Page 63 of The Triangle

NOW

“Christine!” Danny’s voice. His hand, shaking me as I startle awake. I don’t know where I am. I look around quickly, taking in everything like I’ve been taught to do whenever I find myself in a new place. Assessing paths of escape. Assessing points of entry. What can be used as a weapon? What can be used to my advantage?

I’m wearing a bathrobe. A nice one. I could take the belt that wraps it around me and strangle someone to death. I could abandon it in one move if someone grabbed the material and then I’d be gone. Naked and exposed, but also slick and nimble.

I’m on a huge bed. Bigger than a king. Like the robe, it’s just a little bit more extravagant than I’ve seen before. I sit up, sharply, and retreat back on the massive surface, striking at Danny out of instinct. He grabs my arms and stops me from hitting him, wraps me in a hug.

“You’re OK. It’s OK,” he says, his voice pitched low and soothing.

I breathe in and out like I just ran a sprint. Or five.

“What was it?” he asks. “What happened?”

“I dunno. I’m not sure.”

“You were kind of smiling when I walked in and then all of a sudden you started screaming.”

“I did?” I say. He nods. “I don’t… I’m not sure.”

It’s not even a lie. I really don’t know what just happened. My dream from almost seven years ago was so vivid, so lucid, so clear.

And yet… I can’t remember shit about what happened a few nights ago.

Fuck.

This whole memory loss bullshit. It’s making me edgy. I don’t know if I should feel safe, or happy, or scared and sad. But I am hyperaware. Very in the moment. Ready to react to whatever comes next.

I’m feeding myself that story, anyway. Just gonna go with it.

Right now I just need to be here with Danny and let him hold me.

Because… like… how do I even know those memories of us are real? Maybe I made them up? God, if that’s what’s happening I’m gonna be pissed.

Hell, who knows if this is even happening right now?

“Is this all real?” I ask.

“What?”

“You. Me. Alec. Us. Are we all really here together? Were you and I … together-together before? Am I in your arms right now?”

He lets out a small huff. “Feels fuckin’ real to me.”

“Does that mean it is?”

He shrugs. “I’m not a philosopher. I’m just a dude who chops cars and builds bikes and tries to do as little other damage as possible along the way. But I guess… When I walked in here you were in a reality that sure as shit seemed real to you in the moment. But, y’know, you’re in this reality now.”

He kisses me on the head and I wince because I can feel it in the stitches running down the back of my skull. How did they get there?

God damn it.

“Where’s Alec?” I ask.

“Fuckin’ knows?”

“Danny?”

“What?”