“Yeah, a little,” Damien admitted. He swiped open his phone. “I’m talking to Aunt Monica. Following up on the Celine flipped back to Josie theory. She just answered.”
Damien read the message: I haven’t heard from her. I assumed she was busy with the move and new contracts. The last time I heard from Josie was about two weeks ago.
Damien typed back: I’ll remind her to call, she’s been really busy with those new contracts.
Monica responded in seconds: Thanks, sweetie, although I realize how busy you both are. Don’t be too hard on Josie when you remind her ;)… She hates that!
Damien answered: Haha, I know!
He pocketed his phone. “Okay, she hasn’t heard from Josie in two weeks,” he announced. “So, she is not with Aunt Monica, nor has she contacted Aunt Monica.”
“Well, that’s that then,” Gray said. “Back to square one.”
“Back to square zero is more like it. We have nothing to go on! This is so frustrating,” Damien fumed, collapsing on the couch. “How can we ever find her?”
“We found her after twenty-five years. We’ll find her now,” Gray assured him.
Damien sighed. “I guess,” he conceded.
“Let’s work on these troubling dreams you’re having, Damien,” Millie suggested.
“They aren’t troubling,” Damien countered. “It’s nice to be with Celine again. If it wasn’t for the ill-effects, I’d almost want to have them.”
Millie smiled at him. “Tell us again about them. What has been the same in each? What has been different?”
“Uh, well,” Damien began. “They all occur in the same place. And they all include Celine.”
“Those are the similarities, what are the differences?” Millie prodded.
“The amount I can see or hear.”
“What do you mean?” Millie questioned.
“The first one, I could barely make out anything. I realized I was outside, but everything was blurry. Like a haze covered my eyes. And I couldn’t hear anything. It all sounded muffled, like I was underwater. The second one, I could see things around me, but my hearing was still muffled. After a few seconds, I could hear Celine’s voice and then after I concentrated, I could see her. In the third episode, I could see Celine almost right away.”
“So, this is a recurring dream. Each time you have it, you progress a little further.”
“That seems like a fair assessment,” Damien agreed.
“The obvious answer is this is related to Celine’s disappearance. Your subconscious mind is struggling to process the anxiety and worry you are experiencing. It’s manifesting in your sleep by allowing you to see Celine.”
“That makes sense, too.”
“Can you alleviate them?” Gray queried. “The negative physical effects are taking a toll already and he’s only experienced three dreams.”
“We can try hypnosis. Let his subconscious tell us why things are manifesting this way.”
Damien gulped. “Hypnosis?” He grimaced.
“Yes,” Millie replied. “It doesn’t hurt.” She chuckled.
“Yeah, I realize that. But it seems… weird. Letting you probe around in my subconscious mind.”
Millie chuckled again. “Celine does it. There is nothing to be afraid of.”
“I guess,” Damien conceded.
“Good,” Millie answered, removing a pendant from her pocket.
“Oh, wait, here? Now?” Damien questioned.
“Why not?”
“Feels weird with an audience,” Damien answered, shrugging.
“We could leave,” Michael suggested.
“I’d prefer to stay,” Gray countered. “In case there is anything we can use to find Celine. Some idea stuck in his subconscious.”
“Good point,” Damien answered. “Okay, okay, let’s just do this.”
Millie approached him on the couch. “Sit back and relax,” she instructed.
“Wait!” Damien shouted.
“What is it now?” Gray inquired.
“You don’t suppose there’s another person lurking around in my head like Celine was in Josie’s, do you?”
“Heaven help us if there is,” Gray murmured to Alexander. Alexander snickered.
“No, I don’t imagine there is. Now, sit back and relax, Damien,” Millie answered.
Damien leaned back into the couch cushions, fidgeting a bit. He swallowed hard, adjusting himself. He sighed. “Okay, I’m ready.” Michael perched on the edge of his armchair, across from Damien. Alexander and Gray remained standing, watching from across the room.
Millie dangled the shiny pendant. “Since this is your first time under hypnosis, I’ll explain the process, then begin. I want you to concentrate on the pendant and my voice. Listen to my instructions and try to relax. All right?”
Damien nodded. “Okay,” he agreed, swallowing again.
“There’s no reason to be nervous, Damien. Just relax,” Millie urged, spinning the pendant in front of him. “Concentrate on the pendant, note how it catches the light. Listen to my voice and focus on the pendant. You can feel your body relaxing. Your limbs are getting heavy, your tension is easing. You feel sleepy, your eyes are getting heavy. Close your eyes when you feel relaxed, Damien,” Millie instructed.
Damien’s eyes blinked a few times before closing. “You are feeling more and more relaxed,” Millie said, pocketing the pendant. “I’m going to count backward from ten to one and when I reach one, you will be completely relaxed.” Millie began her slow, methodic countdown. When she reached one, she asked, “Are you relaxed, Damien?”
“Yes,” Damien murmured.
“You’ve been experiencing a recurring dream of late,” Millie began. “Are you aware of the dream to which I refer?”
“Yes.”
“Describe the dream. What do you see?”
“Trees. But not normal trees.” Damien’s brow pinched in concentration. “They are gray, there is no color. It’s so quiet here. No birds, no insects, no sounds.”
“Trees? So, you are outside. Have you seen this place before?”
“No. Never. It’s so cold here. So…” Damien’s voice trailed off.
“Continue, Damien. What else?”
Damien’s brow furrowed again. “What is it, Damien? What do you see? Is it Celine?”
His breathing increased. His body shook.
“What’s wrong with him?” Michael asked, leaping from his chair.
“I’m not sure. Damien,” Millie said, “Damien, you are safe. There is nothing to fear. Relax.”
Damien continued to gasp for air, shivering. “Damien, relax,” Millie urged.
“What’s happening, Millie?” Gray inquired.
“I’m not sure.” Millie approached Damien, feeling his pulse. “His pulse is elevated along with his breathing. He’s shivering as though he’s cold.”
“He complained about the cold before,” Gray recalled.
“Damien,” Millie called again, “Damien, can you hear us?” There was no response.
“Pull him out of it,” Gray insisted.
“Damien, I’m going to count backward from ten. When I
