I wake with a start, my heart racing and a scream, a shadow of the nightmare I just had, echoing in my mind. My blankets are lying on my bedroom floor, yet I find myself sweating profusely, my hair clinging to my face. I don't know what I just dreamt, but I can only remember one thing: Fire. Lots of fire.
I sit up on my bed and immediately find myself looking at the burnt face of a woman leaning towards me, her skin peeling off her face like tattered, old wallpaper. There are holes where I eyes should be and congealed blood stains her peeling cheeks.
Instinctively, I shut my eyes and jump backwards.
"Ouch!" I yell. I hit my head against the headboard by accident.
I rub the back of my head, attempting to soothe the pain. When I open my eyes, all I can see are little white stars swimming in my vision, my eyes watering. I blink a few times, clearing the stars in my vision. I look at the foot of my bed, where I had just seen the burnt woman.
She's gone.
"Just a dream," I say to myself. I hate what fatigue can do to me.
Suddenly, my alarm goes off, causing me to fall off the edge of my bed.Annoyed at my own jumpiness, I get up and go over to my cell phone that's still blaring at me. As I switch off the alarm, I take some time to read the notice on my phone screen:
"IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!! WAKE THE HELL UP!!"
"Great beginning to a birthday," I say to myself sarcastically, as I walk across my darkened room and open the curtains, allowing the first rays of morning sunshine to bathe my room in its warm glow. I take some time appreciate the warm sunlight and then stroll out my room for a shower.
"Morning, Mom," I say groggily, greeting my mom as I pass her in the passageway between our rooms.
"Good morning, Pudding," my mom replies animatedly and hugs me tightly. I return the hug, but a bit half-heartedly, still a bit sleepy.
"I told you not to call me that, Mom," I complain, twisting out of the hug ," I'm not 7 anymore."
"I'm sorry, Alex," my mom coos mockingly, making me laugh ", you're right."
"Right," she says, suddenly excited ", you're 16 today!! Happy Birthday, my son!"
"Thanks, Mom" I reply awkwardly, grinning and rubbing the back of my head where I hit it earlier. I never really liked my birthdays, to be honest. Dunno why. It's just how it is. My mom knows that.
"May I, please, go shower now?" I ask finally.
"Sure, Son. Just come to the lounge once you're dressed. Your dad and I have something to show you— when he decides to wake up" she adds with a hint of sarcasm.
"Sure, Mom" I reply, continuing my walk along the passageway, and hear her muttering excitedly to herself.
"My only child... Finally 16... So proud... My son..."
I look back before entering the bathroom and I swear I just saw her skipping around the corner of the passageway.
"Parents..." I say to myself, chucking silently as I enter the bathroom.
.....
Moments later, I find myself sitting on the couch, eating a bowl of cornflakes and lazily flipping throught the channels on TV. I decided to wear all black today; a black pair of Vans, black jeans and a plain back T-shirt. Why? Because I can.
As I chow down the last bit of my breakfast, I hear a soft knock at the front door.
"I'LL GET IT!!" I yell to the rest of the house in general.
As I open the door, I am instantly enveloped in a hug.
"Hey, Tayla" I say to the black-haired girl as I hug her back; smiling.
"Happy Birthday, Alex" Tayla congratulates me, lifting her head to look at me, her brown eyes twinkling with joy.
Tayla and I are friends for over three years now and have basically become best friends during that time. Some people still insist on asking whether we're siblings. It must be the fact that we have the same hair and eye colour. I guess that, being a head shorter than I am, she does look like my younger sister at times.
"Thanks, Tayla" I reply joyfully.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I look over my shoulder and see my mom standing in the lounge, a warm smile on her face.
"Hey, Mrs. Martin!" Tayla squeals delightfully, letting me go, running over to my mom and giving her a good hug.
"Hey, Ms Greene," my mom laughs ", how are you, dear?"
"Absolutely excited!" Tayla admits.
"That much is obvious" I comment, rolling my eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes," Tayla pouts ", it doesn't suit you."
Then, turning to my mom, she says excitedly "Is it okay if I steal Alex for the afternoon?"
My mom hesitates to answer, a thoughtful look on her face. Tayla, obviously brimming with excitement, hops on the spot, eagerly awaiting my mom's response. I can tell that my mom's just teasing Tayla, seeing as I can already imagine what her response would be. It's difficult to say no to Tayla when she's like this; her excitement is just too contagious.
"Of course, dear" my mom finally responds, a smile on her face.
Almost instantly, Tayla squeals with delight and hugs my mom tightly.
"Thanks so much, Mrs. Martin!!" she yells, ends the hug and runs toward the front door, grabbing my hand as she passes me, forcing me to follow.
"See you later, Mom!" I yell behind me as Tayla leads me to out two bicycles on the front lawn.
"Just be back before 4 o'clock," My mom yells from the doorway.
"Sure, Mom!" I yell back, smiling and waving as Tayla and I round the corner, our bikes picking up speed.
"So where're we g--" I begin to ask, but am instantly cut off by Tayla.
"Race you to the mall!" she challenges me, pushing ahead at full speed.
"You're on!" I yell back, accepting her challenge.
With that, I race Tayla to the mall, slowly catching up to her.
YOU ARE READING
Oracle
Mistério / SuspenseOn his 16th birthday, Alex Martin has a disturbing experience; he sees the phantom of a burnt woman in his bedroom. Was it real or just a very vivid dream?
