The Nightmares

Chapter 20 - The Shared Nightmare

"Kyle?"

Kyle was standing to the left of me.

"W-where are we?"

I sighed, "I'm having a nightmare."

"Wait. If you're having a nightmare, than why am I here?"

"Kyle?"

I turned around to see Aryanna standing to my right.

"Oh no," I understand what this is.

I have to choose between Kyle and his sister.

"Choose."

I looked forward to see myself as a younger girl.

"What?"

"Choose. Before it's too late."

I looked from Kyle who was struggling to take a step forward and to Aryanna who was looking traumatized.

"What do you mean-" when I looked forward, she/I wasn't there anymore.

I heard a growling from behind me.

I turned around quickly to come face-to-face with the same monster from last time.

"You've got to fucking kidding me!"

It roared loudly causing me to cover my ears.

"Jessy!" Kyle screamed my name, but I couldn't hear him.

My ears were ringing loudly, blocking out every other sound.

I screamed.

But I couldn't hear it.

I tried to scream as loud as I could, but I still couldn't hear myself screaming.

I continued to scream until my throat hurt.

Finally I could begin to hear the faint sound of my screams.

I calmed down, but then the monster roared again making my ears ring once more.

I was more prepared this time.

I looked at Aryanna who was trying to move from her forward position, but something kept both her and Kyle in place like statutes.

They couldn't even turn their heads.

"Kyle, I have to choose. You're probably wondering what I'm talking about. These nightmares are a life and death decision. I have to choose who I want to live. You or Aryanna."

"What!" He desperately wanted to move now that he knew why he was here.

"J-Jessy?"

I looked towards Aryanna who was looking at me with tears in her eyes, but she was relaxed.

"Yea?"

"Choose Kyle. Please. I've accomplished everything I can in my life. I-I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that he died trying to help you. Please, choose him."

I starred at her.

She was willing to die so that kyle could live.

I nodded my head and did what she told me to.

I turned around and sprinted towards Kyle.

Just as I did, the monster leaped towards Aryanna.

I turned back around just in time to see the monster rip off her head.

"Aryanna!" Kyle screamed as he witnessed his sister's death.

I continued to run to him.

Once I got to him, I pulled him into an embrace and the dream ended.

--------------------------------

I woke up startled.

Kyle did the same.

"What the fuck did you do?!?!"

I looked down and my eyes filled with tears.

"She asked me to choose you."

"And you listened to her!" He screamed at me with both anger and sadness in his voice.

He jumped out of bed, grabbed his shirt and ran out the door towards his house.

I followed him.

When I caught up with him I found him sitting on the floor in his living room crying.

Aryanna was lying on the floor in a puddle of her own blood.

She had scratch marks all over body.

But the most spine chilling part: Half of her head was completely gone.

"C-could you have s-saved her?"

I didn't reply until a few minutes later.

"If I could, I would have. I'm sorry, Kyle. I didn't want this to happen."

He just nodded his head.

I sat down next to him and pulled him into a hug.

He didn't fight me, in fact, he snuggled up against me and began sobbing against my chest.

And looking at Aryanna's dead body, I began sobbing too.