The Sandman's Daughter

Twelve

Twelve

Cassie stepped through the grass, her tennis shoes soaking up the morning dew as she peered across the field. She was standing on the edge of the Madison High football field, looking for the one who had pulled her into the dream.

She couldn't believe she'd let herself fall asleep, but if she was stuck here, she might as well do her job and help the dreamer any way she could.

A thick, swirling fog hung over most of the field. It made her feel isolated and alone, but she could sense the truth. Someone was out there in that fog.

Whoever it was needed her help to make it back to the waking world in one piece.

She couldn't let this one down. Not the way she had with Jimmy. He was stuck somewhere because she'd failed to save him.

It would not happen again.

Cassie stepped off the field and up the cement steps into the bleachers. She hoped the height would give her a better vantage point. She needed to know what she was up against.

The field lay below, a hazy rectangle in the morning sun. Shapes moved in the fog, bringing a twinge of fear into Cassie's chest.

Obviously, her dreamer wasn't the only thing down there. Was the thing plaguing the town in the field as well? Was she finally going to get a glimpse of what was controlling the nightmares?

Maybe she'd been wrong about the dreamer. Maybe this was her own personal nightmare and the small army below was there to drag her somewhere she'd never wake up.

The fog shifted and Sam ran out of it, into the middle of the field. She wore her maroon and black Madison jersey and a look of pure frustration covered her face as she stared into the fog.

"Come on, guys. I'm open," she called out to the shapes in the fog.

Cassie let out a sigh of relief. The shapes were nothing more than the football team. She was in Sam's dream and they were in the middle of a game.

The football team emerged from the fog as well. They were in full uniforms and tossing the ball to each other.

"I'm open," Sam shouted to them again, but her words fell on deaf ears. They ignored her as they continued to toss the ball.

Cassie could see the frustration growing on her best friend's face. The guys were acting like she wasn't even there and it was absolutely killing her.

"Dammit, guys! Why won't you let me play?" Sam yelled at them, moisture building in her eyes.

The team stopped and faced Sam, taking off their helmets as they did. Mike and Riley stood at the front of the pack, pure hatred in their eyes.

"You can't play, Samantha. You're just a girl," Mike told her.

"Yeah, and everyone knows girls are bad at sports," Riley added with a sneer. "Why don't you go bake a cake or something before you break a nail."

"No," she shot back. "You know I can play as well as you. I'm not leaving."

"Then I guess we'll have to make you."

The football players' faces went slack, a hollow look coming into their eyes. An opposing team stepped out of the fog behind her, their faces lifeless as well.

Cassie gasped as realization dawned on her. There were no longer her classmates and peers, they were now the walking dead and they had their lifeless eyes locked on her best friend.