Gods and Monsters

Ch. 14 Weird Dreams

Eyes flashing open, Sage had the forbidding thought that something was looming over him. Wanting to ignore it and return to sleep, he went to pull the covers up around him but found that he couldn't move. Panicking, Sage tried to get up, to move his arms or legs, to call out to someone but all he could do was blink.

The harder he struggling, the more he felt like something was hovering close by and all he could do was stare at the bottom of the bunk above him.

Sage tried to scream or move or anything, when he felt fingernails slowly dragging up his arm. He could do nothing as he felt a cold hand wrap around his throat and effectively cut off his airway.

This went on for what felt like hours of him choking, in reality it was only seconds before his body finally moved at his command. The feeling of the hand wrapped around his throat evaporated like smoke as he rolled off the bed gasping for air.

Rushing to the light switch that was beside the door, he flicked it on, squinting against the harsh light.

Looking around the room, there was no demon or ghost his mind had conjured up. Marlo was still asleep on the bottom bunk with the covers thrown off him from where Sage had jerked them off. Elias was asleep in the top bunk. Sage turned to his bed where Maverick was.

The older boy sat with his back pressed against the wall, his eyes already on Sage. Neither of them said anything for awhile and just looked at each other. Sage was the first to look away and he sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling the covers back over Marlo.

"Bad dream, little brother?" Maverick asked with a smirk that made the hair on Sage's arms stand on end.

"Something like that." He answered softly. In truth, he had no idea what that was but he did know it was terrifying. Sage glanced up at Maverick. "Why're you awake?" It was late, or early, the sky hadn't even started to lighten in promise of morning.

"Not tired." Maverick shrugged.

Sage figured he wouldn't be. He did sleep the rest of the day away. Laying back down, he tried not to think about what had just happened or the possibility of it happening again. His heavy eyes shut and he returned to sleep.

That morning was specifically crafted to test Sage's patience. Marlo had woke him up crying with wet pajamas where he'd wet the bed, making Sage aware of the wet warmth on his side.

Sage had put Marlo in the shower while he stripped the bed. Elias woke then, complaining that Marlo peed in his bed and having a hissy fit to challenge Aurora's. As if summoned, the seven year old came to Sage with her plastic box of hair products. When Sage told her he didn't have time to do her hair, she started shrieking and whining and stomping. Sage ignored her as best he could.

Then he remembered he was still in pajamas damp with pee and rushed Marlo through his shower so he could get in. That was when Mia started screaming at someone. Sage just ignored it and continued his shower.

Maverick was no help, not that Sage expected him to be. But having the man chuckling at the chaos was getting on his nerves.

"Marlo!" Sage screamed, finally cracking under the pressure. Everyone grew quiet and Marlo froze where he was about to run upstairs away from Sage.

Sage motioned the boy over and he didn't fight when Sage put his clothes on him.

"Glasses." He reminded the five year old who ran upstairs to get them. "Sit down." Sage snapped at Aurora who dropped into the kitchen chair. Making quick work of it, Sage slicked her hair up into a bun. "If you're not going to help, go away." He said to Maverick, who nodded along and followed Marlo upstairs. Sighing he turned to Elias and Mia who had been in a screaming match about god knows what.

They scattered before he could say anything.

Surprisingly, they didn't miss the bus and Sage had everyone lined up and ready at the stop. He had no choice but to leave everyone under Elias care this afternoon because he couldn't miss another day of work. Sage made Elias promise him that he would call him if anything happened or Maverick invited anyone over.

Sage felt agitated and annoyed his whole first period and didn't get any relief until he left the class to see bright amber eyes that rivaled the bright smile Brandon wore. As if a blanket of calm had been tossed over his shoulders, Sage exhaled and drifted through the sea of bodies to get to the taller boy.

"Good morning." Brandon said cheerfully, always in a good mood it seemed. But just being around him made Sage feel lighter, like he was actually having a good morning.

"Isn't your class on the other side of the building?" Sage asked, Brandon following behind him to his locker.

"Maybe..." He answered sheepishly. "But I wanted to make sure you were okay, is your brother feeling better?"

Sage's face warmed and he distracted himself with opening his locker. "Maverick's Fine, I'm fine."

Brandon leaned against the locker beside his. Those amber eyes looking at him, looking into him. Sage ducked his head. "You're tired." He stated.

"Oh," Sage glanced around at the other students ambling around. "It's just, weird dreams." He shrugged, shutting his locker after swapping notebooks.

The first bell rung, signaling that they had two minutes to get to class. "Shit," Brandon said. "You'll tell me more about this at lunch." He said, pressing his lips to Sage's cheek before rushing off.

Sage's eyes grew wide as he gaped at Brandon's back as he disappeared down the hall. Sage quickly looked around him to see if anyone had noticed but everyone was in their own world trying to get to their classes.

Sage's face was on fire and those razor winged butterflies were back and fluttering to the beat of his racing heart.

He definitely had to have that talk with Brandon before things could go any further.

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