Dark or Light?

Chapter 11

I shoot up in my bed, drenched in sweat, even though I’m freezing, and shaking with tears streaming down my face. I try to slow down my rapid breathing, but I can’t. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. It feels like it’s about to explode out of my chest. I get up and start walking around the house. First, I check on my brother, Lance. He’s sound asleep on his bed. Then, I walk down stairs to check on Xana. Half of her body’s on her bed and the other half of her body’s on the floor. I shut her door and go to check on Dad and Krystal, when their door opens and Dad slips out, dressed for work. I open Xana’s door, again, and look at her clock. 4:30.

            “Dam?”

            “Morning Dad.”

            “What are you doing up?”

            “Umm…” I can’t tell him about the dream. Not yet. “I wanted to grab my really soft blanket from the dryer.”

            “Okay? Well, grab it head back to bed.”

            I turn to walk into the laundry room, but then something pops into my head. Henry. I need to check on Henry’s. “Umm… Dad? I have a question.”

            “No.” Dad smiles. I look at him blankly. “What’s your question, Dam?”

            “Can I go to Henry’s?”

            He looks at his watch. “At 4:30 in the morning?”

            “Yeah.”

            “Umm… I guess I don’t care. Just be careful.”

            I give Dad a hug. “Thank you.”

            He hugs me back. “Are you okay, Dam?”

            “Yeah. I’m fine. I just need to see Henry.”

            Dad’s smile grows. “Alright.”

            I let Dad go and rush up the stairs to grab my phone, wallet, and keys and then rush out the door without my shoes. I get in my car and hurry to Henry’s house. There’s only one thing on my mind. I need to get to Henry. I need to see if he’s okay. I get to a stop sign and try to slow my breathing down. I start to panic, again, because when I look down, I realize I forgot to put on my shorts, so I’m sitting in the driver’s seat of my car in my white tank top and my black boy-shorts with my curly hair put up in a loose ponytail. I really hope I still have that extra change of clothes in the trunk. No one else is out. I pop the trunk and quickly hop out of my car. I run around the back.

            “Shit!” I say.

            I can’t just turn around. Everyone’s just going to have to deal with it. I get back in the car and drive to Henry’s. When I get there, I fling my car door open, push past the gate, and run up to his front door. I ring first and wait a few minutes. No one answers. I ring it, again. Still no answer.

            “C’mon.” I say under my breath.

            My heart starts beating faster and tears start to well up in my eyes. I start to bang on the door franticly with my right hand. Still no answer. Just as I turn to go in the yard and start throwing pebbles at one of the windows, the door opens.

            “Damzel?” I hear a tired voice says from behind me. His tired voice sounds so sexy.