Into the Shadows

Chapter 4

  I barely got any sleep that night. Whenever I began to fall asleep, I would have a vivid dream of my mom. I would see her standing on the top of the hospital, leaning over the edge. She would be gazing down at me, and then fall forward. Right before she hit the ground, she would spread a pair of wings and land right infront of me. She would look down, and when she looked up, her face would be burned and bleeding. She would scream and scream, and then I would wake up. This happened over and over.

  When it started to get light out I gave up trying to sleep. Jane came out at 7:00 and found me bundled up on the couch. She came over and sat next to me.

  "You okay baby?" she asked me. I nodded my head, although I wasn't anything near okay. She patted me on the back and went into the kitchen.

  "You like pancakes?" she called out to me. I mumbled something like 'I'm not hungry' and she took it as a yes. A few minutes later she handed me a plate full of pancakes. We ate in silence. When she finally said something, I jumped a little, being used to the silence.

  "I have to leave soon. Will you be okay alone?" she asked me. I nodded my head. She waited a few seconds then spoke again. " You can look around the house. If your gonna go somewhere just leave a note." I nodded my head again. She hesitated, like she was going to say something again, but she didn't. As she walked out of the room, I slumper down on the couch.

  I heard the door shut, confirming that Jane had left. I lay there for a few more minutes, then I got up. I wasn't going to sit around all day and feel sorry for myself. I was going to go to the hospital. I was going to find what caused my mom's death.

  I put on some pants that I brought with me from my house last night and walked into the kitchen. I found a piece of scrap paper and scribbled a note on it so Jane wouldn't flip. Then I grabbed my backpack that I brought with me the night before. I put a flashlight, some snacks, and just for the heck of it, a roll of Duct Tape that I found under the couch.

    As I walked around the house for the last time before I left, I found a piece of frayed paper on Jane's desk. I picked it up, and saw it was a picture. It was a pictue of my mom and Jane. They were much younger in the picture, having to still be in high school. My eyes started to cloud up and a tear slid down my cheek. I clutched the picture to my heart, then stuck it in my pocket.

  Wiping the tear away,I headed to the door. I looked behind me to see Janes living room. I was glad she brought me in for the night. But I didn't need her place after that day. The door slammed behind me as I jogged down the stairs, leaving a ringing in my ears.