My 'One and Only' : Matthew Espinosa

Chapter 8: Dreams & Nightmeres

THALIA'S POV

"Thalia run!" I look down to see my stepmother Angie trapped underneath the collapsed staircase. The deformed creature's footsteps rumble throughout the barren mansion. "No, I'm not leaving without you!" "Yes, Thalia, you have to! It's your only chance! Just go!" By now we both have tears streaming down our faces. "I will come back for you, I promise," I turn my back and sprint out the decayed door.

Standing in the door frame, I take one last look at the last person I love, struggling for life and a second chance, trapped beneath her annihilation spot. "Run!" Is the last thing I hear before the pounding sounds return. I turn my head with guilt and dash into the forest, trying to get away from the beast.

I run until I can no longer, find a sturdy, lofty tree, swing my legs around it, and hoist myself up. I take this time to process what is happening. My stepmother is gone, I'm lost, and a monster is hunting me.

I remember Angie saying something about a cave where I should go, but only she knows where that is and she's no longer here. Suddenly, a gust of wind pulls me out of the tree, and the cries of my mother shriek through the air as I fall into...

"Thalia!!?? Thalia wake up please wake up!!" I am violently shaken by Nash as I jump up out of the covers. "What?!?! What happened?!" I scream. "You were screaming and crying in your sleep! I don't know what happened! Are you okay?!" I look up at his hurt and panicked eyes as he stares deeply into mine.

It happened again. This always happens to me at the worst times! "I'm...fine. I'm really sorry, I should just go" I start to get up. "No no no," he reassured me, "please don't." "But I probably woke everyone up," I started. "Actually it's 12:30 and everyone has already left the house," he finished.

I climb out of the warm covers and stumble into the bathroom to wash my face. Nash stands by the door watching me intently. "Why are you staring at me?" I ask covering my bright red face. "Because you're beautiful..."

NASH'S POV

"No! Please don't leave me! No!! Ahhhh!" I jump in my chair, spilling my orange juice all over my nice clean shirt when I hear screams coming from upstairs. Thalia. "Hold on Thalia I'm coming!" I dash up the stairs skipping 3 at a time, and throw open my bedroom door.

I look to my bed where she lays, squirming beneath the covers, screaming things I don't even understand. I rush up to her side and take a closer look. She's breathing pretty heavy and sweating. I shake her, "Thalia!!?? Thalia wake up please wake up!!"

I continue to roughly shake her until her bloodshot eyes pop open and her cold arms wrap around my neck, "what?!?! What happened?!" She screams, fear edging at her from inside. I explained to her what I heard, trying to settle her down.

She eventually gets up and walks to the bathroom to rinse her face. Even in the midst of a freak attack, she still looks beautiful. "Why are you staring at me?" She asked, putting me right on the spot. I decide to give her the true honest answer, "because you are beautiful in so many ways, it's indescribable."

I could see her cheeks instantly start to glow and she covered her face with a giggle. I walk over to her, "don't you dare cover that gorgeous face of yours! You hear me?" She giggles at my compliment.

"Hey can we go back to my house for a moment? I need to change clothes." "Oh ya of course." We board the car and I drive to her house. "I'll be right back," she says with a wink.

"Well done my friend," I turn to face the dark figure outside of my window. "Just keep luring her in and then crush her..." It says resting it's hand on my shoulder. I quickly jolt to the side, removing it's chilled hand off of me. "See you soon, and don't fail me," it turns and walks away.

"No guarantees..." I mumble.