Connections

Nightmare

Authors POV

A group of people are running down a path. Rain has begun to blur their vision. With each minute, the rain becomes heavier. The world around them is pitch black. The wind is burning their faces as they continue to run. Lightning strikes, lighting up the whole sky.

The group splashes through puddles as they run into the woods. The trees are swaying violently in the wind with leaves falling and scattering on the ground. Every time lightning strikes, the trees cast frightening shadows around the group. Thunder roars as the group turns to their left and runs.

Behind them circles of light flash on the ground. A different group of people are running. They notice the group ahead turn to the left. They come to a halt and remember another way around. Half of the group turns left to follow the first group, and the other half go straight forward.

A small park is at the end of the path by the woods. A single light is in the middle of it. With the dim light shining, movement is seen. There are six children hiding in different areas of the playground. They all are looking in the same direction.

The first group emerges from the woods and rushes towards the playground. The kids rush out and are each scooped up by someone. The rain falls harder as they turn to run but cannot. Guns are up and pointed straight at them. They turn to run the other way but are met by the other half of the group.

Trapped they hold the children closer to them. The group around them circle closer and hold their guns firmly. A large man comes closer and smirks.

"Well, looks like you're trapped." He says.

The man in front holds his daughter closer and looks up. "Just let the kids go. They have nothing to do with any of this."

The man laughs and walks around stopping in front of the man. He reaches to touch the girl but is quickly pushed back by another man. Guns click and point at him. The man raises his hands and steps back away from the child.

"Well, I'll tell you what. We will let the kids go. They can live. But I don't think I can give you all that same deal."

They each set down their child and hug them tightly. The man in front cups his daughters chin and pulls her head up to look at him. "Listen Meghan. I want you to take this." He pulls a baggy out of his pocket. Inside there is a small key and a folded piece of paper. "I need you to keep this safe for me. Can you do that?"

"Yes. When will you come back?" she asks quietly.

Tears fill the man's eyes as he looks at his daughter. He gives her a small smile and says, "I'm not coming back honey." She backs away with a scared expression. "You need to be strong okay. What have I always said to you?"

"Tears shouldn't fall from sadness only happiness."

"Good girl. Now take this." He hands her the baggy. "And promise me you won't open the letter until you are fourteen."

"I promise dad."

He pulls her close and hugs her tightly. "I love you. Now go with your friends. Run home and don't stop for anything."

He releases her and she runs. She follows the rest of her friends out of the park. Once she is far enough, she stops and turns to look back at her father. One of the boys she is running with grabs her hand to pull her. She pulls back and starts to head back to the park. She splashes in a puddle and blinks the raindrops away.

A gun is pointed in her father's face. Before she can run to him, she is pulled back by her friend. He pulls her with him but freezes when the gun shots finally fire.

"No!"

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Meghan's POV

I am quickly awoken by my screams as I jolt up in my bed. Tears are running down my cheeks. My hands are shaking uncontrollably as I look around my room. I take a step out of my bed and look out the window. Rain is falling fast and hard and I hear loud rumbles from the thunder.

I place my hand against the cold window and peer out. Lightning strikes and I see someone. The next flash of lightning shows no one standing there. I take a deep breath and hear my door handle turn. Slowly it opens revealing my mom. She looks at me with worried eyes.

"Are you okay?" She asks me with a calm tone.

I nod and sit on my window seat. She walks over and sits next to me. Her hand reaches forward, and she takes my hand in hers. "Was it the nightmare again?"

"It's not a nightmare." I close my eyes to hold back my tears.

"I know it's a hard day for you. And all those boys you used to hang out with but it's going to be okay."

"Every time there's a storm, I remember what happened. It's as if I'm reliving it."

My mom pulls me into a tight hug. She strokes my hair as I cry. Today is the day my father died nine years ago. My father, and my group’s parents as well.

My mom releases me and holds my head in her hands. She wipes away my tears and kisses my forehead. "Try to get some sleep. I love you."

"I love you too," I say leaning against my wall and looking back outside. I pull my knees to my chest. The rain outside starts to slow down. I lean my head against the window and close my eyes. Today is going to be hard for me and my team. I know that it will be hardest for Skylar. He lost both his parents that day, unlike the rest of us who still have one.

Skylar has never been particularly good at handling his feelings. I just hope he will be okay.

I open my eyes and see that the rain has now stopped. I am not going to be able to fall back asleep. I stand up and head to my bathroom to have a shower.

I let the water hit against my skin for a few minutes. I stand still just thinking about different things. Everything has been a little hard for me and my family ever since my dad died. It didn’t ruin us though, thank gosh. My mom really held us together.

A few weeks after my dad’s death, my mom found out she was pregnant. It was hard for her and me as well. She was working a lot and when she had my brother, I had to sort of “play mom.” My mom couldn’t risk losing her job, so she had to leave me in charge. It was hard but I wouldn’t change a thing.

I am who I am because of this.

I turn the shower off and exit. A cold breeze hits my bare body as I reach for my towel. I head into my room and continue to get ready.

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Skylar’s POV

“You have someone in mind yet?” I hear my uncle ask.

“Um, not sure,” I say.

He sets his cup down and folds his hands together. “You need to be sure Skylar. We need a test run to figure out doses.”

“I understand.”

“I don’t think you do. Get someone, bring them here, and we test them.”

“Fine. I do have someone in mind,” I say.

“Good.” He reaches for his notepad and pen. “Now, who will it be?”

“One thing first.” He looks up intrigued. “She is smart okay. She won’t come over willingly. So, here’s what I am going to do about getting her here. She is my lab partner, so I will ask her to come over so we can study together. And you invite her to stay for dinner.”

“Good strategy. I underestimated you.”

I smile and eat the rest of my breakfast. A thought won’t leave my mind.

“You’re not going to test the actual drug on her, right?” I ask.

“Would that be a problem?”

“You’re not testing her! Just use the one sample drug that won’t make her become addicted.” I threaten.

“Skylar, you can’t…”

“You are not testing her!” I interrupt him.

My Uncle holds his hands up to surrender. “Fine, fine. What’s her name?”

“Meghan,” I say.

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Meghan’s POV

“How are you doing?” Chloe Anne asks me.

“I’m okay. Just a hard day, you know?” I say.

“Yeah.” She hugs me tightly. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I finish at my locker. Once I shut it, I look around for Skylar. I hope he will be here today.

“What are you looking for?” Chloe Anne asks.

“Nothing. Let’s go to class.”

“Okay.”

We part ways and I head to Chemistry. I enter the room and see Skylar’s seat is empty. I sigh and take my seat. Seconds later the bell rings. I place my chin on the palm of my hand as Mr. Blake stands up.

“Today we aren’t going to do an experiment. I want to have a work and study day because Monday will be the first quiz,” Mr. Blake says.

Everyone moves around to study with their friends. I stay where I am.

“And this is not time for a social hour. I want you to work on and study Chemistry. No doing work for other classes either,” Mr. Blake warns us.

I pull out my Chemistry book and begin taking notes over the chapter. This is going to be a long class. Mr. Blake walks around the room. He stops when he reaches my table.

“Where’s Skylar?” Mr. Blake asks me.

“How should I know?”

He rolls his eyes and walks back to the front of the room. Just as he sits down, the door opens. I raise my head and see Skylar walk inside the room. A wave of relief washes over me. Skylar hands Mr. Blake a pass and then sits next to me.

“Hey, you miss me?” Skylar whispers.

“Yes, oh so much. How would I ever manage without your presence?” I reply sarcastically.

“Yeah, yeah. Very funny.”

I giggle.

“So, you doing okay?” Skylar asks me.

“Oh, yes. I’m okay. Just… you know,” I say.

“Yeah, I get it.”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, you want to come over tomorrow night? We can study for the quiz,” Skylar suggests.

“Really?”

“What?”

“You really want me to come over to study? And that’s all?” I ask.

“Is it so hard to believe that I actually care about my grades?”

I raise my eyebrow at him. “Okay. My mom doesn’t work Saturday’s anymore so I can come over.”

“Cool.”

We both study in silence for a while. I’m glad Skylar is at school. I know he and I aren’t the best of friends or really friends at all for that matter. And I really don’t like him that much, but I am glad. He is awful at dealing with today. It’s good he came to school because I can talk to him about it.

Well about as much as he will let me before he changes the subject.

“I’m surprised you came today,” I say.

“Me too.”

“Are you doing, okay?”

“Fine.”

“Okay. Do you want to talk about it?”

“You know my uncle will be there tomorrow when you come over,” he says changing the subject.

I roll my eyes and continue to take more notes. The bell finally rings and I get all my stuff gathered up. Just as I walk out of the room, a hand grabs my arm, and I am pulled to a stop. I turn around and look into the eyes of the last person I want to see.

I narrow my eyes and say, “What do you want?”

“I just want to talk Meghan.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” I turn to walk away, and he grabs my arm again. This time though he pushes me against the wall and pins me against it.

“I’m sorry, okay? Why can’t you forgive me! I miss you and am sorry.”

“Let me go.” I struggle to move but he tightens his grips.

“Not until you forgive me and give me another chance.”

I laugh right in his face. “Oh please. I will never give you another chance. Let me go now.”

He raises his hand, and I cower a bit. Just before his hand reaches my face, a hand grabs his arm. “You know Brett, she asked you to let her go.”

Brett is pulled off me and thrown against the wall to my right. I watch as Skylar pins him against the wall. He starts to raise his fist to punch him.

“Skylar stop!” He stops and turns to look at me. “I’m okay, really. Just let him go.”

He clenches his jaw and looks at Brett. “Fine.” He releases his grip on Brett’s shirt. “Go.”

Brett gives me a look. “We will talk eventually.” I watch as Brett walks down the hallway, until he is gone.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say.

“You looked like you needed help.”

“Well, I didn’t.” I turn to walk away.

“What, no thank you?” Skylar asks.

“I didn’t ask for your help.”

“So what? I still did it. He was going to hurt you,” Skylar says raising his voice a bit.

I look away.

“What happened between you and him?” Skylar asks me.

My eyes start to water. I refuse to let anyone see the affect Brett still has on me. Taking a deep breath, I turn and face Skylar again. “Nothing.”

“Nothing? Do you expect me to believe that? I’ve seen you shoot an arrow through a guy three times your size with no hesitation. Brett raised a hand and you cowered and froze. Something had to have happened.”

“Just drop it!” I yell.

Everyone turns and looks at us. Skylar and I are standing with almost no space between us. I take one more look at him and turn away.