The Game Called Life

Reality is My Nightmare

With a shuddering breath I awaken. All is quiet as my eyes search the darkness for the familiar glow of my alarm clock.

5:00 in the morning?! Why world, why must you be so cruel.

With a sigh of resignation I push myself into the sitting positition knowing that trying to return to my dreams would be futile. Brushing my blankets to the side, I stand, legs wavering slighty. After steadying myself, I walk to the bathroom and turn the lights on, splashing cold water on my face. I glance up and my eyes become frozen in a blank stare at the stranger in the mirror. Dull blue eyes look back at me, their expression drained by the nightly terrors that have plauged my dreams. My face is pale, cheeks flushed of all color but the faint tracing of tear stains and the ever deepening lines under my eyes. As I turn to exit, a sudden dizzy spell hits me. My hands fly to the counter, just barely keeping me from collasping. Nausea swirls in my stomach and I lower myself to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest and burying my head between them. 

I guess my lack of sleep has finally caught up with me

When the spell fades, I weakly pull myself up and begin the process of getting ready for school. Heading downstairs, I skip breakfast, fearful that the nausea would return. After bidding farewell to my parents, I head out the front door. I make my way toward the school slowly, savoring the thoughtful silence the walk provided me, and upon entering the school I head straight to class without a word and flop into my desk, mind off in my own world.

"NIKKI!" Haru's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "Are you ok? You seem off."

 With a gentle smile I respond, "Yea, i'm fine Haru, just a little tired."

"Ok..." He answers in an unconvinced tone.

The bell rings and after one more quick smile, I turn to the board and commence my learning. After that and two other classes it's time for lunch! With a growing headache I place my books in my locker, cringing at the pain of my throbbing head. I turn, only to come face-to-face with Jace. His gaze was hard, and he carefully studied my face. Leaning closer, his eyes met mine as if piercing my soul. With a low hum, he straightens and turns, motioning for me to follow him. Surprised and quite flustered, I follow him to the lunchroom and sit, soon joined by the rest of the group, failing to notice my headache was now of nonexsistence.

"Ugh, did you see the assignment for Literature?" Questions an exasperated Sienna.

"I know right? It's ridiculous, who has time to write a 5,000 work essay?!" exclaims Kuro.

"Kuro, if you spent more time on your studies and less on goofing off then you would be more efficient in your work and have plenty of time." replied Jace to a sulking Kuro.

"Yea Kuro, spend less time goofing off." taunts Zero.

"That was meant for you too Zero." says Jace while smirking.

"Tch. Whatever." Zero mutters.

Chuckling lightly at their antics, I stand and return to class with the still bickering group. Swiftly the day passes and the school day comes to a close, as I head out the door though I hear my name being called.

"Nikki! Wait up!" calls Sienna.

I stop mid-step and wait as she hurriedly walks towards me.

"Will you walk with me to my car?" she inquires while trying to catch her breath. "The rest of the guys are out there waiting."

"Sure." I answer in a quiet voice. As we exit the building, the sudden increase in light becomes the start of another headache.

"You ok?" Sienna asks in a concerned tone. "You have been getting increasingly quiet for the past week or so and you don't look as if you feel the best."

"Yea, i'm fine. Just a headache." I say, forcing a smile on my face. Seeing through this though, Sienna gives me the "look".

"Don't pull that with me." she says.

"Fine." I say, exhaustion sapping away any fight I had. "Lately i've had these weird nigthmares."

"Nightmares?" she says with a curious expression on her face.

Stepping off the sidewalk and into the parking lot I nod and say, "Yea. It starts off in some forest.  It just has this dangerous air to it...I always am running from something, though I don't know what it is. I always wake up screaming before it catches me."

With a thoughtful expression on her face she answers back "Interesting..."

"Yea, I guess." I sigh out.

As we approach her car the intensity of my headache increases suddenly, sending sharp, paralyzing shots of pain shooting throughout my entire body. Grabbing my head between my hands, I gasp and collapse to my knees.

"Nikki! Talk to me! Nikki!" screams Sienna.

Groaning in pain, I squeeze my eyes shut and cover my ears.

Pain...So much pain

I hear my name being called by the others and open my eyes a little. 

"Guys.." I whisper "Help...me."

Tears begin to drip down my face as the pain intensifies, bringing black dots to the edge of my vision. I feel sharp rocks from the pavement digging into my hands and knees as I fully collaspe onto my side, the heat from the concrete able to be felt through my clothing. Suddenly the pain stops, only to be replaced by the terrifingly familiar numbness that makes my nightmares so realistic and panic inducing. 

"No." I breathily force out . "No!"

Not this...please not this

Right before I fully lose feeling in my limbs and my mind becomes fully clouded, I feel the sensation of being picked up and carried along with a chorus of voices. Using what little control that remained, I strained to hear.

"Shouldn't of.......dangerous...........why her........our fault" the muffled voices say.

Finally becoming incapacitated, the black consumes my vision and all goes silent.