Chapter 5: A Nightmare Takes Flight

The big white full moon over looked Notley Abbey. Its light cast a white shadow upon the old country estate. The blackness of the night veered back in fear as the moon watched over the big two story home. It seemed as if everything was in order. All the children had been tucked into bed and were given goodnight kiss and were told to have sweet dreams. While the adults did the same. It was just like a normal night for the Kent's.

Little feet could be heard heading down a long hall. The light of the moon helped the small child find her way to where she was headed. The small footsteps came faster and faster; while her breath became heavy. Finally after countless moments of hearing every little thing that went bump in the night she finally reached the end of the hall. Within no time at all, the child approached a door. She opened the door quickly but quietly. Sticking her head inside the room Madeline saw her parents asleep. Walking over Madeline stood to the right of the bed. "Mummy," her scared voice called out.

Vivien opened her eyes quickly. "What is it darling?" she asked in a sleepy voice. Propping her shelf upon her elbows she glanced over at the nightstand. The clock read 4:45.

Madeline held her doll close to her chest. Her little knuckles began turning white from clutching the doll to her chest to tight. Her face wore the look of horror. "I had a nightmare," her small voice was scared and breathless. She sounded as if she had been running forever. "Will you come lay with me?" She sounded as if she were on the verge of tears.

"Of course," Vivien pulled back the warm covers and got out of bed. The cold air touched her bare skin. Of all the nights she had to wear a silk nightgown. It was freezing. She would have to talk to Larry and Richard about turning down the air at night.

"What's going on?" Larry asked as he rolled over. His eyes were barely opened and he hardly could focus on his wife and daughter. He continued going in and out of consciousness.

"Madeline had a nightmare. I'm going go to lay with her," Vivien answered as she glanced over her bare shoulder.

"Alright darling," Larry waved his hand at them and rolled back over and went back to sleep. Vivien rolled her eyes and followed Madeline to her room. Vivien quickly looked in on her son. Peaking into his room she found him fast asleep. His thumb was wedged between his lips as he lay on his left side. Smiling at the scene Vivien walked into her daughter's room. Madeline was already sitting on the bed waiting for her mother. Walking over to the bed Vivien sat down on the bed. She could still see the fright within those same colored eyes as her own.

"What was the nightmare about?" Vivien knew that as long as Madeline still thought of the nightmare that there was no getting back to sleep. Vivien picked up the brush that sat on nightstand and began brushing her daughter's hair.

"Everything was dark. I couldn't see anything. All I could hear was deep breathing and the sound of feet running. I was alone, scared and didn't know what to do." Madeline began to cry a little. Vivien wiped away the tears with her thumb. "After a while screaming came and soon horrid laughter coming from afar. Then a tall shadow appeared before me. I couldn't see the face all I could see was the shadow and that was it."

"Sounds like we need to stop drinking hot coco before bed," Vivien answered as she finished brushing Madeline's hair. Madeline turned swiftly around and looked at her mother. Cutting out coco before bed? "We will talk about it later. Now it's time for bed." Madeline crawled into bed and snuggled up close to her mother.

"Mummy?" Madeline asked out into the darkness. Her small pink daisy nightlight glowed throughout the room.

"What is it?" Vivien asked as she wrapped her arms around her daughter hoping she could keep her safe from the wicked hands of her nightmares.

"What if-What if I have that nightmare again?" Madeline asked in a scared voice. She refused to shut her eyes in fear that her nightmare would come again.

"Just know that it's not real and know that it's just a dream. What's not real can't hurt you. " Vivien wasn't really sure how to answer this for she had nightmares of her own she dealt with.

"Okay mummy," Madeline answered with a yawn. Shutting her tired and heavy eyes Madeline drifted off into dream land; which consisted of unicorns, castles and happily ever after, but also within the lovely dream world were horrible nightmares; which were ready to grab her at any moment. Kissing the top of her head Vivien shut her eyes and held her daughter close.

…

The scene was still, the sound was silent and the air was thick. Vivien opened her eyes to see that she was standing outside her home. Putting her hands on her hips she glanced around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everything seemed as it normally was. However, Vivien began to notice something was amiss. There was no sound. No chirping of birds, no sound of the children's laughter. No sound of Larry and her father talking out in the garden. Nothing. Just pure silence.

Vivien began running through the house looking for any signs of life. Her legs carrier her as fast as they could up the steep staircase. She swept down the hall and thrown up the doors. One after another after another. Madeline's room was empty. The only thing that remained was the doll that her small daughter always carried. Going over to it Vivien held it to her chest as she could feel it breaking. Her little girl. Her poor little girl. Where was she?

Eyes going wide Vivien ran from the room with the doll still in her hand. Dashing next door Vivien opened Parker's door. Just like Madeline's room. Parker wasn't there. The only thing that was there was his truck. Stepping into the still room Vivien picked up the truck. Holding the two objects within her hands Vivien cried over them. What had happened to her children? Sinking to her knees Vivien fell apart.

"Mummy," she heard a soft voice say. Looking up quickly Vivien looked around the room. There was no small child around. "Mummy," Getting to her feet Vivien ran from the room. They had to be here. Maybe they were just playing hide and go seek. Running down the other way of the hall she looked for Larry and her father. Air filled her lungs as she breathed heavily. However, as she continued her search she felt as if her lungs were on fire.

"I'll always find you."

"My little girl. My sweet little girl."

"Mummy. Where are you?"

"I'm right here darlings." Vivien replied, but nothing answered her back.

"And they all lived happily ever after."

"WHERE IS EVERYONE!" Vivien yelled as she stood in the drawling room of Notley Abbey.

….

The following morning Vivien opened her eyes to see Callie looking her right in the eyes. Jumping Vivien put Callie on the floor. "Are you trying to scare me to death?" she whispered to her cat. Callie just looked up at her and meowed a little. Vivien just shook her head. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed she glanced over her shoulder. Madeline was still fast asleep. The doll was still clutched to her chest.

Creeping out of the room Vivien shut the door quietly. However, as she did this a hand landed on her shoulder. Jumping Vivien turned around with a gasp. There before her stood her husband. "Are you and Callie trying to kill me?" she asked.

"No, darling, of course not." Larry bent down to give his wife a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm holding you to that." Vivien said playfully. Making their way downstairs Vivien began making breakfast.

"What are you doing up so early?" Larry asked as he got the eggs from the icebox.

Vivien shrugged her shoulders. Why shouldn't she be up now? After all it was a quarter past 6 and the children had to be up for school shortly. She rested her hands on the cool marble countertop and looked out the window at the garden.

"Did you have that nightmare again?" Larry asked with concern. By now he was at her side. Vivien nodded her head. The tears began to fill her eyes as her body began to shake from the sobs. Larry wrapped his arms around her.

"I-I don't know why I'm having it again. I haven't had it since the children were babies."

"I know, I know." Larry tried calming her down. "I'll call Dr. Hope and-"

"Mummy," a small voice came. Vivien and Larry turned towards the entrance of the kitchen to see their small daughter.

"What is it sweetheart?" Vivien asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I'm hungry," Madeline replied as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Alright. Do you want to help me make breakfast?" Vivien asked as she put a smile on her face.

"Yeah!" Madeline replied happily as she jumped up and down. She came over to her mother and stood by her.

"Darling, will you get Parker up for me?" Vivien asked as she faced Larry.

"Sure," exiting the room he went to get his son up to start the day.

"Mummy."

"Yes, sweetheart," Vivien replied as she cracked an egg into a bowl.

"Why were you crying?" Madeline now stood on a stool next to her mother and watched as she cracked the eggs. "Did you and daddy have a fight?"

"No, darling," Vivien replied as she poured the egg into the black skillet.

"Then why were you crying? Did Callie do a no no?"

Vivien laughed. "No, Callie didn't do a no no."

"Then why?"

"Mummy had a nightmare that's all."

"Oh," Madeline replied as her mouth formed into an O. "Did daddy save you this time?" Madeline sure had a lot of questions didn't she?

"No,"

"But Daddy always saves you."

"Not this time dear."

"Why?"

"He couldn't,"

"But why?"

"He wasn't able to!" Vivien yelled as she slammed the bowel onto the counter. Madeline stepped off the stool and backed up. What happened to her happy mummy? Vivien turned towards her daughter and realized what she had done. The look of pure fear was written on her daughter's face. "I'm so sorry darling. Mummy didn't mean to lose her temper like that." Before Madeline could reply a sound came. Vivien turned to see her father sitting in his wheelchair. He had seen the entire scene. Knowing what she had done Vivien left the room swiftly. Heading to her room she soon found the door and opened it. Running in she sat at her vanity and looked at her reflection. She was losing it. She was truly going crazy. Putting her hands to her face she sighed. Something had to be done. She had to get a good night's sleep. That nightmare kept coming and coming. It never stopped. It was there. Waiting in the darkness. Waiting to take over her happy dreams. And yet as much as she wanted to stop it from happening she couldn't. Not even a sleeping pill would help keep it away.

Hearing the floor creak a little Vivien looked in the mirror. Larry stood directly behind her. "I think it's time you called Dr. Hope."

A/N: What will the doctor uncover this time around? Hope I still have readers out there.