A Dream's Curse

Kill Me

       I took a deep breath and pulled a nail file out of the pocket of my white jean jacket. I carefully picked the lock of what I assumed was Xavier's art shed, and pushed my way inside. My eyes widened as I looked around. I mean, I knew Xavier was good at painting, but these were amazing. I noticed a pile of canvases stacked in the corner and walked over to them, realizing they were of the monster that Wednesday saved the school from last year.

"What are you doing in here?" I turned around when I heard his voice. "Wednesday told me to come." I said, flicking through the pages of a notebook. He grabbed it out of my hands, and I crossed my arms. "How'd you get in?" He asked, closing the door. I pulled the nail file out of my pocket again, and held it up. "Works every time. I learned it from Wednesday, actually." I put it back and then glanced around the room. "Nice artwork." He shrugged. "Why did Wednesday tell you about this place?" He asked, and I sighed. "She thought you would be able to help me." He looked confused, so I continued. "I guess I should tell you the full story."

"My parents died just a few hours after I was born. Then, the daughter of my first foster parents died after about a year of me living with them. For some reason, I wasn't named until I was sent to my next family. I was called Winter because my hair is as white as snow, my voice is as piercing as the sharpest wind, and my skin is as cold as the strongest blizzard. At least that's what I've been told." I touched his arm lightly, and he flinched from the sheer cold of it. I pulled my arm back and sat down.

"Then, as I grew older, people started dying in each foster family I went to. The odd thing is, every time someone would die, I would have a dream about finding them dead. Then I would wake up and find them dead in real life. I kept it to myself at first, and tried not to get close to anyone, but it didn't make a difference. People kept dying, and I kept getting lonelier. Finally, I couldn't keep in my secret any longer, and I told my foster parents after their son died." I looked away, fiddling with the silver diamond necklace I was wearing. "They blamed me. Everyone did. There wasn't a single family that was willing to foster me. So I was sent here." I looked up at Xavier.

"I've never heard anything like that before." He said quietly, lost in thought. "It's almost as if it's your dream that's killing them. I mean, I've had prophetic dreams about people dying, but they were always killed by something else. Were there ever any marks on the bodies?" He asked, and I shook my head. "Nothing." I stood up. "I'll help you, if you want, but I don't think I know any more than you do." He said, staring at me. I nodded and stepped past him. "I'll tell you if I find anything else out." I promised as I left the shed.

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"What are you doing?" I was watching Enid paint a canoe, which totally confused me. "Haven't you heard? It's almost the Poe Cup!" She exclaimed, ordering Yoko to paint faster. "What's the Poe Cup?" I asked, staring at her. She rolled her eyes. "Part canoe race, part foot chase, no rules. We won last year, when Wednesday was our captain." Enid told me. "Wednesday captained the team?" My eyes widened, and Enid nodded quickly. "She says she only did it to take Bianca down, but I know she secretly enjoyed it. Do you want to join us?" She asked. "Uh, no thanks." I said, shifting from foot to foot. Sure, we were friends, but I would never do that. "Please?" Enid looked at me with puppy dog eyes. I grinned but shook my head. "No." I started to turn around, only to come face-to-face with Wednesday.

"I need to talk to Enid." She said. I stepped sideways, but as she was passing me she muttered "Library at midnight." I sighed and started to walk towards the school. Why did Wednesday need to make everything so difficult? Obviously she didn't mean the main library, people were always sneaking in there in the middle of the night to make out, but what other library was there? I twisted a lock of my white hair between my fingers, running through the conversations I had had with Wednesday since she started going to Nevermore. Just as I was approaching the school I heard arguing from around the corner. I slowed my pace, trying to hear what was being said.

"I said I'm not going." Someone said. "There's nothing you can do now, so just stop blaming me, okay? I did what I could, you know that." The second voice replied, sounding tired. There was something familiar about them, I just didn't know what. "If you hadn't told her in the first place, we wouldn't be here." The first person replied, sounding closer. "Just let it go, Quinn." Suddenly I realized that they were about to turn the corner. I pressed myself against the wall, wishing I could disappear.

Quinn and Oliver were walking side by side, and my eyes widened when I noticed them holding Nevermore uniforms. Somehow, despite me being only a few feet away, they never so much as glanced in my direction. I watched them walk away, and once I was sure they wouldn't notice, I turned the corner and went in the opposite direction. Whatever had just happened, I know it hadn't been luck or a coincidence that I had overheard their conversation and they hadn't even seen me. Something was going on, and I had to find out what.

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There was knock on the door. "Come in." I said as I closed my book. Wednesday stepped inside, not meeting my eyes. I checked the clock: 9:13. "What are you doing here? I thought we were supposed to meet at midnight." I stood up and stretched. "That was until I found Ajax and Enid in the dorm room. Even being with you is better than watching them." She waited a moment for Thing to run in - if it can even be considered running since he's a living hand - then closed the door. We stared at each other awkwardly for a moment. "What have you found? I asked, breaking the silence. She placed a book I hadn't even realized she'd been carrying onto my desk. "Page 319." She stated, and I immediately opened the book. 98, 256, 303... I finally found the page. The tope of the page read 'Sleeping Curses'. I skimmed through the different curses.

Zombie Sleepwalking, Dream Watcher, Never Ending Dream, Happily Never After - I paused, wondering what that one could possibly be, then continued reading - Everlasting Nightmare, Death Dreaming, Sleep Control... Wait. Death Dreaming? I read the caption:

Known to be one of the most mysterious curses, only a newborn baby can be cursed with it. It causes numerous dreams of people dying throughout the victims life, which result in the death of the actual people. There is no known way to get rid of it, other than death.

I looked up from the book. "This is it." I whispered. Wednesday acknowledged me with a slight nod. I put the book down, my hands shaking slightly. I came to Nevermore to stop my dreams, but I suppose I had always known that it was impossible. I knew what I had to do, and I finally wasn't afraid to do it. I looked Wednesday directly in the eyes.

"Kill me." I murmured.

"No." She told me, holding my gaze. I crossed my arms. "You have to, Wednesday. I need you to." I told her, but she narrowed her eyes. "It pains me to admit this, but I've become interested in this mystery, and until I find out everything, you need to stay alive." She turned swiftly and left the room, her boots tapping the floor as she walked away.

I sighed and slowly sank to the floor. I was done being guilty, done being scared, and most of all, done being a mystery. I just wanted to be normal. To be happy. I sighed and lay my head on my knees. Tears started to stream down my face, and, for once, I didn't wipe them away.