Premonition

Night Terror

Light flooded the room. Her own screaming still echoed in her ears, and the sheets were soaked with sweat.  Small tremors ran a course through her body. Her dad was already halfway to the bed by the time the image of her dead brother faded.

"It was the dream again?"

Though worded like a question, he already knew the answer. This was the fifth time in two weeks. He knew he'd have to get her some professional help. With a sigh, he sat on the edge of the bed. She cleared her throat, her voice sounded shaky.

"I'm sorry."

The exhaustion left by the night terror was already settling in. She fought to stifle a yawn. He waited, uncertain wether she had more to say.

"It just seemed so real, you know?"

He pushed his hand over his face, up to his hairline, as if to wipe away the traces of sleep. The light didn't seem to reach his eyes. Concern was etched in his face.

"Your mother used to have them, Darce. Night terrors the doctor called them."

He ran his fingers through his unruly hair as he looked at her. Darcey didn't look relieved. She looked tired though her breathing betrayed her anxiety.

"Alright. Go on, tell me."

She took a deep breath and laid back against the pillows.

"It was night. Kyle was here. He warned me, not with words or anything, but he was trying to block my path. I was walking through the house. I thought I was alone."

She stopped to calm herself. He waited with the kind of patience only a parent has. His hands, rough from work, smoothed the hair away from her face. He fussed with the blanket as if she were a little girl again, not a young woman of seventeen.

"I was in the hall passing by the bathroom when I saw it. The door was open a few inches and the light from my bedroom kind of went in there. It was enough to see the shape of a man. He was looking right at me. I could only see one unblinking eye. Kyle tried to get between us but- And the man, he had a knife in his hand. He... he..."

She was becoming animated again. He could see the nervousness, the traces of terror creeping in. He almost thought he could smell her fear.

"Alright. Deep breaths."

He waited. It took a few moments for her to relax.

"It was a nightmare, Darce. You're fine now and I'm here if you need me. You've got to get some rest."

He stood slowly and walked toward the door.

"Dad?"

He didn't turn, but he stopped walking.

"I know it sounds stupid, but can you leave the bathroom light on?"

He was moving again. She heard the sound of her light switch being shut off, listened to the sound of him shuffling down the hall. There was a pause, and then the faint trace of light penetrating her room from the bathroom down the hall.

"Goodnight,"she heard him say.

"Goodnight."

She lay there for a little while longer. Finally, sleep came again. This time when she dreamed, there was no Kyle. Only visions of light remained.