The taste of salt

She realized she was dreaming when she looked down and saw the small child at her side. Pretty child with eyes so dark they looked like she had no iris at all.

“Hurry…She’s coming.”

“Who’s coming?”

“Mommy.”

EV tried to move but the acanthus leaf pattern in the rug had grown around her legs holding her in position. She pulled at the grasping vines, but they kept tangling themselves around her.

If this is a dream, why do I feel this?

She felt the heavy thuds before she heard them. The floor vibrating with a weight that was so much more than any human could weigh.

“Hurry…She’s coming.”

“Who’s coming?”

“Mommy.”

EV looked up and opened her mouth. Instead of a scream, salt poured out of her mouth in a steady stream to pile at her feet.


EV awoke with a start. The sheets were bound around her feet and she was shivering despite the fact that she was sweating profusely. She could hear voices in the other room. Joseph was going on and on as usual, the girl was talking as well, only EV couldn’t make out what they were saying. She heard Victor’s voice. It was calm and steady. Controlled. She took a deep breath and relaxed. Her lips tasted salty.

Why do I feel safe around him?

He was a little weird…a little obsessive. He was always looking over his shoulder. Even before the shit went down. He wasn’t like Joseph. He didn’t want to use her for some hidden agenda, some grasp at fame or fortune or whatever it was the “good doctor” was after. EV was used to guys wanting to use her. Victor looked at her differently. He was almost sad when he looked at her. Like he could see something she couldn’t. Or that he knew she was dying of some horrible disease and didn’t have the guts to tell her she was doomed.

She kicked at the sheets and finally untangled herself from their anaconda-like grip. She pulled at them and tossed them into the chair. She couldn’t seem to muster the strength to get up. You would think that after a nightmare like that, a person wouldn’t want to sleep again.

Why do I feel so tired?

She drifted off again.

A soft knock woke her up.

“EV?” It was Victor.

“Yeah?” she said groggily.

“Can I see your keys?”

She reached into her pocket and tossed them blindly at him. He caught them.

Fast hands.

She rolled back over and fell asleep as the door clicked closed behind him.