My Heart

My Heart Chapter 16

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. I twisted my head to glower at Rex. He was noisily munching on popcorn, with his mouth open. It was disgusting. He smiled innocently at me. I rolled my eyes and marched over to Jeremey’s room. I sighed and lay down on the bed next to him.  

“What’s up?”

“I went out to get food and Rex won’t stop eating like a pregnant cow.” I grumbled. Jeremey chuckled.

“Hey Ella?”

“Hmmm?”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you why you were so upset earlier.” I felt my face pale. Brenton. He was a nasty, scum ball. And short scum ball too.

“Brenton.” I mumbled. I felt Jeremey’s body tense beside me.

“Oh. Are you alright?” He asked worry and anxiety rung in his voice. I nodded my head trying to reassure him that I was fine.

“But I wanted to know…Um what happened to him?” I asked hesitantly. Jeremey was silent. I raised my head, so that my eyes were level with his. His stare was cold and distant.

“Jeremey?” His eyes unglazed and he looked at me sadly. “Where is Brenton?” I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I’m not so sure I want to know where he is anymore…

“He got away. All his helpers were put in jail though.” My breath caught.

“H-h-he got away?!” I whispered in panic. Hot tears began to fill my eyes. Jeremey shot up and enclosed me in his arms.

“Ella. Ella. Ella, baby. I won’t let him hurt you. I swear. I’ll protect you. He can’t hurt you anymore okay? You’re safe.”  I nodded weakly and leaned back into his chest. I closed my eyes in a distressed attempt to block all disturbing thoughts out.  I drifted off to sleep shortly after.

 *Dream*

Everything was dark and dreary. Silent winds played with my hair and rustled my clothes. The cool night air bit at my face and hands. I gazed across the all too familiar woods. The dark moss green leaves and muck brown forest floor. The night sky was pitch black. No stars. No moon. Just darkness. My heart throbbed in fear. A sound on my right, made my breath catch in my thought.

“Mom?” I called in fear.

“Daddy!?” Hushed tears fell from my eyes and landed on my wind bitten cheeks. I frantically whipped my head from side to side, as the sounds grew louder and closer.

“Shaylee?”  I cried, terror leaking out of my voice.  I began running, stumbling and falling over the rocks and logs, hidden by the night. My head throbbed in horror. My heart was beating with alarm. Sweat was pouring down my voice, despite the freezing nighttime air. My breath came out in short little gasps. I shrieked loudly.

“NO! Stay away from me! Please! Please!” I begged through my tears. The silent wind was now roaring with anger. It whipped around me fiercely.

“Jeremey.” My soft whisper mixed with the howling wind. I sat down on the damp, murky ground in defeat. I closed my eyes, as my tears dropped from my eyes.

“Ella. Ella. Ella. Ella. Ella. Ella.” A snarling voice chanted. I kept my eyes sealed shut, my arms tightly wrapped around myself.

“No.” I whispered through my sobbing and tears. “No.”

*End of Dream*

“ELLA!” My body jerked up in surprise.  I looked around me. I sighed in relief. I was in Jeremey’s room.  I was out of the forest, away from the darkness. I was home. For now.