What They Don't Know

Bad Dreams

I was cold, but I had to find food. I knew that if I returned empty handed, Georgia would lock me in the small, pitch black cupboard again.
Everywhere looked abandoned. Old shops I use to visit after school had finished were now crumbled bricks in the road, the bank was overgrown & mouldy, the only building that was still standing tall was a large block of flats.
I hadn't seen a person out on the streets since it all broke out. If I was honest, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone i knew was dead already.
I remember when Dean told me my parents weren't coming back for me. It was before all of this, I was so young, only 5. My parents had gone out on a date, it was their 4th anniversary. I remember how Mom told me she loved me & she'd be back soon enough, and Dad had swung me around on his shoulders one last time.
Mom had worn a lacy, black, sequinned dress which dropped over her shoulders and arms and Dad wore a sharp, new, black suit with a bright, red tie.
They were all dressed up and filled with excitement. I could see it now, playing out in my naive head as i trudged through the thick mud and sleet.
I gripped my gun tighter, 'only for emergencies'.
When Dean had gotten the call, he looked heart-broken. I heard him telling the man on the phone that he was only my babysitter & that I had no other family. I knew that Dean was a nice guy & I knew that he wouldn't just leave me.
However, I didn't understand, I didn't want to understand either. Georgia tried to make things better & tell me that my parents were on a permanent vacation, but it seemed clear that they were gone.
Everything seemed so sudden, but I didn't break down and sob. I didn't scream or tell Georgia to shut-up. I just sat there, on my pink, hello kitty bed, and looked up at the wall opposite me. I felt lost. I wanted to rip my hair out & throw my toys. But I knew Mom wouldn't want me to do that.
My face was frozen & my lips were cracked and dry. It had been ages since a real animal was seen by my town. It was almost impossible that id find food.
A sudden shuffle in a near by holly bush caught my attention and I lowered myself deeper into the muddy ground.
I thought about how Dean said I would have to learn how to survive on my own soon, although, I think he just told me that so I'd go hunting for him.
A large, male horse shot by me and knocked me straight over and into a small puddle.
He looked distressed and almost scared. Me & my animal loving self, felt bad for the horse & I instantly ran over to him, I wanted to help him and try to calm him down.
"Hey, Hey Shhh. Shhh Boy"
I leaned nearer towards him. He was way bigger than me. After a while, the horse stopped having a fit & now was just neighing loudly.
"Yeah, It's Okay. You're Okay. Good Boy"
I rubbed his long, shiny mane. He was obviously well groomed, but who by? Everyone was dead. Atleast. That's what I had thought.
"Where's Your Rider, Boy?"
Before I could speak to him anymore, I felt a heavy, large weight push into my back. I then noticed that some one had thrown themselves onto me from behind and was now tying my hands together.
I fell face forward onto the ground. I couldn't breathe or talk. My chest and rib cage were being crushed. Everything was so intense, there was shouting and yelling surrounding me.
I tried to call out for Dean. But they had already gotten him. I could see blood oozing from the base. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't.
I couldn't do anything.
"Riley?"
It was all fading to black.
"Riley! Riley!"
I shot up. My head pouring of sweat and my heart beating uncontrollably.
"Riley, Are You Okay?"
I saw Carter sitting beside me, he looked like he had been sweating a lot too.
"I'm, I'm Okay, I Think"
Nightmares became a constant thing since Georgia died. But this one seemed too real.
"What Was It About?" He asked.
I didn't want to seem like a baby, I know how stupid that sounds, but Carter was my first friend. I didn't want to seem silly.
"Nothing. Sorry For Waking You Up."
I looked down at the covers, they looked like they were covered in my sweat, nice one Riley.
"I Was Already Up. I Can't Seem To Sleep Whilst All Of ... This ... Is Going On"
I know what he meant. I don't think anyone would find it easy to fall asleep knowing you could die before you wake.
I guess that's how Dean felt.
"You Okay?"
Looking over at Carter, he seemed to look hopeless and broken.
"Is Anyone Okay These Days?"
He sat still, with his knees to his chest and his long, almost bony arms wrapped around each other for comfort.
I moved closer to him. I knew he craved someone to just be there for him, for once. I mean, God knows how long he'd been alone, and what he'd had to face by himself.
"Riley"
"Yes Carter?"
"We Are Friends Right?"
"For Sure, I Mean, Why Wouldn't I Be Begging On My Knees To Be Friends With The Guy Who Put A Gun To My Head Less That 24 Hours Ago"
I could hear him slightly chuckle to himself. He may be hopeless, but that boy had some sense of humour. I guess I needed that right now.
"Riley?"
"Yes Carter?" I sighed.
"It Wasn't Loaded"
He laughed and shook his head as he laid down underneath the window sill.
I laid opposite him.
"It Wasn't Loaded"
I said to myself as I heard Carter snore, he was sleeping. I smiled.