Page 102 of Hostile Saint

The dog went quiet.

My sandpaper eyes were slow to open.

Vice had no pity. “Do you want Dagger to come in here and give you a coffee enema?”

My body sat up. “Nope. I’m up.” Charlie army crawled across the mattress to me to offer some licks. “Hey, pup. Hey! You’re a pup, too!” Scratching behind his ears, I peered over to notice Lynx’s bed was already empty.

Vice was leaning in the partially opened door. He pointed to a dresser near the end of my bed. “There’s your clothes and shit. There’s also a new toothbrush. They couldn’t find yours.” He went to duck out of the room until he caught my guilty look. “What did you do?”

I reached to my jeans on the floor and retrieved my toothbrush. Holding it up, I shrugged apologetically.

Vice sighed, then came into the room, flipping Charlie off when he growled. He sat across from me on Lynx’s bed. “Hey… I know what it’s like to have to fight for the little things. Maybe not to your extent, but I get it.” He rested his hands on his knees. “It may take a while for you to get accustomed to having what you want or need, and that’s okay. Just try and catch yourself if doubting you deserve things like a new toothbrush. You can have forty if you want.” My face lit up, causing Vice to smile. “And three hundred tubes of toothpaste. Who are we to judge?”

Trying to be brave about something so simple, I set the toothbrush on the nightstand, telling myself I could have a hundred if I wanted them. It’s bewildering what we can treasure after such abuse. “Vice, I think I just dreamt of a place I have been before.”

He sucked on his lips as he stared at me. “Just now?”

I nodded.

“No wonder that fucker was growling.” He eyed Charlie.

“What do you mean?”

“Dogs can be very aware of things. Sensed your nightmare and possibly my nervousness with what the boys and I just heard.”

“Heard?”

He exhaled. “Yeah. Doc had Lacey under again this morning.” He shook his head as if he knew I was going to blow his mind. “Tell me what you dreamt of.”

“There was a hallway, with many rooms. Kids of all ages. And one girl that I didn’t see anywhere, but she was screaming. I think she was a pregnant girl they called Missy.”

Vice watched Charlie lay his head in my lap. “Recognize where you were by chance?”

“No. Sorry.”

Vice seemed to age right in front of me. “Lacey, uh, spoke of a place with hallways. Lots of kids. And,” he looked to the wooden floors, “screams.” He ran a palm down his face. “Said that, before getting there, she had been in a car for a ‘real’ long time.”

I nodded, petting Charlie. “That feels true.”

“She said the place started with an M.”

I jolted, suddenly seeing a green sign on a side of a road… “Missouri.”

He blinked. “Of course. We kept rattling our brains, and there it was, right next to Kansas.”

“I wish I had more intel for you.”

“That’s okay. Maybe more memories will come.”

“Am I a coward to not want more nightmares?”

“Kid, if yes, then I am a downright pussy. Your memories scare the shit out of me.”

I smiled. “Point taken.”

Vice stood. “Alright. Scrub your butt then come get some chow. I’ll let them know about all this.”

Following Charlie down the open stairs, the big windows showed a picturesque view of the vast lands in front of the lavish home. But, more importantly, I smelled food. Once to the bottom floor, Charlie took off to the left and ran out a swinging doggy door. I followed my nose.