Please Wake Up

"You can go home now, Miss Bryans. Just come back in a few weeks so we can check on you." The doctor said, nodding towards Olivia's mother. The twelve-year-old smiled brightly at the news as she barely had her feet on the cold floor.

The doctor soon left and Olivia's mother went to gather her daughter's clothing. Olivia had gone through surgery to help fix her scoliosis. Soon she would never have to visit the hospital every few months. Olivia was ecstatic about this fact and couldn't wait to be home.

Olivia was helped into the wheelchair and guided to their car. The car ride was peaceful with music playing in the background. Olivia looked out to the passing trees, buildings, and people.

"We're here!" Her mother exclaimed as they began rolling towards the secluded house. Olivia smiled as they stopped in the driveway.

Olivia's mother helped her daughter out of the car and slowly going towards the house. It was rather worn down due to the storms and wind and had a few pieces of siding was loose.

Olivia was helped up the stairs and into her home. She looked around and it seemed that nothing had changed. She took in the smells and had memories running through her head as she was lead to the couch. Her mother set up pillows to support Olivia's back.

Olivia held onto her mother's arms as she carefully sat down and sighed in relief once her weight was cushioned by the couch. Her mom held onto her as she leaned back to lay down. Olivia felt heavy and sunk into the couch.

"I'm going to go make supper. You call me if you need anything. Here's the remote." Her mother handed Olivia the remote and went off into the kitchen.

Olivia flicked through the channels and picked one. She could smell the scent of her mom's cooking wafting through the air. It made her stomach grumble rather loudly.

"Sounds like someone is hungry!" Her mom laughed.

Olivia was soon helped to the dining table with a pillow behind her back for support. They ate and talked about what had happened during Olivia's stay at the hospital. Soon the door opened and a voice boomed out.

"Hey! We're home!" The familiar voice of Olivia's father rung out. Olivia watched her father and brother walk into the dining room and her mom gets up to greet them.

"Sorry, we went ahead and ate. I didn't know if it would be another late shift." Olivia's mom said, kissing her husband on the cheek.

"It's fine. Got home in time to see Jake get off the bus." He replied, taking off his jacket and go into the kitchen with Jake to get some of the stew. The boys sat down and joined in the conversation.

"So...when are you going to come home earlier, hun?" Olivia's father looks up at his wife and hesitates.

"I'm not sure."

"We miss you here. Why can't you just get a diff-"

"It's not that easy, Jen." They've talked about this so many times and the frustration that has built up was finally coming out.

The rest of the meal was finished in silence and Olivia's mother went to help her daughter up and back to the couch. Jennifer Bryans stayed quiet. Olivia didn't dare to bring the subject up.

"Hey, what if we slept on the pullout together? So I'll be there if you need anything." The girl's mother suggested. Olivia nodded in response.

Later that evening, Olivia had moved off the couch as her mom prepared the pullout bed from the couch. Jennifer set it up and positioned a pillow there for Olivia to lean on once she had lied down.

They soon got settled and drifted off to sleep. Olivia soon felt the sense that she was falling. Her eyes snapped open to see gold and black mirrors surrounding her. She began panicking and hit what seemed to be the floor with a thud. She groaned in pain as she felt the seemingly warm floor beneath her.

Olivia became overwhelmed with the feeling of panic and uneasiness. She looked around frantically as she slowly stood up. She turned around slowly to see a dark looming figure. It was dark and brooding with teeth glimmering in what little light there was. It soon began moving towards her at a steady pace, almost seeming to limp. Olivia did not notice this fact though, as she took off down what seemed to be a hallway.

Reflections of herself flew passed her and she began turning corners. She soon came face to face with one of her reflections and it smiled at her. Olivia took off again after hearing the slow and steady thuds coming after her.

She soon felt dizzy and saw the room swing and sway as it seemed to shift. All of Olivia's reflections converged at a center. Olivia felt confused as she soon realized there was no floor beneath her.

Olivia jolted awake. It was still dark outside and she still felt the overwhelming sense of panic and confusion.

"Mom...mom." Olivia breathed out as she clawed behind her for her mom. She felt the clothing and heard her mother behind her.

"Mom!" Olivia increased her volume, "Mom!"

Still no answer. Olivia noticed the raising feeling of panic consumes her again. She continued clawing at her mother.

"MOM!"

A falling feeling fell over Olivia again as she began feeling tears prick her eyes. She soon hit the ground again and looked up to see the monster turn the corner and see her. Olivia yelled at it to stay away as she scooted away.

Olivia scurried back up and ran as fast as she could. The mirrored hallway twisted and turned and she could see several reflections around her running with her. Soon the reflexions came together and the floor beneath Olivia's feet disappeared once again.

Olivia clawed at her mother again, calling out for her. She screamed at pleaded with her to wake up but to no avail.

"MOMMY! PLEASE!" Olivia screamed at her mom. She fell again. Down down down she went. To the monster, her reflections, and the twisting hallways all there to greet her.

The monster. The hallways. The mirrors. The reflections. Heart pounding. Blood pumping. Falling. Screaming. All to be repeated in a seemingly never-ending cycle.

"Please...mommy...wake up." Olivia cried, tears streaming down her face. Then she fell again.

Olivia seemed to snap back instantly. She was covered in sweat. She looked down to see her covers kicked away and she breathed in sharply at a realization.

"Mom!" Olivia cried.

"What is it, Olly?" Her mom turned over to face her. Olivia bursts into a sobbing mess, clinging to her mom's pajamas. Her mother, confused, comforted Olivia to the best of her ability.

"I tried to wake you up...you wouldn't wake up." Olivia choked out. The shaking girl clung to her mother as if she was a lifeline.

"I'm here now. I'm here." Truthfully, her mother knew this couldn't be right. Olivia hadn't made a sound through the night. Jennifer Bryans had her own nightmare to deal with that night.

Both dreams felt so real to them both. Both were terrifying and frustrating. Jennifer hugged her daughter softly to not hurt her.

"It's okay...I'm here now."

Olivia hugs her back tightly before hearing a large ringing in her ear. She covers her ears and opens her eyes.

"You can go home now, Miss Bryans. Just come back in a few weeks so we can check on you."

Olivia smiled as she felt her feet barely touching the strangely warm floor.