𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃'𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃

four

𝑭𝑶𝑼𝑹

—

he inched closer, and closer. her throat hurt even more from trying to scream for help. yet she stayed silent.

her sight getting blurrier from her tears. he was laughing slighty, probably from her suffering.

her cries weren't heard. he was standing there. the darkness didnt show his face, although you can tell he was smiling.

she yelled, and finally, it wasn't silent. it was loud, and she hoped someone would hear her.

but before someone could, he covered her mouth.

𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒛𝒊𝒆

i woke up, trying to catch my breath from a nightmare. i sat up, breathing heavily and i was sweating as i stared into the dark. i closed my eyes, calming down by breathing in, and out.

i looked at my digital clock on my nightstand. it was 4:36 in the morning, and the first day of school. great. "ugh, fuck this." i slipped out of bed, and headed for the bathroom. i splashed warm water into my face, and tried to wake myself up. well, really, no matter what, i won't be able to sleep. i turned off the fauset and stared at myself at the mirror.

school starts at 7:30, but we're recommended to be there by 7:25. "i guess i'll get ready." i mumbled to myself. just as i walked out, i heard music and thumps from our little dance studio. i slowly walked into it. luckily, the music wasn't that loud, or my mom would've flipped.

"mads?" i slowly opened the door. she fell out of her turns and looked at me. she then turned off the music, as i sat down on the studio floor. "what's going on?" i asked. "dad messaged me again." maddie sighed, sitting down in front of me.

"oh." it's been five days since he first messaged us, but he hasn't done it since then. "i tried to get it off my mind. i slept for two hours, showered, ate, practiced my solo. but nothing really worked." she replied. "look, it's the first day of school. aren't you tired?" i held her hand. "you've already showered, so take a nap for another hour, and i'll wake you up so you can change and eat." i helped her stand up. "okay."

she walked to her room and me to my own. 4:43. i've already set an alarm for 5:25. sleep again? yes please.

𝒋𝒐𝒉𝒏𝒏𝒚

"johnny." lauren's annoying calls woke me up from such an amazing dream.. which i don't even remember. "john! it's the first day of school!" she tugged me as i opened my eyes. i swat her hand away from my shoulder. "ughh." i groaned. "i'll slap you if you don't wake up." she said, "fine, fine!" i sit up. lauren would actually slap me awake. she has. "ok go away, i'll be down in like 10 minutes." she walks out. i ripped the, soft, comfortable, blanket off of me, and swung my legs off the bed.

after staring at the floor, which has shadows the sun casted of me and my bed, i finally got ready. from my closet, i picked out my black ripped jeans, and a white shirt. it's august, and los angeles has a bipolar ass weather, so i just picked a simple jacket. i continued to do my usual routine before heading downstairs.

"hey johnny." my mom said as i walked down the stairs. "pancakes?" she asked, pointing to a big plate of chocolate-chip pancakes. "mom, we have to head for school." lauren said, as i took a pancake. "oh, ok. meet me in the car." my mom says as she checked her watched. i swung my backpack around my shoulder and head outside as i took a bite of the warm pancake.

he left the room, as she stared at the window. it was still pouring rain. she watched as raindrops fell on her window.

the clock still ticked louder than anything.

tick. tock. louder than the rain. tick. tock. louder than the yelling downstairs, of her mother and the monster.

tick. tock.

she heard the cries from her sister at the room next to hers. yet she still stared at the window. yet she still listened to the ticking clock.

until sirens got louder and louder.

knock. knock. knock.

"pittsburgh police! open up!"

"kenzie ! wake up !" madison woke mackenzie up from her horrifying dream. she opened her eyes wide at maddie. "you overslept, we have to be at school at an hour!"

[749]