Broken Genes

Chapter Four

The next day we find ourselves sitting in my kitchen with toast in front of us. We hadn’t really spoken sine Jase had woken up at ten this morning and let out a load of swears when the events of last night came back to him. Other than that, Jase had only really mumbled things in reply to anything I said - not that I have been talkative either. But something did have to be said, and I knew the question was coming from the moment I had woken up panting and dripping with sweat. 

“So what was the dream about?” he says. He looked okay this morning. He had shallow bags under his eyes and his hair was all messed up, but other than that the only thing I could notice was how deep in thought he had been looking from the second he had woken up.

As for me, I knew I had definitely looked better. I had an exhausted expression and huge shadows under my eyes. I was also pale and jumpy, which probably, to Jase, just made everything seem just that little bit worse.

At last, after a moment’s pause I give him a pained sign and explain. I don’t go into much detail and I leave out the back door experience, since it’s kind of embarrassing. The whole time he just sits there, thinking. When I am done I take a quick swig of my cold coffee and lean back in my chair.     

He has eaten most of his toast and my still sits untouched other than a few bites.

At last he says, “I don’t know what to think if I am honest. It sounds kind of weird but it clearly is different from any other nightmare. If I were you, I would just keep going and try not to let the dreams get to you. At least until we figure something out.”

I give him a nod and ask him the question I need to know the answer too, “Y-you w-won’t tell anybody, w-will you?” I stammered. It is embarrassing to ask but I need the answer.

“Not if you don’t want me to” he replied giving me a small smile. I nod and take a small bite from my toast. He really is the world’s greatest best friend.

The remainder of the day passes slowly, with Jase and I doing very little other than talking, listening to music and at one point Jase even fell asleep. At that point I had no intention of waking him, he had always loved to sleep and I wasn’t planning on stopping his great experience, even if I couldn’t have one of my own right now. That lasted until I got up to get a glass of water and knocked a book onto his head, jerking him awake. He had scowled at me in a playful way, yawned and deemed it about the time he should be going home - although he did offer staying another night, we both realised it probably wouldn’t do much good for either of us -  and at that, he left.

The rest of the day passed slowly. Until it was eventually time to head to bed. You could say I am scared to fall asleep, but that would be an understatement, I am petrified.

But when I do get to sleep, I am not greeted by visions, I am instead presented with normal nightmare - but even those refuse to leave the topic of the man alone. I dream of him. He is chasing me and I am running away, but I know I will never out run him. He gains on me quickly until he is about to leap and surely catch and kill me. Then I wake up.

My heart is pounding but I know it was just a dream. My head swims as it tries to chase the fog out my brain. I check the time and see it is 10:28. At least I don’t have to go back to sleep to pass the time until morning. I get up and make my way into the kitchen.

I wonder how much more of this there is, and more importantly, how much more I can take.

***

The next week passes in a daze. Due to my sleep deprived nights, reality and dream world seem to mash together until I can no longer figure out which I am in. Jase is constantly in and out ‘checking on me’ despite my objections that I am fine. I gave up listening to him after a while and filled his observation of me being constantly ‘distant’. Although I have nightmares most nights, the visions never return and I find myself wondering if I am going crazy. It is on the last day of my ‘Misery Week’ that something Jase says snaps me out of my state.