Realms of a Dream Engineer

Run, Run, Run, Run

CONTENT WARNING: murder, stabbings, death

     There was an event going on at someone's house. Family and friends were all invited. I was inside with a few family members, sitting in a circle in the living room. Some were sitting on the couch, and some were on chairs they pulled up. I was sitting on the ground since there was no more seating.

     There was one family friend that we didn't quite get along with. They were loud and never thought before saying something that could hurt a whole group of people. This person was sitting with us and making awful jokes and then laughing by themself. The rest of us made eye contact with each other, knowing full well what everyone was feeling.

     So, my aunt decided enough was enough. She suggested we all go outside, where everyone was eating food and dancing to family-friendly music. Everyone automatically stood up, desperate to get away from the "friend" whose insensitive jokes made them cringe. We walked out to the backyard, where everyone was having a good time. The whole backyard was freshly cut and green all the way through. Against the house, they had tables out and filled with food or drinks.

     The rest of the lawn was full of all ages laughing and dancing to the music. It was a way better environment already. I walked with my family near the white gates at the back of the yard. My sister and I laughed as our family started dancing and enjoying themselves. She then turned to me and said I needed a new hair dye. It was dying my neck and my face red.

     I turned around to look at the gate, and a mirror shimmered into position. I was not as surprised about the pop-up mirror as I was that my face and neck were, in fact, stained by red hair dye. I tried rubbing it off of my face. Of course, it did nothing. I ignored it and turned to my aunt who begged me to dance. I danced with her before a student-teacher gathered everyone in the middle of the yard.

     We all sat down on the grass in rows, with the younger kids in the first couple of them. It must've been a school band event because they started doing trivia that I could not understand. They talked about music with the kids, and the rest of us were supposed to sit there and nod. Or at least, that's what we ended up doing. Then, a big group of about 30 college students came waltzing onto the grass.

     They were late to the party, but some were still carrying their bags or books with them. It was likely that they had just finished classes. They sat down and joined us on the ground but kept to the back rows. Their loud chattering didn't stop, even as they settled in as if they were in their own little world. At first, it caused a ripple effect, and the whole crowd started talking amongst themselves.

     The student-teacher was trying to get everyone to quiet down because he was trying to finish his session with the kids. Eventually, the band kids and family members had stopped talking and turned their attention to the college students. I felt the annoyance everyone else was feeling, watching as the college students laughed and talked. They ignored all of the hushes, which led to a lot of yelling and trying to shut them up.

     Most of the college students did quiet down and helped shush their friends. Except, there was one group of four students that didn't care. Everyone around them became aggravated. Someone leaned forward to tell them to stop talking but one of the girls that wouldn't shut up talking glared. She grabbed them by the arm and jumped on top of their body.

     At first, everyone gathered around quickly because she had started punching them. I was sitting down still while most had started standing up for a glimpse of the commotion. But then, I could see a glimpse of the girl grabbing something out of her pocket. I furrowed my eyebrows at the pen and watched as she started stabbing it into their neck.

     There was immediate panic, and the girl went full stabbing mode. My first instinct was to run towards the gate. The journey to the gate took forever. I could hear everyone screaming behind me. Most of the people were trying to leave through the house. The girl had started to stop other people around her nonstop. Even though I was a bit away, I could hear the stabbing through flesh over and over again.

     I finally jumped over a gate. Then, another one. There was only one word going through my mind.

     Run, run, run, run, run, run...

     I ran down the street, leaving all my belongings back at the house. My family was still back there. The regret hit me instantly after realizing my family was still back there. I remembered having passed my mom's car on the side of the road. We could've all gotten out together. But people were being killed and, selfishly, I was only thinking about my own survival.

     I could still hear everything. Every few seconds, I glanced behind me. I felt like I saw her running towards me, so I picked up the pace, jumped over more fences, and made quick turns. Then, I woke up before I even knew if my family had survived or if she was chasing me after all. Perhaps I had just been seeing things out of guilt and paranoia.