Chapter 35：Bad Dreams

I sigh when I look to the kitchen and see the mess and the black shirt he left behind. I push away from the computers and walk over to clean up the mess. After I cleaned up all the blood I look back to the black shirt, unsure of what to do with it.

I decide to just wash it and let him decide what he wants to do with it. After I put it in the wash I walk to the bathroom and start a shower. I was still finding his blood on me. After a long shower, I walk out and grab some chocolate ice cream.

After making a bowl I walk back over to the computers and start a search for the few clues I've found recently. After hours of searching, I rub my eyes and say "Chip feed the fish... I'm calling it a night." Chip beeps and I hear the automatic fish feeder engage. I place my bowl in the sink and rinse it out before heading to bed.

"Alright, my sweet Maya wants pancakes so pancakes are what she'll get!" My grandfather says with a belly laugh and I find myself laughing with him. Yes, I loved his pancakes the most. "Thanks, Gramps!" I say with a smile and reach for the orange juice but stop short.

I look to the picture on the wall and in the picture are my parents with me as a baby. The picture was taken in front of the large fireplace in the study but what catches my eyes are the marking on the fireplace. I get up and walk over to the picture looking at it closely. This, these markings...

"Hey, Gramps?" I hear him "Hmmm?" From the kitchen stove and I lean in closer. "What are the markings on the fireplace in this picture?" I'm so close that my eyes hurt but sure enough... these markings are the ones I've seen on Alec... "I'm sorry my sweet Maya... I tried to keep you safe but I've failed. I'm so sorry!"

I quickly look to my Grandfather in confusion but when I see him laying in the floor holding his chest and gasping for air my heart freezes. I look to my hands and quickly drop the gun. "No, no, no I'm so sorry Gramps!" I drop to my knees and crawl to him as tears begin falling. "Please, Gramps... please don't die..." I beg again and again but it never works.

I hear the other men's laughter as they leave me holding my dying Grandfather and I scream. I quickly sit up gasping for air but when I hear the water from the fish tank and take in my surroundings I slowly start to relax. I run my hands through my slightly wet hair and I grit my teeth. I hated these dreams.

On one hand, I'm given precious time with my Grandfather but on the other... I'm left with having to relive that hellish nightmare. I sigh and push the covers off... there's no way I'm going back to sleep anytime soon so I decided to head to the gym and work out with Chip.

"Chip, let's work out," I say walking to the gym and Chip beeps in agreement. As I start warming up I think back to the dream and find myself freezing. The picture... the markings. I sit down and try my best to think back to the picture. That wasn't the only time I've seen those markings...

I try racking my brain and find myself remembering the study with all the old books... there was this really old book that had those markings on them and if I remember correctly, the black case those men took from the house had those same markings. What the hell?

I quickly stand and say "Never mind, we're going out." Chip becomes excited and says "Don't forget the contacts!" I throw my hand up as I disappear in the room. After getting dressed we head to the very place I never wanted to go back to but the markings... I need to know, especially if they had something to do with the men who killed my Grandfather.