"Did you hear what happened?"
"I heard he died."
"I heard he was in a coma."
"I heard he was in Westin Hills, after the attack, he broke down after witnessing his mothers bloody demise. He went crazy."
The school hallways were a-buzz with rumors. The news this morning had broadcast the news that Alice Johnson had been found dead, suspected murder, in her own bed. Details on Jacob hadn't yet been released, sending the pupils imagitions and curiosity into over-drive. Sean stared into his locker, ignoring the chatter of his peers.
"Sean, are you alright?" A hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality. Sean turned to find Chey standing behind him, looking concerned. He hesitated before nodding.
"Did you hear about Jacob? It's awful."
"..I seen it." Sean muttered.
Chey's eyes widened.
"What? Sean, you have to tell the police!"
He shook his head. "I can't."
"Why not?"
He paused, looking for his next words.
"They wouldn't believe me, I saw it in a dream."
She raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
"You saw it in a dream?"
Sean nodded again. "I..I ran into Jacob, in a boiler room, there was a man. He..he sliced him, with his hand. I wanted to help, but I panicked. I don't know if he died, but he was hurt."
"He sliced him with his hand?"
"With his razor hand!"
Chey scrutinized her friend.
"Sean, I think you've watched one too many horror movies."
"Goddamn it, I'm telling the truth! Look!" He held out his palm, showing his blistered hand. "I burned my hand in my dream and I woke up with this. How do you explain that?"
She shrugged. "You put your hand on your radiator, you burned your hand in reality, in your sleep, so you worked it into your dream."
He sighed in frustration.
"Ask Jason."
"What?"
"Jason. He was in my dream. He was there. Ask him."
"Jason's absent today."
Sean heart dropped into his stomach. " He...No. I should have stayed!"
A look of confusion spread across Chey's face. Sean explained his dream in the details that he could remember in one breath.
"Sean, do you know how crazy this sounds? You had a dream!"
"How do you explain his absence? And Jacobs?"
"It's a coincidence! A creepy one, sure, but this boogey man killing people in their sleep? No. It's crazy Sean and if you keep talking like that, you'll get yourself locked up in Westin Hills. It was a nightmare, it wasn't real!"
Sean shook his head and wrapped his arms around his middle.
"But..It seemed so real. Like he was still around when I woke up, still watching me."
Chey put a hand on the taller boys shoulder.
"It was just a nightmare, Sean. It wasn't real."