Exceptional

Chapter 4: The Dream

I wake up with a jolt. I look around expecting to see the familiar environment of my school, but that is not the case. I'm in this barren wasteland. The yellow, dried up grass stretches up to my knees and the sky is gray with no clouds anywhere in sight. It's really cold and windy and the only thing I'm wearing is what I wore to school. I look around and see nothing. Literally nothing. No trees, no animals, no paths, no roads, nothing. The place is literally vacant, colorless, and pin drop silent.

Confused, I decide to relax and think it through while laying down. I slide down and shift my body onto the grass. The grass stabs my back as I attempt to repose. I let out a yelp as it feels like pins and needles are digging into my back. I immediately jounce up and rub my back at the aggresive pain.  

All of a sudden, the temperature drops to what feels like -8 degrees and the earth beneath me starts to shake. I feel like I'm in some giant's doll house and he keeps brandishing it. I sway from side to side trying to keep my balance. My stomach churns and I feel like I'm going to throw up. Almost immediately, the shaking stops. Everything returns back to the way it was, unharmed. Except for me. I feel really groggy and light-headed as I attempt to regain my balance.

Just as I recover from my wooziness, something lets out a sharp screech. I have to cover my ears to keep them from bleeding. The screeching continues as I beckon it to stop. It's drilling a hole into my brain, stinging it fiercly with it's shrill and high-pitched voice. I can't take it. My brain throbs and my ears ring. It stops abruptly. In the distance, I hear the earsplitting scream of a woman followed by a gun shot.

On the spur of the moment, I hear footsteps racing towards me. Before my instincts kick in, my legs start to move swiftly. One over the other, they move robotically as if I'm being controlled with a remote control. I'm heading for a deep forest that appeared out of nowhere. The footsteps start to become heavier, thudding with each step.

I beg for my legs to go faster. There's a searing pain in my right leg and I look down to see my light wash jeans soaked in blood. The cold wind bites my face and I feel it start to go numb. My eyes tear uncontrollably making my vision blur. I want to rip my hair out in frustration. I'm gasping for air. My chest burns as my whole body cramps up. But I keep going. Running. Running away from the footsteps which seem to be coming faster, closer.

I finally make my way into the forest, surrounded by thick and heavy trees. They'll never be able to catch me here. Darting my eyes in every direction, I look for a way out of this mysterious place. I steer away from tree limbs and branches. I try to avoid the thorns that jut out of various bushes, but there are too many. They stab my arms and legs leaving long, thin scratches. I don't know where I'm going or what's happening.

All of sudden two big, buff men dressed in all jump out of nowhere and grab my arms. 

"NOO!" I scream in agony. "Let go of me!!" My throat burns from screaming. I try to wriggle myself out of their grip but it's useless. They are too strong for me. Their grip on my tightens the more I struggle. The last thing I remember is staring into the menacing green eyes of someone who looked very familiar.