Deadly

From Insane To Irritating

            Calamity quickly sat up from her desk to the sound of her phone alarm, gasping for air as she grabbed her throat. It still burned softly as she took a sharp breath in, her fingers shaking against her skin as she looked at her reflection in her black laptop screen. She didn't remember falling asleep, but she remembered the dream she just had, the sound of the girl's voice still fresh in her mind and her body aching like she had been running. She reached over and turned off her phones alarm as she rested her face in her hands, the lingering taste of blood still on her tongue as she felt a gag trying to form in her throat from the taste and feeling of choking on her own blood. She stayed like that for a time before standing from her desk and wandering into the bathroom where she flipped on the light and turned on the faucet, staring at the water before looking up into the mirror. For a split second the face that met her was the girl from her dream, but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared, yet it still made her shiver hard as she leaned down and splashed the cold water into her face.

It was Monday so she went about her usual school prep routine, checking her bag, doing her makeup, getting dressed and joining her brother for coffee. As they sat at the table, she just watched his lips move, her brain in a mass of thoughts as she didn't hear a word he said. She gave an occasional nod every few seconds to appear like she was listening yet as he spoke, she kept reliving her dream from the night before, the lingering burning in her chest still there and her body still felt heavy as if she had genuinely been running for her life the night before. "Did you hear anything I just said to you?" This time she did hear him, his voice causing her to come away from the nightmare as she blinked a few times and held her head.

"No, sorry. Last night was pretty rough again once I got back to sleep." Lance sat back in his chair as he stared at her from across the table, resting his hands in his lap.

"Ok now I am starting to openly worry, this is the fourth night in a row. Did something happen at school on Friday that is bringing all this up?" He watched Calamity raise her head and rub her neck, not meeting his gaze.

"No, it went about as well as a first day can really go. It's probably just stress or something, I really don't want to talk about it just yet." She dug her nails into her neck as Lance stood up from the table with a heavy sigh.

"Fine, I'm not going to push it. The psychiatrist who did your work over after the accident said not to so I won't just please tell me when you are ready so we can talk." She gave him a nod, keeping her eyes locked on the table to avoid seeing the worry in his eyes. "Do you want a ride or do you want to walk. I won't blame you if you don't want to get in a car right now." She swallowed softly and forced herself to look up at him, sure enough his face was ridden with a silent plea for her to talk to him.

"I would rather walk today; sorry I just don't want to get in a car." He nodded at her and grabbed his keys, walking over to her and rubbing her head before he offered a quiet smile.

"That's fine, all I want is honesty from you. I don't think that's too much to ask for." She looked away from him, her heart stinging as it felt like a dagger had been shoved through it.

"Ya, I promise I will be honest when I am ready to talk about it." His hand left her hair, causing her to reach up and smooth it down with shaking fingers.

"I should be home on time today, but I am not positive. We will see what happens, just text me when you get to school so I know you made it. I love you." He started to walk away as she smiled softly at his outward worry.

"You say things like that, and I am going to have to tell Derek you are getting soft." She turned to look at him, he was already halfway out the door before he stopped and flipped her off with a smile.