Huntington Avenue | ✓ [PV REWRITE]

Part II: Chapter 16

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Chapter 16 | ❝ You got Wendy's?! ❞

Thursday, December 13th, 2018 - 1:43 a.m.

THE NIGHTMARES CONTINUED.

They were not ordinary nightmares, but in fact terrors. Zach had lost count of how many nights in a row he had them. The nights blended into one and were stitched together like a knitted blanket. Unlike the warmth the blanket would give him, all he was left with was cold and darkness. He could not escape it.

Nightmares were often classified as scary dreams which were normal in nearly everyone, but these terrors were far from normal. Zach found himself enduring many sleepless nights, causing more and more fatigue among his already foggy brain. Sometimes, the dreams were violent enough to turn his stomach inside out. Others, he woke up hyperventilating, but the worst of all was when he was physically unable to calm down for minutes, which turned into hours.

For the umpteenth time in a row, Zach found himself tossing and turning underneath his dark blue bedspread. His hands clung onto the large pillow he was accidentally abusing by knocking it every which way. It was a dream just like the others, but repeating it endlessly became mentally and physically exhausting. It came to be that point in his dreams where he could not take it any longer.

Unlike every night before then, Zach's throat was raw, but he was unable to register what it was from. Little did he know, he had let out a blood-curdling scream as he jolted awake. He knew his family was easily able to hear, but Zach physically could not stop. He felt his heart pound in his chest and when he finally grew some sense, he buried his face into his favorite pillow to force himself to quiet down.

Footsteps barreled into the room—three pairs of them to be exact. The door opened and the light from next to the bed was switched on. Two of the figures - one tall and one small - Zach could barely make out remained at the doorway, but one kneeled down in front of him. Zach looked away and his body collapsed on itself as he struggled to breathe properly.

"Zach, shh, it's alright," Mrs. West attempted to calm her frantic son. She had done this before. "Deep breaths..."

He blocked her out involuntarily, clinging onto his pillow for dear life. Zach felt his lungs burn while he attempted to breathe and calm himself down, but his attempt was in vain. Even his trembling hands loosened their grip on the only solid thing he had at that moment.

Meanwhile, Mr. West turned to Hayleigh and attempted to guide her out of the room. "Let's leave them be," he whispered with concern.

"But I wanna help!" Hayleigh whined tiredly. "He's really upset!"

"And you can help later, okay?"

The small girl frowned, however she decided to listen to her father despite the worry for her brother. "Okay, Dad."