Darkness ...
The only thing that surrounds me ... I feel lost ... my heart is racing ... I'm getting closer ... I feel ... watched. Suddenly panic is rushing through my body. My mind tells me to run but my feet just won't listen. They're getting closer and closer. My pulse is unbelievebly high ... they're here ... adrenaline pumping ... one more step and ...
[door opening]
Stranger : "Hanna, you still sleeping ?"
His voice brought me back to reality. He realizes what's happening and steps closer trying to calm me down.
Stranger : "Another nightmare ?" he says while hugging me tight.
Hanna : "I get them more often lately ... . And each time they seem more real ... like the actions have conseqences in real life ... "
Stranger : "Don't worry. They'll pass."
Hanna : "I hope ... " I said as I raised from my bed. "Thank you Chris."
Chris : "Don't mention it."
His words were followed by a morbid silence. But it was broken soon.
Chris : "Your parents would be so proud of you, you know that, right ? After everything you've been through ... not even a single tear!"
Hanna : "I know ... "
He hugged me again but this time a light hug that lasted just for a couple of moments, then he left the room.
Chris :" I almost forgot ... the van will be here tomorrow at 7 a.m. You've got everything packed ?"
Hanna : "Yes. I just need to get the stuff from the tree house and I'm all set." [sigh]
Chris : " It's going to be fine ... I promise you. A fresh new start is exactly what you need right now."
Hanna : "Maybe you're right. But it's the second time I hear these words ... and the last time it didn't end even close to 'fine'."
Chris : "We'll work things out togheter, ok ?"
Hanna : "Ok." I said trying to smile. "But you know ... I just don't understand."
Chris : "What is that? " he said sitting in the doorway with one eyebrow lifted.
Hanna : "Every nightmare is like ... a ... next part for the previous one ... they have continuity. The first one was just the beginning of the series. And that place ... I've never seen it before but It's like I've been there. And that person ..."
Chris : "What person ? That part I never heard." he said with fear in his eyes.
Hanna : "I don't know who he was ... "
Chris : "So it was a man"
Hanna : "Judging by the shape ... I think so. He was running ... and he was injuried. I tried to call him but my voice got stuck in my troath."
Chris : " Like you were just watching ? "
Hanna : " No ... like everything was planned. Like I was playing a role. My body was moving without me controling it."
Chris : "And have you seen his face ?"
Hanna : " A bit ... somehow ... I just can't remember anything detailed."
Chris : " And you 2 were alone ? "
Hanna : " I thought so ... but in this last one ... it's like they were watching us. Waiting for us to make a move ... they almost got me but then you woke me up."
Chris : "Who were they ?"
Hanna : "I have no idea."
Chris : "Sometimes dreams are just dreams. It's your mind that is playing tricks."
Hanna : "I sure hope so ... [phone beeps] Listen ... I've got a text from a friend, I'll meet her to give her some stuff that she left here. I'll be real quick."
Chris : "Ok but be carefull. It's almost dark."
Hanna : "I will. I promise."
He left the room and I quickly changed my clothes and rushed outside. The moment I left the house I realized my keys were inside. "Heck with them ... I'll just walk"
Reaching Lana wasn't hard, we were sort of neighbors. We met halfway.
Hanna : "Here ." I said handing her a bag with some clothes and notes and also a box that contained a bracelet.
Lana : " Thanks. So ... you are really leaving ... "
Hanna : "Yep ... I wish I didn't but you know how complicated things are ... "
Lana : " We're so going to miss you!" she said dropping everything and hugging me tight while tears filled her eyes.
Hanna : " I know! Me too! Make sure you tell the others!"
Lana : " Wait! You are not going to say goodbye to them ?!"
Hanna : "It would be too hard ... it's better if I just leave. Also I sent them the jewelry.". Ever since childhood we sort of made a group. There were 6 of us. We used to spend our time togheter doing all the crazy stuff that crossed our minds. From the time that we moved from Romania to Belleville things changed. We were still close but so much apart. Disputes appeared over little things such as : I saw him first, I wanted that skirt, your dad's got a crush on me ... ok the last one I made up ... though I was close to all, and what looked like a good thing quicly became a massive conflict. But something brought us togheter again. There was a woman, more like an old lady, she was always telling us stories about nymphs that are living in the woods nearby, beasts that are traveling the forests at moonlight, sirens that enchant people then kill them, and a lot of other crazy things. If you ask me I think she's lost it, but the way she was telling the stories gave you the chills. She made you live those stories. She was alone and during winter we would all sit by the fireplace and listen to her stories amazed. But summers were by far my favourites. We used to have a treehouse where she would even use the flashlight to make shadow-games. One night the showed up with 5 beautiful velvet boxes. They were black and elegant. She stated that she also had 4 friends that were very close to her. And that we are special and we should never be apart. One by one, she gave us a box each and told us to open them. Each of them contained a bracelet. The first one was golden and it was beautifuly decorated with emeralds, it's the one Lana recieved. There was also a silver one with rubies, one with sapphires, and one with crystals. The one I recieved was golden and it had some peachy-white stones like pearls and some deep orange ones. She said the white ones were called "Star Moonstone" and the other ones were "Tiger's Eye" and "Imperial Topaz". At first we refused because as beautiful as they were it seemed wrong to take the last things that reminded her of her friends, and they were also very precious. But she insisted and we finally gave up. That was the last night we ever saw her. We kept the bracelets hidden at the tree house, which is just about half a mile from my house, so I was always first at our meetings.
Lana : "They'll understand ... " she said and hugged me for the last time. Then she picked up her stuff and we both walked away at the same time. From time to time we would turn around to see each other, that until it was complete darkness. The air was fresh, like a short rain just passed. The way back home seemed to take forever. Then I remembered that there was a shortcut that I used when I wanted to scare the crap out of my friends jumping from the bushes. It was an old dirty road that crossed through the woods. If there was a thing I would get scared of that was darkness. I hated it! since ... forever. Good thing the blue moonlight was lighting the place. But I soon noticed that what seemed like my old shortcut turned into a 2-way road.
"Great... I can't remember the road splitting like that. " I got my phone out of my pocket. "-No signal-. " Are you freakin' kidding me ?!" Right then I heard sticks cracking behind me. I used the flash but it all seemed silent and unmoved. It happened again. But then I just knew there was something in the bushes on the right path. I slowly walked to the left one, still listening to see if that thing is following me. I heard it running. My heart was pounding, I started rushing but all of a sudden it appeared in front of me out of nowhere. It was a young deer. [sighs] It looked scared and started running like something wrong was about to happen. I continued on my way but faster. I was almost running but then ... the path ended. The place looked familiar thought, and that's when it hit me! It was the one from my dreams ... nightmares to be more precise. I felt the panic taking over me. Blood rushing through my veins, pulse rising incredibly high, and I just stood there, glued to a tree, unable to speak, run or do anything else. I was having a panic attack. It was like everything was happening in slow motion. The only thing I could hear was my heartbeat. I was trying not to faint and then something dropped out of my bag. It was sparkling in the moonlight. Mom's amethyst silver necklace that she gave to me before ... before she and dad had that car crash. I always thought it's weird to have a car crash and nothing left of the victims. I picked it with my hands shaking. It's beautiful glow made me think of them! All the beautiful memories with them were right before my eyes. And I remember dad's last words :
"So little and so tough, aren't you ? twisted leg and not a single tear. That's my girl! Now behave nice with Chris, okay?"
" Where are you going daddy ?"
"Me and mommy are going to a place far away, but don't worry, we'll be back in no time"
"You promise ?"
"I promise! Now be nice, and remember : Be Strong!"
Holding the necklace was like holding a piece of them. It made me strong ... my pulse started going back to normal. My eyes were burning but I was holding the tears from bursting out. That's when I caught a smell that brought me to reality and reminded me I was in a forest at 11 p.m. with no clue of how to get the hell out of here. I totally forgot about the nightmares and what I was scared not to happen. The smell was not a familiar one, it was pungent and unnatural. A piercing noise made me realize what it was - gun powder! I started to run. To run like my life depended on it. I've heard several shots behind me, but it was useless, it was a dead end! I was trying to make my way out through the trees, when I reached a small clearing.
The shots were really close, like 6 meters away (19 feet). I hid behind a tree. That is when I heard something making noise trying to get away, then harshly fell to the ground. Every part of me told me not to look, to stay still and pray for a miracle, but I slowly turned and was surprised to see it was a person. Flashbacks from the nighmare came back. I tried controling my heartbeat but no luck. The gunshots stopped since I reached the clearing. I stepped closer and noticed that he was injuried, ~ Heck yeah ... one hell of a surprise ~ but I was expecting that, I now knew that they weren't dreams, they were visions. The moonlight was softly lightening his face. The guy had dark hair and fine features. He was breathing heavily. Blood was climbing down his torso, through his shirt. The sight made my blood froze. I was about to faint. Ever since the car accident the sight of blood causes me to almost pass out. It's not that fake, movie blood but the real one. I just can't stop thinking about the place of the accident, of how bad it was if there was nothing left of my parents, of all their blood spread everywhere. I took deep breath and moved his hand to the side to have a better look. It seemed pretty nasty ... I pulled out and ripped one of my tops in order to stop the bleeding. I felt it getting soaked and felt the hot blood on my hands. I kept pressing gently ... I was desperate! I had no ideea of what to do. If I would've screamed for help the attackers would come after us. There was still no signal. I closed my eyes and thought of everyone that meant something to me. Everyone that I lost ... and then just thought of my mom and all the times I got injuried, she used to sleep by my side and play that beautiful song ... it was something like " Ta ra ra ra ra ... ta ra ra ra ra ... ta ra ra ra ra raa ..." she said the song will magically
heal my wounds and that I'll be brand new the other day. I just couldn't help it. Tears bursted out climbing down my cheeks. I just closed my eyes again and played that lullaby as hot tears rolled down. A strange feeling rushed through me but I didn't pay much attention. I just concentrated on that memory. But it was getting more intense ... like ... a vibe of energy. I opened my eyes and was stunned! The golden bracelet was on my left hand, the gems glowing and this whole blue aura was around him coming from my hands. With shaky hands I removed the piece of cloth and was amazed to see a little scar that was vanishing. His breath seemed to be back to normal and I was just confused and terrified ... What did just happened ? What was that glow ?! How did the bracelet ended up on my hand ? Questions without answers ... I was still in shock when I heard a car approaching. Then someone started to shout a name, there were 2 now ... no ... 3! 3 voices . I saw headlights and rushed to hide behind trees. "I've done everything I could" I said to myself ... then 2 of them got to the clearing. The guy that was out cold woke up. He tried to get back on his legs and the other 2 helped him. They informed the others that they found him. [relief sigh] At least they were not after him. But one of them looked like he sensed something ... me! He was coming my way and I started running. I looked back to see if he was following me and then I saw 2 red glowing eyes behind me. I started running like I never did in my life. It was like I knew the forest since forever! Each tree, each branch, I was moving like the wind. I took one last look and realized he was gone, he and the forest. I reached the city.
"Finally" I whispered.
The house was silent. The lights were off. I slowly closed the door behind me and headed for the stairs to get to my room. Then a lamp was switched on. I must admit it kinda scared me to death. I tought they found me and they are going to torture me or god knows what. But I was relieved and at the same time embarassed to see Chris sitting in a chair seeing concern and anger in his expression.
Chris : "I'll be quick, she says. And you realize it's past midnight and she's not home yet. You alert all the neighboors, you try the police but of course they won't look for her unless 24 hours passed." He got up from his chair and I thought he is going to just smack some sense into me. But he hugged me tight making it almost impossible for me to breath.
Chris : "Where the heck have you been ? You almost gave me a heart attack! "
Hanna :"I'm sorry! I got carried away with saying goodbye to all my friends and I wanted to visit some places before I leave."
Chris : "You could've called!"
Hanna : "I tried, there was no signal. It's ok, I'm fine." I said and gave him a big grin.
Chris : " Oh, no! You are not fooling me with that face again!" I giggled while heading to my room. "Get some rest, tomorrow is a big day." he added.
Hanna : "I will." After I took a shower I changed in my PJ and went to bed, trying to fall asleep while watching the window, waiting for them to come after me.