Intense Dream Part 2

Yes... this is the title I have for this story as of now. I think it's going rather well. You know when I woke up from this dream I spent the next three hours getting her out of the situation and then coming up with an ending? It's REALLY unlikely but it's exciting and fun... and I still don't have any backstory figured out. I'm gonna work on that later this week. So you might not get another post for several days. Don't be alarmed. I'm working on it.

And now, for our featured presentation!

Intense Dream Part 2

My eyes opened.

You know when you wake up and you know something is wrong? Something was definitely wrong. It was the fifth time I had woken up that night, I kept waking up from bad dreams, people in masks, hands grabbing me, tying my hands and feet, gagging me... Each time I jerked awake, I had been able to relax enough to sleep again, but this time hadn’t been from the dreams. I sat up and pulled the tiny towel up and under my arms, wrapping it around my body.

The morning light was just coming in the window. It was just before sunrise and the sky was brightening slowly.
Then I heard a car door slam.

My stomach dropped and my heart hammered twice before I made it to the closet. Roughly I shoved the vacuum, broom and boots aside so I could cram my body behind the coats, scarves and hats.

It was only after was firmly situated between the wall and the contents of the closet that I realized three things. First, I had left the bed unmade, second, my clothes were still in the dryer and I was completely naked except for a towel, and finally if they had come for me, the closet wasn’t going to be enough.

I leaned against the wall, shaking, my legs ready to give out. I had braved hypothermia, hiked miles, after fighting a river for the better part of the night. I was tired. I was scared. I was dead. And on top of that I was going to be caught naked, oh, they were going to have fun with that. I laughed softly and rubbed my forehead, tears streaking down my cheeks. Despair settled in and I waited for the door to open...

“Daniel! Come get your bags!” It was a female voice...

I swore very, very quietly and gathered my nerves. It wasn’t them... It was the Corbets! They had come up for the long weekend. I could hear Daniel running in and out downstairs, the Corbets moved in slowly. I could hear the heavy clonking of luggage hitting the porch and front door. I didn’t have much time, how was I going to get out of here?

“Jared...” It was the woman again, must be the mother. Someone was wrong, had she seen the dryer?

Clothes, I needed clothes! I slipped out of the closet and began opening drawers, very gently. They gave easily, making hallow sounds. Empty. I needed out! I went back to the closet and threw on a coat.

“Daniel, Irene, get behind me. Call the police.” Male’s voice. The father.

Oh no... Oh, no! If the police were alarmed, they would hear about it. I zipped up the coat and ran down the stairs.

“Please! Please, don’t call the police!” When I reached the bottom I could see Jared, the father. He was holding a fire poker like a baseball bat, ready to take a swing at my head. He was tall roughly six feet, clean shaven, dark brown, wavy hair, button up shirt and jeans. Irene was clutching Daniel desperately. Irene was blond, hair styled in a bob, wide, light blue eyes. Daniel was maybe fourteen or fifteen, shorts, shirt, he looked just like his parents. Instead of being scared, he was angry, determined, full of life.

“GET ON YOUR KNEES! LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!!” Jared bellowed. I dropped instinctively his voice thoroughly intimidating me. I held my hands up and ducked my head down. Freak, who was this guy? A cop?

“Please...” My voice was trembling. I cleared it and took a shaky breath. “I just needed a place to stay. I crashed and fell into the river. All of my stuff was lost and I didn’t have anyplace to go.” I chanced a look up. His face was a mask of suspicion and anger. I didn’t know if he believed me or not. “I didn’t take anything, I swear, I had no ill intentions. Please.” I looked up into Jared’s face, pleading.

For a long intense moment, nothing was said and it was Irene, not Jared who broke the silence.
“Jared, it’s alright. Let’s at least let her get into some clothes. She can explain herself fully in a moment.”

All at once, I realized that I was in nothing but a windbreaker and a towel, a teeny one at that. Blood rushed to my face as I looked down to make sure I wasn’t flashing poor Daniel. Hurriedly I pulled the towel closer and allowed Irene to help me stand.

I was pleased to see I wasn’t the only one blushing and feeling incredibly embarrassed. Jared was looked down and pulled Daniel outside, mumbling something about people making themselves at home.

Irene smiled genuinely and all the stress and fear that had built up in these few moments this morning washed away. I’m embarrassed to say I almost fainted in her arms from exhaustion and lack of sleep. Somehow I held myself up and explained to her about the dryer. She got my things and helped me upstairs when it became obvious that my supply of adrenaline had stopped and my body was incapable of functioning on it’s own.

I had never been so sore and stiff that I couldn’t move. Everything hurt, my arms screamed when I reached out for the railing. My legs were just as bad, each step felt like a mountain. Irene was practically carrying me upstairs.

When we finally reached the bedroom, she sat me down and started to help me dress. Reluctantly I let my trusty towel go and peeled off the coat. She gasped, putting a hand to her mouth.

I looked down and whistled. I was a sight. Bruises covered my arms, ribs and (from the way it felt I assume my back) all up and down my legs. No wonder I felt like hell.

“What happened? All this from a crash?” Irene was sincerely concerned. It lifted my heart to know someone cared.

“Well, I did crash and then tumble into a river, so yes.” It felt good to be coddled and I’m afraid I was enjoying it much too much.

Irene shook her head and helped me pull on each article of clothing. “When I saw your face I thought you might be hurt but I didn’t really think the bruising was this extensive.”

“My face? What’s wrong with my face?” I stood up too quickly and gasped, grinding pain pulling me to a complete stop.

“Are you alright?” Irene was by my side in seconds one arm on my shoulder, ready to support me. I could’ve cried.

“I’m fine.” I hissed through gritted teeth.

Her mouth tightened into a hard line and she pushed me gently, but firmly back to the bed. “You, my dear, are far from fine.” She sat on a chair in the corner and glared at me. “You are going to tell me exactly what happened, how you came to get here, who you are and what you’re circumstances are. I have a strong feeling you are hiding something. It comes with being a mother. You can tell when children are lying.”

I raised my eyebrows and she raised one right back.

I opened my mouth and before I could speak she said, “I want the whole truth. I can see you conceiving a half truth. Don’t think you can deceive me.” Her finger was in my face, now.

I was impressed and irked by this woman. One moment she is treating me like I was a little baby, the next like I was a lying thief and how she had put together that I was hiding something in two sentences was a miracle in and of itself. I debated within myself. I could tell her, she would be in danger if I did so, her entire family would have the same fate as me. It would be better for them if I didn’t, but then again... was I really that noble? I could use them. They were trusting people, except for the father, he seemed to have some sense of the world. This woman wanted to see the best in people and gave them every chance to prove it. If I could play that...

But would she believe me? My story was fantastical to say the least. I almost wanted to tell her just to see her reaction... this woman who treated me like her own child.

I opened my mouth and began.