The Dream - Part 7

Dare It

Life is so strange when our heart starts to overcome the pain of past, something or the other would happen that would drag you back into the same point from where you started. Memories of past floated in my eyes, the time when I was young and played with my dad, the lullabies he used to sing for me, our field trips and glimpses of the accident that happened 8 years ago. The truck striking us, our car falling down from the bridge and struck the water of the river. I woke up suddenly as if I was drowning in the water numb and suddenly came to senses and floated to the surface. I realised I was in hospital with Steve by my side.

“Are you alright?” He asked me with concern. “Dad, my dad.....dad...” these were the only words came out from my mouth. Steve hugged me tightly and said “Everything would be fine, don’t think too much. It’s okay. It will be okay.” In the meantime Andrew entered the room and caressed my hairs. Both of them standing by my side gave me comfort. They went out for some matter while I mustered up my courage and packed my things to get started again. I was about to get out of the room when both of them opened the door. “Hey, what are you doing?” Steve said. “You should be on the bed.” Andrew said that and pushed me backwards to make me seated on the bed. “I’m fine now, so don’t worry. We need to get this sorted and for that we need to move on.” I said and caressed Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew and Steve shared a look and then again looked towards me. “Don’t worry it’s all fine. Let’s go.” I said with a smile.

We started to look into my father’s documents. Steve asked me about a hundred times about the key we found and the accident but I was unable to recall anything. We were reviewing all docs we have gathered till know. Suddenly I saw a newspaper cutting. “What? What about this?” Andrew asked. I tossed few more newspaper cuttings. Then I rushed back to my room and brought an envelope. “Did you remember, for last few weeks I was receiving unkown packages at office with newspaper cuttings. Have a look.” I took out the cuttings. “It’s about the same case.” Steve said. “Bingo, but it has more details. Articles on the victims. It would help us...” I was about to complete the sentence when Steve did that for me “to secure more evidences.”

Andrew-“I would go and secure their statements.” “And we have to search who this Magicman is and what does he actually wants?” Steve said looking at me.

We tried to trace the post and also interviewed all the reporters involved in the case but it was a dead end. While moving out of the last office, I got a call from Racheal she asked us to come over fast. We rushed to her place. “What is it? What happened?” We both asked Racheal and she would have sensed the restlessness in our voice. Maria’s mom came out, “I found this in Maria’s stuff. Would it help?” she said while handing over a small amulet to me. I was little puzzled seeing the amulet then handed it to Steve. He looked at it and smiled, “I would check the contents and then let you know.” After seeing my puzzled face he ended my curiosity, ”It’s a voice recorder.”

It had been a week, we had progress but not enough to appeal for jury trial for Maria, because as soon as we do that they would hunt us out. “So.... Now what? How are we going to proceed?” Andrew asked desperately. “If we wait more, they might find out what we are upto and we are not ready for the trial yet.” Steve added up. “Hmmm I know.” I said seriously. “So, what are you going to do?” Attorney Shin asked.

There was a door bell ring. “I will get it.” Racheal said. She was back within a 2-3minute, with an envelope. “So, this is what you did? That’s why you asked me to get that petition ready?” Racheal bursted in rage, by showing me the documents. “What is it?” Everyone was asking, while Attorney Shin took those documents from Racheal and started to read it. Steve and Andrew were looking at me curiously. “Are you out of your mind? You know what trouble you have got in?” Racheal said. “It’s okay. Don’t worry. I have thought of it a lot.” I said calmly and made her sit by side and offered her a glass of water. Andrew impatiently asked “Can anyone tell us what is going on?”

“She reopened her father’s death case and has marked herself as a witness and the prosecutor for the case which has been accepted.” Attorney Shin dismissed the suspense. All stared at me for a minute. “Hey, don’t give me that look. It’s just for buying time.” I said coolly. “Really, do you think it would buy us time?” Racheal said looking at me like a hungry tigeress. “Well actually, it’s a 3 target act.” I said. They all looked at me curiously. “We need time to find more evidences regarding Maria’s case without letting them know so...” before I could complete Steve added up “So you are going to distract them using this case.” “Correct, and we have explored every source we knew so....” again Steve completed my sentence before me “So you are going to investigate them using this case as an excuse.” “Bingo, and till now they have erased their footmarks so.” I looked at Steve this time and he gave me a strange look and completed my sentence “so you are giving them chance to leave their remarks, so if we couldn’t get any old evidences we can compel them to leave new ones for us.”

“Wow, you are really awesome Attorney Brown.” Andrew said with his mouth wide open. “Do you know how risky it is?” Racheal said with concern. “I know that’s why from today you all have to work hard for Maria and make a safe distance from me. No calls, No gatherings. If you need something or I get something we would mail. It’s a new fake id I have created. You should not get involved, never.” I said with lot of concern. “Attorney Brown, is this only thing that you did?” Steve asked with suspicion. I felt I was caught. “What!!! there is more? What else did you do?” racheal again bursted. “Well, nothing much.. that” I was hesitant to tell them but I finally told them, “I gave an article to newspaper that you can see tomorrow.” I felt the heat in the room. To calm them up I tried an useless attempt “Don’t you think I deserve a little fame.hhh..hhhh...” But seeing them more concerned I sincerely told them, “I did it for myself, for my dad. He died for a noble cause. If I could do half of what he did I would be happy. And trust me it’s the only way I have to move ahead with minimum damage. Do you think just a little commotion would stir them up. No, never instead it would cause more damage to us. Trust me it is the best choice.”

“I agree with her.” Attorney Shin supported me. “But your safety is equally important, so you would stay with me.” Attorney Shin said. “ That would not be good. They might sense it.” I said. “Well, then I have no choice. I would take your stuff to my place.” Steve said. “I told you it would be suspicious.” I said. “Why would someone suspect my finacee staying with me?” Steve said while getting up.”What?” I said little startled. “Didn’t you knew that we dated so long and last week we got engaged.” He said and blinked at others. “Correct, it would be good if you stay with your hope to be husband.” Racheal said. “But..” before I could say anything they all voted out. I had no choice but to go with Steve.

“Real adventure would start tomorrow.” Steve said while helping me set up my things in one of the rooms of his apartment. “You have a plan in mind, right. Tell me now. What are you planning to do?” He asked. “Your house is quite big than I imagined.” I tried to divert the topic. “You also know it that you cannot execute it alone. I won’t get them involve and get hurt I promise.” He said while turning me towards him. “I don’t have a plan.” I said and hesitantly continued. “But... I.... know something that might help once I confirm it. Even if I tell you, you.... you won’t believe me.” I said. Steve looked at me and raised my chin up, now I was looking at him. “Look into my eyes, do you still feel I won’t believe you.” He caressed my cheek and continued. “Tell me whatever it is. I would help you prove it. Tell me.” He said.

His words gave me strength. I finally told him “My dad is alive.” “What? What did you say?” Steve asked in shock. “I mean how did you know? Tell me how did you know? And when did you found out? Where is he?” Steve asked restlessly. “I saw him kept as an hostage, tortured badly.” I said in tears. “Where, where is he? Tell me I would rescue him immediately.” He said wiping my tears. “I don’t know.” I answered. “You said you saw him.” He was confused. I nodded in yes. “I saw him..... in my ..... dream.” I replied. He hugged me hard “Kathy I know you are having a hard time but....” I interrupted him and continued “You said you would believe me. I get these dreams where I see incidents related to my life. Till this date it was not my cleverness that got me success in all those cases. It was my dreams that showed me everything that happened. I witnessed them all in my dream.”

Steve got me a coffee and sat by my side on the dinner table. He was staring me that made me feel uncomfortable. “Stop, looking at me like that.” I said and tried to hide my face. “Sorry, but it’s still something I can’t believe.” He said. “I know, even for me it was hard to believe for the first time, but when I found the results after investigation my dreams were proven correct.” I said. “So, you are saying you saw everything in dream. Even if I believe it..” Steve was saying with a little hesitation while I interrupted him “No one would believe me.” I said with pain that was visible in my eyes. He nodded in yes. “I know, but now the only thing that is important for me is would you believe me or not.” I asked him. I knew it was hard for him to answer. He replied to comfort me, “I would.”

“Liar, don’t worry I would give you a proof before you say – I would.” I winked at him and stood up. “Proof...How?? When???” He asked in surprise.

“Well, I think in a couple of days. I already had a dream and it doesn’t seem like a past incident. Feels like would happen in a few days.” I said giving him a smirk which obviously got his nerves. I told him about the dream every single thing in detail and showed him my plan as well. “I won’t allow it. It’s too dangerous Kathy.” He said with concern. “You were the one who doubted.” I said like a kid. He was walking all around the room giving all objections he could think of, while I was following him like a kid who would follow her dad for a new toy till dad agrees. He turned to me finally grabbed me firmly “I trust you, so don’t try it.”

“Great then, I trust you too. I know you would save me. You know every single thing about the incident.” I said while comfortably hugging him. He stood amazed for a minute and finally holded me firmly, kissed me forehead and said, “But you have to promise me that you would be safe. You would not try anything stupid there.” He firmed his grip that showed his concern and his love. I slowly caressed his back to give him assurance but I was worried too. As planned we got everything ready, hidden cameras and recorders. Steve also showed me some self defence moves that I can use if I sense something dangerous. We also searched the suspected sites. We were only waiting but there was no suspicious movement yet. It was a day later when my dream came true.

I was kidnapped on my way to the grocery shop. I was not prepared for it but thanks to the Ex-cop, he was all set. He installed camera in buttons of shirt and a locator in my watch, about which he told me after he rescued me. I was taken to an old factory and was tied to a chair. I was scared but had faith that Steve would do something. Suddenly I heard a footstep that was getting more clear as if it was approaching me. It stopped at an instance and I couldn’t see anything as I was blindfolded. My blindfold was taken off. It was little dark, only few lamps were on and that too were focussing on me so I was unable to see the man standing in front of me. He was about two feet away.

“I must say you are quite brave. But don’t you think you should have used that braveness in some other way that could have benefited you?” He said in a taunting tone.

“I don’t think it could have been better than this.” I replied calmly.

“You are just like your father. Stubborn and inflexible. Don’t you have fear Kathy? I heard after your father’s death you had to go for psychological sessions because you were so terrified. Are you not afraid now?” that person asked.

“Fear, well I feared you earlier. But since I know you won’t harm me. I’m relaxed.” I said casually and laid my back on the chair.

“So confident, but why do you think I won’t harm you?” He asked.

“Well, I was also thinking about the same. Why didn’t you kill me like Serene? You just gave me a mere threat. Why didn’t you captivate me? Why? Why? Why? Strange but you let me live and do all I wanted. Why would you unless.................. it benefited you.” I said.

“Smart girl, but you made such foolish moves. I thought you would be great as your father. But....” He was saying something but I cut him off.

“But I didn’t work as you expected. Ohhh!!! so sad. I really feel bad for you, 8 years. You took 8years to reach here but still you are a puppet. Still in fear.” I said to him.

“You....” He was agitated by my words and was about hit me, when another voice came from back that stopped him and showed him something.

“How could this happen?” The first man said in anger.

“She trapped us. It’s better for us to leave now.” The second man said.

“So, you want to play with me. You would regret it.” The first man said to me.

“Well, I didn’t start it. You started and I would finish. I Promise.” I said with firm determination in voice.

“You bitch.” He said in anger and was stepping closer to me to hit me but the second man stopped him.

“She is doing this purposely, we should get out now.” The second man said.

“Your secretary is right. You should leave now. We will meet again...soon.” I said. And they all started to move away from me.

“Oh, I forgot. Say Hi to my dad” I shouted that stopped their footsteps. “Do tell my dad that I would complete his task. He should not worry at all. And treat him well.” I said.

After few seconds I heard them move again, a sound of door opening and closing. Till that time I was brave like a tigress but post they left and as I realised I was alone. I felt my heart thumping 3-4 times faster than usual. I felt like I was about to get a heart-attack because of fear. I was not even able to concentrate on untying the rope as Steve taught me. Suddenly a hand came over my shoulder, I freaked and screamed aloud.