Ahreane

CHAPTER TWENTY: Demonic nightmare

Leroy stared me in the face and I tried for a smile which dropped as soon as I tried once I spotted the figure behind him, the one nobody else but myself saw.

"I brought the popcorn." He held it up with a smile and as adorable as it was, it broke my heart. Why was everything so numb? Why couldn't I, even beside the one true pure joy in my life be happy? Even for a moment.

I took the popcorn from him and stared at the white fluff dusted in yellow butter and chives, my lip twitched at the combination.

How childish of you... I blinked looking up, she smirked at me, leaning down to stare into the container, her hair dripping down in tundrels of darkness, her brown eyes far from innocent. They were empty, staring back at me.

"You okay?" I tilted my head and turned to Leroy who watched me worriedly and i gave a nod.

"Mmm, just tired."

"Oh? Would you rather take a nap? We can watch the movie another time?" His brows furrowed adorably and I smiled as best I could. I leaned into him, facing the screen, I rested my head onto his shoulder, his arm wrapping around me and I urged myself to relax.

"It's okay..."

He squeezed my arm and glancing down, I watched the ghost of a girl haunting my thoughts sit on the carpet and watch us. She smirked at me the entire time and her eyes spoke of the promise to never let me sleep. I blinked a dull thumb in my chest before I looked towards the screen.

The movie played in the back of my mind. I couldn't even tell you what it was that I saw or what happened. I closed my eyes at one point and hoped to play off having fallen asleep. Leroy has been careful picking me up and taking me upstairs where he placed me under the covers and kissed my forehead.

The numbness through my heart caused the shadow of a tear to roll down my face. Why was I so down? Why couldn't I fight this?

She held me while I slept and Leroy got on the phone and left the room. I didn't move as darkness surrounded us and I felt the breathing down my neck.

It's so nice...being alone with you at last.

I told myself she wasn't real, that it was all a sick joke, a play my mind was making to remind me how terrible life could be for me, as though I had forgotten.

I sighed to myself, gripping my pillow and closing my eyes as Rebecca giggled. It sounded so joyful, so at peace that I frowned. Why now? Why be haunted by the images of her? Why did she have to materialise so suddenly, so permanently?

Thinking about me? That's adorable. I swallowed and closed my eyes tighter. I wanted to sleep, just for this day, I wanted to drift into nothing and just not feel, see or hear anything. Too bad I won't let you.

My gasp was silent, choking as I felt a weight on me. My eyes wouldn't open, my voice refused to work, it felt like a bulbous thing had lodged itself down throat, and I felt my felt breathing heavier, like the air was threatening to leave me.

Too much, it was all too m-

"Ahreane?" I gasped, my eyes snapped open, there was a warmth on my wrist before I blinked and my surroundings came to focus.

Andrew was frowning at me, his little hand around my wrist. I sat up a bit, seeing him as though it were the first time, as though a cloud had lifted from my eyes.

"You were screaming." He whispered, his forensic deepening, he glanced at the place he touched me and his lips pouted. "Sweaty."

He let go, how brown eyes focused on me, the blue specks seemed to glow, buzzing with something I couldn't place.

"Thank you...for waking me." My throat was scratchy enough that I coughed a little, clearing it and Andrew stepped back.

"Did I-?"

"No, no," I smiled at him, so young and uncertain. I spotted her in the corner of my eye and my heart squeezed. I turned and Rebecca studied my brother in such a way that it hardly felt like she was my demon, hardly looked like a look a figment of my imagination would give anyone.

"I call daddy."

"No!" I reached out, panting and eyes wide, Andrew tilted his head. "No, just... Let them be. Don't need to wake them."

"They aren't sleeping." He said it so matter of factly, his arms folding over his chest and the sight tugged at my heart strings that once in what felt like so long I chuckled faintly, this was enough to bring Rebecca right to my side.

How cute...how much you love the little thing. I swallowed and blinked, forcing a smile for my brother.

"You go back to bed. I'll keep my screaming to a minimum."

His lips pursed and he swung his body a bit before he ran for me, he stopped and looked at me before touching his hand to his lips and blowing me a kiss. I smiled catching it and Rebecca hissed beside me.

My night felt longer than a year.

I was bombarded with dreams, no, nightmares. Forced to relive my past, tormented with words coming from the one person I had once at some point trusted with my life.

Through it all I felt my body pinned down and this time I made no sound, my nightmare wouldn't let me.

I wondered then, why this felt so real, why it wouldn't stop. Nightmares I knew too well and when I finally found darkness, and silence I wondered, why this nightmare was so long, so vivid and so strong. What caused it and if I'd ever find a way to be free of it.