Murderville - Audrey Jensen

Chapter 2 - Water

(Warnings : Intense nightmare, vomiting, Noah being a dork
Word count : 2738
Song : Smokestacks, Layla)

Water.

Water everywhere.

It swam around her, nipping at her exposed flesh, pulling and pushing her this way and that way.

She tried to fight back, desperately kicking her legs and swishing her arms. But it was if she was made of stone. All she could do was sink.

The girl could see the faint glimmer of light above her, her hand just reaching to touch the rays of moonlight. Her lungs were burning, her brain fighting with her common sense. She fought against all instincts to open her mouth with everything she could. But it wasn't enough.

Her body dropped and she let the water in.

Vicki sat bolt upright in bed, head spinning with the water that wasn't there anymore. Running as fast as she could - despite getting tangled in the bed sheets - she made it to the bathroom just in time. She emptied the contents of her stomach in a ghastly few minutes, leaving her head on the toilet seat as she tried to catch her breath.

When her heart rate had calmed to an average speed she stood up, flushing away any evidence of her panic. Reaching for the cup by the sink, she filled it with water, leaving it running as she swilled out her mouth. Finally getting rid of the acidic taste, she let her head flop down, supporting herself on the bathroom sink with her hands.

She should've known better. She should've known by now that it was going to happen. She hadn't slept right since that night. She didn't think she ever would again.

Listening to the tap was making her more on edge, so she turned it off sharply.

No more water.

She reached for her toothbrush, giving her mouth a quick once over before leaving the bathroom as quietly as she could. The house was pitch blank, making her almost positive it was the early hours of the morning.

Checking her phone when she reached her new room, she confirmed her theory.

03 : 24 am.

She moved to the wardrobe, pulling out an outfit for when it was time for school. Then she packed her bag, making sure she absolutely had everything she would need. Next she began to fix her hair, going over the light waves with her curling tongs. She spent an hour or so faffing about with her hair in the mirror she had brought - which had found its home on her windowsill. Finally, she decided on a twisted plait round the top of her head, leaving the rest of the long red locks to fall over her shoulders.

Turning away from the mirror she looked towards her new paints, a few colours catching her eye.

She grabbed the tins, silently sliding them over the carpet floors until she reached a large blank space of wall. She grabbed her brush bag, popped open a can and began her art.

Her delicate, but strong hands worked wonders with the paint, adding a haunting beauty to the walls. The blue began to lighten before her eyes as she worked away, the only indication to her that time was passing.

She had barely registered that the sun had rose before there was a knock at her door, making her brush freeze mid stroke.