Life on the Neverside

Chapter Eleven

A/N) Disclaimer: I only own the concept of this story outline, plus the vague characterisations I may have given any of the characters, plus my own tiredness. Got it? Good.

Lexi was sprinting at full speed through the woods, narrowly avoiding trees in her flight. All she knew is that she had to get away, she had to get away fast. She stumbled over rocks, kept running, feeling the burn in her limbs and the adrenaline pounding a steady beat in her head, reverberating throughout her entire body.

The creature was after her.

She didn't know where Tom was, and she didn't know where Varg was, and she didn't know where she was, or where the monster was, or where the safety of the magical barrier around their home was that would protect her from the monsters.

Growls behind her, close now. Close enough to hear the breaths of the creature. Lexi stumbled again; fear gave her strength to push her exhausted body faster, harder, through the trees, away from the creature.

Where was Tom? He said he'd protect her from the creatures, he said he'd keep her safe from the dangers of the Neverside. Or had he taken her seriously when she had insisted she didn't need his help, back when they had first arrived? Had he been lying all this time, waiting for the right moment to abandon her and let her be eaten?

Oh God, she didn't want to die. Not like this. Not here.

A low guttural snarl right behind her. Lexi didn't look back at it, she knew from training that her body would automatically freeze up in rigid fear if she allowed herself to get one glimpse of the monster.

Then, as she stumbled over the seemingly endless branches obstructing her route, she fell, tumbling head first into a lower area, half a metre lower than the path.

And came face to face with the wide glassy eyes of her brother - lying dead in the ditch.

Lexi screamed.

Nightmare. Just a nightmare.

Lexi sat bolt upright in the bed, shaking with terror and shock. The nightmares had been taking her over for the last few nights, but this had to be the worst yet. A combination of her fears about the unknown in the Neverside, and the presumed fate of her brother. And the fact that he would blame her for what he had suffered. If only she had been more diligent, had paid more attention, hadn't wasted all that time, had beamed straight down to help him when his communications were cut. If only she had been able to save him.

At least this time she hadn't screamed out loud in real life. She had done that the last couple of nights, and although Tom had assured her that it was fine, it was completely okay, everyone had nightmares and you couldn't control them, Lexi still resented the idea of bothering him with her ... psychological issues. Nightmares were weaknesses, and she would combat them like she did any foe, with care and precision.

But could you fight your own mind?

Lexi didn't stop shaking the entire night. She didn't get a lot of sleep, either.