CHAPTER NINE

She jolted awake and was soaked in her own sweat. The last time Lara had one of those nightmares was years ago. She had assumed the nightmares had stopped. 

"Are you okay," Tina dashed into Lara's room. Lara turned to Tina.

"I heard you scream. Are you okay?" Tina asked, climbing on Lara's bed and facing her with her legs crossed. They were practically sisters now. Tina was part of the Williams family. They couldn't even imagine life without Tina, especially Lara. 

Lara jumped into her arms as she sobbed. 

"What is it Lara, you are scaring me," Tina held Lara in her arms as Lara wept. 

Lara has not had those nightmares in six years. Also, this particular felt so real for her. It was like having a lucid dreams. 

After moments of crying and holding on to Tina, she finally let go to wipe her tears. 

"It's those nightmares, they are back," Lara said, flatly. 

"Since when?" Tina asked. She remembered how Lara told her about having dreams of strange creatures but that was years ago and she hadn't hear her speak of the nightmares for a very long time. 

"It started again two days ago," she confessed. 

"You still don't think we should tell Aunty?" Tina asked. That was what she called Mrs Williams. Mrs Williams has taken Tina as her daughter and Tina considered her to be an aunt. 

"No, it's fine. I believe it's going to stop soon. I don't want to worry her."

"Alright, that's fine. Would you like to go to sleep now?" Tina looked up at the clock in the wall. It showed that it was 3:00am.

"Can you sleep with me tonight?" Lara asked as she opened up the blanket and made room for Tina. Tina crawled next to Lara and they both slept off. 

Surprisingly Lara woke up in good spirits the next day. 

"How are you feeling today?" Tina walked into the room with a tray of breakfast as Lara yawned and sat up, she felt so relaxed and well rested. 

"When will you stop spoiling me like this? I feel pampered," Lara smiled as she settles for breakfast in bed. 

"You will need to hurry up and freshen up, your friends are downstairs."

"Already? I thought they said 2:00pm?" 

"Have you checked the time sweetie?" Tina asked, cocking her eyebrows. 

Lara looked up at the wall clock, "No way! How could I have slept till 2:32?."

"I think that should answer the question of why I brought you breakfast. Because it's lunch time and it didn't seem like you had plans to wake up."

"I can't remember the last time I slept so well. I think it's because you were with me. Don't you think you should start sleeping here henceforth?" Lara wiggle her eyebrows at Tina. 

"Finish up your food dumbass. I have prepared your bath and you can pick out your clothes yourself." Tina was used to taking care of Lara and the rest of the family. She loved doing it. It made her happy and she also felt loved by the family. The Williams' had made her part of them. Over the course of four years, they have provided educational sponsorship for her, two of her siblings, and even one of her cousins. Tina graduated from the University last year but insisted that she wanted to keep working for the Williams', so they had no choice than to allow her. Tina's mother was provided with a huge amount of money to start her own business. 

"Won't you help me pick out some clothes? You know how difficult it is for me with clothes," Lara whined, while she devoured her pancakes. She was a sucker for pancakes. Pancakes made her happy and she was always wondering how some people didn't like pancakes. Do those people even exist? What gives them pleasure?

"Where are you girls even going to?" Tina asked as she searched through Lara's closet. 

"They said we should hang out with some of their friends. Why don't you come along? You always come up with one excuse or the other not to come with us."

"Nah. You know I am not a social person. Go and have fun. How about this red dress? It always looks amazing on you," Tina suggested, pulling out a red, stretchy and sleeveless dress. 

"No please, I don't want to be the center of attention. Something decent..or do you think I should just cancel?"

"No way! They are already here, waiting for you to show up."

"Fine," Lara pouted. Sometimes she wondered why she was friends with Nancy and Bella. They were wealthy, pampered women who had been friends since their university days. Lara stayed in contact with them primarily because she struggled to make friends and didn't have a strong social circle.

Tina presented a modest, plain black gown, typically designed to end just above Lara's knees. "How about this?" Tina suggested, displaying the dress to Lara.

"I think this will work," Lara nodded. 

***************

"Well, hello. You definitely took your time," Bella welcomed Lara into the living room they have been sitting, waiting for her to show up. 

Lara scanned through the room and noticed some new faces. "I am so sorry, girls. I overslept. What have I missed?" She asked, gesturing at the unfamiliar ladies.

"Oh yes, Lara meet Betty and Lizzy. We met them at a birthday party last week. And girls, this is Lara." 

Lara had a confused expression on her face. She was wondering why they would invite people they met at a party to hang out with them. That was so random. But she needed to act nice so she said with a small smile, "Oh, you are welcome."

"Thank you for having us. You have a beautiful home," Betty complimented, looking around the mansion. 

"Thank you," Lara turned to her and gave her a smile. 

"I love your hair," Lizzy stood up to touch Lara's hair. 

Now this was getting weird. Where exactly did Bella and Nancy meet these girls. Lara did not say a word but instead called out, "Nancy, can I have a talk with you please?"

Nancy was the reasonable one amongst her two friends, so Lara thought she would be in the best position to give an explanation to all these.

 "She seems reclusive," Lara heard one of the girls whispered, they sure didn't know how to do that because she heard her clearly but ignored her and walked out. 

Nancy excused herself from the girls and joined Lara in the kitchen. 

"What exactly is going on?"