Nightmares

Nightmares

               The darkened hall seemed to have no end. Lungs burning, legs aching, and there is only the sound of silence. I tried to scream, but no sound escaped my mouth.

               “You can’t keep running forever!” That voice made my blood run cold and was the only thing that was able to break through the chilling silence. I turned around to see a man cloaked in black, his hood covering his shadowed face, and bloody letters dripped off his chest.

               “You’re next!” It read. I was paralyzed with fear. My breath caught in my throat as I watched the man slowly walk towards me. I could feel his warm breath against my cheek as he leaned down and whispered in a low, raspy voice.

               “I told you…” He said as he pulled out a strange looking dagger and placed its cold, metal tip against my chest. “You can’t run forever.” I let out a breathless scream as the dagger plunged straight into my heart.

               “NO!” I flung my blankets off, sweat dripping down my heated face. I placed a quivering hand where the dagger had been just moments ago, but there was nothing. Not even a small scratch. “A-a dream?” I said as I tried to calm my pounding heart. I fell back onto my bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin as I curled into a tight ball. I looked over at my clock with a sigh. It was three in the morning. “Perfect.” I thought to myself. “Looks like this will be another sleepless night.” I closed my eyes as I covered my head with the blankets. Images of the man in black flashed through my head making me tremble with fear. “It was only a dream Kate…” I wish I believed that.

Chapter One

               My alarm began to scream just as I began to drift off to sleep. I threw it against the wall and pulled my blankets up over my head again, moaning with frustration.

               “Katelin Grace Matthews! Would you PLEASE get out of bed?!” My mom’s voice echoed down the hall.

               “Yeah mom! I’m already up!” I lied as I closed my eyes again.

               “Katelin!” She yelled as she barged into my room and threw my blankets off me.

               “Hey!” I said shivering as I sat up glaring at her.

               “I told you to get up. Do you really want to be late for school again?” She said as she folded her arms across her chest angrily.

               “Maybe I just don’t want to go to school, you ever think of that?” She glared coldly down at me and I sighed with defeat. I was too tired to argue with her again. “Whatever. Sorry, mom.” I said as I ran my hand through my tangled blonde hair.

               “Just get up. If you are late for school one more time, you’re grounded.” She said as she walked out of my room, taking my blankets with her. I groaned as I stood up and slammed my door shut.

               “Bryan is always late, but does he get in trouble? No.” I grumbled to myself as I looked for something to wear.

               “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I won’t be able to pick you up after school today. I’ll be working late tonight, so you’re on your own for dinner too.” My mom said through the door.

               “Can you at least give me a ride to school? I hate taking the bus.” I asked as I pulled on some jeans and a hoodie.

               “No, sorry sweetheart. You’ll just have to ride with your brother today.”

“You can’t be serious!” I opened the door and looked at her with pleading eyes. “Mom, I am begging you. Please don’t make me suffer like this. Either take me to hell or give me a quick death, just don’t make me go with my brother!”

               “Stop being dramatic Katelin. High school isn’t hell and your brother isn’t that bad.”

               “You’re right mom. I’m not being dramatic enough. He’s much worse” I dropped to the ground, hugging her leg like I was a child. “Please mom, PLEASE! I’ll do anything!”

               “Katelin! Stop this right now! You aren’t a child anymore!” She shook me off with a sigh as she turned and went down the hall. “Just get ready and be nice to your brother, okay?” I laid there on the floor, glaring up at the ceiling.

               “Which do you think would hurt more? Jumping from my window or jumping in front of a car?”

               “Why do you ask?” My older brother, Bryan, said as he stood over me. “Nothing is going to help you look better. You MUST be adopted. There is no way I can be related to something so hideous.” He said with a smug look on his face.

               “Really? Since when are demons so gorgeous?”

               “Have you seen what they consider demons today?” He said as he pushed his hair back and tried to look all cool and distant. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. My brother and I rarely got along, but there were just a few moments when we didn’t want to kill each other.

               “Sorry for calling you a demon.” I said sighing as I stood up. “Mind giving me a ride to school?” I asked as I grabbed my brush and began the fight with my hair.

               “Dunno. What’s in it for me?” He asked, raising his eyebrow.

               “Dude, can’t you just be nice for once and give me a ride?”

               “I gave you a ride to the movies last week, a ride to school two days ago, and I gave you a ride home too. I have done my good deeds for the year.”

               “Ugh!” I groaned, slamming my bedroom door again.

               “Do my chores for a week and I may consider giving you a ride there and a ride home.” He said opening my door just a crack.

               “Fine! Whatever!” This is not one of those days where we get along.

               My brother managed to get me to school only seconds before they would lock the doors.

               “That was yet another close call Miss. Matthews. I hope you know what will happen if you’re late one more time.” My principal, Mr. Shoeman, said as I tried to sneak past him.

               “Yes sir…I am aware.” I said quietly as I looked down at the floor. “I’ll be sent to detention.”

               “Good. I am glad you remembered. Now, get to class before the bell.”

               “Yes sir.” I quickly walked away and put my headphones on. I tried to keep my head down as I made my way through the crowd of teens.

               “Hey Kate, wait up!” I paused and smiled as I looked back to see my best friend, James.

               “Hey, what’s up?” I asked when he caught up with me.

               “Oh nothing. Just wondering what jerk chose to start school at such an ungodly hour.” He sighed as stretched his arms above his head.

               “Pulled another all-nighter, huh?” I asked with a small laugh. “That’s what you get for waiting until the last second to do all your work.”

               “Hey, not all of us are as good at math as you are. Besides, I was busy yesterday.”

               “Doing what? Sleeping, playing video games, eating everything in your house?”

“Haha, very funny.” He rolled his eyes. “If you must know, I was watching my nephew. That little pain kept me from doing anything. It’s like if I took my eyes off him, he’d have something up his nose or almost up his…”

“Alright!” I cut him off before he could finish that sentence. He smiled like an idiot and laughed.

“So, you look half dead. You get any sleep last night?” He said as he looked at the dark circles under my eyes.

“Only a little. Just had a very realistic nightmare that kinda set me on edge.”

“Was it the one where you’re naked in the boy’s locker room, or the one where everyone in the world turns into your brother?” We both shuttered then laughed.

“Nothing like that, but both are equally terrifying. Nah, more like this creepy guy in black. He kept chasing me for some reason. I dunno, I probably just watched one too many horror movies.” I stopped talking when I noticed he was staring at me. “What…?”

“You had that dream too?” He asked. His voice trembled slightly; I could see the fear in his eyes.

“What do you mean too?” I looked at him confused.

“A man in black chasing you…bloody letters dripping off his cloak? You really had that dream?”

“Yes...” I could feel my heart start to beat just a little faster now, and NOT in a good way.

“Did he have a weird looking dagger?” I turned pale, nodding slowly. This was getting too freaky. Could we really have had the same dream? James’s face mirrored mine. He quickly pulled me into an empty classroom and closed the door behind us.

“What are you doing?” I asked as he pulled out a notebook and began scribbling something down.

“This. Is this what the dagger looked like?” He showed me the drawing he just made. I took a step back, grabbing a desk to steady myself. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He said quietly. “Did he place the dagger right about here?” He placed a hand on his chest.

               “Y-yes…” I choked out. “But it didn’t leave any kind of mark…I checked when I woke up…”

               “When I woke up, there was blood all over me. It soaked my shirt and bedsheets. I didn’t have any kind of mark, but the blood was coming from where the dagger stabbed into my chest in the dream…” My head was spinning. How could James be having the same dream as me? Why did he wake up with blood all over him? My vision began to blur, I couldn’t think straight anymore. Suddenly, my whole world went black.

               “One shall soon fall, three more will remain. You’re next…You’re next…You’re next!” I shot up fast, gasping for air. I knew that voice. It was his voice…The man from my dream. I looked around frantically. I was in that same hall again. No one was around me and everything was dark, just like before. I stood up quietly and slowly looked around. A light suddenly appeared at the other end of the hall. I could see something…no, someone, hanging in the air from a rope. I nervously walked towards the person. As I got closer, I noticed that a mask was covering their face. Blood was running off them, dripping down into a small puddle on the floor as they hung lifelessly in the air. With a trembling hand, I reached up and pulled the mask off.

               “N-no…NO!” I cried out as I fell to my knees sobbing. It was James. He was dead. His eyes were wide with fear and his mouth hung open as if he had tried to call for help.

               “Don’t worry my dear…you shall join him soon enough.” I turned to see the man behind me as he began to laugh uncontrollably. It made me sick. I stumbled to my feet and ran past James’s lifeless body. I ran as fast as I could searching for somewhere to hide. The man’s laughter echoed through the hall.

               “You really think that you can get away from me?” I refused to stop. It did not matter what he said. I was going to get away from him, I just had to. I looked over my shoulder to see where the man was, but he had disappeared. Before I could turn back around, I ran into something that knocked me to the ground. I stared up in fear at the man. He was smiling like the Cheshire Cat. As he looked at me, he erupted with the same twisted laughter as before. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his dagger that was now covered in blood. James’s blood. He towered above me holding the dagger over his head.

“I told you that you couldn’t get away from me.” He laughed as he plunged the dagger into my chest as if it were as simple as cutting a piece of paper. I cried out loudly as he repeatedly stabbed me, laughing as if it some form of game.

               “Why?” I thought to myself. “Why is this happening to me? What did I ever do to deserve this? What did James ever do?” All I could do was lay there and watch the man ripped me apart.

Chapter 2

"No! No!” I screamed as I began to fight someone off.

               “Kate! Kate open your eyes! You’re okay! It’s me! It’s James.” I opened my eyes and looked at him, tears stinging my eyes. I quickly threw my arms around him and hid my face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

               “O-oh James! I-I thought he killed you!” I choked out between sobs. “I-I saw you hanging there…so much blood, so much blood…” I heard him give a weary chuckle and felt something strange against my cheek.

               “Oh Kate…He did kill me.” I lifted my head slowly and looked at him. He was covered in blood. I covered my mouth in horror as he gave me a weak smile then crumbled to the floor, cold and lifeless.

               “JAMES!” I shot up screaming. My head was pounding, and tears blurred my vision. I suddenly felt someone’s arms around me. I tried to push away, but the person's arms only tightened around me.

               “Shh…shh Kate…” It was my brother. I was so confused. Where was I? I wiped my eyes then looked around. A hospital room? I turned to look at Bryan. He really did look terrible now.

               “W-where's James…?” I asked weakly.

               “How are you feeling?” He was avoiding my question.

               “Bryan…Where is James…?”

               “You want some water?” He asked as he reached for a pitcher beside the bed.

               “Bryan! Where is James!” I demanded as I looked at him. He looked like he was going to cry. “B-Bryan…?” Tears stung my eyes and I could hear the fear in my voice.

               “Kate…He’s gone.” He said sadly.

               “Y-you mean he went home right? He’s at home right now lazing about playing his stupid games. Tell me that’s what you mean!” I begged, my heart hammering against my chest.

               “Kate…” He looked at me with tears in his eyes, I felt the life drain from me. I fell against him as if I were puppet whose strings had been cut. He held me in his arms as I simply stared at the wall, tears streamed down my cheeks again.

               “What happened…” I asked quietly, almost too afraid to know.

               “I don’t think you want to…”

               “Bryan.” I cut him off. He sighed and ran a hand over his face.

               “You two were found in a classroom at school about a week ago. He was lying in a pool of his own blood, but no wounds could be found. He was declared dead about an hour later after the doctors tried to revive him. The police believe it was murder…” he looked down at me. “They’ll want to talk to you…” His voice trailed off and I shoved him.

               “They think I did it, don’t they?” I asked as he avoided looking me in the eyes.

               “Well…you were the only one in the room with him and you had his blood on your hands…” My eyes widened as I stared at him.

               “I didn’t do it! I did not kill James! I’d never hurt him!”

               “I know that Kate! You’ve just got to tell them what happened and then they’ll know you had nothing to do with this.”

               “But…But I don’t know what happened to him! The last thing I remember is…” My voice trailed off and I fell silent. The man’s words suddenly echoed through my head.

               “One shall soon fall, three more will remain. You’re next…You’re next…You’re next!” What did he mean? Three more remain? Did that mean three other people would die just like James? I felt sick. I pushed away from my brother and stumbled to the bathroom, throwing up once I reached the toilet. Oh gosh. What if Bryan and my mom could be two of the victims he was talking about? I felt the color drain from my face. I looked back in the room, but Bryan was gone. I stood and walked out of the bathroom, quietly looking around. I saw Bryan talking to a doctor out in the hall. This was my only chance. I grabbed my clothes off a table, quickly pulling them on. I couldn’t let them get hurt. I wouldn’t allow it. I pulled my hood over my head to hide my face as I quietly snuck out.

               I made my way out of the hospital and ran home. Thankfully, mom wasn’t there. I took the spare key from its hiding place and unlocked the door then ran up to my room. I threw some clothes in my old duffle and took the money I had been saving up. I stuffed it in my pocket and grabbed my bag before I ran out of the house. I didn’t leave a note. I didn’t know where I would go, but I knew I couldn’t tell them where I was going even if I did know. I knew they wouldn’t understand or believe me about the dreams I’ve been having. Heck, I wouldn’t believe myself either. I hid the key again and walked down the driveway. I paused for a moment, but I knew I couldn’t look back. This was for their own good. Someday I hope they will understand why I had to do this. I was going to find out what happened to James and I was going to get my revenge. All I had to do was wait for the man in black to return to my dreams.