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Wake up, Ben.

Ben.

Wake up, Ben.

The apartment slowly comes into focus. I can hear rain beating outside, but it sounds muffled, like I’m hearing it through a pillow wrapped around my head.

Ben.

The voice echoes through my head. A female voice that sounds somewhat familiar. Sharp pain like lightning shoots through my head. It feels like a fishing line is being pulled from temple to temple through my brain.

“Ben. Ben. Wake up.”

The room slowly comes into focus, and I can see the ceiling fan spinning over my head along with a familiar face. The motion makes me a little woozy. Someone’s standing over me. I recognize the dark brown hair dangling from her head.

“Ruby. Hey.”

A sweet smile beams down at me from above along with a pair of sweet brown eyes.

“Fell asleep on the couch again, huh?”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, grabbing my head in my hands. Everything still feels off. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

My body feels so stiff that I can barely sit up. It feels like all my joints have fused together, and I can’t help but groan when I move. My stomach growls at me like I haven’t eaten in days.

“What are you talking about?” She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You know I don’t work on Mondays.”

“Monday?” I yell. “What do you mean Monday?”

“Monday,” Ruby says matter-of-factly. “You know. The day after Sunday? You didn’t call me yesterday, and I got worried, so I came over here to check on you.”

Another bolt of lightning shoots through my head, and I can’t keep in the yelp that escapes. This one is stronger than the last. Ben, can you hear me? I pinch the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger, bringing only temporary relief. My vision is erupting in a kaleidoscope of colors.

“Yeah, I can hear you.”

“Who are you talking to?”

“I’m talking to you. Who else would I be talking to?”

I open my eyes as the headache subsides. The flashing lights clear and the room comes into focus once again. Ruby is staring at me like I just sprouted wings from my head.

“I didn’t say anything.” Her brows raise in sympathy. “Are you okay? You’re not acting like yourself.”

“I’m fine,” I say. “Just a headache, that’s all. Everything’s just weird right now. I’m a little confused and just need to get my bearings.”

“You may want to get that checked out if it continues.” She sits next to me on the couch and runs her fingernails along my back, soothing my nerves. “Head problems aren’t anything you should ignore.”

A prickle on the back of my neck sends a shiver down my back. It’s a strange feeling, like it’s not my own. It just feels… bad. Like a feeling that someone’s watching me or following me. I don’t really understand it. It just feels wrong.

You have to get out.

I look at Ruby again, but her mouth isn’t even open. What is going on?

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks, grabbing my hand in hers.

“I’m fine,” I say, “but you’re sure it’s Monday?”

She nods her head. I look around the apartment like it’s the first time I’ve ever been in it. Everything seems to be in place and like I remember it. The auto timer on the coffee maker is brewing my fuel for the day. TV, coffee table, armchair. Everything looks normal, but something just feels off.

How did I sleep through an entire day? It doesn’t make any sense. And what’s with this feeling I’m having? And these headaches. Suddenly, a vague memory of being in some back alley, chased by two men, hovers like a fog in my mind. It was a dream I had, I guess while I was sleeping Sunday away. It felt so real at the time, but now it’s nothing more than a foggy dream, the remnants of which are still floating around in my head.

“Too real,” I murmur.

“What’s that?” Ruby asks.

“Huh? Oh, nothing. Just a weird dream I had. That’s all. You ever have one of those dreams that feels so real that you have a hard time telling the difference between dreams and reality?”

“I know what you’re talking about. It’s weird stuff. They say that dreams reveal a lot of the stuff we try to bury inside of us.”

“Tell me about it,” I say. “This one felt so real. I was—”

Before I can continue, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, and a chirp lets me know that I have a new notification. When I pull the phone from my pocket to check the notification, my eyes widen immediately. It’s not the date on my phone (which confirms that Ruby was, in fact, right), it’s the time.

“Crap,” I say. “I’m going to be late.”

I scramble around to get ready for work, throwing on a pair of jeans and a solid V-neck t-shirt that are laying on my bed. I have another headache attack that stops me momentarily in the kitchen.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ruby asks again. “I’m worried about you. You can just take today off. Go see a doctor about this.”

“I’m fine,” I say through clenched teeth as the pain fades away. “It’s just a headache. That’s all.”

I start toward the door, but Ruby stops me and turns me around, placing her hands on my shoulders.

“Hey,” she says, looking deep into my eyes. “Promise me you’ll go see a doctor if these headaches keep going?”

I nod.

“I will. But I won’t need to, I’ll be fine. I’ve got to go. Lock up when you leave?”

“Of course,” she says with a coy smile.

“Thanks. Love you.”

I give her a quick kiss and grab my jacket before heading out the door. Panic sends a jolt of adrenaline through my body. I’m going to be so late.

Ready for the next part? Continue and read “CT Scan” here.