I shot up from my bed, sweat making my hair stick to my head at awkward angles. Another bad dream I assume, I sighed, swinging my legs off the bed. This time, I was running from shadows. Even the mere idea of that made me laugh at myself. Shaking my head, I stood and started my day as always.
Grabbing a slice of toast, I flipped on the TV. The news anchor was yelling over the wind, stating that schools were closed today.
“Dad,” I yelled up the steps. “Schools cancelled today.”
“OK!,” he yelled back, moving downstairs. His eyes rose when he peeked outside to check the weather. The trees seemed to bend at perfect angles, and the leaves were ripped from the branches. Letting out a low whistle, he turned to me with a grin across his wrinkled face. “What a perfect day to not have any school huh?”
“Don’t say it,” I demanded, but couldn’t hide the small smile forming at the corner of my lips.
“But honey,” he chuckled, grabbing me by the cheeks. “Its your birthday. Your 18th birthday. You can vote now and be considered an adult and-”
“And have sex,” I continued in that nonchalant tone he had, laughing at the mortified look on his face. Just as he started to chuckle, something looked as if it physically hit him in the middle of his chest and I quickly reached for him as he fell back.
“What the-” he gasped, panting and clutching his chest. Something in his eyes, however, told me he wasn’t all that bewildered.
“Dad, what just happened?,” for some reason, I felt threatened by him not answering right away.
“It- it was nothing,” he brushed me off, turning towards the TV. “Go to your room and catch up on the homework we both know you didn’t finish.” And with that, all celebrations of my birthday ended. Narrowing my eyes, I returned to my room. Its cozy confines made me smile again and I scurried under the covers. Sighing, I closed my eyes and let my mind rest.
I thought sleep had fallen over me. My dreams, unlike normal people, were quite vivid and surreal. So the idea of waking up in my room with a man watching me from the corner wasn’t too far out there. His black, curly hair was covered in water, wind blown from the outdoor weather. Blue eyes ringed with red followed me as I sat up and greeted him with a smile.
“Who are you?,” I watched him flinch when I spoke. Walking gracefully forward, he removed himself from the shadows. Tall and lean, he seemed cautious and unsure about the situation in general. Looking down, his left hand clutched onto a worn black leather book. That book... “What’s that book you are holding on to there?”
“You,” his voice was so cold, so dead but the colors swarming around him were different. That was on of the many traits I had; I could tell what people were feeling in them. “You're Alicia. You are the person I’m looking for.”
The black around him lightened a little, turning golden but then it disappeared.
“Why are you looking for me?” I asked questioningly. “I’m right here.”
“No, in real life, not your made up dreamscape.”
My dream darkened and my eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
“Peter,” he smirked. “And I’m here to save you.”
“To save me?” I ridiculed, standing up. I could hear my father’s voice through the dream. “Whatever. This is just a dream anyways. See you later.” With that, I was pulled into the present.
“Honey, you gotta wake up,” my dad shook me, his eyes frantic with fear. “We have to leave.”
“What,” I mumbled groggily. “Where are we going?”
“Away,” he pulled me from the bed and dragging me to the steps. “We are bringing you to safety.”
It was that word again. What was I being kept safe from?
“Safe? Why must I be kept safe,” I grumbled, getting frustrated now.
“Just do what I say,” he snapped, Checking the windows. His fidgeting was making me worry as well as frustrated for being left in the dark. Grabbing a bag, however, I threw some of my clothes in and zipped it up. Tossing it over my shoulder, I turned to the stairs. Making my way down, I saw my father pulling large chests from the basement. Old wooden chests, gilded with gold and covered with papers. Written on those papers were words that I could barely make out but the very look of them were eery.
“Help me carry these into the car,” he huffed, dragging one out to the garage. Taking a hold of one of the side handles, I bent to lift it up. My curiosity overpowered my dad’s warning and I glanced into the keyhole.
I didn’t know what I was looking at until my eye focused on the other eye staring back at me. Screaming, I fell back and crawled away. Dad was standing next to me in seconds, eyebrows drawn together at the chest.
“That’s where the chimera went,” he grabbed the chest and threw it into the back of the car. Slamming the back hatch closed, he turned back to me. “Get in the car, now.”
Shaking, I didn’t question him. Taking my bag, I jumped into the front seat. The garage door opened, creaking against the wind whipping around outside. The color had been drained from the world outside, everything taking on the same dark look from the black clouds overhead. Just as we were about to drive out, the downpour started.
Keep looking back each week for another installment! Thanks for reading!
