Solecism (under revision)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Katherine Beauvais

            I’d like to say that I’ve been very helpful but I was so exhausted that I fell asleep on the floor, literally.

“What was that?”  Panic was evident in Aly’s voice.

            “Stay put, will you?” Jacob said with a little annoyance. He must be casting Aly’s arm.

I don’t really care how dirty the floor I’m sleeping on anymore. I don’t care where in the submarine I am. I don’t care that my clothes are soaked wet. The only thing I cared about was Aly. I tried to hold on to my consciousness for a little while to assure myself that she’s okay but sleep was pulling me deeper.

            “Katherine? What’s going on?” Camilla called out then there were footsteps, which weren’t near when they stopped. There were stifled laughs.

            Their voices are nearer now. I’m about to fall in deep slumber that the voices started to blur and I cannot distinguish the voices from one another anymore.

            “So… what do we do now? Nobody knows how to operate this thing!”

            “This thing is a submarine and I might know a thing or two.” There was a questioning pause. “My dad is in the army.”

            “Okay then, after you.”

            “Umm… I think you’re forgetting Katherine lying on the floor.”

            “She’ll survive”

            “Really? You…”

           

           

The voices faded out and I finally drifted off.

            I just realized why I refused to sleep for days the moment the dreams came. Nightmares that should’ve made me wake up with sweat and a pounding heart didn’t wake me up. I can’t help but wonder that maybe one day a nightmare will come and fade into nothing, bringing me along the nothingness.

I am not afraid of oblivion. Oblivion is my paradise of escape.

            My dreams, about me killing everyone I care about, suddenly shifted. I’m… floating?

I’m with the clouds looking down at an island. I can faintly make out the outlines of our submarine resurfacing. I was expecting a bloodbath or something brutal but it was eerily peaceful, too peaceful. Then like the rope suspending me in the air was cut, I’m free falling. This is a dream. I reminded myself but as I hit the sandy shore, pain shot through my back.

I involuntarily arched my back as my eyes shot open.

Oh, so physical pain was what I needed to wake up.

 

I can hear muffled voices coming towards me.

“… put her on the top bunk!” Aly’s voice rang in my ears.