31-Day MCSM One Shot Challenge - July Edition 2018

Night(mares)

Generated prompt of the day: Night

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It was cold in the tiny tree house. Various holes in the roof aloud water to leak inside, collecting in the many buckets and bowls that had been put out.

Outside it was pitch black. Not only was it a new moon, but the thick clouds covered up every star.

Trees were bending low, pushed down by the wind's force, leaves heavy with rainwater.

The windows rattled as violent gusts of winds tugged at them. Tiny bullets of rain hit the glass, filling the rooms with noise.

Usually Jesse, Axel and Olivia liked rainy days. They'd spend them inside the tree house, huddled together on the couch with good books, or some freshly baked cookies.

And at night, there was nothing better than falling asleep while listening to the thudding of rain on the wooden roof.

But alas, it was starting to become winter. It was cold, and nobody appreciated the wetness. The tree house wasn't very warm after all, the three friends had built it themselves.

At that moment, Jesse was the only one of the three that was asleep. She had come down with a cold a few days ago, and decided to go to bed early.

Axel and Olivia were in the main room of the tree house, chatting up a storm about who knows what. The door to the bedroom hung slightly ajar, letting a small strip of light into the bedroom, which vertically shone over Jesse's bed.

The dim light shone onto Jesse, illuminating her pale face in the dark. She was sleeping lightly, her expression slightly changing with her dreams.

However, as the minutes ticked past, things started changing. Jesse started to slowly mumble inaudible words, muttering messed up sentences.

She was holding tightly onto her pillow, like she was clinging on for dear life. Her breathing quickened, and Jesse started toss her head from one side to the other.

Jesse's features tensed up and shook her head, crying out softly.

She wasn't sure what was going on around her. She was lost and confused. She wasn't feeling well. She was cold. She was scared.

"Jesse?"

"Jesse, hey, wake up."

Jesse's body jolted slightly and her eyes shot open with a loud gasp. She looked up to see the familiar faces of Axel and Olivia right in front of her, Olivia's hand on her shoulder.

Something she recognized in the dark hole of the nightmare, it made Jesse's heart leap in relief.

Before she had time to think she had wrapped her arms around her friends, burying her face between them. Their warmth felt comforting, and she felt her shaking breathing calm down.

"Easy now." Olivia said gently, as she stroked across Jesse's hair. "It was just a dream."

Another little figure scrambled onto the bed, pushing through Axel and Olivia. Jesse smiled shakily as Reuben clambered into her lap, snorting softly. She hugged him close to her chest, enjoying the comfort and the warmth he brought. Nonetheless her heart rate was quick, her breathing shallow.

Jesse didn't often have nightmares, but when she did they would come in the worse forms. Usually she'd feel too afraid to go back to sleep for nights to come.

But Axel, Olivia and Reuben were always there for her. No matter how scared she felt, she knew she could rely on them to be there for her.

Axel and Olivia could see the tiredness in Jesse's eyes. She needed the rest.