I am so sorry! I was in MAJOR trouble with my parents and couldn't update for a while and then classes started back up and I have just been so busy with keeping up with them.
Chase dreams stem from feelings of anxiety in your waking life. Flee and flight is an instinctive response to a physical threat in the environment. In such dreams, the scenario often features you being pursued by an attacker, an animal, a monster or an unknown figure, who wants to hurt or possibly kill you. Consequently, you run, you hide or you try to outwit your pursuer. Your actions in the dream parallel how you would respond to pressure and cope with fears, stress or various situations in your waking life. Consider the distance or gap between you and your pursuer. This indicates your closeness to the issue. If the pursuer is gaining on you, then it suggests that the problem is not going to go away.
To see an alley in you dream suggests that you have limited options.
To dream that you are walking through an alley represents a dead-end. You feel that you have missed out on some opportunity in life.
To see a stray animal in your dream suggests that you are feeling unwanted, lost, or out of touch with society.
Falling rain is also a metaphor for tears, crying and sadness.
To hear footsteps in your dream indicate that you are worrying over some issue or problem. You are feeling overwhelmed with panic and uneasiness. (from )
* I hope to not offend anyone with the religion reference I used in this chapter. It is what I grew up with and is what my area does.
Do you know the agony of living without dreams and being unwanted? ~Quote from Naruto episode
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF THE REVIEWERS ON CHAPTER 1:
CharmlessUnicorn, sakarami, CrookshanksisaNinja, BananaphoneBob, and A Bit Of Magic
I don't know what I would be without reviewers and followers :3
Nightmares plagued my sleep. I was standing in a dark alley alone, and the full moon cast an eerie glow. Shadows surrounded me and the sounds of footsteps were coming closer and echoed off the walls around me. I looked around, looking for the source to the noise. One shadowed person turned the corner and abruptly stopped when he saw me. He turned and shouted over his shoulder, "Hey! I found her!" My breath started picking up when I heard dozens of feet slapping against the concrete and coming closer. I turned and took off running, and the man who found me was close behind me. A stray dog hiding behind a dumpster snapped at my heels as I ran past and I almost tripped over him. He cost me a few precious moments and the men chasing me were even closer. I turned the corner, narrowly avoiding the lone homeless man sleeping under old newspaper. His eyes snapped open and before I could let out a breathless apology, he snatched my ankle. He stared at me with his strange glowing green eyes that made my heart skip a few beats. His face and body has several scars and open wounds that his raggedy clothes barely covered and his body looked so thin that if a gust of wind comes, it would probably blow him away. As I tried tugging my foot away, his nails dug into my flesh. As his grip tightened, I started to cry. Not only because of the pain, but also because of the footsteps that grew closer every second and my heart felt ready to burst. "Please, sir, let go of me. They are coming after me!"
"Yes, but who? Who do you think is coming after you?" He asked in a raspy voice, startling me with the question. "Don't let them catch you. And don't let them take me away, either, or this will happen," he said, gesturing to his body that looked like it would only see a few more days of sunlight. "Then come with me," I said, in all my dream-confused glory. "But we have to go now! They are going to catch us any second now!"
He let go of my ankle and settled back. "They have already caught me. What's done is done. I am only here to tell you to prevent it from happening. Now go! They are here." And with that, he faded into tiny flames and that slowly got extinguished. His voice sounded in my head with a single syllable. Run. I looked around, confused, as thunder rumbled in the distance. "There she is!" The man shouted. He turned the corner and I took off. The chase has started again, and I knew I couldn't keep it up for long. Lightning flashed in front of my, so close to where the hair on my neck stood on end with electricity. But I kept going.
I came to a dead end just as rain started pouring down, obscuring my vision. I pounded on the brick walls, shouting. It can't end like this. I have always wanted to die peacefully in my sleep, not a tortured death that these people would probably bring. My body slumped against the wall and I sobbed. I knew it was a dream, but it felt real. I felt emotions race like electricity through me, I could feel every icy raindrop hit my skin, and I could hear my loud heartbeat. It sounded like footsteps running and getting closer.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
This was it. This was the end.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Run. The raspy voice said again. I can't I thought. Even my thoughts sounded pitiful. The footsteps turned the corner to where I was and stopped.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
I slowly looked up to my pursuers, my heart still racing.
Thud. Thud.
The rain flew in my face, obscuring my vision slightly, but not enough to what was in front of me. My eyes widened to where they probably looked like dinner pates. There were only two people in front of me.
Thud.
Lightning cracked behind me, illuminating the figures angry faces that were full of savage killing intent and the knife in the man's hand. I drew in a shaky breath.
Thud.
"Mom? Dad?"
I woke up with a scream lodged in my throat. It was just a dream, jut a dream. I chanted the phrase over and over until I almost believed it myself. I felt a little better and my heart had slowed, but the dream stayed in my head and refused to fade away. Sunday morning sunlight shone in my face from my open window and silence rang in my ears. The clock said it was 11, but I felt as though I haven't slept in a year. It was almost lunchtime, and Mom should be back around that time. I don't want to be here when Dad wakes up. He would have a vicious hangover and be ten times worse than he already is. I don't want to be here to hear the screams echoing through the house with every hit.
I got out of bed and the first thing I noticed was how strange my face felt. My skin felt tight and stretched out, and tender on my right cheekbone. I went to my bathroom and stared at my mirror, tears threatening to spill over. My face had gotten tender from hits, but not like this. A purple bruise was spread over my right cheekbone and my face was swollen and pasty. Bags were under my eyes and red circles around them made me look like I hadn't gotten enough sleep in a while and I had been crying a lot. Eyes that reflected years and years of sadness and hurt looked back at me and stared accusingly. They seemed to say, "You did this. It is all your fault."
I crumbled on the floor, crying for what seemed like forever, and not wanting to get up. Some time had passed before I sucked in a deep breath and gathered up all of the courage I could muster. With my tears still drying, I got into the shower and let my tears mix with the soothing water. I imagined the water washing away all of my fears and worries, making my life go back to the way it was before everything got screwed up. Before my whole life had turned upside down. It felt nice to believe that nothing was wrong, even if it was only for a few minutes.
After I dried off, I put on my nicest pair of jeans and a comfortable shirt. With one last disappointed look at my face, I headed downstairs to my mother's bathroom and rifled through her makeup drawer. I was going out today and I need to somehow cover these marks or people might be suspicious. I set out all of the products in front of me and pondered what to do first. Memories of when I was younger flashed into my head. I would always sit on little stool, watching my mother transform her already beautiful face into something more beautiful and maybe even feral, but she could never change the tired look in her eyes. Just like she had done so many years ago, I hurriedly tried to change my face and conceal my flaws. The end result was flawlessness. It scared me how easy it was to put on a mask and become something you were not.
I grabbed a couple of dollars that I saved up over the years from the small stash under my pillow, stuffed them in a small shoulder bag filled with my iPod, a small lunch, my phone, and a book to read, and then headed out the door.
The weather outside was not too hot as to where I would be sweating, but not too cold to where I would be shivering. It was pleasant. The wind blew through my hair and I closed my eyes and tilted my head back slightly. It felt nice to get out of my house stuffed full of anger and lies.
I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and started walking. A couple miles away from my house was a park where kids play and families have picnics and mothers stroll with their husbands. They laugh and have fun, oblivious to their worries, even if only for a little while. It is a big park where a quarter of the land is the kids' playground. It has a giant wooden fortress that has swings, slides, and seesaws in the middle. Kids race around and let out playful shouts. Two quarters are picnic tables and benches under a pavilion. The last quarter is a big open field with a few trees and a water fountain in the middle of a pond is off to the side.
When I got there, there were only a few families there. It is usually busy on Saturdays, but not on Sundays before around one o'clock because families are usually at church together and then go out for a family brunch. I settle in the grass and prop myself up against a tree near the pond. I put in my ear buds and turn my iPod on. "Savin' Me" by Nickelback poured into my ears and I closed my eyes as I leaned back against the tree.
Prison gates won't open up for me
On these hands and knees I'm crawlin'
Oh, I reach for you
Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
A hard, circular object crashed into my face and startled me out of my daze. It hurt. The bruises didn't help either. I held my head in my hands and leaned slightly forward in a defensive crouch, groaning softly. I heard shouts and felt hands on my shoulders.
"Are you alright?" a deep, masculine voice asked me.
Come please I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you
I looked up and there was a boy. He seemed to be fifteen, my age. He had midnight colored hair with streaks of blue that lit up where the sun shown on them. His eyes were two endless pools of onyx that held so much concern and worry. His skin was as pale as the moon and flawless, perfect. He was perfect.
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'
I nodded and let out a small "Ya."
He visibly relaxed, let out a sigh, and smiled at me. "Whew, that's good."
I heard other footsteps and a few moments later more faces were appeared. One was a boy with blonde hair that was spiked up and beautiful sea-blue eyes. He had amazing tan skin that seemed to glow and a pearly white smile. A girl was next to him who had pretty ghost-white eyes with a hint of lavender and a pale complexion to match. She had dark purple, almost black colored hair that stopped about mid-back. Another girl was beside her and she had cornflower blue eyes with platinum blonde hair that was in a ponytail. Next to her was a boy with a sleepy look on his face. He had brown hair that was in a ponytail on the top of his head and brown eyes to match. Then there was a boy with the same ghost white/lavender eyes as the girl, but he had long brown hair that was neatly combed and held together by a ribbon. The last person was a girl with two brown buns on the top of her head and brown eyes. All of their eyes held the same concern and worry that the boy's did.
"Are you okay?"
"Are you hurt?"
"I am so sorry! Are you okay? Crap it's all my fault!"
"You don't have a concussion, right?"
"Damn, that soccer ball really hit you."
"Shut up and be a little more worried. She could have brain damage for all we know."
"Are you sure you're okay?" The midnight-haired boy asked me. He was no longer holding my shoulders, but still crouched in front of me. And again I nodded and look at all the people and said, "I'm okay. Don't worry."
"Damn Tenten. You didn't have to kick it that hard. It was just a simple game of pass, not lets-see-who-could-knock-off-someone's-head game," The blonde headed girl yelled at the girl with two buns on her head.
"I'm sorry! Geez. I didn't mean to kick it that hard, okay!" She turned to me and said, "I am really really sorry. I had no idea that it would hit you. And my name is Tenten." She gave me a wide smile and there was no way I could be mad at her. I smiled back and said, "I'm Sakura."
The boy with blue eyes and a golden tan introduced himself next. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I'm super glad you're not hurt! Would you like to hang out with us?"
The petite girl next to him said in a quiet voice, "My name is Hinata Hyuga. Nice to meet you, Sakura."
The blonde girl who yelled at Tenten introduced herself as Ino and introduced the ponytail boy as Shikamaru. The boy with the same eyes as Hinata said his name was Neji and the boy crouching in front of me said his name was Sasuke. I smiled at each of them when they spoke and after they were done, Naruto spoke up, "So how about it?"
"How about what?" I asked with a confused look on my face.
"Do you want to hang out with us? Maybe kick the soccer ball around a little? We promise we won't hit you this time," He asked with humor in his eyes.
"Sure," I said. I had nothing better to do so why not? Sasuke stood up and held out his hand. I took his hand and he pulled me up with ease. I grabbed my bag and iPod and followed them to where their things were. A smile was on my face the whole time.
And say it for me, say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me
Hurry I'm fallin'
We were seated under a pavilion in the shade. Bags were piled onto the table and everyone was sitting on the bench, table, or standing. I was sitting on the bench with Naruto, Ino, Tenten, and Hinata around me. Sasuke was standing in front of me, leaning against a pillar. Neji was leaning against a pillar near Sasuke's and Shikamaru was half-sitting half-lying on the table.
"I haven't seen you before. Have you lived here long? Or did you just move here?" Ino asked me.
"I've lived here my whole life. My house is near here, just a few miles from this park." I told her, pointing in the direction of my house.
"Just because you haven't seen somebody before doesn't mean they don't live here, Ino. You don't know everybody." Tenten said jokingly with a smile on her face. Everybody let out a small laugh or a few chuckles, even me.
"Well excuse me! I'm just trying to make conversation here." Ino's face turned pink from embarrassment and glares were given to everybody.
"So where do you go to school?" Naruto asked me, ignoring the angry look on Ino's face.
"I am a sophomore at Summerbrook High School."
Naruto's eyes lit up with joy and reminded me of a never-ending blue sky. "We all are sophomores too! But we go to Konoha High School."
My eyebrows narrowed in thought and I said, "I didn't know there was another high school near here. Where is it?"
"Near this park, actually. It is new and opened up this year. It's by the river and we sometimes come here after school to hang out." Neji chimed in.
"We were going to come here next Saturday. You should come to," Sasuke said with a warm smile on his face.
"That would be nice. Sure." I replied, grinning from ear to ear.
"We won't bring a soccer ball next time," Hinata said in a quiet voice.
That put a smile to everyone's face, even Ino who was still sulking in the corner. I opened my mouth to say something, but was cut off when my stomach growled very loudly. My face burned with embarrassment when the whole group turned to look at me, humor in their eyes.
"Lunch time!" Naruto shouted and went to the pile of bags. The rest of the group followed, digging around in their bags for food. I got out my bagged lunch sat back down at the table. On one bench was Sasuke, me, Ino, and Shikamaru. On the other side was Naruto, Hinata, Neji, and Tenten.
I took out a PB&J sandwich, and apple, and water. I didn't even take my first bite of the sandwich when my phone started ringing. I took it out of my pocket and saw that the caller ID was my mom. Multiple emotions swept over me. Fear because she was probably mad at me and angry because I left without telling her. Confusion because she never cared if I left the house as long as I was back before she left for work. Anger because I found friends and she was ruining my tiny moment of happiness. Happiness because she realized I wasn't there and was hopefully worried about me.
"Sorry," I said as I stepped out from the table and walked far enough from the table so they can't hear me. "Hello?" I asked as I opened my phone and put it to my ear.
"Sakura, where is your father?"
"Um, say again?" I asked, confused.
"Your father. The man who helped raise you. My husband. Do you know where he is?"
"I would assume he is at home."
"He's not. And neither is his car. I came home and found alcohol bottles strewn around and more broken furniture. The front door was wide open when I came home and both your father and his car are gone. And then I find you gone too. So I assumed that you were with him. I tried calling him but he left his phone at home, so I called you. But it seems you are not with him and I think he might be out drinking and driving."
My eyes widened. What if police catch him and send him to jail? Commercials of police pulling over cars and when the window is rolled down, gallons of alcohol come pouring out flashed through my mind. But if he is drunk, he is abusive. Holy crap, what if he abuses a police officer?
"What should I do?" I asked, panic seeping into my voice.
"Where are you right now? I am going to pick you up and we will search around town for him."
"I'm at the park that's a few miles from our house. I will meet you by the road."
"Okay." And she hung up, without even a good-bye.
Sorry it is so short but like I said I was really busy. CHECK OUT MY PROFILE OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE I PUT UP DATES FOR WHEN THE CHAPTERS WILL BE UPDATE. Or not if you don't care. Review and I love you!
