Chapter Ten

Maddie

The clouds in the sky turned an eerie shade of gray, and the grass beneath my feet caught fire. I ran as fast as I could, running from the fire, but not knowing where to hide. Sweat poured down my forehead, trickling into my eyes, making them itch. My skin felt icy cold, even with the heat of the fire so close behind me. I wanted out of this place, but how? Where was I?

Maddie! My name was called, and then again, Maddie!

The voice was familiar, one I’d certainly heard before. I ran towards the voice, deeper and deeper into the darkness. The fire at my feet stopped chasing me, and suddenly the sky turned bright blue with no cloud in sight. Where was I? Where was whoever had called me?

I walked slowly through the tall green grass; it was plush and soothing to my bare feet. I was wearing my nightgown, the same one I’d put on before bed, but I wasn’t in bed anymore. This wasn’t Isaac’s guest bedroom, and it didn’t look like any place I’d ever been. Maddie!

I followed the voice, walking past a large weeping willow tree and then over a small hill. A figure, a man, stood at the bottom of the hill near a creek. He was tall, with dark hair and tanned skin. Muscles rippled from his arms and down his chest like a washboard. I stopped as he turned towards me, his dark eyes piercing through my heart and into my soul. “Rob?” I muttered. Who was Rob, and did I know him?

“Come to me; I won’t hurt you,” the man spoke.

I was scared, frozen in my spot. My heart strings were being tugged at viciously as I so wanted to run into his strong arms. He was so familiar, so inviting, but something was making me stay where I was, frozen on the hill.

He started to walk towards me, and I turned to look over my shoulder for an escape. The grass fire was back, this time higher and hotter, and headed right for me. “Run to me,” the man called out, his arms wide open to catch me and protect me.

“No,” I shouted, but didn’t move in either direction.

His eyes turned red and fiery like the grass, and he rushed towards me. When he stopped, he stood right in front of me, his eyes no longer red, and his face chiseled to perfection. “Rob?” I asked again.

He nodded, “I’m here.”

My body fell limp, falling right into his arms. I was warm there, safe there, and for a moment, I knew I knew this man. My eyes closed as he held me, squeezing me tightly and nuzzling his lips on my neck. It felt good, real good. My pussy twitched with excitement, and my nipples tingled as they pressed against his hard chest. Yes, I did know this man, but how?

My eyes opened and watched the fiery grass burning all around us in a perfect circle. It started to close in, getting closer and closer to where we stood. “We have to go,” I shouted, but he didn’t move. His squeeze around me tightened and caused me to let out a squeal from the pain. “Let me go!” I screamed.

He looked down at me, his eyes shining fire red once again. “You aren’t going anywhere,” he snarled, and then brought one hand from my waist to my neck. He gripped me hard, causing me to choke. I could feel the air being restricted and my brain growing dizzy. My hands pulled at his fingers, trying to force them to release, but he was too strong.

Everything flashed red, and then went black as I gasped for breath. He was gone, I was in my bed, and without any control, I let out a loud scream into the dark room.

“Maddie,” Isaac’s warm, but panicked, voice was music to my ears. He pushed through the bedroom door and rushed to my side. “Are you okay?” he asked, still obviously rattled.

Tears rolled down my face as I absorbed all the emotion thrown at me during the nightmare. “It was him again,” I gasped.

“Who?” he asked.

“The man from my nightmare, he was trying to hurt me again, but I know I knew him, I could feel it. I kept calling him Rob,” I rattled, still shaken by the experience that felt so real.

I looked up to Isaac, hoping to get some answers, but his face was pale and without expression. “Why do you think you know him?” he asked.

“Because, I could feel it, and I called him Rob, he answered to Rob,” I explained spastically.

“Do you know him now?” Isaac asked.

I shook my head. I didn’t. The memory, or the start of one, was gone. “Did someone try to hurt me?” I asked.

“I think this is all from the accident. Memories come back in weird ways; the doctor told us that,” he stated.

That twinge of guilt returned in my gut. Maybe I was cheating on Isaac with this man, this man named Rob who was not willing to let me go, and would go to any lengths to keep me. Was I a good person?

I stared into Isaac’s beautiful green eyes and wondered if I was capable of hurting him like that. He obviously didn’t believe me or believe that I’d been hurt, so it had to be something I kept a secret. Why else would I keep the secret about a man hurting me from my fiancé?

“I need therapy,” I blurted out, figuring someone other than Isaac might be good for me to talk to. “It’s been nearly a month, and I still haven’t remembered much,” I added.

“We can ask for a sleeping aid at your next follow-up,” he offered.

“I don’t want a fucking sleeping aid. I need to talk to someone, to figure out why I can’t remember who hurt me,” I snapped.

“Maddie, why would anyone hurt you?” he asked.

I didn’t care if he believed me or not. I knew someone hurt me, and his name was Rob. I just didn’t know why he hurt me, or who he was to me. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me. I know something happened, and I need to figure this all out,” I hissed.

“I just think you should let this all happen naturally. If you push it, the doctors said you could end up with false memories, and that would set you back even further,” he insisted.

“So, you don’t think therapy is a good idea?” I questioned, confused by his lack of encouragement.

“No, I don’t,” he stated firmly.

“And, me going to Portland, is that ever going to happen?” I snarled.

“I’m working on it,” he insisted.

“You can’t just keep me here, hold me hostage from my life,” I demanded.

“Maddie, I am only trying to do what’s best for you, to protect you,” Isaac said softly.

I wanted to believe that was true, but something didn’t feel right. Why is he trying so hard to keep me all to himself?

I couldn’t have shown up here with so little belongings that they fit in one suitcase, and where was my phone, or my wallet? I knew the cops would’ve found them by now. I was growing more and more frustrated with my situation as the days flew by. My memory wasn’t where I wanted it to be, and although I was starting to feel connected to Isaac, at times he seemed like a total stranger to me.

In the gym, I felt like I belonged, but I didn’t feel that way in this house. I still didn’t feel like I’d ever stepped foot in this house before.

“Maddie, I love you. I only want what’s best for you. I’ll take you to Portland as soon as I get work caught up, and if the doctor thinks therapy is best, then I’ll agree,” he said sweetly.

It was the first time he’d told me he loved me since the accident. My heart raced in my chest as I thought about those three little words. Did I love Isaac? I mean, I must’ve if we were engaged, but I couldn’t bring myself to utter them just yet.

“Thank you,” I said softly, avoiding returning the admiration.