"I was surrounded by black, whispy fog. I could barely see through the slithering tendrils that snaked around my body, I could only hear one thing; his voice. He was saying the same thing he usually did, but this time the fog cleared enough that I actually saw him, but I wish I never had. He was horrifying. His hair was crusted with what looked like blood, his eyes were empty sockets that seemed to moan in the slight breeze, and his skin was rotten and scabbed over in patches all around. He stepped towards me and smiled, revealing a mouth full of blade like teeth, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him before he whispered 'I've got you now,' and his face came closer..."
My therapist looked at me, nodding the entire time to let me know she was listening, "and then?" she asked. I rolled my eyes in frustration, "and then nothing, I woke up, the end." She stood with her little notebook in hand and scowled down at me, "look, Anaia, I know this is difficult for you to accept, just know that I am only trying to help you, but to do that I need you to trust me." I stood as well, coming up to her chin, and glared back, "No, you aren't trying to help me, you're trying to help yourself to my father's money, but that's not happening because I am done. This therapy crap isn't working so I'd rather not waste my time and my dad's money." I walked out of the room with my head held high as her mouth gaped, making her look like a fish out of water.
I left the building laughing quietly to myself, feeling satisfied. She was the third therapist I've had in the past two years, and I hated her with a passion. I always caught her flirting with her younger patients after their sessions, smiling with her commercial white teeth and cherry red lips. She always wore skirts that were too short and shirts that were too tight and showed way more than I ever wanted to see. Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard and her name always left a bad taste in my mouth; Bronca.
I waited for the go sign on the crosswalk and then tried to hurry across when I heard a squeal. I looked up in time to see a blue convertible charging at me, but before I could move I was rammed head on. I flopped onto my back and all of the air left me in a "whoosh." My head was flung against the grainy road and I started seeing stars. "Ouch," I tried to stand but quickly decided the ground was my friend. I felt hands holding me down and I looked up to see someone I thought I would never see again.
"Oliver?" I stared openly because I realized that if he asked why I was staring at him I could blame it on the fact that he hit me with his car! "Hey Anaia, sorry abut that." I felt like I could've strangled him for acting so nonchalant. "You could have easily just said hello, it's what normal people do. I would actually prefer a simple hello rather than getting hit with your car!" He chuckled, making me grin even though I told myself I wouldn't lose my resolve. He pulled me up and let me lean on him since I was so unstable. He lead me to his car and put me in the passenger seat, then went around the car to get in the driver's seat.
"I haven't seen you in a while." I stated, trying to brush away the awkwardness. "You consider 10 years a while? I'm surprised you even recognized me." His voice was much lower than I remembered, but since it had been so long, I guess it made sense. I sighed and looked out the window, watching the buildings go by. I tried, and failed, to not look at him out of the corner of my eyes because every time I did I would remember what happened when we were younger. He turned onto my street and pulled up to my house. "You should see if your mom could take a look at your head and make sure you're all in tact." He said casually without looking at me. I nodded and headed in.
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That night I layed in bed, tossing and turning as I struggled to fall asleep. My eyes finally fell closed and my mind drifted into a dream I constantly tried to avoid... Hollowed eyes were starring into mine as he leaned closer, "Stop!" a little boy ran at us through the fog, holding something close to his stomach. "Let her go! It's not her fault!" the little boy screamed as he pulled whatever he was holding against him away. Hollow eyes let go of me and turned towards the boy, whom I now realized was Oliver, and yelled, "she may not know, but you do! She is in my home and will respect me and my wishes!" his voice was wheezy and strict. Suddenly the whole scene changed; the fog went away and Hollow eyes turned into Oliver's dad. Little Oliver held the knife he had been hiding in front of him for protection as his dad grabbed him by his shirt and shook him. I ran at them and pulled Oliver out of the way, just as his dad got a hold of the knife and swiped. I felt blood run down my arm on the spot where the knife gauged me, from my shoulder to my elbow. I cried out and used the last of my strength to knock the knife out of his hand just before I collapsed to the ground in agony. My eyes grew heavier and started to drift closed and the last thing I saw was Oliver stabbing his father to death.
I sat up gasping, checking my arm to see if it was bleeding, as if he had just stabbed me. Tears pooled in the corner of my eyes but before they could fall I swiped them away. I finally saw the end of the dream, I can't believe I never realized I was reliving the day Oliver killed his dad to protect me. We were so young at the time that when the police came they couldn't take Oliver to jail and didn't want to take him to juvi, so they left him with a foster family because his mother couldn't stand the sight of him. So, why was he back?
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"BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!" I slammed my hand down on my alarm and shut it off, stretching as I sat up in my bed deciding whether or not I wanted to go to school that day. It's my senior year and since I live on my own and I'm 18, I could call myself in sick. I groaned and shook my head back and forth to wake me up a bit more before I got up and headed for my overpriced bathroom. I stood under the warm water and let last night's dream flow through my mind. It's decided; I'm going to school today and hopefully I will run into Oliver and he can explain.
I got out and dried myself off, looking at the time and realizing I was going to be late. I quickly shoved on an outfit and shrugged on my heels before I ran to my garage and jumped into my car. I zoomed out of the drive way and sped down the road, getting to school just after the late bell rang.
"Shit..." I muttered to myself as I ran up the school steps.
"Language Anaia, sheesh..." I heard behind me.
"Oliver?" I spun around, forgetting about school all together.
