Dreaming of Demons

The Fall

This isn't happening. This isn't happening. This isn't happening.

The words circle around my brain on repeat. My breathing is fast and uncontrollable. Everything else seems to be moving in slow motion.

"Emily?" I hear Sara's voice but it seems far away. Like she's standing at the end of an extremely long hallway.

Unfortunately she's not. She's sitting right in front of me in her lacy black underwear. She didn't even have the decency to put her clothes back on.

"Emma, just breathe." She instructs me.

With that simple sentence she sends me over the edge.

"You're telling e to calm down!" I more scream than ask. "I found you in bed with my boyfriend and you're telling me to calm down!"

She tries to grab my hand but I recoil from her touch.

"We were going to tell you Em, but we didn't know when the right time would be," Nick says in that tone that normally made my insides melt. Now it just made them boil.

"Why?" is all I say to him. I thought we were so in love.

"You weren't putting out, Em, and a man has needs."

"So this is my fault?" I ask in disbelief.

"At least you're admitting it," Nick says, "It's the first step towards us working through us.

My vision goes hazy. The next thing I know my fist connects with something hard. Then again and again. Sara tries to pull me off of him but the adrenaline has set in.

After the initial shock rubs off, Nick gets his bearings. He grabs a fist of my dirty blonde hair and yanks so hard I feel pieces ripping out of my scalp. His fist connects with my jaw.

The pain is sharp. Black dots begin to dance in my vision.

"Get out of here," he spits at me.

I'm too stunned to do anything other than listen.

I make it all the way to the kitchen before being interrupted. Just as I am about to leave someone else enters.

I jump at the sudden intrusion and stumble backwards. Normally I wouldn't be so clumsy but the current incident has thrown me off center.

A hand shoots out and grabs mine to steady me.

"I had no idea you were such a clutz, Emmy," Jared calls me by the name he had given me when we were little, "but I suppose that's how you got that bruise."

He runs a rough thumb over the sore spot on my jaw. I instinctively flinch away from his touch.

"Aw Emmy, no need to cry, I was only teasing," he gives me his best charming smile.

I hadn't even realized I was crying until he pointed it out. I try my hardest to stop my tears, but that only makes them seem to fall faster.

"Emma," Jared tilts my chin up with his finger so I'm looking him in the eye, "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

I shake my head. "You didn't. It's Nick and-" I try to explain but am cut off by my own sob.

It seems that I didn't have to explain anyway. At that moment a loud moan sounded from the direction of Sara's room.

I watch as Jared connects the dots.

"That fucking asshole," he pushes past me and heads toward the stairs.

"Please don't say anything," I follow him up the stairs, "It really isn't that big of a deal."

Jared whips around so fast it causes me to run right into his chest. "Not a big deal? Emma, Sara is your best friend and she's fucking your boyfriend, and Nick hit you!"

"He's my ex-boyfriend now," I mumble, "And I hit him first."

Jared gives me a stern look. "If you aren't going to stand up for yourself then I will." He turns back around and marches up the stairs.

I try to stop him by grabbing his shirt, but he's stronger than me and just pulls me with him.

When we reach Sara's door I can hear the squeaking of the bed. It causes my stomach to twist. Jared flings the door open. Sara squeals.

I can't look at either of them. I'm afraid that if I do I'll cry. So I just stare at my feet instead.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sara screeches.

I look up just in time to see Jared yanking Nick off of Sara.

"Don't hurt him," I say at the same time Sara screams at her brother to stop.

Jared reluctantly lets go of him.

"I see you need this pervert to fight your battles. I always knew you were weak but I never thought you would stoop this low," Nick gets uncomfortably close to me. His proximity scatters my brain which makes it impossible to move away. "Just think," he says, "You could have me back if only you would give in to my needs." He pulls me against his naked body and starts sucking on my neck. I try to push him away but that only makes him hold me tighter. His hands find their way under my shirt.

Before I know what's happening he's being ripped off of me. Jared has him pinned to the ground and is repeatedly punching him.

I can hear Sara screaming, but the sound is very distant. The room starts to look hazy. A sharp pain shoots through my chest.

The next thing I know I'm on the floor clutching my chest.

Someone rolls me over so I'm lying on my back. Jared's face comes into my line of sight but I can't get my eyes to focus on him. He's talking but it sounds like gibberish.

He pulls me onto his lap and presses my head to his chest. I Focus on his heartbeat, slow and steady, and try to get mine to match his.

The pain in my chest dulls to a light throb.

"Are you okay, Em?" he whispers.

"Yeah," I say, but my voice sounds so small that even I'm unconvinced, "I just need to go home."