When Night Falls

Chapter 1: Just a Dream

  I can feel tensions rising in the air around me. A gust of wind rolls ominously through the valley in which I'm standing. That's when I realize I'm in the mountains of my home town in North Carolina, and also that I'm not alone. I look around and see fiery yellow eyes. A low threatening growl erupts from my throat. Others follow. In that moment I knew what I had to do, and that it could cost me everything. I'm ready.

  I wake up nearly choking on my own breath. It felt as though my dream was something I had experienced in another life. It was so real. I groggily sit up in bed I still had two minutes of sleep left according to the alarm clock on my phone.

  Instead I get out of bed and head down stairs. Typically I'm a great morning person; bright eyes bushy-tailed, sun smiling, flowers singing kind of person. Today was no different. I walk to and from school each day. We only live a few blocks away, and our house is near town I figured walking would be nice.

  I shuffle down stairs and make my way to the kitchen. I fix myself a bowl of fruity pebbles, a glass of milk, and sit down to eat. It's quite, both peaceful and disturbing. I look out the window to find the sun peaking at me through fog and over the tree line.

  After I eat my daily routine begins. First I walk outside to feed my two dogs, who are practically attached to my hip. Bruiser is my big boy; a hardy, robust Rottweiler. Then there's Marley, my baby girl who happens to be an equally tough and agile, big, red, mutt. Then I brush my teeth, change out of the baggy T-shirt I slept in and start on my make-up. It was rare that ever went natural. After finishing the tedious chore of applying all my makeup I throw on a cute shirt and some skinny jeans. Lastly I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.I couldn't shake the feeling I had from that dream. Wolves, why wolves? How would I know them? I'm not exactly superstitious, but still it seemed strange. I shrugged the thought off and kept walking.

  I'm a junior in high school, and also in advanced classes. It's Wednesday early fall and the chilly air is nipping at my skin. Why didn't I wear a jacket? Also I have an algebra two test today that couldn't be less thrilling. Even though I'm in 'smart" classes I struggle with math, I just can't grasp new concepts as quickly as my classmates. On the bright side they're serving tacos for lunch.

  I'm halfway to school when someone calls my name. "Hey Cillian!" My best friend Bridgett Conelly shouts. I look to the left and see her coming up Spring Grove to me as she does every morning. I must have been drifting off, because we usually meet up here. As she paced toward me her long, blonde, wavy, sea foam green streaked hair tussles in the wind.

  We walk to school and chat and gossip like normal teenage girls. Then my mind wanders back to my dream. I pause deciding whether or not to tell her about it. My subconscious was picking up some serious bad vibes from this practical nightmare. So I explain to Bridgett with full intensity. By the end of my story her hazel eyes are wide with wonder. She contemplated everything for a minute. "What do you think it means?" "Not all dreams necessarily have a "meaning", I made air quotes with my fingers. She pokes her tongue out at me. We laugh and goof around for a minute. Then we're at school.

  The day breezes by ordinarily from geometry to chemistry to history. Mrs. Picket lectures us about the American Revolution as we take notes. Then AP Lit rolls past. Finally after that everyone went to lunch. I enjoyed my taco even though as usual there was more shell than meat.

  As I go to throw my tray away I nearly bump into Dallas Hampton. Dallas is in my chemistry, AP Lit, home-economics, and history classes. While passing Dallas I get tripped up in the cafeteria seats as he slides by. I'm very ditzy, but I have a somewhat low sense of embarrassment; which is helpful a lot of times. I get a tiny sent of his cologne. It's nice, and probably Polo.

  I ended up falling asleep Home Ec due to lack of sleep from that stupid nightmare. Dallas who sits across from Bridgett and I glanced at me and snickered as Bridgett poked me awake. I shot him a dirty look and tried to focus with little luck. "..... And don't forgot that too much seasoning can ruin a dish", Mrs. Bragg droned on.

  I wasn't even paying attention anymore, because I could've sworn I seen something watching me from the woods. "Cillian? Did you hear what I said?" Mrs. Bragg called my attention away from the window. "Uh, yes ma'am... spices too much isn't good", I managed. She gave me one last look before returning to the rest of the class.

  The bell screeched for us to leave. As I was packing up Dallas shoulder bumped me. "Hey drowsy", he greeted sarcastically. "Ha-ha very funny", I replied. Dallas poked me in the side as we walked and talked. I didn't miss that Bridgett hung back to give us space.

  Dallas was very handsome no doubt. Many girls would swoon over him as he walked down the hall. He had wavy, golden brown hair, brown eyes, and a smile that could bring the dead back to life. Could he be any hotter? Not to mention he had a good bit of muscle and from what I had heard nice abs. There was just something different about him. He wasn't stuck up like other guys. He was modest and polite. He seemed nice. Dallas had never picked on my in earlier grades when I was going through my "awkward phase", which I appreciated. We just never really talked much. There had never been a reason to. We hung out with different people and had different interests, but sometimes would carry on small conversations before class.

  As soon as I walk into the classroom Bridgett begins to interrogate me. "Oh my gosh Dallas totally just walked you to class! What did you two talk about? Is he into you?" "What can't two people have a normal conversation while walking to class?" I asked innocently enough and batted my eye lashes.

  "Yeah right", she scoffed, "now give me the details." "Maybe he just wanted to talk to someone, I don't know", I answered trying not to get ahead of myself. "And maybe I'll just float off into space, because gravity doesn't exist", she returned. "Oh please. There are tons of other girls that he would rather have than me." Bridgett huffed, "I'd kill to have a body like yours." "Well let's just forget about it for now", I said trying to change the subject, "Besides I know James has had his eyes on you." "Oh....him. No, he doesn't like me." She fumbled with her words. I smirked, "Sure."

  Before we know it's time to leave. Bridgett and I head to our lockers and get homework supplies. We decided to have a study session at my house tonight. We don't really go to her house much. Her family is.... less than friendly.

  Bridgett and I begin the walk home. It's silent for a while. "Hey", she spoke. "Mh?" I said looking up. "What was up in Home Ec. today?" Bridgett asked. "Oh I was just.... tired." "You're not still worried about that nightmare are you?" she asked concerned. "Nah, it was just a dream", I replied and tried hard to believe it.

  After a quick snack and some TV it's time to crack down on homework. By the time we're done it's only five-thirty. After we cleaned the kitchen there was a question left hanging in the air. "What now?" I asked as we tried to think of something to do.

  "How are we on funds?" Bridgett asked. Squinting my eyes into a funny thinking face I replied, "I have ten bucks." "That's plenty" She smiled. Grabbing my two chain-link dog leashes we walked outside to my back yard. "Brrrrr", Bridgett shivered, "It's getting chilly." I hooked the leashes to Marley and Bruiser. Then we went inside to pull on my Flyleaf jacket that I had bought at a concert this past winter, while Bridgett slipped on her worn, but cozy, brown, fleece jacket.

  After that we all started off towards McDonalds, which is actually very close. In fact it's a block further to the west from school. As Bridgett Marley, Bruiser, and I walked down the street we came upon my favorite little thicket of woods. It wasn't a very large forest, but eventually the small cluster lead into the densely wooded mountains. I've never gone through the maze of evergreen trees, but I always stand and admire them from the sidewalk.

  On this particular occasion something strange happened. Bruiser and Marley stopped dead in their tracks. The hair on the back of their necks stood up as they bared razor sharp teeth, which would be used if necessary. Each of them let out a low and threatening growl. I knew my dogs extremely well. They hardly ever behaved like this, unless something was wrong. I passed this spot nearly every day. If there was anything dangerous in the area it hadn't been here long, or maybe I had just never picked up on it. Whatever it was we didn't wait around to find out.