THE THING IN THE WOODS

WARNNING

Silence, emptiness is all what remains, and a tear strays below the cheek, the snarl, the scream and the fear cold to the bones, and that endless darkness, so thick and broad and loud that’s is almost alive, a heartbeat and a nothing, gasp and sob and silence again and then the blackness is above and below and into him and the red sharp lights.

Matt startles in his bed taking out the quilt, it was so real so disturbing, every thirty minutes or so it happens, he can’t help it he’s terrified, he comes out of bed the screech of the wood beneath his feet makes him shiver he’s scared he is, yet he’s so tired the last three days have been so rough, nightmares always nightmares with those eyes, at least he’s not crazy he knows that Nichole saw them too. Matt walks toward the bathroom washes his face look back toward his room, the sun is rising there are still a couple of hours left before school but maybe is better to stay awake again he can’t handle it he’s frightened of sleeping. Stares at his reflection in the mirror the dark shapes beneath his eyes are redder and darken that before he hasn’t sleep at all since they saw that thing whatever it was he needs to go back to his bed, he needs to or else he might get sick and he can’t get his dad concerned about him he can’t, Matt slides the mirror’s and takes the Prozac held it in his hand he needs to sleep he needs to smile he needs to be normal, Matt takes a pill and swallows.

……

Her scream wakes her up, luckily Nichole is in her bed, laying in her nightgown below the blanket she’s fine she’s safe, it was just a bad dream like the other before that one, and the one before, god she’s so tired it is stupid she’s always been so tough, she’s never be afraid of anything, she hates to feel so helpless but it all what happens in her nightmares, she’s a frightened little girl awaiting for those eyes for come, at least she wasn’t crazy Matt saw them too, she is sure of it they saw them right after she was telling him about that thing she feels in her hand everything they touch or see each other in the hands, that uneasy and uncomfortable feeling, that spark that makes her feel scared and hurt, maybe Matt could have seem the eyes too but she’s definitely losing her mind.

“Nichole?” Her dad’s voice says. Nichole slightly moves her head toward the door and finds him staring at her concerned, his lips white they the tension in his jaw.

“Dad” She greets with a fake smile.

“Are you fine honey?” He mutters a crest in his brows.

“Yeah, I’m fine I just had a nightmare that’s all” She explains getting off of bed.

“Well it’s still early” He hints.

“No, I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway” She affirms getting out of bed, she has to prepare breakfast for him now that he’s already awake, why he’s awake this early anyway? When Nichole heads the door to get into the bathroom her father gently takes her chin in his hands at look straight at her eyes, exanimating them, he knows she’s been having sleep troubles but doesn’t know the reason, she can’t tell him that she went out with Matt without his permission.

……

Physics hour is endless, besides the fact the Nichole is sitting next to Matt they don’t exchange glances or anything, haven’t talk much since the rave, just casual things like the wheatear or Groff’s quiz tests but she can see it in his eyes he’s tired no exhausted, and like she he’s afraid of sleeping and go back there into the woods where he’s helpless against the darkness, the cold and those wrathful red eyes.

When the lunch’s hour bell rings Nichole startles in her seat and notices that Matt does too, they’re confused until they understand that their class is already over, she picks up her things and heads to the door, the room is almost empty he joins her in the door and start walking toward the cafeteria. Nichole stares at the long line to buy lunch and sighs she’s not angry anyway, luckily there are still many rows of empty tables so she picks one, her arms above, she’s so tired, so dizzy, she flickers and right after Matt is in front of her carrying to trays of lunch, he puts one next to her, it contains mashed potatoes a steak, a green apple and a coffee mug.