His warnings

Cold. Sweat. Running. My lungs are burning as I sprint through the field. My feet and legs are moving but I am going nowhere. I can feel his presence. He is out there looking for me. He is a natural predator, and he would have me as his prey. The fear in my heart made my body ache and pushed me to move faster. I looked around to find myself in the woods. Where just a second ago had been tall grasses, there are now trees and leaves. An animal growled and nipped at my feet. I ran faster. As I broke through the trees and into the clearing I felt free. I felt relief. Then I saw him. His dark eyes and raven hair. He stared into my soul and I felt searing pain. The tearing of flesh and the feeling of teeth ripping apart my body. The screams echoed through my body and out my throat. 

I woke up screaming in pain. The nightmare. It had been occurring for weeks. The terror I feel is real but I don't know why. I feel like there is someone behind these dreams. This feeling wouldn’t leave me. I knew that the man in my dreams was stalking me. But i couldn’t worry about it. I need a shower. I stretch my legs out to relieve the cramps and put my feet on the cold floor. The chill sent a shiver through my body but I shook it off. I plodded into the bathroom and that is when the nausea hit. I grabbed the toilet bowl just in time to expel my dinner.

That is when I tasted the blood. Normally it is only a little bit but today it was bad. I got up and rinsed the taste of blood and last night's chicken out of my mouth. As I turned to cut the shower water on I caught a glimpse of a shadow in the mirror. My heart rate quickened and I felt sweat prickle on my skin. It was him. The man of my dreams. Or more like my nightmares. So I don’t know why but I felt a connection to him. He seemed... It seemed like we had a connection. He just stared. He didn’t move, he didn’t blink, he just stared with this haunting look in his eyes. a look told me he was lost. I wanted to help him, but I didn’t know what to do. This was out of my league. As I turned to face him he disappeared leaving no trace. It's like I had seen a ghost. A haunted, miserable, lost boy. I took the encounter to mean that he was after me. But I don’t even think he knew why. 

    I shook my head and stepped into the shower. The warm water caressing my body made me forget. It made me forget the boy with no name or the fact that I was dying. It made me forget the feeling of loneliness inside knowing that no one would miss me. As I let the soap run down my face all I could think about was his eyes, the way he looked at me, like I was his only hope. I could feel his dark mesmerizing eyes staring into my soul, reaching into my mind shouting for help. I knew that I could help him.

    when I stepped out of the shower I felt refreshed. But I couldn’t get the encounter out of my head. I went into the kitchen and fixed myself something else to eat. That chicken didn’t sit well. Clearly. When I walked into the kitchen I realized how much of a mess I had made trying to cook last night. Sometimes it sucks being an adult. As I started to clean up the mess I hummed. I normally hum when I am stressed. But this time it was different. This time I heard an echo. I couldn’t see those dark eyes with that lonely expression. All I could see was the outline against my pale walls. He faded from view again. And I knew it wouldn’t be the last time I saw him. 

    My phone rang as I pondered this. I picked it up to see who is calling, and thank God it was Alyssa. She always seems to call at the right time.

    ”Hey girl I’m going shopping, you coming?”

    ” Why not? I need a day out of the house. It has been crazy lately.”

    ”I’ll pick you up in 10.”

    And with that, it was over. My day was planned. Nothing left now but is there and waiting for her to show up.

    When she pulled into the driveway all I could think was thank god. I needed get out of the house. I climbed into the passenger seat and hugged her. She smiled and rolled her eyes. 

    “Get a grip girl. It’s just shopping.”

    ”You are my best friend and I will always love you for that. You got me?”

    ”what has gotten into you? What has you so freaked out?”

    ”Nothing. I’m fine. I just know that I’m not promised tomorrow and i dont want you to ever question how much you mean to me.”

    ”uh huh i am going to believe you for now but i am not letting you get away with that.”

    ”ok.”

    We rode in silence until we pulled into the mall parking lot. As we stepped out of the car I felt the breeze pass over me. The only problem with that is, there was no breeze anywhere else. I looked around for the boy I knew would be there. I caught his reflection in a shop window. Those same eyes begged me for help. As I turned to walk towards him the pain in my abdomen shot through me. But this time I knew it wasn’t going away. Black edges creeped into my vision and dots spotted in front of my eyes. And just like that I knew my time was up. I knew my death was near. And that is when I caught on. That boy didn't need help. He was trying to warn me. He didn't need me to save him. He was trying to save me. Or maybe he was he one that killed me.