Miss Junie: I suppose I can update again….:P Also don't get to worried about anything, it'll all work out okay! And I started my first semester of college last week, though I'm doing half high school half college through my school, it stsill counts! Haha anyways, good luck!
Violent winds ripped through Terra Nova, creating a hazy vortex through the housing sectors. It was deserted, but Skye didn't really notice. She cradled a package, shielding it from the gritty wind as she made her way towards the fields. She had no idea what was in it, and all she could remember was that Mira insisted she took it to the field.
Then she suddenly found herself surrounded. It was no crop she'd ever seen, barren stalks with no fruit that crackled in the wind. The wind was tearing through her, and goosebumps spread across her skin. She set down the box, and it flew open, its contents bursting into the air.
A low growl cut through the wind and she whipped around to see the glowing eyes of a wolf pack. The sky darkened, leaving only a dozen pairs of luminescent eyes staring back at her. She froze, realizing it had been a lure in Mira's package. The wolves snapped their jaws and as one moved closer she could see fresh blood dripping from its fangs. Where at they come from? Wolves didn't exist yet! She swallowed as the pack surrounded her, dark shadows in the stalks threatening to suffocate her. Black mist edged the canines, but Skye still couldn't figure out how they were there in the first place. Had the Sixers brought them? Or Pheonix Group?
It seemed surreal as the pack leader lunged for her, like it wasn't really happening. Its front paws slammed into her chest, throwing her back into the stalks. She landed with a harsh whack on the dirt, a fresh wave of pain ripping into her back.
The wolf towered above her and spread its jaws. She felt its rancid breath on her face and the realization that it was really happening ran through her like fire.
"No!" She screamed, kicking wildly. The wolf pulled back, and released a throaty snarl. She felt its fangs dig into her neck and she shrieked in pain.
But just as quickly as it attacked, the wolf was gone with a yelp Skye put a hand to her neck, feeling the blood begin to stream. Something had attacked the wolf, yet she felt she knew what it was. The cry of another wolf sounded close by as she stood shakily, searching for the mysterious creature that had helped her. She could just feel that it was the same thing she'd been searching for in the orchard, the thing she'd never been able to find.
"Hello?" She called into the crop field, but only the sound of the fleeing wolves filled the air. She started into the stalks, pushing them aside as she tried to contact the creature. Something rustled nearby, and Skye turned, bending to peer further into the darkness.
"Is someone there?" She whispered, taking a tentative step towards the noise. The wind stilled, leaving eerie silence. She was suddenly conscious of her breathing and found she was terrified. Maybe she shouldn't be looking for it after all, maybe whatever it was, was something she should try and get away from. She took a step back, and felt a hot breath on her shoulder. Her eyes widened, but she was paralyzed, and couldn't will herself to turn around and see what had found her. She gripped her neck, feeling another wave of blood on her hands.
Then she felt the crushing weight of its paws on her back, ramming her into the ground with a resounding thud. She struggled to regain her balance, and scrambled to her knees. It pounced again, its massive weight pinning her in the dirt. She heard it lean its head down, and felt a rush of air on the back of her head. It sounded big. She gasped as its dug its claws into her arms and growled. The wolves seemed a puny threat now.
"Please, stop." She whimpered, but the only response was another gravelly snarl in her ear. She struggled to free herself again, and the monster purred in amusement and put its jaws around her neck. She waited for the bite, but instead it pulled away. Her blood froze as it breathed in her ear.
"Never try to run."
She woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for air. As with most nightmares she still felt terrified, the fear coursing through her blood like venom. The more she thought about it the more the dream began to slip away, but I did nothing to ebb the terror in her system. It was just a dream… but she couldn't shake the feeling of being pinned underneath that monster and the sickly sweet hiss in her ear as it whispered to her.
To make things worse, it was still early in the night. Her throat was constricted and she had an unshakeable chill in her shoulders. Her teeth were chattering as she hugged her legs to her chest. On a positive note, she hadn't "cuddled up" next to Lucas, and he was still sleeping soundly nearby. She tried to calm herself down, but the jarring nightmare still felt very real. She could practically hear the creature's ragged breathing in her ear and she feared if she fell asleep it might happen again. Nightmares that realistic were powerful enough to draw her in again the second she shut her eyes. She pressed herself into the wall of the little shelter, hoping it would provide some sort of comfort. None came, it just made her shiver more intensly.
Maybe it was the fear, or maybe the cold had got to her. She didn't really know what made her do what she did next. She sidled closer to Lucas, still slightly paranoid that he might change into a wolf and try to eat her.
"Lucas," She whispered. He grunted, and rolled onto his back. "Lucas!" She whispered louder. She heard him shift, and then prop himself up, rubbing his eyes.
"What?" He growled, and Skye shuddered a little at the sound.
"I…Have you ever had a nightmare that freaks you out even when you know it wasn't real?"
"Uh...what?" His voice was still groggy with sleep.
"I don't know…I just had a really bad dream and it's freaking me out."
Lucas sighed, but Skye noticed he didn't have an answer right away. "What do you want me to do, hold your hand?" He finally responded, but it wasn't as tart as his usual retorts.
"Of course not," She snapped, but her voice was still shaky. She bit her lip, "I can't get it out of my head."
She waited for Lucas to reply, her heart still pounding with every sound from the forest. But his breathing was slow and deep. He obviously wasn't interested in hearing about her nightmare. The creeping chill of fear crept up her spine again as a breeze blew through the camp, turning her skin to gooseflesh. Her inner instinct kicked in, but it had surprisingly low resistance from her. Sure, she hated herself for doing it, but as she lay down next to Lucas, her fear melted away as the heat of his skin warmed her. A sharp cry from a Petrosaur caused her press herself against him even more, and she found that it soothed her. Her eyelids began to droop as she felt his chest move with every breath, comforted by the feeling. It reminded her of when she was little and it started to storm. She always ran into her parents' room and snuggled up between them. It felt safer to be between them, because being on her own seemed too scary. A tiny smile spread across her face as she felt his breath on her neck, but the monsters words still echoed in her brain. Never try to run. Never try to run.
"I told you." Lucas whispered, startling her. But instead of getting angry that he'd caught her I the act, she just laughed.
"Sleeping over there is more frightening than sleeping next to a psychopath." She murmured, nestled her head further into the grass. "But this is the only night."
"Unless you have more nightmares." Lucas murmured, his voice getting thick with sleep again.
"Hardy har." She growled lightheartedly, her own voice getting slurred.
She stayed awake until Lucas finally dropped off to sleep. Only when readjusted himself did he actually try to touch her, and even though he unconsciously looped an arm over her shoulder, Skye felt a feeling of being trapped. But she just shifted and his arm slid to the dip in her side just before her hip. She listened for a catch in his breathing that might give away that he was awake, but couldn't hear one. As her eyes closed, she felt the overwhelming sense of comfort she'd felt as a kid, but also realized that Lucas was fully functional now, and that meant it was time to leave. The thought made her sad in a way; she wasn't stupid, she realized that she was developing feelings for him. But revenge would always win out, she had no time for anything else. She turned herself to face him, hoping that he could forgive her for betraying him again.
Unable to stay awake any longer, she pressed her head to his chest, breathing out one last phrase before sleep overcame her. "I'm so sorry."
