Held Tight by Someone I Know

Chapter 16: Nightmares and Bad Memories

It was a just a normal day. Billie and I were playing chasey with him as the tagger. We ran around the house for what seemed like hours!

"Hey! Billie! It's bad enough to tell the kids to stop running in the house, now I'm having to tell you too!" Adrienne shouted from the kitchen.

"Adie! No yelling in the house!" He yelled back playfully. I heard a sigh of defeat and continued to run away from Billie.

"Jeez, Dad. Age is really catching up to you! You're running like a snail!"

"Hey! I'm very agile for my age, and besides! Snails don't run!"

"Exactly! Try to catch me, oldtimer!"

"You rotten teenagers!" He yelled playfully. I laughed at his sarcasm and continued running until the unthinkable happened! Billie caught me!

"Tag!"

"Hey!" I laughed as I ran after his saggy ass.

"Come back here, old fart!"

"I'm only 43!"

"Practically ancient!" I joked. He sprinted down the stairs with me on his tail. Oh, I had him now. No way was he gonna win this one!
I felt like I was beginning to eat my words as he got further and further away from me, soon turning a sharp corner in the hall and ran down the stairs to the music room.

He slammed the door behind him before I could reach it and I growled with frustration.

"Cheater!"

"Catch me if you can, stinky!"

Stinky?! Oh, he's in for it. Nowhere to run in the music room.

I threw open the door and ran down the stairs.

"Alright, wrinkles, where are ya?"

It was extremely dark in the music room and it gave me an uneasy feeling.
Damn, for a forty-three year old, he's got the eyesight of a hawk!

"Da-ad." I said in a slow, sing-songy voice. There was no answer so, I walked over to the light switch and flicked it on.

And what I saw horrified me...

Billie.

My Billie.

My Billie...butchered and swimming in a pool of his own blood.

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I couldn't scream for help. I just stood there completely and utterly...helpless.

Then, that same dark mass walked out from the shadows. Oh, no please!

It came closer to me. I turn to run just as the wooden door leading to the hallway slammed shut in my face. I stumbled back and looked to the figure. It walked closer...and closer...and closer...until, I started to suffocate. My whole body went numb and I felt like I was floating.

"Neomi." It spoke to me in a harsh whisper. "Neomi..."

I shot up in pure fright and went to the first bit of saviour I had left.

"Dad! Daddy!"

I shook with fear and I was drenched in sweat, all the while my breathing unsteady. Anxiety was a bitch.

As I was about to call out his name again,  a mop of black fluffy hair came into view and quickly ran to my side. I was still in a trance and flinched back when he touched me.

"Neomi, baby, it's me. It's okay, it's me." Billie said reassuringly. I sighed in relief and he crawled into bed with me.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"It was you again." I said, gripping onto his shirt like he was going to disappear.

"Babe, I'm not going anywhere, you know that right?"

"I-I hope so."

"Neo. I think it's best to take you to see a counsellor about this."

I shot my head up at him with wide eyes.

"Dad, no! Please! Don't make me go!"

"You keep having nightmares about the same thing, love! And everytime we even bring it up you leave the room! You have to see somebody about it!" He yelled. I coward away, hating it when he yelled and he sighed deeply before pulling me closer into his embrace.
"You know I'm only doing this for your health and well being, right?"

"I know, but. I could talk to you?"

"A professional, sweetie." I sighed in defeat and nodded. "But, you know I'm always here when you need it. You can come to me for anything."

"I know." I felt really bad for doing all this to him. Putting him under all of this stress, forcing sleep deprivation everytime I had a bad dream. I mean, I could practically sense the annoyance dripping off his voice now.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, baby?"

"I'm really sorry." I admitted.

"For what, doll?"

"For putting you under more stress, Y'know?"

"Hey, I would put my life on the line for you."

"You shouldn't have to. I hate the worry I give you."

"Sweetheart, I'm your father. It's my job to worry about you." He chuckled. I giggled and laid into his chest. He pulled the covers over the both of us and kissed my head.

"I love you so much, peach."

"I love you too, Beej."

"C'mon, let's get some sleep." I nodded and shut my eyes, waiting for sleep to over come me as I laid on Billie's chest, feeling the deepness of his breath. So soothing.

I couldn't help but ask myself...

When will they stop?

[A/N: Sorry for the very late update! Had my shit taken away -.- anyway! I'm back and I desperately need ideas! And fast. In short. No ideas, no story. Sorry, guys!]