Sokeefe vs. the Matrix

Chapter 2

Sophie's POV

"Hey mom, I'm home!" Sophie yelled up to Edaline. Grady was at work, as always at that time of night. He was a local cop for their small town of Rosenview.
"Finally! Where have you been?" Edaline asked. She was sitting on the couch, watching a cheesy human movie. Wait - human movie? No. Just... just a movie.
"I was out with Keefe, we were at the park."
"Well, did you have fun?"
"Yeah, I did. But... have you ever felt like... I don't know, like-" Sophie was cut off by her dogs barking. "Hey Silveny!" She turned her head and welcomed her poodle into her arms, deciding not to worry Edaline any more than she already had. "Mom, I'm going to head to bed."
"Already? It's only eight o'clock. Seriously, Sophie, when's the last time you went to bed before midnight?" she said with a worried frown.
"Yeah yeah yeah, I know, but tomorrow is my first day back at school since, well, you know..." She didn't want to bring it up again. She had felt so different since the accident, like memories were trying to force their way through her mind, but she couldn't remember anything.
"Ah. I know how you're feeling, Sophie. But trust me, it'll be fine. Nothing will be different than past years. Same friends, similar classes, even your teachers are the same stereotype as in the past. You have nothing to worry about!"
"I... I know. I just feel like... I'm fine. I think I want to get an early start at... sleep."
Edaline raised an eyebrow. "Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?" She laughed. Sophie rolled her eyes good-naturedly and headed to the stairs.
"Well, have a good night," Edaline smiled, turning back to the show and unpausing it.
Sophie contemplated whether to tell her about her first kiss, but she really was feeling tired, and she didn't think she could stay for an hour-long talk of Edaline picking her memory apart for every single detail. The strange thing was that Edaline hadn't guessed it yet. Usually, she was able to pick out what was going on with Sophie just from the look on her face. But something seemed slightly... off with her. Just like the whole day.
Sophie? She heard a voice say. She turned around, but didn't see anyone.
Sophie, answer me! She heard the voice again. This day could not get any weirder. It was definitely time for her to get some rest.
As Sophie walked up the stairs, the world was going in and out between her reality and something that felt so real - but couldn't possibly be. She finally made it upstairs before she passed out onto her bed and started dreaming. At least, she thought it was a dream.
She was in the hospital again, but much younger. Five maybe? She had so many loud thoughts in her head that weren't hers. All those needles sticking into her... the headache was unbearable. What was happening? Where was she? Who were those people she called "mom and dad"?
"Sophie?" Grady rushed into her room and took her out of her trance. "Are you okay? You were yelling something."
"Oh, uh, yeah. I'm fine, it was just a nightmare." She wasn't sure it was just a nightmare, though. "Did I ever hurt myself when I was young? Badly?"
"Not that I recall," he responded hurriedly, but he seemed worried about something.
Ugh. Everything about this day was just... not how it should be. Sophie didn't know how or why, but it had all started with that crash. Well, it was no wonder. Her brain was likely just messed up from the trauma. She'd go to sleep and just... hope everything would be back to normal in the morning.
And hope the nightmares would stay away.