Facing Reality

Chapter 1

PART 1

(Riley Connors)

    I threw my pillow at Sarah Parks. "Shut up!" I exclaimed. "He didn't!"

    Her face was pink with embarrassment. "He did! And, when he realized he had caught me, he just dropped me! On the crates! I can't say I'm not grateful for him catching me in the first place, but dropping me like that was just rude!"

    I dropped back onto the bed and chuckled. "I know this makes me sound like I'm in junior high, but I ship it."

    Sarah raised herself up on her elbow, glaring half-heartedly at me. "Riley Connors, I never want to hear those words leave your mouth ever again."

    I grinned at her before a yawn overtook me. "No promises," I murmured as my eyes closed. "I think... I'm falling asleep..."

    I pulled the clip out of my gun and checked it.

    Fully loaded.

    I snapped it back in place and started forward. The building was completely silent, making me wonder where everyone had gone.

    Police Chief Philips yelled at me through my headset to get out.

    I ignored him.

    With my gun at the ready, I turned a corner, clearing the rest of the hallway. I started toward one of the doors to the right.

    As soon as my hand touched the doorknob, something clicked.

    I lept sideways as the door exploded outward.

    I jerked up right, screaming. My hands fumbled for my gun, but I couldn't find it. Panic clawed at my throat. I could hear someone yelling, but I couldn't focus on the words.

    I glanced frantically around, trying to figure out how the explosion happened. My eyes landed on a girl sitting in front of me. Her lips were moving frantically, and a concerned look swept over her face.

    I blinked. I knew her.

    Slowly, my mind began to clear.

    "-just a nightmare," the girl was saying. Sarah. It was Sarah. My best friend since coming to Florida. "It's okay. You're okay."

    I reached out and clutched her hand tightly, taking comfort from the human contact. "I-I'm sorry," I whispered.

    She smiled softly at me. "It's alright. Were you dreaming of Iraq?"

    I hesitated, remembering my story. Soldier. I was supposed to be a soldier. "Yeah... yeah I was," I mumbled. I pulled my hand away from her and lay back down, curling up on my side.

    I lay awake the rest of the night.