They Bite

3

I just wanted to wake up peacefully, exactly how I was before, but instead the nightmares hit me.

    I was running endlessly. Down a dark path in a field. Wolves howled behind me, chasing me. I was alone, afraid, and helpless. MY hair flowed behind me, and it kept getting longer, and began to turn to a fuzzy texture. My head was pounding.

    My body made me stop running. Pain grew everywhere. The painful growing of the ribs, and my legs bending the wrong way. I fell onto my hands and knees, crying with the pain. Fur grew all over my arms and legs.

    I got up and looked behind me, only to be pounced on my back by a wolf. Blood red eyes. A foaming mouth with a vicious growl. The black silk fur standing. He came in and sank his teeth deep into my neck.

    I was shaken awake. The moon was here. My body was shaking like mad. Ken was the one who shook me awake. I was scared.

    “It’s alright,” Ken said softly, “it’s okay. You’re safe.”

    “I’m sorry,” I said as I held onto him tightly.

    “You think I don’t get them,” he asked softly.

    Ken was strong. Fighting a nightmare is difficult, but he’s not afraid of them. He’s a strong one. I feel bad for him.

    “You have no weaknesses,” I said softly.

    “Only one,” he said, “but nobody knows it.”

    “Smart,” I said.

    “But that fear is now eating me away,” he said softly.

    I looked up at him and both of us sat up. Our legs were still in the sleeping bag. His eyes were sorrowful. I felt really bad for him.

    The tent unzipped and Marcus popped his big head in. He looked at me and Ken side by side, and he had fury in his eyes.

    “You’re dead,” Marcus snapped.

    Ken hissed, but I tackled Marcus backwards, then we went tumbling a few feet. He pushed me off him, but he accidentally threw me into a gravestone, and I hit my head. My vision was blurry, and every muscle felt heavy. My eyes closed, and I let the painful headache rush through me and take over my body.

    I felt a hand on my side. A big warm hand. Narrowed down to Marcus.

    “Jenny,” he said softly into my ear. I was lifted off the ground and held in his arms. “I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry.” I was in his lap, and his hands wrapped around both sides of me. His grip was strong, and I could hear the sadness in his throat. “I’m so so sorry, Jenny.”

    Another hand came across my shoulder. One like Marcus’s but it was slightly bigger and cold. It had to be Kenny.

    A slight moan escaped my lips. “Oh Jenny,” Marcus said, “I’m so sorry.”