Total Insecurity
~Jack Rose's POV~
*Dream*
"No..."
"Val, you wouldn't..."
"You didn't..."
"Angel? Angel, can you hear me?"
"Come on, snap out of it! This isn't you..."
"ANGEL!"
*Dream End*
I quickly sat up from my bed and gasped for air. Once I caught my breath, I looked out my balcony and saw it was still dark and the storm was still pouring. I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and sighed in relief. It was just a nightmare.
Then my bedroom door swung open to reveal Sam with a concerned look on her face. She entered my bedroom and took a seat on my bed, sitting across from me.
"Ellie, are you okay? I heard you screaming in your sleep." She asked me.
I took a breath and put my hand over my forehead, as my mind was building with a throbbing pressure. "It was just a nightmare, Sam. No need to panic." I assured her, "I'm okay."
"You don't sound okay." Sam furrowed her brows at me, "What was the nightmare about? You can tell me."
I shook my head, "It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Was it about that Valentino guy?" She asked.
I froze at the mention of the pimp Overlord's name, but I tried to calm myself. My second pair of hands balled into fists of anger, as my heart burned with anger, frustration and rage, grabbing hold of handfuls of blankets. I wanted to tell my sister about my nightmare, but I was scared that I would explode at her, or something else might happen. Like Angel Dust, people are better off staying away from me as much as possible. I can't afford to lose my friends or family...
Taking my silence as an answer, and seeing how angry I was getting, Sam gave me a look, then shrugged her shoulders and sat up to leave my room, "Okay. I can take a hint. You're not gonna tell me. Be that way for all I care."
With that, she slammed the door closed behind her and there was a sound of retreating footsteps. I lightly flinched at the sound of the door slamming, but calmed with a heavy and quiet sigh. I didn't want to give my sister the silent treatment, but it's to keep her safe from what's going on in my life.
Anger continued to build up inside me, making my blood boil and the pressure in my head continued to build. I looked at my mirror and could see a shadow of Valentino stalking behind me, towering and flashing his signature smile. I blinked and he was gone. I couldn't think straight, my hands were still shaking from the anger and frustration. I needed to find a way to calm myself down.
I hopped out of my bed and walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I walked into the shower and started washing my fur from the clumping sweat. The lukewarm water felt like licks of fire upon my fur. It didn't help calming me down. It made my worries worse.
After fifteen minutes of cleaning myself up, I exit the bathroom and got dressed into something more comfortable. I looked out of my soaking wet balcony and a thought came to me. Maybe a walk in the rain will help calm my nerves.
I walked out of my room, down the corridor, down the stairs and into the lobby. Just as I reached the main doors, I froze at the sound of soft snoring. I turned to find Husk passed out on the bar. Poor fellow must have drank himself out-cold again. As quietly as I could, I grabbed a blanket from the back of the register and gently threw it over Husk's back. His wings flinched for a second, but he didn't respond or wake up.
"I'll be back soon." I whispered softly, as I walked back toward the main doors and exit the Hotel.
I walked down the street, letting the rain pour on top of me. It was refreshing and seemed to be doing the job of calming me down from the stress and the nightmare. The bell from the clocktower tolled over the time. I looked at the clocktower and saw what time it was.
12:00 am. Is it that late? Everyone should be asleep by now, but I can still sense demons prowling the streets. The clouds grew heavier and thunder and lightning clapped loudly over my head. I gasped and flinched in fright, as ice crawled into my veins and my heart froze.
Eventually, the thunder and lightning faded away and I can calm myself down. I looked at the clouds and the rain fell on my face. I closed my eyes with a heavy sigh, as I fell the drops falling down my face like tears.
Suddenly, I heard a small laugh echoing around me. My eyes snapped open, but I saw nothing but the streetlights, the clouds, the skyscrapers and the heavy rainclouds. Nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary in this city.
But... That laugh... It sounded a lot like... I shook my head. No. It can't be. I won't let him get to my head that easily. I will not! I'll die again before he thinks he owns me like some sort of porcelain doll!
Then distorted music started playing around me and a female voice sang,
"Don't misbehave,
They're still untamed.
Here to travel the night,
Can I live without light?"
I looked around for the source of the voice, but there was nothing to be found. Then familiar red smoke started seeping across the ground and around my feet.
"Trapped in this maze,
(Trapped in this maze)
Learn to obey.
(Learn to obey)
Feel a little confined,
(Feel a little confined)
Give 'em something to bite.
(Give 'em something to bite)"
I felt a chill running down my spine, as the smoke began to climb in front of me, forming into something familiar and what I didn't want to see. The laugh echoed in my mind again.
"Down, Down, Down, Down,
Down, Down, Down.
Down, Down, Down, Down,
Down, Down, Down."
I gasped and took a step back as a pair of piercing red eyes glowing from the smoke and a familiar sharp-toothed grin, with one golden fang, smiled at me from the smokey form.
"Oh, no!
I'm so close!
Total insecurity,
When they come after me.
Oh, no!
I'm so close!
Total insecurity,
When they come after me."
"Jackie..."
My hands balled into fists of anger as I glared at the glowing red smoke. A low growl exit my mouth, as I dashed toward the smoke demon and aimed a powerful punch at him.
"Those ears,
They perk,
Red eyes,
And I can't scream loud enough.
On the stage to play a song of fear.
Unnerved,
Denied,
And I can't scream loud enough.
On the stage to play a song of death."
The voice continued to sing in my head, as I leaped into the air and punched the smoke square into the face. The smoke dissipated and moved to my side, taking the form of Valentino again. I punched the smoke again, but the smoke grabbed hold of my wrist and started to envelope my body.
"Down, down, down, down.
Down, down, down.
Down, down, down, down.
Down, down, down."
"Jackie..."
I tried to fight back, but the smoke was unaffected and covered my entire body. I clutched my head as colors and horrific creatures clouded my vision. My heart was beating out of my chest. I couldn't feel my legs. I couldn't think rationally. I couldn't see. I couldn't breathe. My body was burning.
The creatures crawled across my vision, snarling and growling. Some of them looked familiar, some of them were just creatures from your nightmares. I closed my eyes and clutched my head harder, I had to make this stop. This isn't funny, Valentino!
"Get... Out... Of... My... Head..." I breathed, as my hands balled into fists of determination and anger.
"What's the matter, Little Spider? Can't face your own demons?" The voice laughed.
The throbbing pressure began to build up in my head and my chest again. It was clawing in me, aching to come out and wreak havoc. But I didn't know how or what it was.
"Pathetic..." The voice growled low.
My eyes snap open, as I looked up to the sky and screamed as loud as I can. My body engulfed by eerie green flames and released wave after wave of energy. Eerie green eyes appeared from the shadows and scared anyone within the dark alleys. My scream echoed across Pentagram City. The smoke flinched and disperse from where it came from.
Eventually, the pressure eased and everything calmed down. My screaming faded quietly and I began to feel lightheaded. My legs gave out from underneath me and the last thing I saw was a tall silhouette walking toward me. Then I blacked out...
(Song is called Total Insecurity by Rockit Gaming.
Let us hope that Jackie is alright.
And who was that figure?
Stay tuned... ^_^)