North Way High

Chapter 15

The nightmares seem to be eternal. As soon as one ends, another horror film is played in my head, reserved just for me. Everything from my mother, to myself. She sits in her rocking chair and reads a magazine just like she always used to, but instead of hugging me, she strangled me to death and then she had claws all of the sudden and I couldn't run away -- her grip was too strong. As soon as I could get out of her grasp, she shot venom at me. And then as I was dying from the venom, Chase appeared and tried helping me but he was too late, so he avenged me by killing my mother right in front of me. Then Jackson started killing Chase and I couldn't help him. That's one of my worst nightmares; not being able to help my loved ones. And this happens multiple times to me. All of the sudden the venom dissapered and I stood up. I had a gun in my hand. I could either shoot Jackson, or Chase. I aim and shoot for Jackson, but somehow, the bullet turns away and hits Chase instead. He tells me I can save him only if I can defeat Jackson, but Jackson holds me down and forces me to watch Chase die.
"He's dead you fool! You could've saved him!" He yells. But when he says this he's standing, crying. And not holding me down any longer.
"I was going to but I couldn't!" I scream. He just shakes his head at me in cruel, utter disapproval. I didn't mean to kill Chase, but I loved it. I love killing. But I feel so horrible inside. So confused. So horrified that I did it. So anxious to do it again.
"I'm pushed to wake up by a strong force. I uncomfortably move my physical position because my body doesn't want to wake up that fast, but I do. And I'm horrified with what I see. I see Jackson, shaking his head, just like he was in the nightmare. I thought this wasn't real.
"It's not real. Yet. It tells you about what's going to happen in the future. You will be happy that you killed Chase. But that goes without saying. Soon you'll be a murderer just like Alex." He says. He read my mind again.
"Speaking of Alex, where is he? He's not strapped in his seat." I say, finding hopes that they brought him back home.
"He was going a little insane again so we took the anger he had towards us, and put it towards our enemies instead. So now instead of hating us, he hates our enemies. He went off with Master Finn to kill some other Cornells that we are trying to run an extinction on. We will give you the same shot soon. How was the nightmare, sweetie?" He asks.
"So you're saying that me killing Chase and being be happy about it is soon going to become a reality?" I ask, terrified.
"Yes! It's great, right? He'll finally be dead and off my hands." He says, anxiously.
"When will I do this?" I ask.
"Tonight. I'll give you the shot while you're asleep so your system can't fight it off because it will be caught off gaurd. It's almost like a disease. It has the possibility of leaving you, but if your body can't fight it off in time, it will take over you and you'll have no power over it. Then when we give you our happiness serum, that you'll drink or be forced to drink, will make it enjoyable to kill. That's when we'll let you out of this seat; when we know we can control you." He says. He walks away to let me think about this alone.

I'm going to kill Chase.

I start breathing heavy.

He's going to die a horrible death because of me.

I start breathing fast.

And I'm going to enjoy it.

I am suddenly terrified, ashamed of myself to come.
"Jackson, may I speak to Chase please?" I ask. He thinks for a moment and then nods. Chase runs over to me.
"What is it?" He asks.
"I'm going to kill you. You need to run away and never come back. I can't live with myself if I kill you. Please go." I say, a panick whisper. He shakes his head.
"No, Jamie. I believe in you. You're not going to kill me." He says.
"Chase, I'm serious. I won't be able to control myself. You're not safe here." I say. Breathing fast and heavy.
"No, Jamie! I'm staying right here with you. Because I love you." He says in a sweet voice. He caresses my hair with gentle strokes just like my Mother used to do. My hands become fists in the restraints that hold me against the seat.
"Chase, you don't understand. They already did it! It's in my system! Their going to let me out of this seat and I'm going to kill you. You need to run! You're going to be killed . . . " I suddenly snap into an evil trance. Yes. Kill. No. Keep him protected. I have these borderline thoughts for a moment or two and then it starts to override.
"Chase, this is my last chance. Say something, do something, anything to change my thoughts." I say.
"Jamie, I can't help you." He says.
"I don't believe that! I won't. There must be something. Please. Please help me!" I cry. He just shakes his head.
"I'm sorry. My family has defeated you. I love you." He says, very sad. I desperately claw for him. I can't. I need him. I need him so I can kill him. Yes. The restraints let go of me all of the sudden. I'm free. I don't even think about it. I get out of the seat and look for Chase. He's walking right back to the wall. I look at the table Jackson had put aside for me. I see a gun on the table.
I hesitate for a second, then grab the gun. I walk over to Chase. He looks at me with surprise.
"Jamie, put the gun down." He says, a serious alertness in his voice and in his eyes.
"I warned you to run. Now you're too late." I say in a cold voice.
"Put it down." He says, more harsh. I see the slightest hint of fee register across his face.
"No. Surrender to me." I say. He shakes his head.
"Jamie, you're in a trance. You need to snap out of it. Now. If you kill me, you'll snap back into reality and you'll be miserable. I'm not going to make you miserable." He says.
"Surrender to me!" I yell gritting my teeth as I squeeze the gun with both hands.

He stands up.

I get a grip on the gun.

He walks a little closer to me.

I lock the bullet into place.

He kisses me.

And I drop the gun.