12. Nicholas

Nicholas Pov

Nicholas couldn't stop thinking about the strange woman he met at the library that day and wished with all his heart to meet her again. He kept wondering what she looked like, even though it was for a second, he could still remember the electric jolt that came with being in contact with her.

It was like nothing he has ever felt before. Even the fragrance of her perfume from that day still lingers around him even though it was starting to fade just as much.

Nicholas was more than troubled by his heart as he kept yearning to meet her again thinking she must have clues to the reasons for his nightmare. He had a lot of questions to ask her, nightmares he stopped sharing with his family, except Estelle.

He made it a point to make it to the library every single day with hopes, he would run into her once again but a month has slipped by already, still no sign of her. It was as though she has disappeared into thin air, just like she appeared before.

Nicholas thought about giving up on ever meeting her again but found that he couldn't even if he tried. It was like going to sleep at night and hoping not to have an impossible nightmare.

His nightmares have been a part of his life since his childhood and even though he was supposed to be used to its occurrence, he still finds them disturbing ever since he met that strange woman at the library, he felt like she was the answer to all the questions but now, he wasn't so sure. But one thing was keen on his mind, if their path ever cross again, he would hold her hand to see if he could see another fragment of his nightmare.

Until then, he kept waiting and hoping.

...

After a month and some weeks of waiting, Estelle told Nicholas she has some news about the strange lady and he couldn't wait to hear all about it. He had his sibling helped him, with calling a taxi so he could meet up with Estelle at the library.

...

"So what did you find out," Nicholas asked. curiosity laced in his voice as he wait expectedly for his friend to give him something at least.

He could feel her hesitation causing him to be more impatient and wry.

Estelle sighed and settled down beside him on the chair. "I'm afraid, I don't have anything useful other than what my mother told me"

"Well? Tell me what she said already"

"Mom has a record of almost everyone who has used the library at one time or the next but this particular lady has no single record whatsoever"

Nicholas arched a brow, "You mean, she has no record?"

Estelle shook her head slightly in reply then added, "Absolute nothing. No registration number, house address, or driver's license. Just nothing"

Nicholas felt his heart sinking with disappointment. For a moment there, he had hope of finding her again but turns out it was another dead end.

A little moment of silence washed over them as he just sat there molding over the thought in his mind. It's truly another day of disappointment for him yet again.

He inhaled sharply when he felt Estelle's small hands grasping his, gently and he looked up to face her even though his eyes couldn't see her completely, he still wanted to give her his full attention.

Estelle was that force in his life he couldn't help but appreciate so much.

"I'm sorry my findings were of no use"

Nicholas gave her hand a little squeeze and a small smile in appreciation. "No, I'm happy you even went out of your way to help me. Thank you so much"

"Well, I think it's time you stop waiting for someone who might be a ghost for all we know. It will do you some good my friend so take my word for it, get her out of your mind. I mean, she is like thirty for God's sake my mum said she looked like she is in her early twenties. My point is, she might be married and not some teenager like you and me"

Estelle chuckled at her jokes but he didn't find any of it funny yet he said nothing to reply to her as he only gave her a curt nod in reply and retrieved his hand back on his lap.

"Alright then. Let's finish what we started shall we?" Estelle chirps happily as she pulled out a book titled 'nightmare wolves' and began reading it to him.

Even though Estelle's voice was loud and reading to him, the voices in his head were even louder with questions upon questions.

What if the strange woman is indeed a ghost the fact she was older. Would he still have the courage to approach and ask her questions? Her being older is no barrier to him but being a ghost? The thought made shivers rush through her spine.

Nicholas felt even more confused and troubled than ever. His only consolation was the alluring hands of sleep as it finally pulled him into a much-needed slumber. But even in his sleep, the thought of that woman hunted him as a fragment of their first meeting came plugging his dreams yet again.

The crying woman, burning house, and screaming man were still very much the same as nothing has changed. Everything was still the same and then came the stabbing, the worst part of his nightmares.

Nicholas felt that dagger being plugged into his belly yet again and at the same time pulling him out of his slumber and immediately.

He was panting, it's been fifteen years and still his heart gripped with fear at every recurring nightmare.

Suddenly, he noticed the changing aura in the air surrounding him. It was intense and extremely hot yet alluring enough to get him to search for its source.

The same heat he felt when he first encountered the strange woman, made him wonder if she was right there.

-

He felt the heat more intense like it was right in front of him. It made him wonder if someone else was watching him-probably the woman.

Nicholas held his breath in fright as he began to move his hand slowly towards the edge of the desk in the hope, it will lead him to the very source. And the closer his hand got the more intense his heart rate was picking up and then he felt it as he gasp in shock, a cold shiver running down his spine, his fingers frozen, he felt the heat becoming more intense the closer he moved his fingers.

Truly, he realize that the woman was the one sitting right there. He turned his head to the direction where the heat was intended the most.

"Who are you?" The question slipped out of his lips in a rather cold yet terrifying tone.