My teeth are chattering so hard I can barely hear my fast breathing. I sit up in a cold sweat, my hands pressed over my mouth so I don't gasp or scream or cry. I slowly open my eyes, wondering what the heck is going on? How can a dream be this bad? It isn't real, just some rubbish my brain had made up, yet it didn't feel like a dream. It felt much worse, even worse than the worst nightmare you can remember having.

My family and I were sitting around the kitchen table, eating dinner. Suddenly the door burst open and a bunch of masked men stood there. They didn't hesitate. They immediately rushed to my chair and wrenched me out of it by my wrists. Their fingers seemed to be biting into my skin as they dragged me out of my house. I could clearly hear my siblings wailing my name behind me. I tried to struggle, and that's when one of the thugs stepped forward. His face was right in front of mine as he pressed his hands on my arms. His hands flashed brightly, in a way that definitely wasn't natural and then ... Then horrible pain shot through my entire body. It felt like I had really bad pins and needles all over my body, or that I was being stung by millions of bees. I shiver harder at the memory. I can't remember the last time that I had felt pain in a dream, and on the rare occasions I had, it hadn't been even half as bad as this.

I slowly pull my hands away from my mouth as I glance quickly around my room. Everything sure looks normal. My big wardrobe is still sitting in the corner and I can see the faint gleam of glow-in-the-dark paint on my desk. It takes a great effort, but finally I manage to slow my breathing to something more like normal. I really don't want to get out of bed, but I quickly slip out of my warm covers and brush my hair. I fell asleep in my clothes again last night so there is no need for me to change. I force my mind to wonder about what I'm going to eat for breakfast instead of the dream. I never want to think about that terrible nightmare again. I want to go the rest of my life and never give it another thought. I quickly head downstairs. Vincent is sitting at the dining table, eating a slice of toast. He glances up as I enter the sweetly-smelling kitchen. "What's up Madge, you look white as a sheet. Did you have a nightmare or something? You look like you just had a vision that the world was ending." I tried my best to smile at him. "N-no, I'm f-fine, of course I am." I sit down beside Vincent and just stare at my hands. That horrible nightmare. Was it some kind of vision, and even worse, if it was, then did that mean that it was going to actually happen in real life?

I cover my eyes with my hands and hunch my shoulders. "Are you ok?" I take a very deep breath and remove my hands from my eyes. My brother is staring at me, looking very concerned. I gulp and nod. Vincent doesn't look convinced. "Sis, I think you should stay home today. You look kind of, green."

I nod hurriedly and rush back up the stairs at top speed. I'm glad none of my siblings are in my way, since I don't think I could have avoided crashing into them. I race into my bedroom, fling the door shut and throw myself onto my bed. I burry my face in my pillow and try not to cry. I can't cry, I just can't. If I am seen with red eyes at school, my friends would be so worried and I don't want to make anyone else worry about me.

I lie like that for a very long time. I don't know exactly how much time passes since I don't feel ready to turn my head away from the pillow. Anyway I finally roll over and stare up at my ceiling. I had heard the door slam quite a while ago which means that Vincent has left to drive Joy and Kinsley to school. It also means I have the house to myself.