Broken Genes

Chapter Seven

 My birthday was supposed to be a happy day, full of celebration. However, I spent it curled up, locked in my house, with a throbbing injury on my arm and an uncontrollable shake form fear. I had stayed rolled up in my foetal position for hours after the dream but as morning light began to stream in through the window, it dawned on me that I couldn’t stay there forever. I got up on shaking legs and set myself a priorities list. The first thing take a shower.

The cool water ran down my skin, washing away the sweat and cleaning the wound on my arm. After I got out and got changed I moved on to the next thing, my arm.

It hadn’t stopped burning from the moment I realised it was there. It was bright red and surrounding each of the five scratches that formed a ring around my right arm, was a purple bruise from the pressure of the grip. My whole body shook as I looked at it – reliving the dream over and over. I got out the small first aid kit that lived on top of my refrigerator. I took out some anti-septic wipes and gently rubbed them over each scratch, I didn’t even notice the sting it caused until I added too much pressure onto the cut and agony shot up my arm.

I dropped the wipe and I let out a scream, gripping my arm until the pain dulled enough for me to gain control again. I looked down at the cuts and, although the pressure had only been applied to one, all the cuts were bleeding again. I let a sigh and took out the bandages. I wrapped them gently but securely around my arm. Once it was covered, I put the first aid kit away and went to the refrigerator to grab some of my next priority, food. I took out some cold pizza and sat at the table to eat.

Once finished, I washed up my plate and grabbed a huge glass of water. I had drunk it all in only a few seconds. I let out a shaky sigh and went back to my room. I picked up my phone on the way in and sat on my bed. After a moment’s thought, I decided to grab my sheet and curl up again. Even though I hadn’t slept, I wasn’t tired.

I flicked on my phone and blue light filled my dark room. On my small screen was a notification: 3 new messages and 2 missed calls. I click a button and my messages come up, all three are from Jase. The first one read: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What’s it like to be sixteen? I moved on to the next one, this one said: Hey. Are you going to throw a party? Text back soon so I can come round and help set up. I skip past this one too. There is one more so I click on it, this one reads: Seb? Are you okay? You always reply, what’s up?

I consider texting back that I am not alright, in any sense of the words, but quickly dismiss the idea. I decide to move on to the missed calls. The first time Jase called, he didn’t leave a message, but the second time, he did.

“Seb! Please reply to my texts or call me, you’re freaking me out a bit here man! I am coming round later on to check on you. Okay? Just call me.”

I let out a long sigh. I can’t talk to him about this, especially after he deemed it to be ‘stupid’. I move to turn off my phone when another text comes through, I click on the icon and read: Seb, its Jase, talk to me. I coming round now, let me in please. I know I am probably worried about nothing here, but I am checking anyway, see you in a bit. Oh great. I can’t let him in, but I can’t stop him coming either. I turn of my phone and lean farther back into my bed. Not good.

I must have drifted off to sleep, because I wake suddenly when I hear knocking on the door. At first I am paralyzed with fear, my only thought being: they’ve come for me. But just I’m about to start hyperventilating, I hear Jase’s voice, “Seb, are you in there? Are you okay?” I don’t reply. Part of me feels that I should tell him everything, but the other part says that I should keep silent and continue hiding. Soon, what started out as knocking, turns into pounding. Jase speaks again, “Seb? Please man, let me in.” I grip my shark tooth, praying that he’ll leave. No such luck. He starts hitting the door again, and with each thump, fear shoots down my spine. I’m like a scared animal, every noise making me jump and cower in fear. Eventually the pounding becomes too much and I worry that Jase will knock my door in. I get up, and sprint for the door, hands over my ears. I yank the door open and Jase is momentarily stunned. It doesn’t last long.