breakable

i cant stop running. sweat beadsk down my forhead and jawline but i dont care. i need to escape them. they simply walk behind me, humming softly. i try to scream, but no sound comes out. i hear my dad yell, the kill is coming! and then it all goes black.

my eyes shoot open and i dive for a lamp, trying to catch my breath. i can still hear the tune and the deadly humming. i want to yell to scream to my parents, but i cant find the voice for it.

when i am scared, i cant move or make a sound. tonight was terrified. so i lye there, petrified, thinking about the kill. how they haunt me. how they got kelly.

i dont know how long i lie there, but when i finally am able to move again, it is 4:30. i change from my hot and sweaty grey pygamas, and into a red tank top and black skinney jeans. i messily braid my hip length hair and put on my red converse. i step out of my house and start running. the kill repeats over and over in my mind, replaing the horrific sceens from my dreams.

i need to escape. i slow down near a hill to catch my breath, cursing myself out for not being very fit. i walk slowly now, trying to relax. the sun is just rising, and i look up at the sound of footsteps. i grimace as i see jake, jogging torwards me. "honestly kristen, i think youre stalking me. we always meet like this" he shines an arrogant smile and asks "what are you doing out so early?" "non of your buisness. why should you care?", i angrily retort. i dont know why i am so irratated; we have been best friends since age 5. "im just saying", he continues " you look like you've seen a..." he trails of, a look of imidiate concern taking his smirk's place. "have you had another dream?" when i dont respond, he slowly walks over as if aproaching a wounded animal and wraps me in his arms. he smells like mint, the kind of gum he always carries around, which is comforting. i feel better but not completely. i eventually pull away and try to force on a reassuring smile. "its ok" i mumble. he says nothing, and just grabs my hand as we walk back torwards his house which is just around the corner. he fixes hot apple cider with cinnamon while i skim through the tv channels. "god jake, dont you have anything good to watch?" i laugh uneasily, attempting to make a joke. he rolls his eyes and replies,"not since the reality infactors have taken over" i shiver just thinking about them. they are a group of governers who have limited television to a couple channels, and requesting and showing the ideal life. it is always the same; school, army, marriage and then kids. we make food ourselves, and every month we pick up socially acceplable clothing at the post. you do not want to get on the reality infactor's bad side. they can shut you off like a light. Jake sitts next to me with our beverages while we quietly sip and watch tv. with a loud thumping, Jake's older brother, Derek walks in. and he is shirtless. i blush and hold the cup up to my face in hopes that they wont notice. " Jesus, Derek, ever tried putting on a shirt?" Jake asks annoyed. " i dont know, Jake, i thing most girls prefer me like this", Derek replies, cockily smirking in my direction. i toss a pillow at him and mutter, "think again. there is a short silence until we all burst out laughing. i forgot about the kill and the reality infactions with Jake and Derek's fault.

CHAPTER 2

"guys i have to go" it is about 8:00

i want to stay, to forget all my problems but i know my parents will be worried about me. and i had school. it is october of my senior year, and in a week we would find out what section of work we would be sorted into before military. jake rolled his eyes, obvisiolly annoyed

"why cant you just skip school for one day? it wouldnt kill you." Derek nodded." for once i agree with jake. skip, it'll help you get over your nightmares. dont push yourself" i paused from gathering my sweatshirt. "how do you know that i had a nightmare?" i asked, curious to know if i ever mentioned it while Derek was here. "its obvious. why else would you be hanging out with two losers and 4 in the morning?" all i could say was "oh." note to self: stop going to jake's house every time i have a problem. " well sorry, i want to get a good job i said, glancing at Jake. He faked a sad expression and put his hands over his heart. "you dont think i care about my future? that hurt, kristen. ow" "shut up" i reply, and run out the door torwards my house. when i get to my room, i quickley grab my school uniform and hold it out in distaste. girls are forced to wear white button up shirts with a grey vest or black blazer over them. we then have to wear finger length high waisted dark emerald colered skirts . and shoes are our choice. i tuck my shirt into my skirt and pull on my blazer with rolled up sleeves. i take my hair down from its braid and comb through it. i slid on my black ballet flats and head out the door. no sooner than i am a block down the street i hear a smooth but deadly, "long time no see." i whip around to come face to face with the schools popular but obnoxious idiot, collin. "back of collin" i growl, unhappy at the sight of him. i cant deal with him, not now. he smirks, pleased that i seem distressed. "whats the matter, kristen, the kill only got kelly. whyy do you look like the one whose died?" i cant take it anymore. i shove my tote bag to the ground and push off my jacket, balling up my fists. i draw back to punch him, but he only smiles. sicko. right as im about to beat him, a strong hand holds my arm back. "dont kristen, he'll start crying if you make him unpretty." i turn to see Jake, staring down Collin. i quickly gather my things and start walking away. i can faintly hear Jake and Collin throwing insults at each other but it is deafened out by the ringing in my ears. so when jake catches up to see if i am ok, i reflexivley punch him in the gut. he recoils, clutching his stomach and swearin g under his breath. "what was that for?" i start to calm down. "i needed to get it out of my system", i reply, trying to steady my breath. "well its a good thing you didnt see a teacher first" he said sarcasm dripping from his voice. i roll my eyes, and the walk back to school is in silence.