Speak Now

Chapter 10: Night terrors

This chapter is dedicated to hadiyareads for reading my shit and still loving it 😘 Next chapter is yours too since you love Adrian so much

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Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.

Dave Pelzer, A Child Called "It" (Dave Pelzer #1)

When I lay down to sleep, my nightmare finds me again. It clings to me like fog, clouding my thoughts and rendering all my attempts to fight it useless. I heave a sigh as I find myself on a familiar dark road.

This time I'm in the car itself. It's flipped upside down and I struggle against the seat belt to sit up, my breaths ragged and fast. Besides me, a man gives a feeble cough, blood seeping from the corner of his lips.

Dad.

Panic rises in my throat. A silent scream escapes my wet lips. But my father doesn't open his eyes. His forehead is etched with scars from the broken glass, and there is a nasty gash across his left eyebrow.

I have to get help, I think miserably.

The window besides me is half intact, the edges jagged and sharp, but enough space for me to wiggle out.
Crying, I lurch forward when the sound of footsteps startle me.

I peer through the broken windshield, the night as dark as ever, trees rustling and owls hooting as if grieved.

A man's chuckle startles me. I whip around to see a masked man studying me through the window on my father's side. His mask is eerie, and glimmers under the moonlight like a phantom.

"Help me." I croak, my voice wispy. But the man is looking at my father who's chest heaves slowly.

"I'll help you,child." He says in a voice laced with triumph as he gazes at my father like a prize he's been seeking for a long time.

Then to my surprise he withdraws a long knife. I stifle a cry of terror as he faces me. I can't determine his expressions under his mask but I know he is smiling.

"Cover your eyes." He says.

"What are you-"

"Cover them! "

"You have to help me!" I scream, "My dad is hurt!"

But the man snorts,"As you wish,child. Don't tell them I didn't warn you."

Before I can wonder what he means by 'them' and what he's about to do, he lurches forward and stabs my father in the chest.

For a minute, I puzzle over what's happened. There's a sharp ripping sound, and I peer at my dad besides me who appears to struggle against some invisible force. And then I see the knife protruding from his chest, and the scarlet blood seeping around it.

When I scream, I lose it. Everything around me blurs as I struggle against the seat belt, screaming and shouting as grief courses through me. I feel wetness ooze down my cheeks but I am aware of nothing but the wound inflicted on my heart.

I scream for the man, as he wipes his knife on his leather black suit. I cry for vengeance. I threaten and holler and scream until my voice is hoarse.

I watch my dad's chest fall for one last time, and terror sends me into a fury and I cry. I cry and cry and cry. I let the tears flow as I put my arms around my father. I grip him tight and ignore the seat belt straps digging into my sides.