Only a Nightmare

Chapter 1

Kris woke up with a start. She had just had another vivid nightmare, but this time it was different. Usually she had dreams about random people dying of getting injured from common causes. This time it was Asher. He had been attacked in an alley by the library. Three guys jumped him as he walked back to his car, and after a quick fight, he was stabbed twice: once in the gut, and once again through the heart. Someone had clearly wanted him dead.

Asher was like a brother to her. She looked at her alarm clock. It was 4:33 am. She didn't care that at this hour (if he wasn't bleeding out in that alley) he'd be asleep, so she called him to calm her nerves.

"Hello?" a voice croaked.

Kris nearly choked. "Asher?" She asked, shaking with fear.

"Kristin?" Asher asked. There was some shuffling in the background like he was sitting up. "Are you ok?"

"I- I'm fine. Are you?" Kris was still shaking.

"Wha-? Yeah. I'm fine. I just..." He paused. Kris caught her breath. What if it was worse than she'd thought? Asher sighed. "It's so early. Are you sure you're ok?"

Kris sighed, relieved that he was ok. "Yes. Much better now."

Asher was quiet, like he thought something was up, but was too tired to be sure and much too tired to ask. "Ok. So.. if you're ok and I'm ok... what's up?"

Kris ran a hand through her dark brown hair. "Nothing I guess."

"Hmm." Asher said. It was followed by a confused silence.

Kris clenched her jaw. "Hey," she said, trying to change the subject. "What are your plans for today?"

He sighed with a slight chuckle. "Well, probably a nap. Thanks for that." Kris smiled. "But I'm gonna meet up with Lou at the library this evening."

Kris's eyes widened. "Can I come?" she asked suddenly.

Asher was taken by surprise. "Uh... Well, I would say yes, but-"

"Please?" Kris was desperate. "I won't even bother you until you're about to leave."

"I don't know." He was still surprised. "Kris, listen-"

"Come on, please?" she begged.

He scoffed. "Ok, fine. But why?"

"I just..." She paused. She didn't want to tell him about her nightmare. She had told him about her other ones because those dreams didn't stand out as much and they weren't this personal. But this was different. She couldn't tell him. At least not yet. "I just know that that's a bad part of town. I want to make sure you're ok."

Kris could tell that he was amused. "You know, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Asher said. He was clearly smiling.

"I know, I know..." she paused. "Believe me, I know. But still. I mean- I just..." She started to panic again.

"Ok, it's ok. You can come. It's fine. Don't worry about it." Asher said, trying to calm her down.

"Thanks..." she sighed.

Asher knew about Kris's anxiety. He knew how hard it was for her to function like a "normal" human being. He was very caring and he tried to understand. He didn't completely get it, no matter how hard he tried, but he still made an effort to sympathize. He tried to help her in any little way that he could. In this case, that meant letting her tag along on his "not a date."

"Well, I should be well rested for tonight, so unless there's something else?" he asked.

"Hmm?" Kris had been lost in thought. "Oh. No, that was it."