Too Long

I should be sleeping. But I'm not. Instead I'm up in my bedroom, with the lamp on beside me, as I'm reading a book that I shouldn't even have started to read. Because when I start to read I can't put the book down and I end up staying up later than I anticipated. Like now, it’s two o’clock in the morning and I’m more than halfway done with the book. And don’t forget that I just started reading the book when I was going to bed, which was midnight. So, here I am finishing up another chapter. I should just place the bookmark in the book and close it. But I don’t. I just turn the page and read on. Am I an insomniac? No, I just don’t want to sleep. Because when I sleep I dream and when I dream it’s usually nightmare. I know what your thinking, just keep dreaming until it finishes then it will go away. But that’s not true. Every time I have this nightmare a part of it comes true. I know this sounds crazy but it’s really true.

That’s why I stay up every night until it will only be at least three hours before I am supposed to wake up. I’ll know that I’ll only have three hours to endure this nightmare. Personally, I don’t think it’s short enough but if I go any shorter than three hours I won’t be able to last during the day. I look at the clock again and it’s two-thirty, bedtime.

I’m in my house, it’s dark and empty. “Hello?” It echoes through all the walls. My heart starts to beat really fast. I reach to the side of me trying to find the closest wall, when I do I feel for the light switch. It shouldn’t be far, if I recall I’m in my bedroom. I finally find it and flick the switch up. Nothing happens. I flick it down and then up again; still nothing. My heart beats faster now, and I start to panic. I run towards what looks like my door and find that it is. I walk out and start walking down the hallway. It seems so long when it’s dark. I hear a noise coming from the end of the hall. It’s like a drip-drip noise. “Mom? Dad?” Silence is the reply.

The drip-drip noise gets louder as I walk down the hall some more. It seems to be coming from the bathroom. I inch closer and closer towards the bathroom. The noise is getting louder now. “Danny?” DRIP-DRIP. I stand in front of the door to the bathroom. DRIP-DRIP, DRIP-DRIP, DRIP-DRIP. My hand shakes as I lift it up to turn the knob. When my fingers touch the knob a surge of electricity flows from my fingertips to the tips of my toes. I tell myself, This is bad… don‘t open the door. Oh but I don’t listen; I have to see what’s behind that door, what’s making that noise. So I turn the knob and open the door slowly. It makes that creaking noise, the same noise you hear in those horror movies. When I peek my head around the door, I wasn’t surprised to see that it was dark inside there. I slide my hand on the wall that’s closest to me feeling for light switch. I find it and flick it up. Light fills the room and the first thing I see is blood. Blood everywhere. I hold back my scream, my eyes start fill up with tears. Then my eyes glance over to the mirror to see something’s written on it. That’s when I scream. I tell my self to wake up. WAKE UP! My eyes still stare at the words…

And that’s when my alarm goes off. I open an eye and look at the time: 6:00. That was way too long. Never have I made it to the bathroom since a couple of months ago. This is bad. This is real bad. The light in my room turns on and I jump up. I look over to the door to find my brother Danny standing there with a smile on his face.

“Wake up sleepy-head. Time for school.” I groan and pull my feet on to the floor. The wood feels so cold. “Gosh you look like you’re dead.”

“Thanks bro.” I spit out as I grab my clothes from the closet.

“Bad dream?”

“Uh, since when hasn’t it been?”

“Yeah, I thought so. You were screaming earlier.” Danny walks in to my room a little more and sits in my egg chair. He is too big to be able to fit in that chair. Seeing him squeeze in the chair makes me want to laugh, but I don’t. Danny is a nice older brother, he actually listens to me. “You want to talk about it?”

“What is there to talk about? It’s been the same dream over and over again.” I look at him almost feeling like I’m going to cry. I don’t like seeing the bathroom like that. Ever since I first had that nightmare I haven’t used that bathroom at all. Instead I use my parents’ master bath. They don’t know that of course because they always leave for work before I even get up. Danny’s always here, except at nights when he goes to school. “Except today I went to the bathroom.”

“Really? Anything different?”

“No. Those words were still written there, on the mirror... Danny I’m scared.”

“It’s not going to happen Fee. You’ll be alright.”

“How do you know? How do you know that’s not going to happen? I mean part of it already has.”

“Remind me which part?” Danny wiggles in the chair.

“The part when I wake up in the middle of the night and the lights won’t turn on. The part when I walk down the hall calling out to you, mom, and dad, to only find that no one’s home. Remember? You found me in your bedroom when you came home.”

“How can I forget that part.” Danny says with a touch of humor in his tone of voice. Danny had brought home a girl that night and they were about to go in to his bedroom to do you-know-what but he saw me in his bed before anything got started. It was the first time I told him about my nightmares. His girlfriend didn’t seem to mind. She actually made me some tea and was very nice to me the rest of the night before she left. I felt bad because I knew I ruined Danny’s night, but he seemed like he didn’t mind.

“Danny I’m really sorry about that.” I look down at my feet.

“Fee, it’s okay. Anyway kiddo you got to get ready for school. Mom told me to take you to school today since it snowed last night.” He smiles at me and tries to get up from the chair. After a couple tries he finally frees him self. I laugh a little and follow him out of my room. I walk down the hall and quickly run pass the bathroom and in to my parents’ room.

I know this sounds childish. I’m like a little kid who is afraid to go near her closet because of the monster. But you don’t even know what it’s like to experience something so close to your nightmare. I mean, have you ever dreamt of something so scary like having your family murdered while you were asleep? That night, when my dream sort of came true I almost had a panic attack. That’s why I ran in to my brother’s room. Every now and then, when I don’t have anything to read I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and find that my light won’t turn on and my family isn’t home. It scares me to death, and then I remember my parents went to a benefit that night and Danny usually doesn’t come home until early in the morning.

My parent’s don’t know about my nightmares. If they did I’d be seeing a psychiatrist. I’m not even kidding about that part. I love my parents but they don’t like to be home all the time, it’s usually just Danny and I. So if they ever find out, they don’t want to waste time talking to me about it, they’d rather pay someone else to do it. That’s why I only told Danny. Even though Danny is five years older than me; we are pretty close.

“I don’t understand why mom won’t let me drive to school. I mean, I’ve had my license for over a year now, I think I know how to drive in the snow.”

“Well, apparently she doesn’t trust you driving in the snow. Besides, I thought you liked getting rides from your cool older bro!” He laughs at his stupid remark. I only giggle a little but I’m still a little shaken up over that dream.

“Yeah, I do. But still.” Danny parks his 2007 Mustang in front of my school. I spot my friend Shelly standing by the tree we meet at in the mornings. “Thanks for the ride. Oh and don’t forget, two-thirty, okay?”

“Okay, two-thirty. Felicity, I’ve been to this school before.”

“I know. I just don’t want to be forgotten okay?”

“Yup. See ya Fee.” I move to get out of the car. “Wait.”

“What?”

“Try not to think of that today, okay? It’s just a dream.”

“Okay.” I give a soft smile and then I get out of his car. Shelly sees me and waits until I catch up to her before she starts to talk.

“You would never guess what happened to me last night.”

“What?” She smiles really big.

“Todd asked me out!”

“Todd? Todd Johnson?”

“Yeah!” She jumps up and down a little. I join her in the jumping and we both squeal a little, causing everyone around us to naturally stare in our direction. We stop suddenly.

“Oh. My. God! That’s so exciting! How’d he do it? Over the phone? IM?”

“Over the phone. It was so sweet. At first he pretended not to know what one of the assignments was, and then we just talked for a little bit. Not soon after was when he asked me to the movies!”

“Aw that’s so sweet. You’re so lucky Shell, you and Todd!” Shelly smiles and links her arm with mine.

“Now, we just have to hook you up with a cutie pie so we can double date!” I blush a little. Now why does she have to say something like that?

“No, no, I’m fine. You go and have fun with your new boy and tell me all about it.” I laugh a little, covering up the busted ego I have. I haven’t had a boyfriend since... Well, to be honest with you, I never had an actual boyfriend. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve dated guys and all but there was always something wrong with each and every guy I date. One was too in to himself. Another was way to geeky, he knew what every part of my body does when I eat and sleep. And sadly the last one I dated ended up liking my last date. Yes, you guessed it, he was gay. The only reason why he asked me on a date was to get me to hook him up. So what if I’ve never had a boyfriend, I’m seventeen years old, I still have years ahead of me... If my dream doesn’t come true. And now it comes back to haunt while I’m at school.

“Hello?? Earth to Fee? Are you in there?” Shelly waves a hand in front of my face. I shake my head a couple of times and blink away my daze.

“Huh? Oh sorry, didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Hate to break it to you darling, but you haven’t had much sleep for the last couple of months. What’s up with you? Is everything alright at home?”

“Yeah everything’s fine. I’m fine. Really I am. If I wasn’t, I’d tell you right?”

“I hope so.” The bell rings and Shelly continues dragging me down the hall to our first class. We have all the same classes this semester. I don’t know how that happened, but I am so grateful for that. Especially when I end up falling asleep during my English class. Shelly sits behind me so when ever my head drifts down she pokes me in the back. But unfortunately, my teacher decided to change seats today so now I have to keep myself awake. I wonder how long this is going to last...

DRIP-DRIP. That noise is what wakes me up. DRIP-DRIP. I swing my feet on to the floor. It’s really cold, like someone turned my floors in to ice. I reach for my lamp to turn it on but when I push the button in the light doesn’t turn on. I shiver a little and start walking towards where my light switch would be. I flick up the light switch, and as expected nothing happens. I try a couple more times; still nothing. I make my way to my door. DRIP-DRIP. I take a step in to the hall. It’s carpeted, but it feels so cold against the bottoms of my feet. I place a hand on the wall beside me and start slowly walking down the hall. DRIP-DRIP. I stand in front of the bathroom door. DRIP-DRIP. I know what’s behind the door but I still reach for the knob. When I touch the knob I feel it start to move in my hand. The door starts to open and-

My teacher taps my shoulder making me jump. A couple of people laugh at my reaction, but my teacher doesn’t find this funny at all. “Sleeping in my class doesn’t count towards your grade Felicity. So make yourself useful and take out the play.” I smile a little at her and turn towards where Shelly is sitting. She makes a little ‘oops’ face and shrugs at me. “Felicity, take out the play. We don’t have all day.”

“Okay.” I grab the book from my bag and open to the act we are on. My teacher continues to walk around the room and finally stops in front of her desk.

“Felicity, since you need something to keep yourself awake, why don’t you be the narrator.” I groan a little and nod. Okay, so reading out loud is not my thing. I know how to pronounce the word in my head but when it comes to reading out loud I always sound like I’m stupid. Maybe that’s why my teacher thinks I am plagiarizing on my essays. So when it comes to reading out loud, or doing a speech I always get nervous or sometimes even nauseous about it. I read my part fairly well, and sigh when I finish. Thank God, is all I can think.

The rest of the day is comprised of me trying to keep myself awake. I don’t like having my nightmare at school, especially when I don’t know what I do when I sleep. So the one that I had in English is a reminder that keeps me awake for the rest of the day.

“Fee you okay? You look really pale today. Especially after English.” Shelly asks me as we wait in line for our food.

“Yeah, no sleep that’s all.”

“Okay.” Shelly doesn’t say anything for awhile until we sit at the table. “Felicity, I’m worried about you. You don’t seem like yourself lately. Are you sure everything’s okay?” I freeze up. I have to tell her, it’s not right for me to keep this from her any longer than I already have.

“No, I’m not okay. Shell, I’ve been having this horrible nightmare that keeps reoccurring every night for at least two months.” I suck in my breath waiting for her to say something. She looks at me as if she’s waiting for me to say more. “And what’s worse... there are parts that are starting to come true.” Shelly’s eyes get real wide.

“Oh Fee!” She wraps her arms around me and that’s when I let my tears start flowing. We’re causing another commotion but this time I don’t care. It feels really good to finally have someone else beside my brother now what’s going on. “Fee, tell me all about it. I’m all ears.”

“But what about Todd? I thought he was supposed to eat lunch with us.”

“Not today.” Shelly pulls me away and hold my arms. “Today it’s just you and I.” I laugh a little. She’s just like a mother to me. So, I tell her. I tell her everything that happens in my nightmare all the way to when I get in the bathroom. I don’t tell her what it says on the mirror, or even what I see in the mirror, because it’s personal. Not even Danny knows. And Danny and Shelly will never find out. Because what the mirror shows will scare them to death.

YOU COULD HAVE SAVED THEM, FELICITY. And in mirror you see my brother, my mother, my father, and Shelly... all dangling from the shower rod.

A/N: This chapter is long. Probably going to be the longest one of this story. But anyway, please R&R. Concrit is welcomed and appreciated. I need to know what I need to work on. Thanks!!