Nightmares

6

I stared at him in shock. In just this day I've had three frightening experiences--even more than that if you count both the curtains hanging in midair and the first time I saw the figure when I walked into my room--and he's trying to tell me this is a safe place for me!?

"How do you figure?" I demanded, grabbing his hand from my cheek and holding it in my hand. "Why is it safe for me, but not anyone else?"

He laid back on the bed horizontally, but I stayed in my upright position. "Because you have a connection to this place, just like me. Though I'm almost positive I've screwed up everything in the last, say, half hour." He shrugged as best as he could while in his position. "This place is a real emotional train wreck, and it has fits like a girl on her period, that's for sure." When he finished his thought, a huge bang brought our attention to my bedroom door. Something that sounded like a dresser had fallen on the opposite side of it. But something is telling me it was probably knocked over on purpose...

"What do you mean, 'the house'? Is it living?" I asked in wonderment. How interesting that a house can live.

He laughed humorlessly. It was the only sort of happy emotion I've ever seen come out of him. "I wish. No, the house, like I've told you already, is haunted. Haunted by many things. The past, the present, and even the future." His words confused me even more, and the only thing that kept me sane was his thumb stroking my hand. "It'll cool down in a day or so, maybe longer. Though I don't think it's a great idea for me to stay here; I do worry about your well-being."

My head snapped to his. "What? I thought you just said this is a safe place for me!" I cried out, and I felt a rumble thoughout the house, like a mini earthquake, that lasted for mere seconds. He shot straight up and held my face in both his hands.

"You need to stay calm. The house likes you very much, and it knows what you're feeling. If you are angry, the house will become angry. Whatever you're feeling, the mansion will feel it ten times more. Don't provoke it." I nodded awkwardly, loving the feeling of his warm hands on my cheeks. "What I meant was that, if the haunters of this house decide to talk to you, well, who knows how you'll react? When you first stepped into this room, I know you must've seen something that scared you into a panic attack, so what if more is revealed to you? The mansion only thinks about itself, it doesn't really think about the consequences of its actions." There was a low hissing sound, and he growled right back, turning his head towards to door. "Nothing will show itself now; it's too depressed. You will find out everything with time, but I'm afraid that if I tell you now, I won't live to protect you another day." I must have been giving off a scared vibe because he once again pulled me into his arms.

Then, I heard more slamming, followed by barking.

"Graham." I breathed, then pulled myself out of Blaze's arms.

"Emery!" He shouted after me, but I wasn't listening. Nothing was going to reveal itself to me, so now that I know something is going on, I'm not about to let Graham be taken by whatever it actually is.

When I ran down the steps, I could hear Graham's paws jumping frantically around, and tears sprang to my eyes. What's happening?!

"Graham?!" I shouted, and I heard little giggling. It was coming from the kitchen.

I barged my way into the kitchen, and saw Graham jumping around, panting happily with his focus on...nothing. Nothing was there.

"Grahamy? What the heck are you doing, boy?" I chuckled, then walked over to him.

"Don't." A voice hissed, and it sounded like an angry child.

My blood froze. My face was drained of blood and probably stark white as I stared at the air near Graham where he contently brushed up against it.

I heard a loud smacking noise, and then a cry. "YOU DO NOT SPEAK TO HER THAT WAY!" A man's voice shouted, and it sent tingles up my spine. I furrowed my brows, and continued to stare where Graham was now cowering away from the air.

"But the pup!" A hurt voice sounded, and Graham brushed up against my leg. I bent to pick him up when the voice came again. "She's taking my pup!" It cried out, and tears were prickling my eyes as my lip quivered. Another smack came, then a low thud, and the air seemed to get a bit lighter.

I was about to let out a sigh of relief, when I felt cold air brush my hair back, as if someone was breathing on my face. It's just the wind, I told myself.

"My brother won't yell at you again, my love," A hushed voice spoke close to me, and the tears were now falling down my face uncontrollably. I was holding back a sob as I felt a collection of cold air rest on my cheek. "There's no need to cry. You're safe now." My body racked with a violent shiver as the air enveloped me, and I didn't even have time to wonder where Blaze went off to before I heard his voice.

"You all need to leave! She's afraid of you, and you can't keep me away from her! You're dead!" His voice shouted angrily, and he pulled me back into his side. Graham was furiously trying to escape my arms, but I refused to let him leave me. Not after everything that's happened.

I heard a low growl, like a Rottweiler, or a Pitbull, and I turned my face into Blaze's neck in the hopes that everything would go away.

"Make it go away, Blaze, please make it stop." I pleaded as I cried, and all of a sudden, the air became more breathable. It didn't feel like there was a presence lurking in the shadows anymore, and I let out a sigh of relief.

"You know," Blaze's voice came through my relaxed thoughts. "I think you've hurt his feelings." He told me teasingly, and I chuckled, smacking his arm with my free hand. "That's my job. After all, he thinks you're in love with him."

I looked up to see him shrugging, as if his words made total sense, and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Excuse me? I don't know what you're talking about!" I shouted, adrenaline once again taking over.

He sighed. "All in good time, Tucker." He grabbed my hand and started to drag me back upstairs. "I would take us back to my mother's, but I'm afraid they've become even more attached and won't let you leave." His words were punctuated with the sound of a door locking. He glanced toward the front door. "Just a thought."

I chuckled, but it was forced. Nothing about this was very funny. Not at all. Plus, I didn't know whether or not to believe everything that Blaze is saying. I mean, sure, he's obviously right about the ghosts, but me being safe? I don't get that secure feeling here. And a ghost thinking I'm in love with him? It all sounds like some sick game. But as long as he stays with me, I feel like I'll be fine.

"So, ready to watch TV?" He asked, and I shrugged my reply, cuddling closer to my baby. The only person I could really trust is a dog. That's helpful.