Before the Angels Fall

Chapter 8~ More Nightmares

It was that same girl again, the one in the white-black tank top and flowery skirt. She was thin, oh so thin, with sticks for limbs. And only Stephanie saw her. The girl ran forward, only to be shot in the stomach. Thick red blood gushed out of the open wound, staining her shirt. She clutched the wound and fell onto her knees and collapsed down. Her eyes were open wide, her mouth slightly ajar. Her silvery white hair was fanned around her head, the blood staining her hair as it pooled out in gallons.

Stephanie ran forward, trying to reach the girl before it was too late. Suddenly, she realized that she was wearing the same clothes the little girl wore. There were sounds of gunshots, explosions of white-hot pain, and Stephanie felt her arm reach out, almost touching the girl, before she, too, collapsed on the ground beside the girl.

Stephanie woke up. Not very gracefully, more like as though she were desperately trying to escape from a bad dream. Just another bad dream. And she always woke up with her arm outstretched, still trying to save the girl.

Stephanie always noticed that she never saw the girl's face in the beginning of the nightmare. It was usually hidden behind her hair and Stephanie finally saw it when the girl collapsed down, finally dead after all she had been through.

But the severity of the dream. That was something to take note of. What did it all mean? The odd little details like the clothes, the hair, the gunshots.......Did it mean anything?

Stephanie sighed. Dammit, more stupid things to worry about. And I still have to get through high school. Now I have to deal with this? That's too much.

Sitting up, stretching her arms, she made her way out of bed and into her bathroom. It was a Saturday, a fine day to rest and relax. Of course not. There were still a few bits of homework left on her desk from Friday. Being a procrastinator, she wondered if she could finish them in time for Monday. Stephanie sighed. I wonder how Cassandra is managing her homework. She snorted. Probably not very well. Did Ariana and Nanae finish their's?

Grabbing her phone and turning it on, Stephanie quickly texted them with a few swipes of her dexterous fingers. Did you guys finish your homework?

Ariana replied first. Almost. Still have that math worksheet to complete. Ha, Smith might as well just give me an F because she hates me so much LOL.

Nanae replied a few minutes later. Yep! I'm all done. Need help?

Stephanie answered. Nah, I'm good. It sucks that you guys got Smith. Heard she was the worst. Do you think that Cassy finished hers?

Ariana stifled her laughter from the other side. I highly doubt it.

Yeah. Same here. I gtg. Bai guys. Need to finish that little project thing. Cya ttyl.

Bye Stephanie!

Cya later. 

Stephanie turned off her phone and hopped in the shower for a small rinse. Then, she tugged on a sweater and a pair of jeans, hobbled down the stairs and ate her breakfast.

The house was empty. Her brother was away at college. Stephanie made a mental note to text him later to see how he was doing. Her dad was at work, still, and her mother.....well, one could say that she was resting.

The high schooler finished drawing and the whole project and got her phone. Dialing Cassandra's number, she waited patiently until Cassandra picked up. "Hey, Cassy."

"Hiiiiii. How are you~?"

"Good. I just wanted to check on the girl and the boy. Will you come with me?"

"Of course! Just go to the place. I'll meet you there."

"Okay. See ya."

"Bye."

They hung up and prepared to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"ALEXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!" Her voice split the air in two. Her hand was reaching out, fingers outstretched, trying to save him, but it was all to late.

She screamed his name louder this time, but only saw his dull gaze and deadened body rolling towards her from the explosion. He didn't reply; of course not, he couldn't.

She continued screaming and crying for him to wake up, to stay alive, not to leave her alone. But he couldn't hear her no matter how hard she tried. The shrieks kept piercing the air. It was a wonder that no one came over to inspect the scene: a little girl crying over her dead brother, ashes and blood decorating their faces and clothes. Oh, and the pain. The pain written on her face as she gave up and decided to accept everything. How cruel the world is.

He woke up and nearly screamed. It was her again, his sister who probably was still living. Isabella. The name reminded him of flowers, the sun, warm summer days, ice cream, family, and of course, death. It hurt him to even think about it, and he wrapped his wings around him, trying to capture some warmth. But the pain came from deep inside, a place that can never be reached. The wound still hadn't healed, not yet, as the nightmares carved the scars deeper. So deep that it hurt.

"Are you okay? You were turning in your sleep. Did you have a nightmare?"

"I'm fine." He turned over. She wouldn't know, wouldn't understand how he felt, how much pain it caused him just to think.

"Tell me about it."

Silence ensued. His eyes widened. What?!

"Why should I?" His eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't understand."

"Let's see."

"Ugh." He sighed, boiling with frustration.

"What are you guys talking about?" Cassandra and Stephanie walked in. The boy's eyebrows lifted and his eyes widened in suspicion. He stared at the girl who identified herself as Cassandra. Something was off about her and he noticed it the first time he had seen her, too.

"Have you been having nightmares?" Stephanie cocked her head to the side, eyes questioning.

"I-It's none of your business," he snapped back.

"You seem to be doing a lot of snapping recently," commented the girl in the far corner who was watching the conversation with interest.

He growled once and laid back down on his pillow. It was wet. Was I crying? he asked himself.

"Whatever. Don't mind him," said Stephanie. "He is probably still growing up."

The boy felt as though he had just been run through by a spear and punched in the gut. Still growing up?! He was dead for goodness sake.......or was he? He looked very alive, with more color decorating his pale cheeks. "But, I'm dead."

Stephanie looked at him sharply.

"Well, technically speaking, you are dead, in a sense. It doesn't look like you are breathing, right? And besides, can either of you two eat?" Cassandra looked at both of them after speaking.

The halflings' eyes just looked at her. "H-how did you know?"

"It seems as though you haven't eaten anything. The food is still stocked up pretty well."

More silence followed. The girl coughed. "We might as well introduce ourselves, since it is pretty awkward when you just talk to us without using our names."

"Very well then. My name is Alex."

"My name is Isabella."