Chapter 3
3427 Words
Dreams, a place one’s soul and heart ventures out to, to escape the confines of the real world. Some say that you dream of the thing that you think of most during the day, others believe that you dream of what you truly desire, a mystical land of your choice, whether it be good or bad. Whether in the dream it is nightmares chasing you around through the night, or you’re the nightmare wickedly chasing the helpless victims that were unfortunate enough to come face to face with your demonic self.
You know what I think?
For me dreams are a defense mechanism, a way I can sink down deep into the memories of my heart I try to keep locked up, and the people that go along with it. Only for them all to be unlocked once nightfall comes, and to be forgotten at the light of dawn.
There are many types of dreams- the deadliest you ask? Lucid dreaming, good or bad it doesn’t matter, anything can happen in once dreams after all.
Unfortunately for one poor soul sleeping tonight, the dreams that would come for her would be plagued in darkness.
~~~
How many of you can remember your dreams vividly? Every moment from beginning to end? Even if you say you could, I’m positive most of it would be a blur of grey and white.
Yet the girl sitting hunched up on her bed, her knees pulled up as she hung her head low between them in defeat could remember every painful second of that dream.
Her brain replaying the same ghastly images repeatedly in her mind –
1.
She was in a dark clearing, her head held high as she walked along the dark path humming a tune softly to herself in peace. Loving the silence that surrounded her, basking in it.
No one around but herself. She didn’t know where exactly she was going, but her mind told her to keep going, don’t stop, and don’t look back. So, she did. Keeping to the same lonely path.
As the clouds drifted apart from one another, she heard it. An ear-splitting scream echoed throughout the night. She recognized that voice, it was-- before she could say the scene before her changed to black.
Slowly color returned to her, and soon as it did, she wished the darkness took her once more. The sight before her made her stomach turn, her eyes to gloss over as she looked at the assailant of all her problems.
There, no less that ten feet away from her, she could see herself, pushed up against the wall as her assailant held her up by her throat. She could feel what the other her was feeling- the pressure around her throat, she felt her breathing being cut short.
She tried to yell, move, run, do anything! No avail. She was stuck, helpless. She couldn’t do anything about the situation she was placed in, just like in the classroom.
She could hear the words the woman holding the other her up yell in her face-
“This is your fault,”
“You should’ve listened to me”
“no one is going to come save you, not now not ever!”
Then finally, the woman, at the speed of light twisted her neck around to lock eyes with her. Ann swore she felt her heart stop. She could no longer hear the hammering in her chest.
Ann watched as the woman launched the other her across the room, as she fell to her knees coughing, spluttering at a feeble attempt to regain air back in her lungs.
The woman then turned her body to face her. Still stuck, Ann begged, pleaded, cried to the gods, to let her free, for her to get up, yet as the woman advanced closer and closer to her, with each passing step Ann was sure her death was coming closer.
Once the woman was right in front of her terrified form, Ann knew then and there that she truly was alone here. No one was going to come.
The moment she made the revelation, a sound escaped her crying mouth- a single whimper passed through. So soft that even a being with heightened senses wouldn’t be able to hear. Yet the woman did – Mrs. Clayton did, and that sound unlocked something in her. A sadistic darkness that was just begging to be let free hearing the scared girls sound.
The woman hands cupped the girl’s cheeks harshly in her rough colossal hands as she leaned in to whisper in the girls’ ear.
“Save your frightened song for when there is really something wrong, don’t waste it right now, I want you to be at your best for all the things I plan to do to you.
The scene faded to black once more as the sleeping princess awoke.
2.
That was the start of Ann’s morning, what she woke up to. (I’m sure after that her days going to be great don’t you!)
The woman’s words kept playing in her head- you’re alone, no one will come, no one will save you.
She was wrong! Someone would, she knew it – there were people who cared for her, her siblings maybe, or the teachers. She cracked her brain to find an answer, she didn’t want the woman’s words to be true.
As they say - think of the devil and he shall appear and it did, not in her room more like the devil decided to cast some magic spell to pop up on her phone screen.
Ann picked up her phone, to see the devil truly had messaged her.
‘Leave your bag in your class and come directly to me- you know where to find me. Love everyone’s favorite teacher.’
With that her nightmare became a reality, she didn’t want to go, she could always run, go and hide in the forest, change her name, live in the wilderness but then she remembered why she was sticking around. Who she was fighting for – Mia.
~~~
“What did you do Blake?” Yelled Mia as she kneeled beside her fallen friend glaring daggers at the boy.
The boy in question tried to explain what happened yet Mia was not having it – okay let’s rewind a bit shall we.
~~~
Alright so let’s catch you up to speed shall we – Mia still running around like a rabbit hopping from one place to another trying to figure out what’s wrong with her friend Ann, with the help of Blake- more like trying to prove to Blake something is wrong with her. Then comes new character Fabian whom can also see the changes in Ann, and once he recounts this to Blake, it was as if Fairy godmother bibbity- boppity – boo his brain cause now he finally believes Mia. So, one thing was accomplished. Then Blake decided to stare at the sleeping girl- (like Edward to Bella) just not in a creepy manner.
Last but not least Ann’s dream, which if you remember in the last chapter gives us a hint as to why she may or may not have changed, phew okay now that, that little replay was over, lets begin with this chapter now.
3.
Blake stared down as his phone lit up, an instant smile playing on his lips seeing the name that popped up- “MyBunny” his little nickname for Mia since seventh grade.
MyBunny: Blake, I’m going to be late today, like really
His eyebrows knit together as he read the message on his phone’s canvas. ‘why couldn’t she come, her house was walking distance from the school, she can’t be that late’ he thought, then a thought struck him- what if something happened to Mia too like Ann.
Not wasting any more time, he quickly responded.
WeirdoFire: Why? You know I can just run and pick you up right? I don’t mind being a bit late.
Her reply was instantaneous.
MyBunny: Don’t worry about it, I just don’t have the energy to come to school right now, I’ll come like after break or something.
With that the ‘active’ icon by her face disappeared as Blake sank down in his chair.
Why was she being so curt with him? Distant? Did he do something to upset her? Was she in trouble? Did Fabian say something he wasn’t supposed to!
Questions swam around in his mind, as he sunk deep into his puddle of worry, holding him in its grasp like quicksand. Unable to break free.
Without warning, he sprung to his feet, his will power heightened to an unnatural rate. He was not going to sit around idly by, he was going to see her, if it came to his friends- if it came to her, he would do anything, even breaking out of Eden to fall to the pits of hell if he had to. He did just that.
He stormed out of the room, only to catch a glimpse of the Maiden they were looking for this whole time, before she disappeared behind a corner.
‘Now I could go empty handed.’ He thought.
‘Or! I could get all the answers Mia needs right now and put her mind at ease.’
After much contemplation (five seconds), he set on his path to follow the girl. His feet carried him the same way the girl had wandered off to, once he turned the corner, he had to brace himself at seeing the disheveled girl right in front of his eyes. She looked a mess, as she frantically looked back and forth as she walked on forward, she looked, so afraid. Okay there definitely was something wrong with her- won’t argue with you on that one.
He continued his quest in following her, till she stopped at the familiar burgundy room door.
‘That’s her room, oh lord what’s the i***t doing here.’
The maiden disappeared behind the closed door, as the boy stood in her place outside as he placed his ear on the door in hopes of hearing anything that could give them answers.
4.
Voices, so many voices escaped through the door all at the same time, so fast that his brain couldn’t process all of it. As he listened on, the words he could understand played back to him.
“You’ve done splendidly”
“She truly will be a diamond in the rough in my box of toys”
“My personal favorite indeed”
Then laughter ensued, lots and lots of laughter, some quiet giggles others loud cackling wails. He forced himself to keep his ear glued to the door, he could use this. As he listened on, more and more questions arose- who are these people? What are they talking about? Who all are laughing? Why in god’s name is Ann with them?
Sensing this much would be enough for now, he slowly moved away from the door, his gut telling him to get the hell out of there without stopping and act like everything was normal. Lady luck called it quits on him.
Just as he was about to run off, the door banged open and standing before him stood Ann now looking – normal. Hair in place, no frenzied look in her eyes anymore. She looked too normal.
“Hey Ann, I was just about to go, I saw you walk in there and you know I was going to ask you um- “
“Come.” Said Ann as she gripped the boy’s hand and tugged him along, her steel like grip on his arm never faltering. As the girl continued to drag the boy down the winding staircase leading to the old library.
Once inside, the girl dragged him to the furthest corner and finally freed her grip on his hand.
“Why were you following me?”
“I was just going to ask if you knew why Mia didn’t come to school today,” replied Blake. “You are very strong for such a tiny thing.” He joked, looking at his arm where a faint bruise could be seen forming.
Ann ignoring his last statement simply said, “She didn’t come to school?” shifting the weight of her body onto one leg, as she crossed her arms over her chest looking at the boy deep in thought.
Blake nodded his head. That was what he said.
“Alright so I am going to go,” said the boy as he turned on his heel, only to be pulled back and pushed onto the nearest surface in the old room, Ann looming over him.
“Ann?” he questioned, trying to push past the girl, (she truly was strong for such a little thing) the girl simply leaned in closer, he squirmed, trying to push her back with everything he had. When he took note of her face.
Though her eyes were focused on his, they didn’t hold anything in them, not anger, hatred, joy, love, regret, lust- nothing. It seemed as though they were looking past him and staring at some unseen being behind him which he couldn’t see.
“Mia’s worried about you,”
That line seemed to have taken her by surprise as she loosened her grip on the boy allowing him to successfully push her away from him and onto the ground.
And as lady luck would have it, that was the exact time Mia decided to make her grand appearance, seeing her best friend on the floor, and her – um, Blake standing there next to her as pale as a ghost,
Logic flew out the window as Mia kneeled beside her friend, questioning her on what happened.
“Mia it wasn’t me, I saw what happened.” The boy started
“What did you do Blake?” Yelled Mia as she kneeled beside her fallen friend glaring daggers at the boy.
The boy in question tried to explain what happened yet Mia was not having it as she helped her friend to her feet completely ignoring the boy.
“Mia!” the boy tried to say as he approached her but was stopped by the look that met him. He sighed in defeat – there was no way she would listen to him right now.
“I’ll go” he said, and he left the room, leaving the two girls by themselves.
5.
“Ann, Ann look at me,” pleaded the girl as she clasped both her hands on her friends’ cheeks keeping her head in place.
“Ann please,” she begged as her friend continued to stare at the ground beneath their feet. “Ann tell me what’s been going on please, I know somethings up you can trust me, you know that.”
“No! No!” The girl yelled slapping Mia’s hands from her face, gripping her raven locks in her pale hands, “I shouldn’t even be near you! Mia leave please!” The girl screamed, shaking her head frantically, her grip around her lose locks tightening.
“Ann! Stop you’re hurting yourself!” Mia said as she gripped her friends’ hands trying to uncuff them from her hair.
“No Mia,” Said Ann finally looking at her.
“You’re the one hurting me.”
~~~
The two girls stared at each other unmoving. One of them, had a world of questions to ask the other had so many things to tell. This was paining them both more than they realized. Yet none were brave enough to make the move.
One did.
Her hands stretched out circling around her back as she pulled the girl in closer in a warm hug. A hug that promised protection and comfort but most of all love. She didn’t care if her friend won’t give her answers now, she would wait till she was ready and no matter what the problem was they would get through it together.
“Its her,” said Ann, her face buried in Mia’s neck as she felt herself giving in to Mia’s kind heart.
“Who Ann?”
“The tooth fairy! Who do you think! Who are all of us scared of and hate seeing!” Sneered Ann pulling away, locking eyes with her best friend.
“Her! I knew it! The moment I saw her!”
“Wait what did she do to you?” Asked Mia- then the tears began.
Ann’s face fell as all the past nightmares hit her full force, all the threats, promises, lies everything! All came right back to her. Yet this time she wasn’t alone, Mia stood by her with every sob that raked through her, Mia comforted her through it all promising her that nothing would ever harm her again.
Once Ann calmed down she finally asked, “Will you tell me what happened now?”
Ann nodded and her story began-
6.
“Her claws dug into my skin, as she whispered every threat, she could think of to bring me down to my knees and apologize. I wasn’t having it, when she realized that wasn’t working, she used you. She swore she would make your life living hell, torture you worse than what the demons in hell would till you are left a bloody mess splattered on her classroom walls. All the ways she described torturing you, hurting you, humiliating you for her own pleasure – i was not going to let her touch you.
So, I finally dropped my cover and knelt before her. I agreed to be her puppet that meant cutting all connections with you and everyone else, I was in a second hell. Each day I had to go that dang classroom, get nagged, hit, do whatever her and all her friends would say. I was their doll to control. They had me in the palms of their hand.
All the weird experiments they conducted, using me as a vessel, everything. I hated it. A part of me died each time I set foot in that room. Each time I laid eyes on her. I did It all for you. I hoped that me ignoring you would make you hate me and that when you saw what I did to Blake you would never want to see me again and that way it would lessen the burden I felt from keeping such a big secret to myself.
Guess I was wrong huh, I can’t keep anything from you.” She finished a tight smile on her lips, as she forced a light chuckle.
~~~
Mia on the other hand was silent. Yet her loud angered voice could be heard all around the library as her eyes blazed up with fury.
“All this time you were in pain because of me! You thought this was better Ann! Keeping me in the dark!”
“No! Mia listen I did this to protect yo- “
“I don’t need your protection Ann!” She snapped, her darkened eyes glaring at her friend.
“You don’t need to protect me Ann, if we must face something, we are facing it together.” She said interlocking their fingers together.
“But what about the warnings?”
“Forget the warnings! Who cares? Tonight we are putting an end to all our troubles. But before that we will need help.”
Ann stared at the girl confused, “from who?”
Mia broke into a wide grin as she helped her friend up to her feet leading them out the library,
“Well you do owe someone else an explanation don’t you? And I owe them an apology.”
- Writer
