All I can hear are just laughter, giggles, people running, smiling. This is peaceful. I sat on a bench in a park, swinging my legs, humming softly to a tune I don't know but it was familiar. Families were playing, dogs were running, the scene before me was the typical park theme.
Screams. That's all I hear. Screams of terror filled my ears, covered the laughter. People evacuated the park but I sat there, unable to move. I was scared to the core nut still I sat there. A family. A family stared at me with pleading eyes as a gun was pointed at them. I wanted to run over to them, to scream, to yell, to cry but I sat still. "My sunshine" I saw the woman mouth before she was shot, along with the family.
Nothing. I felt nothing. It became so hard to breathe, so hard to see, so hard to hear but I didn't miss the voice that whispered in my ear. "Any last words?"
I jerked awake, looking frantically at my surroundings, looking for the family and the owner of that voice but found nothing except my dark room, staring right back at me. This has been happening for the past 2weeks now and I'm losing my mind. This haunting nightmare. I always wake up flustered, sweating like a goat in the scorching sun, sometimes tears in my eyes. I don't know where it came from or what triggered it but I just wanted it to stop, it's stressing me out.
I sighed, falling back on the comfy bed, staring at the grey coloured ceiling. I looked at my phone 5:55am. 'It's quite obvious I'm not going to going back to sleep.' I thought. I sat on the sofa, staring at nothing in particular until sunrise. 'Beautiful.' That's all I could say. The sky was a deep blue with the bright sun trying to cover it. Within the next 60minutes the sun was high above us, signifying another day. I did my morning routine before heading downstairs, greeting Samantha, I took my usual seat while she placed a plate in front of me.
I'd gone halfway into my food when Xander stepped in. 'Lord have mercy.' He wore a black suit with a red tie, his hair was combed back, leaving a few strands covering his eyes and it took every self control in me not to brush them away, his hypnotising blue eyes were staring at my green ones, his lips were moving, saying something I definitely wasn't paying attention to.
"Ashley?!" He yelled, bringing me back to reality. "Sorry," I mumbled, looking everywhere but at him. 'The lack of sleep is seriously taking a toll on me or maybe it's Alexander and his eyes.' I frowned at the last sentence. Alexander took a seat close to me and Samantha served him.
"Is that all of your food?" He asked taking a bite from his and I respond with a nod. He sighed. "The doctor said you should eat more." He reminded almost making me roll my eyes at his words. "I am eating, in fact I'm full," I said standing up but his next words stopped.
"Sit down" I opened my mouth, ready to protest but he injected. "Now." I sat back down, folding my arms. He started filling my plate with extra bacon and eggs then he ordered me to start eating.
"You're joking right?" I asked, waiting for some sort of laugh or smile but he arched a brow. "Why would I?" He asked back. "You don't except me to finish all of this." He stares at me then at the food. "Yes, I except you to finish all of that." He replied with my words. I stared at my plate 'He's definitely joking.' "Come on Ash, eat up." He called. "I can't finish this, I'm going to explode." I explained with wide eyes. "Ashley..." He called using that intimidating voice, "I don't have all the time in the world, so I'd advice you start eating." And those words were able to keep me shut. I huffed before eating, mumbling every now and then, how unfair he was and how I'm going to explode after I finish my food.
You know that situation when you're so full to the extend where you can't stand or do anything? Well that's totally my situation. After Xander forced that food down my throat, he left for work and here I am, sitting in the living room watching some kind of movie. I would have gone to that wonderful garden but I dare not. I can't risk been eaten, if the wolf found me thin then, I'm certain it would love to sink its teeth in me. I would have slept but I can't, I don't want to be visited by haunting nightmares, nightmares that make me shiver in fear, that makes me scream in my sleep. Yes, I scream in my sleep and I wonder how Xander's coping with my screams.
"Ashley?" "Yeah." I turned looking at Damon. "Are you alright?" He asked, concern vivid in his voice. "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked back furrowing my brows. "I don't know but I heard your scream last night, well everyone did." He stated nervously. At that moment, I just wanted to die. I can't believe I woke them up, I've been depriving them of their sleep and they're not complaining. I'm so emb-
"Ms. Ashley?" I looked up, remembering Damon was still by my side. "I'm sorry, I was just frightened but I'm fine now." I finished with a sweet smile. He opened his mouth to say something but stops before leaving me to my thoughts. 'I really need to stop this nonsense.' I thought. I sighed, thinking of a way to nit sleep, I decided to watch movies throughout the night then probably nap in the day. 'Yeah, I'm now a night creature.' I chuckled at my crazy thought.
I feel like crying. My 'I will not sleep' operation gas been a disaster, I always end up sleeping and it seems the nightmares just got worse cause I wake up heaving for air and sometimes screaming. Xander sometimes comes to wake me up and that is the most embarrassing moment of my life and the most awkward, is the next morning. I tend to shift on the seat, I don't hold a conversation or eye contact, I just rush the food down my throat, almost choking on it.
I feel exhausted, I want to sleep but I can't. I'm too scared to dream, too scared to hear those annoying laughter, too scared to look into those pleading eyes, too scares to listen to those screams of terror and horror, too fucking scares to hear those gunshots. A shudder raked through my body as I recalled my dreams.
It's 9:00am and the activities have dulled down buy here I am, coming down the stairs as quiet as possible. Smiling over my achievement, I marched into the kitchen, trying to make a cup of coffee. 'Trying.' I never knew making coffee was hard, like seriously, this is the fourth time I'm pouring it away and it's beginning to frustrate me. I poured another coffee into the black mug, poured milk and then added 4cubes of sugar, before taking a sip. I almost spat it on the counter. The coffee was so bitter, I added more milk with extra 6cubes of sugar then took a sip. I rolled my eyes at my too sweet coffee, I just gulped everything down in annoyance.
I flopped on the couch watching inside out. I'm certain I've yawned a thousand times, my eyes are so freaking heavy. Mr. Sleep was just laughing at my pathetic attempt of not to sleep while my nightmares were waiting for me to succumb to Mr. Sleep but I will not sleep no matter what. So I thought but my luck just had to be bad.
"Ashley?" 'No, please. Don't kill them, not again'
"Ashley?!" 'Please I'm begging, don't.'
"Ashley?!!" " Ahhhhh!!!!" I shot up
"Ashley?" "No, please don't touch me." I said flinching. "Hey, it's just me. It's Xander." I heard and that was all it took for me to open my eyes. He was on the bed, staring at me with a frown and I stared back. 'That dream.' I remembered the sounds so livid, it was so scary and I couldn't do anything.
"Hey, hey look at me. It's over now, it's alright." Xander cooed and I nodded still in a daze. Once I've calmed down, I laid back on the bed and Alexander made an attempt to leave but I stopped him. "Please. Please don't leave me." I whispered, tears swelling in my eyes. I don't know why I'm crying but I do know, I don't want to be here alone. He was hesitant but still laid on the space beside me. He wrapped his hands around me and I didn't waste a second to move closer. His temperature is always hot and mine is so cold. I soon fell asleep, curled like a ball in Xander's arms.
I woke up to a cold space beside me, well I wasn't expecting him to stay 'lies' he has work. I got out of the bed, took a shower, got dress in a blue flowery dress then went downstairs.
"Good morning, Samantha." I greeted cheerfully. Yeah I'm in a good mood today. She smiled, "it's afternoon," "Oh really? Then good afternoon." I took a seat on the bar stool and was past an orange juice. "Thanks," I said as I took a sip. "Dominus (master)" I heard Samantha say, turning around my eyes met with Alexander's. 'How can one always look so good?' He stood like a god in suit, the suit hugged his body so well, making all his muscles bulge, his jet black hair was combed to the left, making the volume on the left side much and I wanted nothing but to touch them. 'Get a fucking grip!' I cleared my throat awkwardly.
"How was your night rest?" He asked and I gave a nod. "Good. You're moving into my room."
I spat my juice on the counter.
"What?!" I yelled. "I said you'll b-" he started but I interrupted. "Of course I heard you. There's no way I'm moving in with you," I stated firmly. He cocked an eyebrow at me before he walked to where I was standing, then bent down to my eye level. 'Curse my height.' I'm not short okay? I'm 5.4 and he's probably 6.4inches, so he's just too tall.
"You've been having sleepless nights and yesterday when I stayed you didn't," he said and I gulped. He was close and his cologne was embracing my senses, making it hard to say something. "And... Wha-What does that have to do with my sleepless nights." I managed to get the words out. He stood upright and I sighed in relief. "Well I'm only going to test my theory," was his simple reply. "So if it's correct, what happens?" He smirked and I knew I wouldn't like his next words. "You'll stay in my room. Forever" I shook my head. He sighed out in frustration. "Okay fine. I'm giving you two days and if within those two days you don't have a nightmare then you won't have to stay in my room." 'Two days. Can I do this, I think I'll have to beg my nightmares.'
"Alright. You have a deal." I stated with determination.
This has been the most awful two days of my entire life. My eyes are aching, begging me to at least get a wink of sleep but I'm here sitting on my bed, staring at nothing. I yawned for the thousandth time, yep I'm counting it. My head was beginning to feel heavy. With a sigh I decided to rest my head on the pillow for 5minutes. 'Just 5minutes.'
"Get her! Don't let her escape!!!" I heard them yell from behind me and I pushed my legs to move faster. I have no idea why I'm been chased but I know that they want to harm me and I'm not going let that happen. The forest scene cleared, leaving me in a unfamiliar neighbour hood. The place looked dead, deserted and it sent a eerie shiver down my spine. I kept walking, looking for a form if life, then suddenly I heard sobs, heart wenching sobs with miserable sniffling. I followed the wails to a boy, who was crouching, covering his face, crying terribly. I walked over to him and it was that moment he rose his head.
I felt a violent bile rise to my throat.
He had blood all over his clothes, his brown hair was mixed with blood and his stormy grey eyes were bloodshot. "Why didn't you come? Why are you not here? You promised to be with me!!" He cried taking steps towards me and I backed away. "You promised!! You said you'll always be there!!" He screamed in a distorted voice. He started decaying, his eyes were nothing but sockets, black liquids were dripping from the corner of his mouth and he kept screaming. Something or rather someone grabbed my ankle and I went rig. 'Don't look down, don't look down.'
I looked down. A hand was holding my leg firmly, crawling up to my knee, the fingers were missing flesh, leaving the bones exposed. "You promised!" I turned to the boy and my heart leaped to my throat. In his head were maggots oozing out and his jaw was missing and those were enough to stumble to the ground and that was a horrible move because the next thing I knew, multiple hands were crawling on me. I wanted to scream like a maniac but my voice was lost. I kept squirming, trying to get out of their hold but they grew more tight. I felt so helpless, so vulnerable, so feeble, so frail and weak.
A hand came up my throat and my fear intensified. "You promised!!!" By now he was just having a skull. A jawless skull. Whatever obstacle that was holding my voice seemed to understand, that I needed my voice. I don't think I've ever scream so loud in my freaking life.
"Ashley?! Ashley, wake the fuck up!!"
"No! No, don't touch me!" I screamed, still feeling their hands on my body. "Ashley, it's me. Look it's Alexander, okay?" I heard Xander say softly and almost immediately, I turned to him. And there he was on the bed, staring at me with concern. I threw myself at him, hugging him like my life depended on it, I didn't even notice him stiff. I sobbed in his arms and he rubbed my back calmly. I don't know why I am crying, No, scratch that, I know why I'm crying. I was scared, I thought I'd never see Xander again, I felt hopelessness sip into my bones. The more Xander tried to calm me down, the more I cried and held him tight. Xander stood up but I didn't bother to raise my head from his neck. He walked for sometime then he laid me on the bed gently before he laid behind me. He pulled me closer to his warm cheat and trust me, if I was in a better condition, I'll be swooning but right now, I'm frightened to the core.
"Sleep Ash, I'll be here when you wake up." I shook my head frantically. "No, I don't want to sleep." "Go to bed. I promise I'll be here," he promised as he pulled me impossibly close. His body was radiating heat in contrast to mine. "You promise." I heard my voice and it sounded so hoarse. He sighed before he looked down at me. "I promise. Now please go to bed," he said. "Okay." I replied and then closed my eyes, praying to God not to have another mind wrecking dream. I felt a pair of lips on my hair before I heard a whisper.
"Good night, Amor." And that was all it too for me to sleep. Close to a warm chest and arms wrapped firmly around me.
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Hola peeps. Sorry about the late update, this chapter was quite difficult.
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Once again I'm sorry about the late update.
Jenny😘😘