Dream On

Chapter 12

I honestly couldn't tell you what emotion the tears were from. Hurt, heartbreak. most likely of all... I think there was guilt in his eyes. I never intended to make him feel bad. I honestly didn't. It just came out wrong and I can't take the words back. He really has no reason to be guilty. He didn't try to make Rylan hate me. He didn't try to hurt me. He only did what his heart told him: to love me unconditionally.

I'm overwhelmed with the amount of attention I'm getting lately. Too much for me to handle. I don't know how to deal with it. I don't know what to do. All I know is that I have to get away. I have to be alone. I find yet another hiding spot. I head over the ridge to our deer hunting blind. I zipper myself in after hanging the orange band that means the blind is occupied. The only thing in there is our old beat up chairs. I instead curl up in a little ball and apparently I sleep.

I wake with a start to a clap of thunder. I'm honestly thankful for the alarm. Not for the storm of course but the dream I was having was actually more of a nightmare. I'm lock in a bright white room by myself with three white walls and a wide window. I walk over to the window to see two chairs. Rylan is seated in one Eric in the other. they both meet my eyes and say in unison "One or none. Choose." I'm confused. I fumble over my words when I ask what on earth I was and what on earth was I there for. They both answer again in unison.

"Choose. Now."

"Choose what?" I ask. Rylan rise from his chair and walks to the glass until his hand is press against it. Right on my heart.

"You know very well what to choose. Choose now." It's Eric that stands against the glass now.

"One of us will be yours and one will die. Choose."

"No." I say frantically trying to find a way out. "I can't choose. I love you both. I won't do it."

"Choose or he dies." Rylan says pulling a knife from who knows where.

"No. Choose or he dies." Eric says pulling a pistol instead of a knife.

"I won't do it." I say with authority in my voice.

"Alright. You had your chance." They both say. Eric clicking the hammer on the handgun. Rylan gripping the knife to the point his knuckles turn white. They both ready their weapons and at the last minute I scream with all the voice and all the power I have.

"Wait! No! Don't do this!" I yell banging my fists on the glass. "Don't hurt each other! Take me!"

They exchange a glace and the last thing I see is a bullet and I blade piercing the glass. Both aimed at my heart.

🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆

I realize how much trouble I've got myself into. I picture Mom pacing the floor. I see Dad staring out the kitchen door. I have to get home. One look out he window tells me it's not safe and with my light sweatshirt I'll be soaked in minutes. The temperature has dropped and I'm a long way from the house. There's no doubt I should hunker down and wait for it to let up but my better judgment is overridden with my emotional side. I gather my courage and unzip the blind door I pull my hood up but it makes little difference. I brush the puddle off the ATV seat and climb on. My small wipe on the seat also makes little difference. My backside is soaked in seconds. As well as the rest of me. I switch on the light but the pouring rain cuts through the light to the point it's almost useless. I take off over the hill and slide most of the way. I whisper a prayer under my breath and the hold it till I reach the path. The path is flat and straight but runs along a steeper drop than the one I came down. Fall down, It'd be hard to get back up. Forget the four wheeler. I slip and slide on the mud. Surrounded by thunder and lightning. A bolt knocks a tree down in front of me. Really?

Now walking I slosh through the mud until the unthinkable happens. The soil that was once backed around the rock has been washed away and I don't even have time to think before I dive out of the way before it falls over the edge. That leaves be dangling by my hands. The slippery mud makes me lose my grip and I say a quick goodbye before I fall. I hit a few rocks and roots on the way down and I loose count of things that hurt. I hit the bottom on a soft mound of mud and leaves. Thank goodness. If it had been hard I could have broken my back.

I lay there, my mind getting cloudy as I will myself to stay awake. Stay awake. Stay... awake. I can only do it for so long. After I while I can't do it any more. I close my eyes and black out.