Tormented: Day 9

Word Count: 54,008

Summary of Events:

Riel suffered another nightmare that got him trapped in his blankets and led to him falling out of the bed and cutting his forehead open. Esperanza managed to slip away while the boss — who introduced himself as Zeus — was sleeping to have a bath, but then he woke up and she tried to get away from him, unsuccessfully. Riel got a taxi ride home from the hospital the next morning, and then set about to renew his efforts in finding Esperanza . . . until he found out that he had a paper due in about twelve hours. Zeus finally left and Esperanza was exhausted, but the Argonauts didn't seem intent to let her rest and recover.

Excerpt of the Day:

"A lengthy dark red scar, regularly marked along its length by dark coloured stitches crossed his forehead about halfway between his eyebrow and his hairline. He was going to have a tough time explaining it away without people wanting to ask more questions than he wanted to answer.

Sighing, he undressed and showered quickly, making sure to thoroughly wash the right side of his face so as to get all of the blood off and then put his jeans on when he finished, but carried his shirt, tossed it into the laundry basket, and picked a clean one from the closet.

He went back downstairs and headed toward his office, but Father beckoned to him from the living room, so he walked over and sat down on the couch beside Father's chair.

"You had a nightmare," Father said, looking at Riel analytically.

Riel said nothing. He didn't want to relive it.

"About Estefanía," Father said.

Riel remained silent, but held his father's gaze.

"It's coming as a result of this case you insist on getting your nose into," Father said.

"I'd like to know when and how you became a dream expert," Riel said.

"You're the one who's convinced yourself that case and Estefanía's are related, when they aren't," Father said. "I'm merely offering you a suggestion of what to do if you don't want to have any more scars on your forehead that you'll have difficulty explaining."

Riel said nothing. He knew what the suggestion was, but he wasn't going to take it, not after that dream. He couldn't give up now. If he did, the dreams would only get worse, not the other way around, as Father supposed.

"Give up on this case already Gabriel," Father said. "It's not doing anything but causing you trouble. You don't need to get involved in it, and you shouldn't be involved in it either."

Riel shot up from his seat. "You're wrong."

"Oh, and how am I wrong?" Father asked.

"I need to be involved in this case," Riel replied. "I have to be involved."

"And why?" Father asked.

"Because I could never forgive myself if I didn't," Riel replied.

"That's purely because you've gotten so wrapped up in this case," Father said. "You need to let it go already."

"No!" Riel shouted. "I am not the only one who wouldn't forgive me if I didn't get involved in this case and see it through to its bitter end!"

Wheeling around on his heel, Riel stalked off before his father could offer any more protests and locked his office door behind him once he'd passed through it.

He stalked around behind his desk and sat down heavily. Reaching around behind his computer, he pressed the button to turn it on and then dug out all of the physical material he'd amassed on Estefanía and Esperanza.

They had to be found. He had to find them. At all costs he had to find them, otherwise he would be tormented by them for the rest of his life, and by the fact that he could've, he should've found them."