Trapped in the Real World

Chapter 1 - The Overly Dramatic Chapter

Candace bolted upright, tangled in her sweaty blue flower print sheets. The Oregon weather was blustery as it swept passed the windows, making an eerie cry that matched her own. Her eyes were wide with terror and panic as she heard herself crying out for help. Sweat dripped down her back as she pushed her tangled hair out of the way. It seemed glued to her hot forehead as she maniacally tried to get it out of her eyes. Her fingers couldn't catch the strands of hair that were plastered so strongly against her skin. Using her blanket, she tried to wipe the sweat off.
"Focus on something else," she told herself, feeling the panic rising in her throat. She could feel her ribs constricting around her lungs as she gulped for air that quickly brushed over her tongue and she could feel how dehydrated she had become. Her mouth was dry, and her throat was sore as it throbbed in protest to her yelling and lack of moisture. Her legs were shaking with the tension that flowed through them like ice that seemed to burn through her skin as her tired muscles were clenched in an instinct response to the screams that were still streaming from her mouth. She clamped her hand over her mouth, hoping to stop the noises from leaving the room and, pulling her knees to her chest, she hugged herself as sobs wracked her tired and worn-out body. Streaming down her face were the hot, salty tears that so often accompanied these dreams. Waiting in the eerie silence, she watched the murky gray light, that streamed from the dusty windows, slowly creep across the floor. It seemed to add an effect to her room that calmed her as she listened for the sound of her worried parents' footsteps, hoping desperately that they hadn't noticed. They, themselves, were terrified of her nightmares because they couldn't understand them. Her nightmares were something they couldn't wrap their minds around and they couldn't explain to her. No one could. They were a complete mystery that no one had been able to figure out. She continued to listen for them, hoping and praying that they would not wake up....Nothing....No sound...It was as if the cries had not disturbed them at all or maybe they were just ignoring her. Nothing but the light pitter patter of the rain as it hit the roof not unlike her heart which was beating slower and slower as the minutes passed and the screams that had pierced the night, reverberated across the neighborhood. 

With a small sigh of relief, she sank down onto her back as she lay staring at the old glow in the dark stars plastered to her ceiling. She could still feel the blankets pressing down on her chest, making breathing difficult. She removed the heavy and damp sheets but the feeling remained. It was as if a person was just pressing on her chest....pounding in the rhythm of her heart. .....1.....2......3.....She counted each thump attempting to control the sound....4....5....6...She inhaled deeply as she continued the endeavor to control her fear that was slowly rising in her throat as she sat up to once again close the window. Arriving at the windowsill edge, she reached out over the thick sheet of ice that lay against the outside wall of the house to grab the shutter that banged noisily in the cool breeze. The wind blowing onto the floor of the room was refreshing as it seemed to calm her by brushing her cheek comfortingly. The leaves outside were tumbling on top of the snow, proudly displaying that winter had come early this year. The icicles hung from the leaves that managed to stay on the trees, though others were not so lucky. The road wasn't visible through the trees that were covered with the ice that sparkled with glamour. A few stray snowflakes slowly drifted from the gray clouds that hovered overhead with the foreboding storm as the lightning flashed in the distance and the rain began to pour many miles away. She watched as one snowflake was caught in an updraft that swept it onto her open palm. The cold burned into her hand as it slowly began to melt away, leaving behind only a small drop of water upon her finger, where the once beautiful creation, uniquely extravagant and delicate, had now become nothing more then a simple, worthless drop of crystal, clear water. Turning, she closed the window and faced back to her dark and lonely room.

The room seemed to sway back and forth as she tried so desperately to remember the dream that had haunted her sleep, as frightening as it was. She needed to remember. Something in the back of her mind stirred like a childhood memory. Blurry, but vivid all at the same time. She closed her eyes and tried to visualize it but it faded too quickly. She had to at least try to remember. Like an amnesiac patient, she knew that it was important but no matter how hard she tried, her efforts yielded no results. She just couldn't remember.