A TRIP TO A HAUNTED CASTLE

NIGHTMARES (continued)

I woke up at 3 am in the morning from my nightmare screaming at the top of my voice. My family is already in my room, trying to comfort me. My mother hugged me tightly, to reassure me that nothing is going to happen. My dad continued to talk to me in a soothing voice, to calm me down. My brother handed me a glass of water, and I gulped it down in one go.

My sister asked, " You still have those nightmares? I thought you are doing better. What happened? " I also thought that I was doing better," I replied in a hoarse voice. My throat still hurts after so much screaming. My clothes are soaked in sweat, I don't know for how long I was screaming. Seven years and I still can't forget that horrible event, no matter how hard I try. Unconsciously, my hands trace the scar I have on my throat.

The scar is still there, though you can't see it at first. Most of it has faded anyway. My sister Roxanne said, " I am sleeping with you here today, that way I don't have to constantly worry about you." I tried to protest, but my dad supported her point. She is my younger sister, but sometimes it feels like she is the older one out of us. My elder brother Michael also decided to stay in my room for the night. My parents stayed in my room for some time, then they left. My siblings are talking about something, maybe they are talking to me, but I am too shocked to answer them. I thought that the nightmares stopped because I didn't see them for a very long time. Then why am I experiencing them now? Am I suffering from mental illness or is it a warning to me? Anything bad is going to happen to me?

I can't help but keep thinking about that horrible night. Although Charlie slashed my throat, he must not have hit the right nerve. I lost my consciousness due to loss of blood. I do not actually remember what happened next. My dad said that police tracked our location, using the last message I was able to send from my cellphone. I was lucky to get a signal there because the cell service inside the wood is very poor. They reached at the right time to stop Charlie from further hurting me. Even thinking about it made me shiver even today. Michael snapped his fingers in front of me, " Max, are you there? What are you thinking about?" Roxanne, " You are again thinking about it, isn't it? Why?" "Because I couldn't help it all the time. I was truly relieved when the nightmares stopped. But now they are coming back again", I whispered.

Michael, " Oh Max, we are sorry we didn't know. When did they start?"

Me, " A week ago."

Roxanne, "What? And you are telling us about this now?"

Me, " I am sorry. Why do you think the nightmares started again?"

Roxanne, " No idea. What do you think Michael?"

Michael, " I think that they are coming back because Charlie's execution is in two weeks. Maybe it's your subconscious acting on this information."

Me, " Since when did you become a psychiatrist Mich? You did well."

Michael " I noticed how Mary used to conduct your sessions and tried to figure out the cause of your nightmares. I tried to do so too." Maybe Michael is right because he has a point.

They arrested him and I was admitted at the hospital. I was in a coma for three weeks, and I needed a lot of blood transfusion. None of my friends can make it out alive except me and Brandon. They found Brandon in the basement, tied to a post with a metal post with metal spikes, these spikes pierced his skin whenever he tried to move. When they found him he was barely breathing and severely beaten. Brandon was also admitted, however, discharged from the hospital after a week. My brother told me even after being discharged he visited me regularly at the hospital. He felt guilty for me because it was he who convinced others to take a trip to the castle. My parents told him that it was not his fault, which of course is true. It was only Charlie's fault, not his or mine or anyone else's.

It did not take a lot of effort to charge Charlie of murder. There was a lot of evidence against him, besides, he himself confessed his crimes and plead guilty. However, the police suspected that there was an accomplice who was helping him with everything. Charlie vehemently denied that saying that he himself carried out his plan. Honestly, I did not see anyone else who was helping Charlie. But I could not refuse the idea, the police are probably right. After waking up from the coma, I could not sleep normally for days. However, with time I managed to leave the horrible memory aside and gave a statement against Charlie. Brandon and I attended his trial from the beginning, although both of our family was against it.

Charlie's father Larry King hired best lawyers to defend his son's case. I didn't expect anything else, after all, he is a successful real estate agent. He made millions by doing this business. The lawyers said that Charlie is suffering from some mental illness, and he was not thinking clearly while he was doing this. However, the judge and the jury did not listen to them and sentenced Charlie to death. Mr. King appealed against the decision and the court rejected his appeal. Although Charlie tried to kill me, I still feel bad for him. After he was my friend before he went psycho. He was a sweet person, kind of a loner. He only talked to me at first, he was very shy. He became comfortable with others later, but he still talked to me the most. He kept in touch even after we finished school. Tears welled up in my eyes thinking about the good old days and my friends.

Roxanne noticing this sighed and said " I don't think any of us could go back to sleep, at least, not right now. Let's chat for a while. So what's going on between you and Ava, Michael?"

Michael prompted, " Nothing is going on. Why do you think there is something going on?"

Roxanne replied smirking, " No reason. But you answered too quickly. It's hard to believe it."

Michael, " Yeah, whatever you say brat."

Roxanne, " Hey, don't call me brat jerk."

Michael, " Then, don't call me a jerk, brat."

I groaned, " please, not this again. I am too tired for this right now. Both of you, go back to sleep right now. "

Roxanne and Michael, " Yes Max, we are going to sleep. You try to go to sleep. Good night."

Me, " Good night, guys." I switched off the light.

However, I could not sleep at all, I kept staring at the ceiling. That night kept playing before my eyes like a movie. Before I know it, I fell fast asleep at last.