Inferno : Elements Series Book One

Gwen

I’m on edge the second I begin to dream. The guy from the club is standing right in front of me, in my bedroom, and I’m not wearing pants. Very slowly, and very obviously, he looks down the length of my body and back up, lingering at my cleavage. I should feel awkward. I mean, I’m standing in front of some weird guy wearing just my underwear, but he’s invaded my dream and my annoyance begins to take precedence over my embarrassment.

“What the hell? Who are you?”

“My name is Derek.” He has a swoon worthy accent, some sort of European, like British, Scottish and Irish melted together. Thankfully I’m too tired and annoyed to let this distract me.

“Is your name meant to be an explanation? Why were you outside my house and more importantly, why are you in my dream?”

Why am I even angry about this? It’s not like I’m going to get any answers, he’s an imaginary guy in my dreams.

“I’m in your dream because I want to be.”

“Because you want to be,” I feel like an idiot but what the hell right? “Care to explain a little more than that?”

“Not really.”

“Well, do yourself a favour and leave. Nothing interesting is bound to happen in my head.”

“You’re standing there in your underwear and you’re not embarrassed about it, I find that interesting.”

And like that I’m reminded that I’m practically naked from the waist down.

“You’re uncomfortable now,” he laughs. “Don’t be, you have great legs and I have to say, the shirt is fun to look at too.”

Again, I remember the Neanderthal who cut my shirt during the robbery and I go from ‘on edge’ to wanting to jump right off of it.

“Okay then. Can I wake up now? I need to wake up now.”

His expression changes; what does he have to be disappointed about? He recovers quickly though.

“Sorry if I made you uncomfortable, don’t wake up just yet. Okay?”

What? Seriously, could this get any weirder? He doesn’t sound sorry at all. I think I’ve gone off the deep end; maybe I drank more than I thought while I was out? I don’t know, but his cocky attitude and audacity are really starting to piss me off.

“Listen jack arse, I don’t know who you are but this is going too far. Are you stalking me? You were on my street and then in the club, how do you even know me? Who the hell are you and what do you want?”

Sitting down in the armchair, my armchair, my favourite reading spot, he looks at me and asks;

“Have you started using your powers yet?”

That shocks me out of my admiration. I was admiring his height, his obvious six pack revealed by his wonderfully fitted white t-shirt, his biceps, his piercing blue eyes and nice some-sort-of-European accent, and he just had to go and say something ridiculous. I laugh. Here I am thinking I’ve got a screw loose, and this guy decides to show me up in the crazy department. To his credit, he looks shocked too, whether at his stupid question or my reaction, I don’t know.

“Why are you laughing?” He scowls at me. Clearly this isn’t what he was expecting.

“Why am I laughing? A guy rocks up in my dreams, I’m in my underwear and you’re asking if I have, what, super powers? What a dream this has turned out to be.”

“You don’t know? You’re marked, Gwen. That’s how I found you. Your energy is very strong, is this the first time someone has approached you? What abilities have you developed?”

I don’t reply. How can I? He knows my name. Yes, that’s what shocked me. An impossible situation with this guy in my dream, asking me if I have ‘powers,’ and him knowing my name is what shocks me. It’s then that I hear my phone going off. I turn to look for it, but it isn’t on my beside table where I left it.

“Can you see my phone anywhere? Do you have it?“

He looks hurt for just a fraction of a second before he answers.

“No, don’t get the phone, stay here. You need to answer my ques-“

And just like that I’m awake, my phone blaring right next to my head. Looking at the caller ID I see that it’s Carmen.

“Hey, how was the club?”

“How was the club? You didn’t text me! You tell me there’s some creepy guy and you take off and you don’t text me or anything!”

“Oh crap, sorry, I completely forgot. When I got home I just collapsed on my bed. I got home fine, I think I overreacted. It probably wasn’t even the same guy.”

I’m lying. I know it’s the same guy and the bastard creeped me out so much that I dreamt about him.

“I knew it! It was just an excuse to leave. I don’t blame you. You didn’t have a good time at all. You looked miserable sitting at that booth. I’m sorry I dragged you out to a horrible club.”

“It’s fine. I’m just gunna head for a shower and probably clean up the house. Lunch tomorrow?”

“Yeah, for sure. Sushi?”

“Definitely, I’ll pick you up.”

“See you then!”