Chapter 22 ~ A Late Night Visitor

~Alice POV~

16th April, 2.00PM

"Alice, will you just tell me what's wrong?" Jasper asked suddenly in the middle of Chemistry.

"Hu?" I asked, looking up from my work. It was the first thing either of us had said in the past half hour.

"Angel, you're emotions are driving me crazy!" He said, "What's troubling you?"

"Nothing." I said, stupidly. Jasper just raised his eyebrows and waited for me to tell the truth. "It's nothing."

"Come on Alice, I know something's wrong!" He said.

I looked across at Jasper. I could trust him, right? What was I saying? Of course I could trust him! It was Jasper! There wasn't anyone in this world I trusted more. And yet, I didn't feel like I could tell him this. I didn't want to lie to him, but I couldn't tell him the truth. He'd just worry and tell me to stay out of it, and then he'd step up and try to play the hero by going out and trying to stop this thing by himself. He'd end up getting hurt. I was only protecting him...wasn't I? Oh God, I was an awful girlfriend, wasn't I?

Maybe I could just tell him about the dreams, and not about the vision or the vampire who's turning humans. That might be enough to stop him asking questions, but not so much that would worry him.

"It's nothing, really." I said, "Just these dreams I've been having."

"Dreams?" Jasper asked, curious.

"I know, I know, vampire's aren't supposed to dream." I said, "Well I do."

"So do I." Jasper admitted

"Really?" I asked, amazed that I'd found another vampire who dreamed like me. Maybe I wasn't so weird after all.

"Yeah, sometimes." He said

"What about?" I asked.

Jasper narrowed his eyes, "We're not talking about that. What have you been dreaming about that's made you so upset?"

"It's nothing, really." I said

"I wish you'd just tell me!" Jasper said, with a sigh, "Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do Jazz!" I said, "This is just silly childish stuff! It doesn't matter!"

"It matters to me!" He said, his stubborn eyes boring into me.

"Fine!" I gave in, "They're...well, they're nightmares really. The first one was about the other night, with that vampire, except in the dream you're not there to save me. I have that dream a lot. Sometimes they're different, sometimes just a few details are changed, but I always end up dying. They're so real and I wake up terrified and they happen every night and I-"

"Angel." Jasper cut me off softly, and I realised I'd been talking nearly hysterically. At least I'd kept my voice quiet - no one around us seemed to have heard. "How long have these dreams been happening?"

I sniffed and blinked back the tears I would have cried if I could have. "A few weeks. The first one was the night after we made up."

The bell rang and I quickly shoved my stuff into my bag and bolted for the door. Next lesson was biology - that meant I wasn't with Jasper and I could avoid talking more about the dreams, but as I shot through the door and into the crowded corridor, a firm but gentle hand caught my arm and pulled me back.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Jasper asked

"Biology." I said with a shrug

"No you're not." He said, "Come on, we're ditching."

"Jasper! We can't just ditch!" I argued, but Jasper didn't reply and simply guided me through the busy corridors and out of the school. He didn't say anything until he had led me deep into the forest. He sat down on the floor and watched me for a moment.

"Is that everything that's been troubling you?" Jasper asked

"Yeah." I lied

"Really?" Jasper asked, eyebrows raised. "Alice, you know you can tell me anything."

"I've told you everything!" I said. Jasper looked doubtful.

"Okay..." He said, choosing his words carefully, "So in these dreams-"

"Can we just not talk about them?" I asked, "It's bad enough I have to deal with them at night! I'd rather spend this time with you talking about something else."

Jasper smiled, but it seemed like he wanted to keep talking about the dreams. "Sure. We can talk about whatever you want."

Yep, I was definitely an awful girlfriend.

16th April, 11.40PM

I was sat on my bedroom floor cross legged, determined not to go to sleep. Sleep brought bad dreams with it, and I wasn't going to let that happen tonight. My head shot round as I heard someone by the balcony doors. I was surprised to see Jasper standing there, closing the doors behind him.

"Jasper?" I asked

"Hey." He said

"What are you doing here?" I asked

"It's nice to see you too." He said

"No, I mean I'm happy to see you." I said, "But why are you here?"

"Well, in these dreams you've been having I'm not there to save you, right?" He asked. We were back to the dreams, were we? "So, I figured that if I'm here with you in real life when you fall asleep, maybe I'll be there in your dreams."

Okay, that was kinda sweet.

"You don't have to do that Jazz." I told him

"Yes I do." He said, "I want you to be happy, Alice! The last few weeks you've been upset, scared, angry, and worried - and that upsets me! Not just because of my stupid vampire 'gift' but because I care about you, and I don't want you to feel any of those things."

I paused for a moment and then smiled. "Do you think it will work?"

"It's worth a try." Jasper said, smiling now that I had accepted his plan. "Now come on, we have a chemistry test tomorrow, so you really should get some sleep."

"Yeah, yeah." I said, jumping into bed. With anyone else it would have been awkward, but it just felt right to have Jasper slide into bed next to me. For me to lay my head on his chest and for him to put his arm around me. I fell asleep in no time at all.

17th April, 12.30AM

"Poor little Alice, are you scared?" A taunting voice asked

"Shut up!" I cried, except no sound came out of my mouth.

"Poor little Alice, you have reason to be scared." The voice said

"Who are you?" I yelled, but again no sound came out.

"Poor little Alice, you won't know what's hit you." The voice said

Everything was black. I couldn't see anything. My limbs were stiff and I couldn't move. I felt like I was trapped, suffocating - even though as a vampire I didn't need to breath. I couldn't speak, couldn't scream. All I could do was listen to the taunting voice that was coming from somewhere in the darkness.

"Poor little Alice, just when you think you're safe...that's when I'll strike."

I tried to struggle, but there was nothing to struggle against. There was just nothing. It felt like the whole universe had closed in around me and all that was left was me and this voice.

"Poor little Alice, there'll be no one to save you."

I needed to run. Needed to hide. Needed to get away from whatever this was.

"Poor little Alice, you'll have pushed everyone away."

I didn't understand. This wasn't supposed to happen. I wasn't supposed to have a bad dream. Jasper was here. Jasper. Just think about Jasper, it will all be fine. He's here - you're safe. This is just a dream, that's all it is.

"Poor little Alice, you'll never be safe."

It was like the voice was reading my thoughts. Of course it was - this was all a dream. It was all my thoughts. I was scaring myself.

"Poor little Alice, so naïve. This may be a dream, but how long until it all comes true?"

It won't come true. Jasper is here. Think about Jasper. You're safe. It's a dream. Think about Jasper.

"Poor little Alice, you think he loves you."

He does love me. I know he does. Jasper loves me. Jasper is here. Think about Jasper.

"Poor little Alice, you don't know anything."

Yes I do! He's here. He'll always be here. He loves me. Think about Jasper. It will all be okay. It's just a dream. Think about Jasper.

"Poor little Alice, are you scared?"

No. Jasper is here. I'm safe. There's no reason to be scared.

"Poor little Alice, time to wake up now."

Heyy,

This chapter is dedicated to JadieXX, my 100th reviewer :D :D :D Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed :D

Hope you liked the chapter, even though not much really happened :/ Big stuff is going to happen soon though, I promise, so keep reading and reviewing! :) :) :)

I'm going to try and write longer chapters as well...let's see how well I keep that promise :L

See you soon

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