Closed Mindset

Chapter 1

Ariana was running. Her palms were sweaty and her legs screamed in pain. The air around her was suffocating and she was out of breath. But, she couldn't stop running. Not now.

He was close.

The forest around her was not one of majestic beauty, it was a death zone.

Ariana had made this run many times before, so she was familiar where to place her steps. A repetitive cycle, one that she was now tired of. But this time, she would make it.

He was getting closer.

Ariana panted for breath and smiled as she could see a way out. All she had to do was jump over that boulder and she would make it. But before she could time her jump, her leg got caught. She fell, hitting the ground, hard.

He won: again.

Ariana felt those big, heavy, claw-like hands grab her neck, lift her up and throw her back down to the ground. She screamed in pain: there was too much agony in her body to enable her to get up and run again. She had failed.

He lifted a gun to her forehead.

Ariana could see that repulsive smile, he always did, as his finger stroked the trigger. But this time, she wouldn't let him. She put in all the effort she had left, and moved her arms to support herself.

But before she could stand, he pulled the trigger.

Ariana gasped and sat up in bed. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she was shaking. He palms were sweating and the whole world spun around her.

Susan, her mother, ran straight into Ariana's room and sat down beside her, with a glass of water, after hearing a terrible scream.

"He, he..." Ariana could picture the scenes clearly in her head, but couldn't explain them.

Susan took a tissue from the tissue box on Ariana's side table and wiped her tears.

"It was only a dream Ariana. Only a dream." Susan had no idea why her daughter was having so many nightmares.

She gave Ariana the water who took the glass, with shaking hands, and drank it quickly.

There was a creak in one of the floorboards and then, Milo and Brandon walked in. They were Ariana's younger brothers. Ariana was the eldest- she was sixteen, then it was Brandon- he was fourteen and Milo was the youngest- he was only seven.

They hated it when they heard her scream after a terrible nightmare so, every time it happened, they brought her some chocolate. And, as always, it made her feel better.

Brandon came and sat next to Ariana and Milo sat in front.

"Ariana, are you ok?" Milo asked, worry filled in his sparkling eyes.

"Yes. I'm fine." Ariana loved Milo. Just seeing him made her feel better.

Milo looked deep into her eyes and shook his head.

"No you are not." He opened his tiny hand and in his palm was a small chocolate. "Here you go. Now you should be fine."

Ariana laughed and took the chocolate. Then, Brandon tapped her lightly on her shoulder.

"Are you sure you're alright, Ariana?" He was concerned about his sister.

Why did she look so shattered?

"I'm okay, now that you are all here." Ariana saw what was in Brandon's hand: another small chocolate.

"I brough this for you. Milo already gave you the one he picked, here is mine." Brandon gave Ariana the chocolate and gave her a hug.