The Most Powerful Scream is Silence

Chapter 6: The Worst Morning

  Some of my inspiration came from Long Time Running by The Tragically Hip.  

The next morning was not a good morning for Luna.

It all started when her alarm didn't go off. Staying late at The Grill was good for her pay cheque but not for her sleep schedule. She was exhausted. Now that she thought about it, she's not sure if she would have woken up if her alarm went off anyway.

She was woken from her slumber by the images of dark hallways, shadowy fingers, and the echoes of her own scream bouncing off the walls of her mind.

This was usual for her; her mind was a constant battleground even when she slept. The nightmares of her life were often mirrored in her dreams.

The brown-haired girl lurched up in her bed, her pale legs tangled in the sheets and sweat covered her neck making her hair stick. She pushed her hair back with a trembling hand as her chest heaved.

The sunlight glittered between the dancing curtains and caught her eyes. It's really bright out Luna thought as she looked outside through the slip in her drapes. Grabbing her phone off her nightstand she checked the time.

8:50 am.

Luna jumped out of the bed, her left foot getting caught in the sheet and causing her to stumble and land on her knees. Not even feeling the stinging in her knees, she got up and ran to her closet throwing on a pair of black yoga pants and a plain grey t-shirt.

Grabbing her 'classic' leather jacket and toeing on her shoes, she made her way out her bedroom door and down the stairs.

Unfortunately, her bad luck only continued from here.

Elena had already left for school. Although the brunette neighbour had waited as long she could for her new friend, she knew her first day of work was last night so she assumed she wasn't coming when the girl was thirty minutes late.

With only ten minutes left till class started, she didn't have much of a choice but to walk because there was no way in hell she was going to ask John for a ride to school.

Ten minutes later, when it hit 9:00 am and her class was starting, Luna was still walking on the heated cement sidewalk to her school, which was still eight blocks away.

Already admitting defeat and that she would be late, Luna slowed her pace and admired the sunny day before her. Luna could hear a melody floating through the air and over a white picket fence and smell the coals of a barbecue mixed with the hearty smell of hamburgers and hotdogs. The sweet smell of flowers and fresh cut grass tickled her nose as she strolled around the corner. However, the roar of an engine cut through the soft music and drew her attention to a blue muscle car.

The car pulled up beside her and the window rolled down as a familiar head of black disheveled hair leaned out the window accompanied by a classic grin.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" Damon said, his tone playful.

"Shouldn't you be half-way through a whiskey bottle by now?" Luna replied, her tone matching his.

"I think I'll keep my drinking time at The Grill to when you're there" Damon grinned.

"Lucky for you I work almost every night." She continued.

"Honestly though, do you need a ride? Normally I don't do this but for a girl who's going to be serving my alcohol..." he suggested, laughter littering his voice.

"I would love one." Luna said, walking around the car and getting into the passenger seat. "and I love your car" she added.

"It's like everything you say makes me like you more" Damon expressed, as he revved the engine and took off down the road.