Among The Wolves

Dismay

Toulinska!"

The small girl laid unmoving and hunched over the armrest of grandma's antique, paisley, couch. Her hands had blood on them and her mangled and tangled hair spilt over her face so I could not see it. She was wearing her prized green dress, which had tears, holes, fur, as well as blood matted in it.

I stared in horror at the scene before me. On the wall, floor, and coffee tabletop was blood splattered. The picture was so gory I could feel myself getting sick. My stomach was cramping.

Then, without a thought I began scampering to her, leaping to put the small girl in my arms. To wipe the blood away and see her smile again. Yet, as I ran forward the distance between us seemed to only expand. I tried to run with more speed and fervor but she was getting further and further away. My heart hammered destructively in my chest. It hurt, but I still reached out to my little sister. "Toulinska! No! Don't be dead! You can't be!"

I tried jerking to break free of the curse of the growing distance from Linska. Suddenly, I was next to her and blood was all over me. It was her blood… I had killed her. Now, all I wanted to do was get away. "No… no!" I wrenched backwards. 

I hit something hard and my head recorshated back. Booming pain emanated across my face. My eyes opened and I found my cheek pressed to the floor of my room. I had fallen and... oh did my jaw hurt. I could not move. Not while the anguish had me crippled.

After a few slow moments had passed I realized that the nightmare had me saturated with sweat and my heart beating for life. I began the therapeutic breathing of; in through the nose and out through the mouth. In and out, in and out. Nevertheless, my heart refused to be tamed. 

Closing my eyes once more I breathed calmingly. A good ten minutes passed and still I was filled with apprehension. This was the third night in a row I woke up due to dreadful nightmares. This was the first time, however, I had fallen off the bed. 

With cautious moments I peeked at my watch. It was only 1:17 in the morning. That was worse than yesterday. I awaken at 2:59. Although, the nightmare I had was about Mrs. Mu killing me. I preferred that once over the one I just woke from. Better me dead than my little sister.

Akin to the night before I knew I would not be able to sleep for the rest of the morning. It would surely only result in another tormenting dream. 

Pulling myself from the floor I held my head and stumbled to the bathroom. My cheek and jaw still hurt. Thankfully,  it was not nearly as bad as it was before. The medication Joinervett gave me made my world so much easier. I had figured that if I followed the instructions and took two a day then in three days it would be gone. Hopefully then, the injury would have been healed enough to be bearable. Yesterday, I had used up the medicine and it was indeed more bearable. That was until now when I hit my head on the floor but I trusted that some fresh, cold water would at least relieve my hoarse throat. 

I must have been screaming again last night. A sigh left my lips. I don't know why I am having these dreams. It is so gruesome and… it makes me scared for Linska… What if she and grandma are already dead by now? 

Once in the bathroom I looked at my bruise. The side of my face was still swollen and black but I could start to see tinges of yellow touching the edges. I guess that it is good to know that it is healing. I turned on the faucet and managed to get a few trickles of water between my lips. The water felt so good and tasted very refreshing. I was only disappointed that it did not satisfy my hunger pangs. I should see if they have any more of that gebhe from lunch yesterday. I sure hope so, it was the first thing I was able to properly eat since Mr. Mu hit me.