The Other Side of the Dome

Chapter 5

I stayed up for a while lost in thought. Thinking of ways that I am incomparable to Lacey. The more I did, the more insecure I got lying next to him. I didn't even know how I could've thought he'd be into me. As I replayed the events in my head I convinced myself that I was the one who'd tried to kiss him. He looked freaked out and uncomfortable when I leaned in. I felt so embarrassed. I was such an idiot.

I started thinking of what I'd say to apologize to him in the morning. Going through every scenario I could think of in my head. I didn't remember falling asleep that night.

I do remember dreaming, however. Hanna and I were walking casually down the street back home. We were talking about school or an upcoming event but mid-way through the conversation, I heard loud cracking sounds.

"What was that?" I had asked but Hanna ignored me and kept talking. The cracking continued, growing louder and louder. I begged Hanna to listen to me but she didn't hear me. Even when I grabbed her arm, she just pulled free effortlessly, knocking me to butt.

That's when I finally looked up. It was the dome. The top had been shattered and it was slowly cracking and crumbling. Large chunks of glass fell, causing the ground to shake when they hit the earth.

"Hanna!" I screamed as small bits of glass rained down around us. I reached for her but as I did, a pandemic creature came from around the corner and grabbed her. I let out another shriek as the creature tore her to pieces. Blood splattered all over me and the sidewalk.

Her head rolled next to me. An eye was missing and everything was soaked red. Her hair clung to her face. She started to speak, her voice horse.

"Sadie... what.... What..." but before she could finish, I shot up in the bed, drenched in sweat and tears stinging my eyes. It took me a minute to catch my breath. It wasn't real. I thought to myself. It was hard to see in the dark room but I could hear the breathing and snores of my friends. I could hear birds chirping outside indicating that morning had come.

I clicked on the flashlight and tiptoed to the bathroom. After locking the door behind me, I squatted over the toilet to pee. The seat was rotting and molded and I refused to put my bare bottom on it. The sound of my urine hitting the empty toilet bowl was loud in the silence of the motel room. I was afraid it would wake everyone else.

The sink was directly in front of me, with a cracked mirror hung above it. For the first time in three days, I got a good look at myself. Although the blood and dirt had been washed away, I still looked dingy. My skin looked waxy from the sweat and dark circles clung to my under eyes. I couldn't see the gash on my head but it still hurt to the touch. Deep purple and green discoloration traveled down to my jawbone to my collarbone.

After standing I looked over my body. There were a few bumps and bruises but nothing severe. I'd always hated my body. The way my stomach hung, the width of my shoulders, the shape of my butt. I sighed. Even in this terrible situation, I couldn't help but be judgmental about myself.

Our clothes were dry so I dressed quickly, thankful to be covered. As I exited the bathroom, I noticed the dresser had been moved and Ben was gone. I grabbed his clothes and found him outside leaning against the wall, cigarette in hand. It had warmed early that morning, already sticky and stuffy.

"Morning. Clothes are dry," I say, handing them to him. He accepted them graciously and I turned to let him dress.

When I did, I noticed the woods and saw that trees all around the motel had been knocked down. Some had even been snapped completely in half. It looked like a path had been savagely torn through the south side of the courtyard. A large tree had fallen on the building right where Ben and I had showered the night before, splitting the building almost in two. Glass, wood splinters, and leaves littered the parking lot.