Disclaimer: I do not own the Wake Trilogy. It belongs to Lisa McMann.
Author's Note: Chapter two of Nothing Out of the Ordinary. Enjoy!
Leave Me Be
I ignore him. He looks at me in study hall. I keep my head down. I just want to make it. I don't want to see the dream. I can't see the dream. Too late. I feel it coming. I don't panic. I lay my head on the table and wait for it to pass.
It's Cabel's. Somehow, he's fallen asleep quickly. This isn't good.
I'm outside. It's dark. I'm alone, behind a shed, but I can hear muffled voices. I've been here before. I'm alone. I don't know how many people can have dreams they're not in. I'm curious. I watch nervously, hoping this isn't a nightmare about to explode through the wall of the shed, or from the buches.
From around the corner comes a hulking, monstrous figure, outlined by the moonlight. It thrashes its arms through the bushes and lifts its hands to the sky, letting out a horrible yell. I feel my fingers going numb. I try to get out. But, I can't.
The figure's long fingers glint in the moonlight.
I lean back against the barn. I'm shaking.
The grotesque figure sharpens his knife-fingers one each other. The sound is deafening.
I, against the barn, squeak.
The figure wheels around. He sees me.
Approaches me.
I've seen this character before.
I stand up and try to run. My legs won't move.
The figure's face is furious, but he's stopped sharpening his knives. He's five feet away. I close my eyes.
When I open my eyes, it is daylight. I'm still behind the barn. And the horrid, menacing figure has turned into a normal, human young man.
It's Cabel.
A second me steps out from my body and walks to Cabel, unafraid.
I stay back, against the barn.
Cabel touches the second me's face.
He leans in.
He kisses her.
She kisses him bak.
He steps out of the embrace and looks at me. Tears fall down his cheeks.
"Help me," he says.
I'm awake. I sit up, waiting for my vision to return. My head's pounding. How can I help him? Should I?
The bell rings. I still can't see. I feel blindly. I shove my book into my bag. Or so I thought. I hear it hit the ground. I groan. I hate this. I feel someone's hand on my arm. It's Cabel. I pull away and reach for my book, but don't find it. Frustrated, I give up and sling my bag over my shoulder.
I walk out of the library, now able to see a little. My bags slightly heavy. He put my book in my bag. I purse my lips. I push open the door. It slams on him. He curses. I smirk.
"You're not driving, are you?" he calls, jogging to catch up. I shrug.
"Walking I guess," I say, seeing the bus has left. I turn to the sidewalk, but his warm hand catches my arm.
"Don't be stupid," he says. I squint at him.
"You're the one who's stupid," I say. He sighs and releases my arm.
"Just let me take you home, Hannagan," he says, frustrated. I shake my hand and hands him my keys.
"Goodbye, Strumheller," I say and walk away.