Kids in the Dark

Chapter 5

Theo's P.O.V

"We're gonna have to go. Don't follow if you know what's good for you." I said, glancing around the group, my eyes lingering on Adams disappointed expression. I was reluctant to leave but I turned and left when I felt Ryder's hand on my elbow. Spinning on my heels I began to retrace the dark path back to the cave stumbling slightly in the darkness. We took the same route as before and I still felt quite proud of my 59% of a prediction. The walk back was almost cut in half due to the fact it was downhill, and maybe had something to do with the lack of Ryder on my back.

Upon our return to the dim glow of fairy lights, Ryder instantly began to get into his sleeping bag, only to realize he still had his shoes on. With a huff he took them off and slid back in, pulling the fabric up to his chin. "G'night Theo." came his muffled voice.

"Night weirdo." I smiled before proceeding to the mouth of the cave staring blankly at the cascading water. I was mentally planning out every scenario I could think of; none of them ended too well. I was filled with a sense of guilt, as it dawned on me that it was my fault Ryder had been drawn into this mess. I mentally kicked myself for being so stupid.

I must have sat there for about an hour until I was drawn out of my mind by the sound of muffled words. I was unable to make them out so I got to my feet and made my way back over to the only possible source of the noise: My brother. He was thrashing around in his sleeping bag his hair matted with the beads of sweat on his forehead. I crouched beside him and just as I reached out to wake him his lips opened, and out came a gut-wrenching scream, which sent shivers down my spine.

"Ryder, wake up!" I said frantically shaking his shoulders. He awoke with a start panting heavily. His pupils were dilated with fear and tears began to run down his cheeks. I remained silent but I pulled him into a tight hug, letting him cry into my chest. He cried until he was all out of tears his breath coming in ragged gasps and then he pulled away, his red puffy eyes locking with mine. He seemed to be trying to convey a lot in a single look. "You want to talk about it?" I asked, but Ryder shook his head.

"It was nothing." He muttered causing me to roll my eyes.

"Ryder Joseph Hunt I know you too well for you to tell me 'it was nothing," I said folding my arms over the tear stains on my shirt.

"Fine," Ryder sighed pulling the 'hood' of the sleeping bag over his head and sitting up. He took in a deep breath before starting. "I was running from this thing at first but then I tripped on something. The thing came up and pressed its head to mine and I started to have all these horrible visions.

"First it was Raven hanging from a tree, then Jace, or what was left of him at the bottom of a building. Adam had was lying in a pool of his own blood, a knife in his chest, then there was you. Your body was lying in the blood-soaked snow, mauled by animals, but you were still breathing. What was worse was that they came back. They came back and I had to watch my brother, you, get eaten alive by wolves, I had to hear you as you got ripped ap-" But tears began to flow again, causing Ryder to bury his face in my chest once more. I sat there for a while, my arms wrapped tightly around his shaking body thinking through what I had just heard. I couldn't decide on what I found more disturbing; the nature of the dreams or the why in which I had just heard about my death. I clenched my muscles, squeezing Ryder tightly trying to put a lot of unsaid things into the hug.

I tried had to imagine what it must be like to suffer from chronic nightmares just as Ryder did. It had started what he was eight, just after our mom had passed but it had been getting consistently worse over the 8 years since then. Whenever he had one it would be me who'd comfort him, sitting on his bedroom floor until he returned to sleep. Although I prized my beauty sleep I was willing to sacrifice it for Ryder's sake. The only way anyone could tell of his problems were the permanent dark circles under his forever bloodshot eyes.