The Ember in the Storm

Chapter 1: Nightmares

Chapter 1

Yet again, I woke up screaming. I've been having recurring nightmares. They started the closer I got to my 18th birthday. All I remember when I wake up is white surrounding me and a pair of amethyst-colored eyes and so much blood. I wipe the sweat from my brow and get up to head into the bathroom for a shower.

I looked into the mirror before jumping in the shower to give myself a pep talk, "Autumn, it's just a nightmare get over it, take a shower and start your day on a positive note, you'll be 18 in 2 days." I nodded my head to affirm what I was telling myself before jumping in to take a cold shower before heading to the gym to work off the rest of the nightmare.

I'll take another shower at the gym once I'm done before heading to finish up my last semester of high school. I get dressed in jogging pants and a sports bra with a light sweatshirt over the top. I mean it is the end of October after all and mornings are kinda chilly before heading downstairs, moms in the kitchen cooking breakfast. She turns and looks at me before saying "Good morning sweetheart, another nightmare?" I just nodded my head. "Do you want some breakfast before heading to the gym?" I smiled before nodding my head and saying "Yes, please can you throw a few slices of bacon, a scrambled egg and a piece of the whole grain toast chopped up in a bowl for me? While I grab some apple slices, a cheese-stick and a Jif travel cup to go for my snack afterwards." I start grabbing my stuff as she fills up a bowl of the items I asked for and I grab my water bottle to fill up with ice and water before grabbing an electrolyte drink out of the fridge also. I walked over to her and gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek, "Thanks, mom!" Before I turned to head out the door, I heard her call after me "You're welcome sweetie, have a good day."

I started heading to the gym. It's a 10 minute walk from the house and only a 5 minute walk to school. I eat my breakfast as I walk so that I'll have the energy to get my butt kicked by my trainer Masie. He's an absolute powerhouse and has been training me since I was around 8 years old. He was only 16 when he started training me but he's always been one of the best there is. No one knows much about his past, just that he keeps to himself and says he was trained from a young age to fight.

I reached the gym and walked into the training room looking for Masie. I sit my stuff down on a chair and start walking around before feeling someone grab me around my neck. I reached behind and leaned down before flipping them over the top of me. "s**t Masie, wtf are you doing? I could have hurt you." I grimaced and reached down to help him up. He's laughing his butt off at me. " I gotta keep you on your toes somehow. You're getting pretty good at that. Before you wouldn't have been able to get me up and over your shoulder, let's start with the punching bag and sparring before we move into the ring. Let's see if you can take me down a second time today."

I'm panting and sweating profusely as we go round after round in the ring. I've yet to take him down again. What used to be only 5 minutes before I would give up has been an hour. Now my stamina has increased a lot, especially in the last week. I had tapped out for years at only being able to hold out for 45 minutes against Masie. He looks at me, "Ready to give up Autumn, you sure look tired." He taunts me laughing. I clench my fists and crouch down in an attack pose and smile at him before growling out " Nope, only getting started." I launch myself at him, faking right before veering to the left. I stick my foot out to trip him up, but as he falls he grabs me around the waist, taking me with him and pinning me below him. I struggle to get up but can't move. " Let's call it a day Autumn. You did one hell of a job today. I wouldn't want to mess with you, but you better go get ready for school." He smiles and laughs as he helps me up and pats me on my back before turning away.

I go and head to the locker room to shower and get dressed and put on makeup for school. As I finished showering and getting dressed, I put on a purple tunic-dress with black leggings and boots before pulling my red hair up in a bun and letting some of my curls hang down. I line my green eyes with bronze liner and put on a dash of golden eyeshadow before grabbing my snack to eat on the 5 minute walk to school.

I head out the door of the gym and start walking. The sun has just come out but it feels eerie, as if someone is watching me. I stopped and looked around but I saw no one around. It's probably just my imagination, especially after all the nightmares I've been having. I just shook the feeling off before I turned back around and started walking toward the school again.