The Confidence of a Nerd

Chapter 6 (EDITED)

"Lia, you're never getting away from me, you're going to be taking care of me your whole life."

I'm running, I don't know where I am but I know I have to escape before the owner of the voice catches me. I pass trees so tall, I can't see the sun. It's only fog and darkness. The sound of twigs snapping beneath my feet are urging me to run even faster, my stomach is lurching as I go. It's coming closer to me and I can hear it.

"I never loved you, you ruined me!"

These are words I've heard multiple times before that keep me locked in my cage of misery and fear.

My mom's figure is that of a monster, a snake tail skating along the grass where her legs used to be. Her tongue is that of a snake as well and every time she says my name it sounds as if she's hissing it. It's hard to breathe, every breath that I take hurts like hell as I continue to run and her manic laugh gets closer.

She catches me, her tail entrapping my body, a scream so shrill leaves me as she begins to squeeze me until I'm choking and gasping for air. A wicked smile shows on her face, wide enough for her fans to protrude from her mouth. Her jaw opens wide and she lunges towards my head.

I wake up with a jolt, beads of sweat all over my body. Harsh breaths escape my dry lips and I begin to wonder if I'll always be like this, scared. I never thought that I was scared of my mom but then I have these dreams of her and I start to question myself. I head to the shower, after a nightmare like this one a long one was in order too.

Once I'm out, I get dressed for school and head out as quietly as I can so as to not wake up the snake monster in my house. It's a quiet morning, so quiet in fact that my nightmare earlier is beginning to feel a bit real. No one is behind me yet I find myself walking as fast as I can to escape something indescribable. A weird nervousness that haunts me as I finally get to school.

Thankfully, there's people already at school so the noise of people chattering away in the commons helps relax me as I head to my locker before class. Taking out some of the heavier binder that I won't need for a while and putting them in my locker, something touches my shoulder and I drop my binder, a loud bang echoing through the halls.

"You okay there?"

"Oh it's just you," I shudder. "Sorry, I had a nightmare so I'm a bit jumpy."

His arm wraps around my shoulders nonchalantly as he looks down at me, his eyebrows furrowing.

"You sure you're okay, your eyes are bloodshot red."

"Yeah don't worry about it, it's the same nightmare I always have. I'm still a bit iffy right now but I'll be better by lunch."

"That's not okay at all though, try and get some sleep while you're in class. I talked to Mrs. Darcy and cleared up the misunderstanding and she owes you so she should let you sleep, and if not, worst case scenario you're in detention with me. " He winks at me and I giggle, my hand raising to cover my mouth.