The echoing darkness

Chapter 1

A shiver ran up my spine, freezing my body stiff. I can hear pain filled screams reaching every corner of my room. Barricading of every wall, until I am drowned in torment.

I can't dare to imagine what is happening. I tell myself its just your imagination Jen, you can get through the night. But every struggling breath, every piercing cry. It seems more real. Yet another night were the monster from below envelopes the darkness around me.

       *   *   *

The sun shone threw my slightly opened window warming my face. The cool morning air dancing with the dust. The dreaded sound of the alarm echoed threw the house, leaving me lusting for sleep.

I drag my legs out of bed and hall myself to the bathroom. I have a quick cold shower and shove on my every day jeans and top. I stare at myself in the mirror. Dark circles surround my eyes, leaving my green eyes looking hollow. I scrape my blond hair back and sigh. I can't keep doing this, I feel empty and exhausted.

Mum expects me to do so well in my exams. I have always been a smart kid but I can feel myself slipping, letting years of hard work go to waste.

"Jen! Max is here."

Ugh he is always so sharp there is no getting through to that boy.

I jog down stairs and quickly kiss my mum goodbye.

"Jen hunny, do something that makes you..."

"Smile! Yes mum bye!" I shout slamming the door behind me. Giving an exasperated look to max who is halfway down the garden path already.

"Slow down would you jeez"

"Sorry, but exercise never killed nobody" Said Max, his head bobbing along to some R and B crap probably.

Just another ordinary day. Great.

   *   *   *

Max's concerned chocolate-hazel eyed gaze flicked over my face. The drone of Mrs Salver's voice continued. Max was cute, but not my type I've been friends with him forever and could never think of him that way. I have told him about everything, well almost. Not about the dreams, he would probably think I'm crazy. Who wouldn't.

The bell rings, making the whole class jump. Max steadily rose from his desk making his well built body flex.

"Hey, Jen. Are you alright, you look like you died and have partly come back to life!" He smiled, it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah" I yawned. Focusing on making my legs move. Left, right, left.

"You know you can tell me anything right?" He asked.

"Of course, I'm fine. Look at you all concerned."

He blushed up to his eyes , mumbling goodbye and stalking of to his next class. Oh Max don't ever like someone like me, it will only bring you down.