CACKLE- Book 1

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Remi sat in the tub that Avani had made hours prior. Anna sent the girl to bring them supper and dismissed her early for the evening. Remi's face was blank, void of tears that had long since stopped flowing. Her eyes were unfixed and glassy as she gazed down at the water. Little green sparks shined beneath the surface as she heated the tub to her liking.

Anna was in the other room, sitting on the couch. Occasionally she would shout, "Oh! I know!" Then grumble to herself and Remi would hear her say, "No... that won't work."

At first Remi would react and get excited by Anna's words. She would yell to Anna, "What! What is it?!" but as time passed, she couldn't bring herself to remain hopeful.

Remi closed her eyes and let her entire body slump beneath the waters surface. She held her breath as the warm sensation washed away the dirt that remained on her still filthy cheeks. She stayed down until her lungs burned for air. As she resurfaced, she could hear Anna's footsteps approaching.

"I think a long rest will help us both. We can reassess in the morning. Come on out." Anna handed Remi a towel and she accepted it without complaint.

When she was dressed, Anna spent some time brushing her hair, braiding it back and out of Remis face. They sat in silence, both enveloped in their own thoughts. Remi's eyes were sore and puffy from the hours she spent crying. When Anna left Remi buried herself beneath the blankets on her bed, ready to let sleep claim her.

Since arriving in this world, Remi had only dreamed of Anna. Or of their home back in the cave. Tonight, her dreams would be very different. They were completely erratic.

She was standing in a dark space. There was nothing but blackness surrounding her. Her keen eyes refused to adjust.

She could feel heat on her skin, not the heat of her magic but boiling, blistering heat. Worse than the blazing temperatures of the post apocalyptic world. She had never felt anything like this in a dream before. Everything about the dark place felt wrong.

She could hear laughter coming from somewhere in the emptiness around her. Not a joyful, sweet sound. The laughter was... menacing, like someone was mocking her.

Suddenly, she could hear screaming.

It was so loud. Remi tried to cover her ears, but the screaming was coming from all around her. She wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go. There was only darkness.

The laughter continued, it sounded like an older woman. The voice was deep and raspy, but the screams did not belong to the laughing woman. They were high pitch and strangled, gurgling. Remi was scared, she wanted to help the girl who was screaming, she wanted to do anything but stand there covering her ears in the darkness of her mind.

She jolted awake, sitting straight up in her bed. A cold sweat had soaked through her night gown making her hair cling to her face and neck. Her braid had untangled, and her sheets were twisted from thrashing and rolling in her sleep.

The laughter was gone, but the screaming continued. Remi tried to shake her head, her arms, anything to wake herself fully from the dream. Her heart was pounding, but the screaming wouldn't relent. Suddenly, Avani burst through Remi's bedroom door. A candle flickering as she panted, running for Remi.

"Avani..." Remi tried to speak but her voice came out as a croak.

"Please." Avani blinked. "I thought it was just a nightmare, but it wont stop. She's been having a fit for so long. She wont stop screaming! Please, Remi! Help her!"

Avani's voice was rushed and filled with terror. Remi could see her features as her eyes finally adjusted to the true darkness of her waking world. Dark circles lined her eyes- normally brown- now almost black. Her pupils were wide with fear. This was not a dream, and now, Remi knew who was screaming.