CHAPTER ONE

POV: Terrence

It was cold. I was starting to feel my whole body go numb. I could here the screams in the distance. I had to save her. I couldn’t let her die again… like every other night. Why… Why… The words repeated in my head.

I was trying to run as fast as I could. I had to help her. I ran and ran and ran but in the end it was always the same. A women of about thirty-five lay dead and there was nothing I could of done.

I woke up crying hysterically. Why did this always happen? I was driving my parents insane. They thought I talked to myself but I didn’t. These people just wouldn’t leave me alone. No one could see them but me or at least that’s what I figure since no one commented on them when they hung around me.

My mom rushed in the room. “Terry.” She said as she pulled me into a hug. “Terrence…” She was saying my name calmly trying to get me to calm down. I think she was getting used to this by now since it seemed to happen every night. She had started to rub my arms in hope that would calm me down a little. “Terrence, what happened? Are you alright?” She paused for a second waiting for my answer but I didn’t say anything. “Was it that dream again?” I nodded, more sobs escaping me. “It’s not real… It’s just a dream. You really should not let your dreams get you this worked up.”

I pulled away from her. “There not just dreams, mom. I can feel what’s happening to her and if someone doesn’t help her she is going to die.” I did my best to stop the tears from coming but it was so hard and a few more escaped me. “I have to help her… I have to.”

My mom stood from the bed and looked down at me. I could tell she was mad that I was still taking the dreams so seriously. “Terrence, I told you about this. The dreams, the so-called ghosts. You need to stop. None of it is real.” She was very close to yelling.

“But it is. Just because you don’t have any proof doesn’t mean it isn’t real.”

“It’s just your imagination. Terrence if you don’t stop it with your imagination and just ignore the dreams, we’ll have no choice but to take the school psychiatrists advice and send you to that other school.” She sat down beside me again and put her hand on my shoulder. I didn’t look up at her. “We really don’t want to have to do that but if you have any other incidents I’m going to have no choice.” She stood and started to walk to the door. “I’m sorry, Terry but this is the last straw. I’m going to talk to your father about it…” She said before leaving.

I wasn’t crazy, the people… the dreams… All of it was real. Why wouldn’t anyone believe me?

“I don’t know, Justin… He’s really starting to worry me.” Jennifer Morgan, Terrence’s mom said into the phone. “I really don’t know what to do. Maybe it would be best to… send him to that school.”

“I don’t know Jenn… Terry is a smart kid.”

“What do you think we should do? It would only be a year… That’s not that long.”

“Yeah… but… Do you really think that would help him… I only want to do what’s best for him.”

“I know. It’s worth a try though. What could really get worse?”

“I suppose… I really hope your right about this Jenn…”

“Me too… I’ll talk to you later, hun… I should go tell Terry to start packing his things.

I sat on my bed, no doubt that this time I was going to be leaving. They threatened to send me away last time, but this time I’m afraid I will be leaving. I wish I were normal. I wish I didn’t have these dreams or see these people. It just made everything so much more complicated.

I wasn’t going to cry again, not because of this. I knew it was going to happen soon and I also knew there was nothing I could do to change their minds. I was totally helpless in the situation.

A light knock came to my door but I didn’t say anything. The door opened and my mom looked in. “Terry, I talked to your father and-“

“When am I leaving?” I said cutting her off quietly.

She looked at me and I could see the sadness in her eyes. “Tomorrow evening…”

I nodded. “Alright, I’ll start packing then.” She seemed somewhat hurt by my quick dismissal of her but she turned and left me alone.

I didn’t have much to pack. There wasn’t really much I wanted to take with me. Taking a medium size duffel bag I started to throw the clothes in it. The school had uniforms I knew, so I didn’t have to pack that many clothes. When would I need to wear anything other then my uniform? Never. The duffel bag should be enough, I could always wash what I had.

The only other things I packed was my notebook full of poetry and songs I had wrote, my glasses, my books I planned on reading, my CD player, and my book of CDs. I was taking my laptop with me too but that had it’s own case and wasn’t going to be thrown into my duffel bag.

Tomorrow would be so much fun. Can’t you just here how excited I am about it? The rest of the day I sat in my room and listened to music, writing and not really caring about the world going on around me. After dinner that evening was the first time I had talked all evening and it happened to be a conversation with someone who wasn’t real.

I was sitting at the desk in my room. My music was playing on low. I felt someone tap my shoulder and turned around to see a little girl staring up at my through curious eyes. She didn’t look much older then a toddler. Her long blonde hair nearly went to her waist. Her deep brown eyes stared at me. “Are you Tewwence?” She said mispronouncing the r in my name.

I nodded. “Um, yes… Can I help you with something?”

She shook her head. “No… I just heard that you could see me and I wanted to come and see…”

I chuckled at her innocence. “Yes, I’m so gifted.” I said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. “Do you want to sit here for a while?”

She nodded happily. “Can we play a game? I haven’t got to play a game in a long time. Not many people can see me. Please Tewwence?”

“Ok… If it’s easier to say, you can call me Terry.” She smiled happily and nodded.

“Ok, Terry!” She said, her voice still full of little girl innocence and wonder. “What should we play?”

“Hmm… I don’t know. How about you chose a game?” Just then my door opened and my mom came in.

She frowned and shook her head. “Terrence, not again. Who are you talking to?”

I looked at where the little girl had been, she was gone, leaving me to face me mom on my own. “No… no one.”

She frowned again. “Are you all packed? I was trying to get you a plane in the evening tomorrow so we could spend the day together before you left… but they only had room on their morning flight.”

“Alright…” She stood there and watched me as I got up to turn off my stereo. “I’m going to go to sleep now… I have an early start tomorrow…”

She nodded sadly and left the room.

The next morning I did everything like usual. Got dressed, hair, teeth… everything like usual. The only thing that was different this time is that I had to grab my duffel bag and laptop case before going downstairs for breakfast.

My mom was sitting at the table talking to my dad. He had taken the day off so he could say good-bye to me. When they see me take my seat at the table, they both gave me sad smiles. My mom was the first to say anything to me. “Good morning sweetie, did you sleep well?”

Of course I didn’t sleep well. Every time I close my eyes I have the same dream of that women dying. It’s always the same and there is nothing I can do to stop it from happening. No point telling them anymore about it though. It would be best if we separated on good terms. “Sure…” I said quietly as I got cereal from the cabinet and started to pour it into the bowl.

“That’s good. Are you excited about your new school?” It was dad who was talking now. “Even just a little.”

“I’m so excited.” I said showing no real enthusiasm to the subject.

“Your plane leaves in a hour, are you ready?” Mom asked my, cleaning the table of her and dad’s plate.

“Yeah…”

“Good, then when you’re done breakfast, we should leave.” I nodded and started to eat my breakfast. It was going to be a long plane ride, but I didn’t mind. Hopefully it would give me time to think.

When I finished my parents drove me to the airport in silence. They each gave me a hug good-bye. That was our good-bye before I turned and went to the gate, getting ready to board my plane. I looked at my parents one last time before turning and boarding my plane.