#11 – Lies

Rachel

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the visual of the nightmare. It wasn't easy, because the nightmare was a replay of something that had actually happened – almost being beheaded by a Hork-bajir's elbow blade. I was in grizzly morph at the time, but it's still not something you can forget. Not something even I can just shake off.

I shut off the water and just kind of rested my forehead on the cool bathroom counter for a minute. It helped to ease the throbbing there, and thankfully, the phantom feeling of having my head partially separated from my shoulders was fading.

"Rachel?" came a concerned voice from behind me. I was too drained to even be startled; I turned slowly to see my younger sister, Jordan. I mean, she was two years younger than me, but I didn't underestimate her because of that. She was the same age that I was when I met Prince Elfangor and started fighting the Yeerks. Kids are tougher than people give them credit for.

She studied me with piercing concern. I did my best to give her a reassuring smile. "I'm cool. Did I wake you?"

She shook her head. "Not this time. I was already up." She seemed to hesitate over what she wanted to say next, then went ahead anyway. "More nights than not, you're up like clockwork at around half past three – throwing up, sometimes…sometimes just to splash your face. I notice. I guess I'm kind of programmed to wake up with you now."

I felt awful, disgusted with myself. I was fighting so hard to protect my family, and little Jordan was suffering because of my problems, anyway. I hugged her tight. "I'm sorry, kiddo. I just have nightmares, you know? It's not a huge deal, and I wish I hadn't been waking you up with them."

I felt her stiffen a little bit and I let her go. She looked at me again, now sad. "I'm not stupid, Rachel. I know something is up with you. I see how you look sometimes – jumpy. Scared. That's not like you. It makes me scared for you." She chewed her lip. "Please tell me what it is. I want to help."

I wanted to cry, but I forced a confident, cocky grin on my face. "You're crazy. But if there was something wrong, you'd be the first to know. I know you have my back." She frowned a little and shook her head, like she knew I was weaseling, and went back to bed. I sighed heavily before going back to bed, myself.

I hate lying. 'When this whole Yeerk thing is over, lies are going to be completely eliminated from my life,' I solemnly promised myself before rolling over to try to sleep.