm. "Cassie?"

Cassie turned at the sound of that voice, complete shock overwhelming her. "Mike? What are you doing here?"

"I snuck in to see Riley," he said absently as his eyes scanned hers urgently, his face drawn and pale. "Cassie, are you okay?"

She nodded slowly, barely remembering how to breathe. Mike had never been this close before. "I think so."

"What happened to you? Neither one of you were breathing when I came in." He sighed as he gently tucked a strand of hair behind Cassie's ear. "You scared the hell out of me, Cass," he admitted softly.

Cassie bit her lip, frozen as she stared into Mike's eyes. "I did?"

He nodded as his palm slipped down against her cheek, hesitantly brushing against her skin. "You most certainly did."

She swallowed thickly. "I...I'm sorry."

He shook his head, his hand running down her arm. "What the hell is going on around here?" he said, his voice heavy with frustration.

Sam sat back down in the chair next to the bed, sliding her hand into Riley's. "You wouldn't believe us if we told you, Mike-"

A shuddered breath halted her words, all eyes going instantly to the boy in the bed. His eyelids fluttered before suddenly popping open. Another deep breath poured out of him as he sat up, eyes darting around the room until they found Sam. "Run, Sam," Riley croaked, his voice thick from neglect. "Run. He wants you. He wants you both. Please, baby. Don't let him take you back." His eyed closed just as quickly as they opened and he dropped back to the bed, nothing but a slumbering body once more.

The three of them stood there in shock, the meaning of what they witnessed different to each one, but still as equally disturbing.

Mike blinked, trying to focus his mind as he turned back to Cassie. "I think it's time you tell me what you know."