Chapter Seven-Nightmare

"No Mom don't do thattt" Ruby whined out, her arms reaching out to grab the stereo that blasted a cheesy pop song. Ruby looked over, her mom had a smile and laughter escaping her throat as her long arm reached out to stop Ruby's. Her long hair was held to hang behind her head by a hair tie. Small strands fell out of the ponytail from the inability to stay inside the hair tie. Her eyes crinkled on the side as her eyelids squinted with her laughter.

"Oh, come on! This is the perfect timefor youto get your last run jitters out!" Her fingers wrapped around the dial that turned the volume up. Slowly moving her fingers forward, the cheesy lyrics got louder. Ruby whined and laughed as she tried to fight through summers arm to turn it down.

"Mommm turn it off, you know how I don't like these songs!" Ruby tried harder only making Summer laugh softly. Ruby turned to pout, her lip curled under her top one, her arms crossing. Before her eyes widen from the scene in front of her. Everything seemed to slow down at the moment, there in front of them was a semi tilting towards them. The metal pipes started to fly towards the car, the strap holding them together flapping in the wind.

"MOM LOOK OU-" The words didn't come out fast enough before the only sound Ruby could hear was the ringing in her ear. Squeezing her eyes shut she held onto her seatbelt, feeling a bag erupt in front of her face as she felt her body weightless. Taking labored breaths, she felt the sting of pain in her head and arms. Slowly opening her eyes, the car had rested upwards, the window shattered into fragments of itself. The Glass pieces had been impeded into her skin as she slowly blinked. Slowly turning her head, she could feel her heart clenched, her stomach swimming in fear.

Next to her, a metal pole was stuck between Summer's stomach. Blood soaking her clothing, seat, and pole. Blood escaped her mouth as Summer gasped for air.

"Mom…" Ruby let out in ahushedvoice as she tried to reach for her mom, the belt around her stopping her from doing so. Reaching down her fingers pressed hard into the red unbuckle, watching as the seatbelt slowly moved to the side of the car. Her body protested as she slowly moved to be next to Summer.

"Ruby…" She whispered out coughing with more blood seeping out of her throat.

"Mom Mom don't I… it's going to be right? The police will come and.. and they will save you. please don't leave me, Mom." Ruby rushed out her lips as her throat tightened. Tears spilled from her eyes as she tried to apply pressure around the metal pole. Summer's left hand gently wrapped around Ruby's while her right one wentupto Ruby's cheek. Ruby looked into Summer's eyes,they werebright silver like the moon sky lighting the way at night.

"Ruby… I'm not going to… make it." She said between labored breaths. "But it's, going to be…okay. Just remember… I love you, more than anything. That you…shouldtake care of yourself… and find happiness no matter… how hard it may be. I love you… my rose petal." Summer coughed harder as her breathing became harder, her heartstarting to beatslower and slower. Ruby couldn't stop the tears as she let out a pained scream, holding onto Summer as she did.

"MOM! Please don't go!" Ruby screamed out as she held ontoSummerbody. Her breathing started to grow quieter and shallower.

"Please don't cry my petal... everything will...be okay..." She muttered the words, her eyes slowly closing as her hands went limp, her right hand falling to her body, while her left went limp holding Ruby's. Screams escaped Ruby's throat again as she grabbed onto her mother, shaking her.

"No no no no Mom! Please no, don't leave me! Please please!" Ruby begged as sobs escaped her throat. Her heart pounded against her chest, her stomach flipping as she moved closer to her mom. "Please…" It came out in a horse whisper as she closed her eyes laying it onto her mother's shoulder. The warmth from her mother's body was starting to go as Ruby's headstartedto spin. The pain from her head came rushing back as she gently moved her fingers up to her scalp. Warm blood was seeping from her face and her scalp. Everything hurt.

"Mom… I love you…too" Ruby sobbed out as she closed her eyes, her head pounding, her vision starting to grow big black dots. Looking up at Summer again, she let out a final sob as she closed her eyes letting the darkness clouding her vision take over.

Air invaded Ruby's lungs as her eyes widened to her surroundings, her body flinging upwards from her bed. Her breathing was quick and ragged, tears building in her eyes. Ruby's hand trembled on her lap as she took deep and labored breaths. The memory stained her mind as she looked down at her hands. She sat there feeling her heartbeat against her chest, tryingtobest to erase the memory from her head. Slowly her breathing turned into soft ones that escaped her lips. Her body slowly slumped as she just stared at her unmoving hands.

"I'm sorry mom… I couldn't save you" She muttered to herself, tears starting to warmup inher eyes. Quickly she shook her head to stop the tears and sadness invade her mind. She needed to start getting ready for the day. Taking a deep breath, she moved her eyesupwards and towardsthe clock before a curse left her throat.

"Fuck." She overslept. Her body moving on its own, quickly grabbed an outfit andstarted to dressherself. As she dressed herself, she hastily grabbed her bag and phone before starting to walk downstairs. Even if sheran quickly, she would be a little late.

'Ugh! Ms goodwhichs class is the worst to be late in!'Ruby yelledher inmind as she suddenly stopped at the end of the stairs to see her sister, Weiss, and Blake getting ready. They stared at each other for a second as Ruby cleared her throat.

"I thought you were already gone,Ruby." Yang spoke up first as she had her left shoe on andmiddleof putting her right one on. Ruby blinked a few timesas shewas taken off guard by the sudden three of them. "We were just about to head to campus. Looks like you're running late, you can join us if you like." Yang offered as Ruby blinked a few more times before clearing her throat.

"y-yeah, I um woke up late. Iwould likea ride if… that's okay." Ruby muttered the last part looking away from Yang a bit. She could feel her heartbeat against her chest as she held her backpack strap just gave her normal grin andnod.

"Of course." Yang finished getting her shoe on as Weiss and Blake looked at each other and then back at the two sisters.

"You're more than welcome to join," Weiss spoke first as shewas leaningagainst the counter, her arms crossed.

"There is always extra room," Blake mentioned as she was holding a traveling mug, that was full of coffee.

"Alright…Thanks." Ruby muttered softly as the three started to shuffle out of the house. Ruby took a deep breath as shestartedto walk behind the shestartedto walk, she reached for her phone, a knotformingin her stomach as she checked her from Flame. It felt like Ruby's stomachwas going toflip and twist as her fingers clenched on her hold of the phone. Her throat wanted to tighten, to stop the air coming in from her lungs. Her thumb gently tapped their chat.

"Hey, I hope I didn't do anything wrong… you normally never leave me on read. If I did, please let me know."

Read

Ruby let out a deep breath, her headstarting to spinat the possibilities of what she could have done wrong. Looking up she noticed the three being a few steps before her, making the phone in her hand loosen. Diving it back into her pocket she followed them to the driveway. There a black SUV with tinted windows rested in the driveway. Weiss walked to the driver's side, hitting a button that was on the handle making the doors unlock. Yang and Blake quicklymade their way tothe back seat, moving in unison. Ruby took a deep breath as she moved to the passenger door. Opening it, she grabbed the handle on the inside and then lifted herself into the vehicle. Resting her butt on the black leather seat, she took notice of the inside. The middle console was long and had many different buttons with symbols. Leading to the middle of the front, was a screen that showed many different applications.

The interior was all black with white stitching for the leather parts. Looking back, Blake and Yang satnext toeach other talking in hushed whispers. Ruby turned back to look through the front glass as Weiss turned the car into reverse. Ruby rested her hands on her lap nervously, she sat stiff and straight as she watched the car back up and go forwards once on the road.

"Don't mind them. They do this every time." Weiss spoke softly as she started to drive through the neighborhood streets. Ruby just rubbed her left thumb over her right knuckles in her lap with a small nodof the head. Weiss taking the sign, just focused her eyes on the road ahead. Ruby bites her lip hard as she moves her right hand to grab her phone. Once wrapping her fingers around it and unlocking the phone, She stared at the text messages she had sent.

'What did I do wrong…?'Was the first thing she thought as she started to type out a message.

"Hey Flame. I can see you read my messages, though you have yet to respond, It's worrying me. Will you at leastlet me knowwhat I did wrong? Or what's going on? I'm nervous and worried."Ruby looked it over before sending it to Flame. Taking another deep breath, she pocketed her phone and watched her surroundings change with each passing second. Ruby took a shaky breath to try and keep the anxiety building in her stomach down. Leaning her head back she closed her eyes and just let the hum of the car fill her ears.

Ruby's eyes fluttered as she felt the car come to a stop and the sound of the soft hum of the engine disappeared. Sitting upwards and looking around, Yang and Blake were starting to get out of the car as was Weiss. Following suit, she moved out as she moved her arms above her head, stretching the muscles with the movement. Looking down at her phone, she examined the time.8:10 am. Sighing she started to walk away from the car and onto the sidewalk in front of eyes moved as she walked,noticingthe pile of students around the sidewalks and entrance of the school.

"We are about to go inside. See you later Ruby." Yang spoke with a smile and a wave. Ruby stared at Yang,memory ofthe letter and plush from that night. Ruby gulped as she nodded, giving a small wave back.

"Okay.." She spokein a soft tonebefore a loud revving sound invaded her her head, her eyes snapped onto a dark red with a black accentmotorcycle.A woman sat on themotorcyclethat turned into the parking spot that was a few feet in front of her. She turned the key that rested in the middle console. She had a black helmet on with a black leather jacket that tightened around her curves. Her jeans wrapped comfortably around her legs as the woman's combat boots rested against the ground.

The woman reached up and grabbed her helmet after her fingers expertly unclipped the strap under her head. Raven-colored hair flowed out of the helmet as fire eyes met her silver ones.

"Cinder?" Ruby asked as she stared at the fiery eyes that stared back at her. A sly smile appeared on Cinder's face as she moved the helmetin her handsto the base of the motorcycle.

"Hey Ruby, wasn't expecting to see mewhereyou?"Cinder started to move off her motorcycle after kicking the 's eyes stared at Cinderasshe could feel her heartstartto beat against her could feel her fingers tighten around the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

"No." was all Ruby got out of her dry throat. Cinder just smiled as she moved up to the sidewalk. Her jacket was still on and zipped, her backpack around her shoulders, and her helmet held by her right finger.

"How was the rest of your weekend? I hope you didn't get a hangover." Cinder shot Ruby a grin who just rolled her eyes at the comment.

"No, it was…fine" Ruby finished with a pause as she thought about Flame. Her fingers instinctively wrapped around her phonea bitas she shuffled her feet. Taking a deep breath, her mind swirled as she looked at Cinder. Her eyesaresoft, she just stood there.

'This woman knows more than anyone I have met so far. I want to run away; I don't want to see her face knowingthat sheknows everything. Yet I feel so drawn to her. She has gone through what I have in her way. She stands here, respecting my wishes and not forcing a conversation about anything. Her eyes are so welcoming and so soft. Why do I feel this way when I barely have met her!'Ruby yelled in her mind as she tightened the hold on her backpack strap.

"Well, that is good. Would you like to walk with me to my locker? I must drop my helmet and jacket off then go to our first class with Ms. Goodwhich." Cinder's soft voice pulled Ruby out of her thoughts as she blinked a few times.

"Uh…sure" Ruby spoke quietly, as she shifted onto her legs a bit more.

"Awesome, just follow me," Cinder spoke with a warm smile as she started to walk inside the building. Rubystartedto follow a few steps behind her. Ruby gently picked up the skinthat wasstarting to peel on her left hand. She scanned the areas of students and teachers alike around the halls. Till Cinder stopped in front of her causing Ruby to almost run into the back of Cinder.

"This is my locker," Cinder stated as her fingers inputted the code into the keypad on the locker. A small beep sounded as Cinder tugged it open, inside was a few things. An extra set of clothing, a few stickers of the video game Hunter, and other things scattered. Ruby's eyes fell onto the scythe from Hunter as her eyes widened a bit.

"You play…hunter?" Ruby asked as Cinder turned back to Ruby. There was a hint of an emotion that Ruby couldn't decipher before Cinder smiled.

"Yeah, it's a side thing I like to do. What about you?" Ruby smiled a bit at the thought of the video game she played.

"I love Hunter. I play a lot with a friend I made on there." Ruby confessed before she could stop herself.

"We might have to play sometime." Cinder closed her locker after putting her stuff away into the locker. Her leather jacket wasnowgone, and a dark forest green shirt was tucked into her jeans. The shirt was tight around the curves of her chest and waist. Ruby quickly could feel her face start to warm at the sight as shequicklycleared her throat and turned away.

"We shouldn't be late for our class," Ruby muttered as she started to walk towards their first class. Ruby watched the students in front of her start to scurry to their lessons as she gently picked on the thread on her backpack.

'Why does my heart keep racing?'Ruby turned to look back at Cinder, who was now looking at her phone. Her lips made a thin line before she pocketed her phone, eyes turning back to look at Ruby. Ruby quickly looked away as she felt her heart hammer into her chest. She could feel her face warm as they finally made it to the front door of their class. Opening the door Ruby moved to her seat, while Cinder took her seatnext to her. Following her normal routine, she pulled out her computer and startedto get everything readyfor class.

"Hey, you know you don't have to talk to me. I meant what I put on that note." Cinder spoke in a softhushedtone so only Ruby could hear her. Ruby froze, her body stopped typing on her computer as she slowly turnedher headto face Cinder. Her fire eyes showed so many emotions that Ruby couldn't pinpoint. But they were soft, like a comforting fire on a cold day.

"I know. I don't know… how to feel about everything. I was drunk that night, yet I don't… regret it." Ruby spoke in a hushed whisper as she turned to look back at her computer. Feelings bubbled up in her stomach as she sighed.

"I understand that, and I'm not going to pressure you into anything you're not ready for," Cinder said softly as she turned towards the notebookthat sheput in front of her. "Just, I'm here if you need anything." Ruby bites the inside of her cheek as she can feel her heart race against her chest again. The same warmth invaded her body as her throat tightened. Ruby opened her mouth but was stopped by the front of the classroom.

" Good morning class!Everyone quiet down as we are about to startthelessonof today!"Ruby closed her mouth and turned her direction towards Ms. Goodwhich. Yet her heart didn't stop beating.

'Why won't my heart stop racing? I was drunk and stupid when I told her those things. And yet she is letting us act like we didn't tell each other those things up there. Why? It doesn't make sense. Yet every time I see her, I feel like, I'm with Mom again. ThatI can relax and be okay around her. But why her! I barely know her! She barely knows me! Flame... is the only one who has ever made me feel this way outside of everything.'Ruby's eyes look at Cinder her hands tightening into each other.'Maybe that's why, she reminds me so much of voice, her soft looks, the way she has such a soft and Mom who always had such a sun bright smile. She has a soft smile like the moonlight. Yet I don't know her other than about her father and mother.'Ruby tapped her pen against the table as she stared at the screenin front ofher.

'I want to learn more about her.'Ruby thought after a few minutes, she turned to steal a glance at Cinder. Cinder was staring at her computer as she wrote the notes onto the notepad next to the computer. Ruby took a deep breath as she quickly went back to herownlaptop.

'Flame'Ruby's thought came back to her, she quickly grabbed for her phone to see any message, but nothing. Ruby felt sick to her stomach as she pocketed her phone. Her stomach twisted and twirled at the thought of Flame.

'What if something bad happened to her?'her thought was interrupted by her phone buzzing. Quickly Ruby pulled it out to see a message.

Flame

"Hey, I'm sorry. I have had some stuff happen recently andIdidn't know how to handle it. My brain was everywhere, and I felt like I was in a spiral of emotions. But It's not your fault, and I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner. You didn't deserve for me to ignore you like that."

Ruby let out a breath. She was holding it, and she let out a small smile at the message.

"Thank god you're alive. I thought the worst when you were not responding. I'm thankful you are okay. If you want to talk about it, I'm always here to be a shoulder for you. You're the most important person to me, and I want to help with whatever it is. Ireallycare about you."Ruby hit the sent button after quickly typing her thoughts into a text. Ruby quickly pocketed her phone and looked back up to notice the lesson was about to end.

"Have a good rest of your day class!" Ms. Goodwhich yelled out making Ruby start to close her laptop and book to put them into her bag. Turning her head Cinder was doing the same thing. Once everything was in her bag, she stood up andwalked out ofthe classroom. Noticing Cinder doing the same thing she stopped and turned around to face her. Cinder's body seemed to freeze slightly as Ruby looked at her warm eyes.

"Um…have a good rest of your classes. I'll uh, see you on the track." Ruby quickly got out and her body turned away before Cinder could speak another word. Quickly walking to her next class, her mind swirls. She needed someone to talk to about everything.

Ruby sighed as she made it to the library bean bag she snagged every lunch. Pulling out her phone her finger hovered over Flame's contact.

'Should I even talk to Flame about this? She seems to be going through a lot. And she doesn't need more on her plate'Ruby bit her lip as she started to scroll through her contacts.'Who do I even talk to this about? Pyrrha? No, I don't think I'm ready to talk to her like that yet. Yang? No definably not.'Ruby kept scrolling till she stopped, staring at a name.

Raven

Ruby took a deep breath before clicking the name, and clicking the green call button that popped sound ofringing filled Ruby's ear as she counted down each ring.

One

Two

Th-

"Hello?"Ruby sighed a bit once she heardthegruff voiceof Raven.

"Hey, it's Ruby."

"Ruby? Is everything okay?" There was shuffling on the other line as it sounded like someone sitting up.

"Yeah, well kind of. I um, didn't know who else to go to about this." Ruby admitted as there was a soft sigh on the other line.

"Hit me with it." Ruby took a deep breath as she leanedmoreinto the bean bag chair.

"I don't know what to do with this woman. Her name is Cinder, and she is… something. She has eyes that look like a fire. She is on the track team with me and is really good, she has bested me a few times." Ruby slightly smiled to herself at the memories of racing against her. "But Yang had a party a few days ago. And I got drunk and was on top of the roof when she came up and sat with me. I," Ruby paused before taking a deep breath for courage. "I told her about Mom andjusteverything seemed to spill from my lips. But herenotsure how I want to feel about this. My heart feels like it's beating so fast it could stop anytime. And I feel this weird pulse of nervousness around her, yet I feel more confrontable around her than even Yang." Ruby confessed as there was a sigh on the other line.

"Ruby, have you told anyone else about your mom?" Raven asked a softness in her voice that made Ruby close her eyes.

"No."

"you were drunk is that correct?"

"Yes"

"Do you think you'd said the same things to her when you're not drunk?" Ruby's body seemed to have shivers sent down her spine. Her brain processed the words Raven spoke.

'Would I? The only reason I opened up was because of my drunken mind and… she went through something I went through. She lost her parents, her lifelines. Just like how I lost mine.'

"Possibly."

"And what do you mean by that Ruby?"

"Uh…well it's not my place to tell you about what she told me. But she went through something similar. And I don't know, I feel like for once there is someone that can somewhat understand, everything in my life. If it happened again, I wouldn't start with anything about Mom. But from how open she was last night. If Iwasn'tdrunk, it would have ended the same way." Ruby confessed as she ran her right hand through the soft threads of her hair.

"Then what do you mean byyou don't knowwhat to do with her?"

"I don't know if I should be friends, acquittances, or back to strangers."

"Well, what is holding you back from being friends with her?" Raven's words made Ruby sit there in thought.'What is stopping me?'

"What if something goes wrong… I-" Ruby's wordsgot caught inher throat as Raven took a deep breath on the other line.

"Ruby, I know you miss your mother, that you still have nightmares about that day. And as hard as it is to say this, you need to start moving on. She may be gone in person, but she still lives in your memories. That should be what is most important. I would think it'd be best to even speak to that therapist again, or even a new one. I know you hate talking about that feelingstuff, but you should try Ruby." Ruby bit her lip as she just sighed.

"I…" No other words escaped as she knew her aunt was correct, but she couldn't admit it. She sat there, her brain like a mix of feelings thrown into a pot, being mixed until it was an unrecognizable concoction. After a few minutes, there was some rustling and the sound of a cat that brought her out of it.

"Was that…?" Ruby asked as Raven just chuckled.

"A cat? Yeah. I found him outside my door one day and have beentaking care ofhim since." Ruby blinked, her aunt taking care of something else but herself.

"What? I thought you hated animals."

"I mean I still do, But this guyjust seems to beas lonely as I have been."

"You've been feeling… lonely?" Ruby asked as her eyes widened at Raven's confession. Raven seemed to stop moving when she realized what she had said. There was awkward silence on the line before Ravenjust let outa deep breath.

"Yes. Since your mother has been gone, and you had to move." Raven said in a hushed was another meow on the other lineasita soft purr started to come through the gulped as she gently picked at the jeans that she wore.

"I'm sorry Raven. But I'm glad you…have company with you. And I'll tryandcall more, outside of problems this time." Raven just chuckled.

"Don't worry too much about me Petal. But, I do wish to hear from you more. And please make sure to think about what I said earlier Ruby. Even, I got a therapist,justgive it a thought." Raven spoke out making Ruby release a deep breath.

"Okay, I must get going now. Bye Rav, I love you."

"Love you too kid." With those words, the line went silent. Ruby sighed as she rested her head backward against the bean eyes rested on top of the ceilingthatwas surrounded by her eyes, her mind replayed Raven's words.

'A therapist…'