All the Shiny Things: A Kate Reid Novel (Kate Reid Series Book 1) by Robin Mahle

doing?”
    “I have to say, Dr. Reyes, I haven’t slept this well in some time. I really believe the hypnosis worked. In fact, Spencer had to convince me to come here tonight.”
    “I’m thrilled you’ve had such positive results from our first session. But I think you’ll benefit from a few more. Let’s see how we do tonight. Go ahead a lie down on the couch and we’ll get started.”
    Katie’s familiarity with the process and the sound of Dr. Reyes’ voice allowed her to relax and leave behind the apprehension she felt on arrival. She began feeling the same sinking sensation as the first time and felt herself drift into a place of her own choosing. As before, the doctor’s voice grew distant as her body sank deeper into the sofa.
    From the moment she entered the dreamlike state, something strange began to happen; something that felt familiar and frightening. Her mind took her to that dark place; cold and damp. She was afraid, crouching on the forest floor, behind a tree. The scarf tied around her neck was wet with tears. She remembered pulling it off her eyes so she could see to run from him.
    “Katie, where are you? Are you safe?” asked the doctor.
    Katie shook her head. “I’m lost. I don’t know how to get out of here. He’s going to find me.” Her voice was small and fragile. “Where’s my mommy and daddy?”
    “Where are you, Katie?” the doctor asked again.
    “I don’t know. I just ran away from him. There are a lot of trees and it’s dirty on the ground. My feet hurt, but I have to run before he finds me.”
    “Before who finds you?” Dr. Reyes asked.
    “The man who took me. He’s looking for me and I have to go. Oh no, he’s coming.” Katie began to scream, her arms flailed and her legs thrashed.
    Dr. Reyes worked quickly to bring her back. “Kate, you’re safe. Wake up now.”
    Katie could hear the doctor somewhere off in the distance telling her she was safe, but all she could see were branches brushing past her, scratching her as she ran. The sky began to transform along with the entire forest. Soon, she was back on the sofa and could hear Dr. Reyes clearly.
    Katie opened her eyes and slowly sat upright. Tears streamed down her face. “Oh my God. Dr. Reyes, somebody took me when I was a kid.”
    “Calm down, Katie, that might be a bit of a leap. This could simply be a manifestation of some other stressor. I can’t explain, though, why it is that when you reach that suggestible state where I would normally continue with the relaxation techniques, you drift off into these nightmares. It’s like they’re right there at the surface, waiting to be exposed.”
    “Do you think it’s possible that something could have happened when I was young? Some traumatic event?”
    “I suppose it’s a possibility, but that is something you should discuss with your parents first. I don’t think you should jump to any conclusions before speaking to them. At least then, you could rule it out and we could continue to look for the source of the stress that’s bringing on these frightening dreams.”
    “It was more than a dream, Dr. Reyes. It has to be.”

 
     
     
     
    4
     
     
     
    S pencer sat on the edge of their bed, listening as Katie retold the events that occurred at Dr. Reyes’ office.
    “You think you may have been kidnapped as a child? Don’t you think you’d remember something like that or at least that your parents would have said something to you?” Spencer appeared tense, almost as frightened as she had been.
    “Look, I know this must sound crazy, but you don’t know what it felt like inside that dream. I’m telling you, it was more like a memory, Spencer. I don’t know how else to describe it. When I woke up, I swear my arms were still stinging from the branches that scratched me.”
    “I’m sorry, Katie, but it does seem a little bit out there. What did the doctor say?”
    “She said I should talk to my parents so I could ‘rule it out’ and continue with the