Beautiful Nightmare

by Stotz, Chrystie Q.

  The screen than flashed to the latest picture of Sable and my breath caught, my heart pounding in my ears. The girl they showed had beautiful long blonde hair, waving over her shoulders, very nice hazel eyes and a dazzling smile that I had seen before.

  Sable was the girl who I had watched wither away in my dream.

  Sable Woodsley is dead.

  Jayson went home about an hour later, after a call from his father came. He sat there arguing with him about not wanting to leave me alone while Kimber and Justin were out of town, but his father just wouldn’t hear it. It was better off that way. As I explained to Jayson after he got off the phone, turning a not-so-flattering shade of red, that I had plans with Lauren to go shopping anyway.

  In true Jayson fashion, he proceeded to argue with me, like I was some little child who needed a sitter, and I said as much to him. I honestly didn’t understand why he felt like he needed to be with me every second my guardians were out of town, but he obviously wasn’t comfortable with me being alone.

  But as I pointed out, I wouldn’t be.

  At least until tonight, when I got home.

  I hadn’t told Jayson anything about the dream that I had about Sable. It was hard enough for me to understand, let alone explaining it to someone else. But it bothered me, really bothered me.

  Why in the world would I dream about someone I never knew? Never even saw before. And I dreamed about her dying on the night she went missing.

  In the twenty minutes I was alone, between Jaysons reluctant departure and Laurens arrival, all I could think about was Sable and what the hell was happening to me.

  We drove to a local mall that was maybe twenty minutes away. It wasn’t a bad mall, there were quite a few stores there that I truly loved. But due to my lack of cash flow and recent events, I hated those stores with a passion, and all the people in them.

  It wasn’t just a jealousy I felt because all those people could buy the things they wanted, right now, when I didn’t have the money. It was the fact that usually, no matter what was going on in my life, I could always find comfort in shopping. I had a bad break up, go buy a new outfit. I got into a fight with my parents, go out shopping for some music or jewelry. Just having a really bad day, just go out and buy something, anything, and make yourself feel better. But right now, not even shopping with a friend was able to fill the feeling of trepidation consuming me.

  And I hated everyone around me for not feeling a thing and going about their happy, oblivious lives.

  After a couple of hours of me browsing and Lauren buying everything she could get her hands on, we decided to sit down in the food court, rest our aching feet and have dinner. The good thing about Lauren is she is someone who you can talk to and who actually listens. And after you’re done talking, she will give you her very honest input. I loved it just as much as I could hate it.

  We sat down with our trays of food, and her many bags of purchases, somewhere far away from the majority of the crowd, close to a big water fountain.

  “So,” Lauren said as she popped a fry in her mouth.

  “Oh God, here is comes.” I leaning back in my seat, rolling my eyes.

  Lauren smiled, a big warm smile. “I’ve been hearing a lot of weird things lately.”

  “Weird things about what, exactly?” I pushed my food away, suddenly losing my appetite and crossing my arms over my chest. I couldn’t wait to hear this.

  “Well, you know I just want to know the truth, right? I mean, I think I know it already, but I just want to hear it from you. I think I know you a little better than that.”

  “Come on, get on with it.”

  “I heard something about you and Halo. There are rumors going around about you two going at it in the darkroom at school. People saw you coming out together like, twenty minutes after the next period started.” Her expression wasn’t accusatory, it was worried and I appreciated even the chance to explain. Because to say the truth, I expected to hear it at some point. I know how people think and everyone loves gossip. I’m actually surprised I didn’t hear from Becky yet, this was usually her department.

  I took a deep breath and blow it out slowly. “You have to promise, no matter what happens or who asks you about it, that you will not tell anyone what I am going to tell you. I know what it looks like, but I need to handle this myself and I trust you to keep this between us until I do. Okay?”

  She sat back hard in her seat, shoving a few more fries in her mouth and waited. She looked like she was considering my offer, when we both knew she wouldn’t say anything. It was a cute little act though. “Okay, I promise.”

  “Okay,” I inhaled deeply, calmly. “Things with Halo… you know that he comes to my house for homework, almost every night, right?”

  “Yeah, you told me that. Jayson and Kamdyn do not like it at all.”

  “I know, but I haven’t been able to find a way out of it, until Mr. Hadam gives him a book, which for some reason doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. Anyway, we have been getting along great and he hasn’t been his usual creepy self lately. He’s actually been like a friend.” I stopped and looked up at her. “I guess I stupidly started to trust him.”

  Lauren sat up quick, she knew, before I went any further that something wasn’t right. “Trystie, what happened?”

  “He kind of… attacked me. But I handled it, I swear.” I saw her reach for her bag and go digging through. I jumped up and grabbed her purse from her searching hands. “Lauren, you promised!” I nearly whispered, trying not to draw attention.

  Lauren stared at me dumbfounded. “Trystie, you have to do something, tell someone. Tell Kamdyn or Jayson, they’ll do something.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid!” I slumped back down into my seat, keeping Lauren’s purse at my side. “You can’t say anything. I will take care of it. Jayson already thinks something is up.” I told her everything that happened when Halo came by, banging on my door.

  “Wow,” she said when I finally finished. “He actually said that?”

  “Yeah,” I decided then, there was no point in wasting the good food I bought and took a tentative bite. “He actually said that. He’s going to pull something; I just don’t know what yet.”

  “Well, that’s bad enough, but I might have more bad news for you.”

  I lifted an intrigued eyebrow. “I doubt it, but shoot.”

  “Samantha got word of the incident yesterday.”

  “Yup, knew she would. My life is a bitch, why would she try and make things easier for me?”

  “Well, I’m just giving you a heads up. You know what she’s capable of.”

  “Yeah, I know all too well.”

  We were quiet for a few minutes. I nibbled at my food, trying to eat what I was no longer hungry for and Lauren, too, seemed to lose her appetite. I took those couple of minutes to try and figure out was going through Halo’s head. Unfortunately, it was a losing battle, much like trying to figure out the mind of any guy, it just wasn’t going to happen. I just needed to be cautious and wait for the bomb to drop. How bad could it actually be?

  Finally, I saw Lauren sit back in her chair with a big smile on her face. “I just figured something out,” she said sounding very satisfied with herself. “You said Jayson was there last night when Halo came by, and when I called you today, he had just left.”

  “What are you getting at, Lauren?” I said, shoving more food in my mouth.

  “Did Jayson stay over last night?”

  “You know, Lauren, Jayson lives right down the street from my house. He’s over all the time.”

  “That doesn’t really answer my question, Trystie.”

  I stared her down for a minute, hoping she would back down. She didn’t, not a chance and her eyes told me as much. “Fine. Yes, he stayed over last night, because I was freaked out and Justin and Kimber were out and are gone until Sunday night.”

  “Trystie! What about Kamdyn?”

  “Lauren, come on! You can’t be serious even
asking me that question. Me and Jayson, as you very well know, are just friends. That’s it and nothing more. He stayed over to be a good friend. He was worried about me, that’s all.”

  “Yeah, and I’m tinkerbell.” She said just before shoving the last of her fries in her mouth.

  “What the hell does that mean? You know we are only friends.”

  “Yeah, I know you think that, but he doesn’t. Everyone can see it, almost since the day you moved here. You know it’s weird. Jayson is gorgeous and any girl in school has at one point tried to get his attention, but not once has he ever shown interest in anyone. His excuse was always that he had a girlfriend from out of town. No one ever met them though, not even Kamdyn. But since you came here… just the way he looks at you.” She sighed and looked up. “God, what I wouldn’t give to have a guy look at me that way.”

  “Well, Jayson and I are friends. He’s my best friend, that’s it.”

  “It’s a good thing Kamdyn is so trusting. If the situation was reversed and my boyfriend was hanging around with my best friend all the time and sleeping over- I just don’t think I could handle it.”

  “Yeah, I see where you’re coming from. But to be fair, I was friends with Jayson first.”

  All she did was nod, but I understood.

  We finished what was left of our dinner, gathered our stuff and made our way over to the trash when someone pushed me, hard, sending me flying into the trash can. I regained my balance and turned around to see none other than the bitch herself.

  “Seriously,” I screamed, cursing the sky.

  “Samantha you are never going to keep any friends if you keep pushing people around.”

  “What exactly are you on that you think I would ever want to be your friend?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because you seem to follow me everywhere or that you seem to be unable to leave me alone. And you keep touching me.” Than I slapped myself upside the head and rolled my eyes up. “That’s it! You don’t want to be friends with me.” I took a step closer to her and leaned in. “Do you want to date me, Samantha? Is that it?” I heard Lauren giggle somewhere to my left and waited for Samantha to reply.

  “Are you fucking nuts?” she bellowed. “I don’t like women, least of all you!”

  “Well, could have fooled me,” I said keeping her off her guard. “You seemed to seek me out enough.”

  I watched as her hands clenched at her sides and her face turned red, than she let out a breath. “Which brings me to my recent issue. I told you to leave him alone and did you, of course not.” She finished throwing her hands in the air, her usual dramatic way.

  “Let me guess Samantha, you are here to warn me, again, to stay away or I’m going to pay, that’s it right? What makes you think I’m scared of you anyway? You think you can threaten whoever you want and they will go running. Well, news flash Samantha, I’m not scared of you and I’m definitely not running away from a spoiled, stuck up, Angelina Jolie wanna-be bitch like you.” Smiling at her, I turned away with Lauren giggled again and followed at my heels.

  Before she had a second to respond, I spun back around. “And by the way, you should check your leash. Because I’m not the one pursuing, he is.”

  I watched as her words died in her mouth. I flashed a taunting smile and continued away.

  We were at the doors, leading out to the parking garage before Lauren said anything. And at first, all she could do was laugh. In fact, she nearly fell on the ground she was laughing so hard. “I seriously wish I had that on video. Did you see her face?”

  I did. And I wish I hadn’t needed to go there.

  Lauren laughed and giggled and plotted oncoming attacks the entire drive home. As amusing as they were, they left a knot in my stomache.

  I got dropped off at my empty house around seven thirty, but I didn’t want to go in. I didn’t want to be alone. I turned around, just before I unlocked the door, to head back and catch Lauren before she left, but as soon as I looked, she was already making her way down my dark driveway. So, with no other option, I turned the key and walked into the waiting house making sure I locked it tight before I went up to my room.

  These last two days have been ridiculous. It just figures, seriously. Could things actually get worse?

  Up in my room I lying sprawled on my bed, thinking about everything that had happened; with Halo and Samantha. How I was going to handle Halo and what would happen if Kamdyn or Jayson found out exactly what was going on.

  And what about Sable? Crap!

  A shudder ran through me and suddenly I was cold. And not at all from the chilly weather outside.

  Trepidation. Doom.

  I felt hollow and lost. I wrapped my arms around myself and squeezed, hoping to find some peace. Some calm. Some comfort.

  I needed to figure out what was going on. And I needed to do it without telling anyone. As much as my brain screamed at me, telling me to speak up. Say something to someone- it just would not listen. Something deep inside me pushed me to keep my secrets for now.

  People will think you’re insane! The new girl ranting and raving about dreams of impending doom.

  Yeah, people would like that.

  Samantha would love that.

  No, this stays with me and only me until I know what to do.

  A half hour later my lap top was up and running. I had decided, instead of involving friends in my quest for information, I would just consult the ever-so-useful world wide web. It didn’t take me long to track down a couple local news articles and recorded video segments about the Newtown girl.

  The chill that I felt slowly creeping up my spine, consuming me, had not let up. Ignoring it, I threw on a thick sweat shirt, in a lame attempt to keep the chill away, as I searched about the missing girl.

  Turns out, since this mornings newscast during breakfast, a little had changed. Sable’s body had been found.

  Obviously, they relayed very little details about her. The only thing they did say was the same little tidbit they gave about Drea. She was drained of all the blood in her body and left in the woods.

  I knew I should have felt shocked or scared at the news, but oddly I felt nothing. Nothing at all. Only the same cold. I guess because I knew. Deep down I knew what I would find. In my mind I had seen her die. She was there in my dream, reaching for me, silently begging me to help her, to save her, and I didn’t because I couldn’t.

  The thought didn’t make me feel any better, knowing that I couldn’t do anything to save her. It still made me feel like I had failed, like I should have been able to do something. Because I know I saw her die. She was right there, in front of me, fading before my very eyes. I had seen the light in those pretty eyes die. It was so real, everything about it. I knew it was a dream, but it felt real. That was all the mattered.

  I tried not to look at the pictures of her they presented during the videos or scattered between the words in articles. Every time I saw her face, her smile and bright eyes, I would blink and the image would be replaced with death. No matter how many times I would look away and look back, the image didn’t change. I couldn’t see her as a high school student, my age, sitting there posing for her high school picture, looking at her smile that made me want to smile when I knew I couldn’t.

  Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and slammed the computer shut. I had gotten all the information I was going to get from the articles and news feeds. I was done and I was colder than ever.

  Suddenly, the realization hit me. I was completely alone in the house and it was dark. The sun had gone down completely, not even a sliver of light remained in the sky. Another chill spread across my body. There was nothing that I could do about it right now. There was no one I could turn to for comfort, no one I wanted to involve in this.

  Either my childhood nightmares were back, making me see things and feel things when they happened, as they happened, or I was completely and utterly going insane.

  As much as the notion made me sick to my stomach, I knew I wasn’t g
oing insane. I know what I saw. The event kept playing over and over again in my head. No matter how hard I tried, every time I closed my eyes, I saw her.

  Running. I was running, as hard and as fast as I possibly could. Something that felt like shards of glass were biting into my feet and legs as each foot pounded the ground. Cold.

  I blinked hard, my eyes focusing ahead, seeing a small stream stretched out in front of me. Each foot splashed hard into the water, sending it splattering around me. Shooting pain.

  My lungs felt like fire and my throat burned as I tried to take in deep breathes of frozen air. My fingers were completely numb and frozen in clenched fists.

  Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I took a quick look behind me, trying to maintain my balance.

  I knew he was back there, somewhere behind me. I didn’t hear him anywhere and I couldn’t see him at all, but I could feel him.

  I turned my focus back on where I was going. I had no idea where I was or where I headed, but I knew I couldn’t stop. Pain shot up through my limbs as I put more force into my run on the uneven footing through the stream. But I kept going. I couldn’t stop.

  My breathing was incredibly loud and my heart thundered in my ears, the only other sound I could catch between my gasps for breath were the splashes my feet made as they made contact with the water in the stream.

  As much as it hurt, I kept running, following the stream and hoping I could lose him somewhere.

  But deep down, I knew I couldn’t.

  No sooner did I finish the thought that a sharp pain engulfed the left side of my ribs, shortly followed by a crushing weight above me and the cold snow covered ground under my back.

  I laid there panting, only seeing my breath freeze in my face as it left my mouth, with a crushing weight holding me completely immobile.