I Know This isn't the End

V In Dreams

I open my eyes... It's dark and quiet. Everything is calm. But I can't move at all. I'm glued to my bed.. And I'm scared. I can see the time, it's 4:08 a.m. Pitch black in my room, except for the dim moonlight shining through my window. I can hear the wind blowing softly outside. Am I awake? Am I still dreaming? I can see the silhouette of my dresser and closet. I must be awake. Why can't I move? I've heard of this before in a movie.. Sleep paralysis. I struggle with all my strength to wake up and I finally am able to move and wake up fully. I sit up and reach for my cell phone to call Munro and tell him what happened. *Buzz.. buzz.. Incoming call from Munro* "Hello? I was just about to call-" "Are you okay?! What happened?" Munro asks, urgently. "How did you know something happened to me?" I ask, confused. "I know when you're in trouble. I know when you're hurt." He says, in a serious tone. "How do you know?" I ask. "I just know." "Oh.. okay. Well I just had sleep paralysis. I was glued to my bed, unable to move at all but I was able to see my bedroom. I couldn't tell if I was dreaming or if I was awake." "I understand. This usually happens when someone is trying to kill you in your sleep. I think it's Vladimir doing it." "I barely even know him! He wasn't in any of my classes in elementary either, I was in honors since the third grade." "He wants something that you have. And he won't stop at any end to get it." "What does he want?" "Your immortality." "How does he know?" "He can sense it. He has the spider tattoo, you have a scorpion. Much stronger, more vile, more lethal." "How does he know I have this tattoo?" I ask. "Someone must've told." He says. "I've only told you, Violet and Sean so far." "Call Violet, ask her if she told anyone about it. It's not just a tattoo to the ones who know, it's much more than that." "Okay I'll call her right now." "Okay, I'll be at your door at 8. We're taking the bus to school together today." "Okay. Bye." "See you soon," he says as I hang up the phone and quickly dial Violet's number.

"Buzz.. buzz.. Hello?" She answers quickly after the second ring. "Hey, it's me, Yasmine." "Oh hi! How are you? It's early!" I look at my clock that reads 5:02 a.m. "Yeah, it is. And I'm fine." "Is there anything wrong?" She asks. "Um.. this is gonna sound weird but have you told anyone about my scorpion tattoo?" She pauses for a few seconds. "Um, no. No I haven't. Why do you ask?" "No reason.. just wondering." "Oh.. okay then. Do you need to borrow a hair straightener? I just bought a new one and it straightened my hair much faster than my old one!" She says in delight. "No, that's okay. Haha, is that why you're up this early?" I ask. "Yes, Yasmine. I spend half an hour doing my hair every morning. Why are you up this early?" She asks. "I had sleep paralysis." "*Gasps* I used to have that almost every night. It was the scariest thing. Except mine were nightmares." "Really?" "Yes. There's an old legend that says it means there's someone trying to kill you in your sleep." She says. "Munro also told me that, and he wonders if it's Vladimir. He says he found out about my scorpion tattoo and wants to steal my immortality power." "Oh he can't do that. You need a lot of mental strength for that and his brain has the capacity of a banana." I let out a laugh. "Haha, you're so funny." "Thanks, hey what did you buy from Valeries yesterday?" She asks, suspiciously. "I bought a black skirt and white satin top." I say. "Ohh, nice. Don't get it dirty. I hate white clothes, but I like beige." "You and your colors!" I say. "Haha, very funny. Well I gotta go, I barely have time to finish straightening my hair." She says. "Okay, see you at school." "See you."

"Ring, ring." I think Munro is at the door, dad. I'll get it." I open the door and there he is. Standing there looking so handsome, staring right into my eyes, with his fluffy dark hair, skateboard and Venus shoes. I grab my messenger bag, and lock the door behind me. "You're here a little early," I say. He throws his board on the ground, steps on it and tells me to jump on his back. "I'm scared of falling," I say. "You'll be fine. I got you," He says. "Okay.." I jump onto his back and he skates through the side streets, towards the bus stop.

He passed the bus stop. "You passed the bus stop!" I scream. "We're not going to school today." He says. "Where are we going?" I ask. "Somewhere we can be alone."

We come across a field that leads to a forest with very tall green trees and many plants. "It looks beautiful here." I say. I jump off his back as he takes me in for a long kiss. He embraces me so gently, his fingers curving down the back of my head ever so softly.

"I have to tell you something." He says. "What is it?" I ask, curious to what he needs to tell me. "I think Vladimir is Violet's sister." He says, in a serious tone. "What?! How?" "I hung out with Sean yesterday after he had Violet over for dinner. I saw her leaving and in the corner of my eye I recognized Vladimir from across the street waiting for her. They have the same last name. He made the school change it and go by his dad's so no one would know. Violet goes by her mom's last name, Winters." It takes me a few seconds to think about all of this and see how it adds up. I shake my head. "No, that can't be. That means that Violet is evil, but she's so nice." "She's not nice." He says. "She's jealous of your power. Both of them were trying to kill you in your sleep." "How could this be? I trusted her." "We often get deceived by the ones we trust the most. I don't think Sean knows either." "Oh no.. this is terrible. We have to tell him!" I exclaim. "No, don't. It's too much trouble." He says, shaking his head. "But he's your best friend." "He is. And I don't want him getting hurt. What he doesn't know can't hurt him." I think about his response for a few moments. "Hm, okay then." I say, giving in. "Hey, let's head over to my place. It's quiet there. And warm." "Okay, let's go." He takes my hand in his and we walk to his place to hangout for the rest of the day.