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I felt a sense of relief. "That's good to hear. To be honest, I was starting to get a bit anxious."
Joyce patted my shoulder. "Don't be. Trust me, after this session, you'll be feeling more relaxed than ever."
We all shared a chuckle, the tension in the room dissipating. I was ready to take on whatever Dr. Blackburn had in store, knowing that Chase and Joyce were by my side.
Joyce led us to a secret den tucked away from the bustling therapy center. The room was homey and inviting, with two plush armchairs, and an enormous recliner made extra cozy with a comfy blanket draped over it and several fluffy pillows. Dr. Blackburn was a statuesque man with kind eyes who invited Chase to sit next to me, and I relaxed in the recliner. Joyce explained the session would be recorded for future reference but would not be admissible in court.
Dr. Blackburn gave Joyce a nod, who said reassuringly, "I'll be in my office if you need anything." I didn't understand who she was speaking to or why I would need assistance, so I must have scowled. But Chase gave me an encouraging wink that everything was under control, and I relaxed.
Paying close attention, I listened as Dr. Blackburn explained how I would hear music through the headphones he handed me. "The music is peaceful. Some of the sounds aren't really music at all. You might hear the sounds of rain, a trickling stream, or a gentle breeze fluttering through the trees."
So I laid back and closed my eyes. Grasping for Chase's hand, I listened to a combination of soft sounds. Yet I still could hear Dr. Blackburn's voice saying, "Meagan, I want you to imagine yourself floating on a cloud, feeling light and weightless... Now, take a deep breath, and let go of the tension in your feet. Now, your ankles, your calves, and thighs..." I did so and felt myself get lighter and lighter as Dr. Blackburn's voice seemed farther and farther away. Then he suggested, "You're descending a long flight of stairs. Deeper and deeper you're descending... A door is far away at the bottom of those stairs. Can you see it?"
"Yes," I answered.
"Very good. I want you to keep descending slowly until you get to the door and wait there. You need to ask me before you open it."
Step by step by step. I went lower. The old stone steps had green algae growing on them, but I was careful not to slip and fall inside this weird cave whose walls seemed to be pulsing with every beat of my heart. Finally, I reached the bottom and stopped in front of a massive iron door. I asked Dr. Blackburn what I should do next, but he told me to wait. So, I waited there until he said, "You can open the door now. When you're inside, you'll be in your apartment on the day you were abducted."
When I opened the door, I was in my apartment, but it was different. The room was lit with a soft glow of candlelight and smelled like freshly cut roses. But the smell wasn't coming from any roses I could see.
"What are you experiencing," Dr. Blackburn asked.
"Someone is here.... someone I'm expecting. They smell like fresh roses, but I don't mention it to them."
"Can you see who it is? Who is the person, and where are they? Take your time... no rush. Immerse yourself in the dream. You are in a dream now... And I want you to go deeper."
I remembered the person had a woman's voice but didn't look like a woman. This person was dressed like a man, but whoever it was, they were familiar to me. I felt a cloth pressed to my face, and something smelled very strong. At the same time, I remembered I was relieved that I had my phone in the pocket of my jeans.
"I can't see anything else," I said to Dr. Blackburn.
"Rest then. Take your time. Listen to the bells."
The sounds I was listening to faded, then I heard tinkling bells. "Those are the bells on my neighbor’s cat’s collar. She was out on the balcony when I was carried away... No, I wasn't carried. I walked. Someone was helping me walk to a car. Then I cried out from the pain in my head, but I was still conscious when the person put duct tape around my ankles but not my hands. I'm in the trunk. Loud music is playing, but I can hear the tires on the road, and I feel around for the trunk release, hoping…. hoping, but nothing. Now, I feel nauseous, I'm gagging, and I'm throwing up. The pain in my head is worsening, and the car stops. I try to call Guy, but I can't tell if I did. Oh. God. My head is killing me...."
"Take a deep breath. Remember, this is just a dream. You will be fine when you wake up," Dr. Blackburn reassured me, and Chase mumbled something I didn't understand.
"Wait! Someone is struggling to get me out of the trunk. The lights are bright from a sign somewhere close. I can see the person has a gun. It's pushed against my temple, but I'm still alive. "
"Why didn't they pull the trigger?" Dr. Blackburn asks.
"They are crying, saying they're sorry. They had to do it, or their parents would be tortured and killed. Then SHE says I'm so sorry, Meagan... It's Chelsea... Oh, dear God, it's my friend Chelsea! I recognize her voice and try to call out to her, but there is another pain in my head, and I'm rolling into a ditch."
"You're doing so well. So well. Now, take a deep breath and walk out the door. Can you see the latches on that door?"
"Yes!"
"Latch every one of them tight and walk slowly up the stairs," Dr. Blackburn suggested.
"I can't. I can't breathe. The cloth is over my face again... Chase!"
The next thing I knew, Joyce was sitting beside me on the recliner, holding a syringe, and Chase's eyes were wide. Dr. Blackburn was reassuring me, fanning my face. "Phew! You went into another panic attack. But you're fine now. I gave you a sedative," Joyce said, "and the good doctor brought you out of your trance."
"Chase," I gasped. "It was Chelsea! I can't believe it. She's my best friend.... but I haven't seen her. I forgot all about her until now."
Chase looked at Joyce, and she nodded, "Go ahead and tell her —there is no better time."
I was so glad I was sedated when Chase gently explained that Chelsea was found dead in Canada. As strange as it seemed, I wasn't mad at Chelsea. Maybe it was the shot Joyce had given me, but I felt sorry for her. "Do they have any idea who was threatening Chelsea?" I asked Chase.
