You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of - Jim Rohn
I heard that the police got to Janice's house, but it was too late. They found her strangled and stabbed. I finally had the sense of heroism thinking I saved her, but I only made things worse.
"I don't get it. South was able to warn her about the poison, but the killer was able to murder her. How?" Claire asked.
"I don't know. How did the killer even know she wouldn't take the poison?" Jake asked.
"It doesn't make sense. How-"
"Can you all just shut the fuck up?! I get it! The killer was 1 step ahead of us, as always. I thought I could save her, but I couldn't! She's dead! She's dead because of me. Not even my dreams could save her! It's all my fault she's dead!"
"South, you're not responsible for this." Claire said.
"My dreams are causing more harm than good. Think about it. This all started because of my dreams. My dreams killed 3 people. It's only a matter of time until the next body drops down on us."
"Maybe there's a way to keep people from dying." Jake said.
"And what's that?"
"People die because you dream about them, right?"
"Yeah?"
"You just have to not dream about them."
"Um, did you forget the fact that we can't control what we dream?" Claire asked.
"But we can control when we sleep."
Claire and I were more confused than ever.
"We just have to keep you awake."
"Isn't it dangerous to not get any sleep?" Claire asked.
"Sleep deficiency can lead to physical and mental health problems, injuries, loss of productivity, and even a greater likelihood of death." South said.
"It won't be forever, just until we can catch this bastard."
"What's the longest a person can go without sleep?" Claire asked.
"After 72 hours with no sleep, a person will begin to slur their words and not stand up properly." South said.
"Robert McDonald, from 1986, was able to stay awake for 19 days without any sleep. That's 453 hours. If he can go 19 days without sleep, so can you."
"I'm not him, though. I can't go 19 days without sleep."
"We'll just keep you occupied and give you lots and lots of caffeine."
"So just to be clear, we're gonna keep South awake for 19 days?" Claire asked.
"Maybe less, maybe more, we don't know. But we have to try."
"Have I ever told you recently that you're insane?"
"You got a better idea?"
"God, I hate it when people say that."
Day 1
After that, we went back to Claire and I's dorm. It's been about a day of no sleep, and I've never been more tired in my life. Claire and Jake take shifts to make sure I don't fall asleep. They each get a 12 hour shift, making sure I stay occupied and filling me up on caffeine. I have never consumed so much caffeine in my life. My daily liquid consumption includes coffee and energy drinks. It was Claire's first shift to watch me and she came in with pizza and Red Bull.
"Hey. How are you doing?"
"Sleep!"
"Ok, I can see you're tired."
"You can see? I didn't notice."
"It's only the first day."
"And if it's anything like that Robert dude, I'll have 18 days left to go."
"You don't know that. Jake said it could be less than 19."
"He also said it could be more than 19."
"Just stay positive."
"All my positivity went out the window when I agreed to this."
"Well, here's some food and some Red Bull."
I took the can of Red Bull and cracked it open. I chugged it all down and laid back. Let's just hope this works.
Day 2
"Hey, babe." Jake said.
"Fuck off!"
"Ok, I know you're tired. So to keep you awake, I thought we could watch some TV. How about a horror movie?"
"But you hate horror. Remember the day you invited me to your house for the first time? We had to watch SpongeBob just so you don't piss your pants in your sleep."
"Fair. So, no TV?"
"No TV."
Day 3
"Guys! I need sleep!"
"We can't let you fall asleep." Claire said.
"How exactly is keeping me awake helping? We don't even know who the next target is."
"I know you're tired, but we just can't risk it." Jake said.
"Maybe sleep is what I need. We can't help anyone while I'm awake for the next 2 weeks."
"If we let you sleep, you'll dream about someone, and then they'll turn up dead."
"30 minutes, an hour tops. Just let me sleep for a few minutes."
"Maybe she's right. If she sleeps, we can find the next target."
"Fine, 1 hour. No more."
"Thanks."
I immediately collapsed into the pillow and it wasn't long until I drifted off into a deep slumber.
YOU ARE READING
17 Dreams
Teen FictionSouth Diamond is now at college in a new city. She thinks she's finally able to start a new life, thinking she finally escaped her past. But when she starts to have dreams about people and they turn up dead, South now knows that she didn't get the...
