Broken Emotions

~||🌙Chapter 1🌙||~

I was running, the forest floor crunching below me as I ran from whatever chased me. I wasn't sure what it was, but it wanted my soul, but I'm not ready to give it up yet. I kept on running, even though I was running out of breath. I needed to escape, find a way to hide from this beast, so I ran to a nearby broken, shanty shack and closed the door, hoping I lost the beast. I breathed, trying to calm down. I need to be calm. It will find me. It smells fear. So I took a deep breath, and exhaled, looking around.

This place seemed so... old. Nobody was living here, but it had so many decorations, such as a beautiful, purple vase and a sorta damaged sofa. I slowly walked up to the sofa, hoping it wasn't too broken. I sat down, and breathed. I'm safe... for now. Eventually it will find me, and rip me to shreds. But I can't die. I can't let him down. So I decided to calm myself by breathing, just like how he taught me.

In... and out...

In... and out...

In comes calmness...

Out goes stress...

Now that I was much calmer, I could see the place look more... calmer. It seemed more lively, and there was the smell of... baking? Someone is here? I stood up, and followed the smell to the kitchen, and saw a red female fox, with the much like mine, stirring some batter in a bowl as something was being baked in the oven. I smiled, as the female fox looked at me, smiling as well.

"Hello, sweet. I see you came by to taste?" she asked.

I tilted my head, which made the female fox smile. "Oh, I'm sorry. You're not used to my way of speaking yet. What I meant is, are you hungry?" she asked.

"Y-yeah, actually." I nodded, and the female fox smiled. "Well, the cookies have just finished, and I bet they taste great!" she put down her bowl and went to get her oven mitts.

Once the oven mitts were on her hands, she opened the oven door and pulled out a cookie sheet full of cookies. This seemed so real. As she smiled, an alarm went off, and I was instantly awoken from my dream.

I slowly blinked open my eyes, and looked around. I was in my bedroom, and everything seemed just like how I left it. I smiled.

"It was just a dream..." I said to myself, relief in my voice. I sat up and looked at my dresser as I got off my bed and headed towards it, ready to get dressed and ready for the day.

~||∆||~

I was sitting at the dining room table, just eating my corn flakes. My dream was so weird! Why was I running? Why did it change to something more... lovable? What is wrong with my mind at the moment? Is it acting up? I tried to shrug it off, but then I saw the familiar shape of Stephan coming in. He seemed like he hasn't gotten any sleep at all! His hair was frizzy, and he had bags under his eyes. I frowned and tilted my head after I swallowed my food

"Stephan? What's wrong?" I asked.

Stephan looked at me, smiling a bit as he had that understanding gaze. "Its nothing. I just couldn't find the right position to sleep, Ffionn." he said, going to the kitchen to go eat.

I frowned, and looked back at my food. I can't stand to see my best friend look so... miserable. So I stood up, the chair screeching on the wood, and went to go to the kitchen, but before I can go to Stephan, he came to me, frowning.

"Is something the matter, Ffionn?" Stephan asked, which made me worried.

"I-I got full, that's all." I lied. I wanted to know what he was hiding!

"Alright. I'll go throw it--" he went to say, but I had to cut him off.

"I'll throw out my food, thanks." I told him, picking my bowl up and heading to the nearest bathroom so I can toss my cereal out there.

When I got back I saw Stephan staring at his toast, his head resting in the palm of his hand as he was nodding off to sleep, but he was forcing himself awake. I frowned, a bit of tears coming to the corners of my eyes. I slowly came up to him, and went to place a hand on his shoulder, but then he gave me a grumpy look so I instantly pulled back, frowning.

"I-is something wrong, Steph?" I asked.

Stephan blinked, then smiled softly. "I'm great, thanks." he said, letting out a loud yawn.

I blinked, and sighed. "I-if you say so... I'm going to go to my room... if you need me, that's where I'll be." I said, as I went to walk off. When I got to the stairs I looked back at Stephan, who was nodding on and off again. What is he doing at night? He obviously isn't sleeping, so I went up the stairs and went to, not to my room, but his. I need to see what he's doing at night, and I wanna know now. So, I slowly opened the door, and peeked inside. It was just his bedroom, nothing changed. I wasn't giving up that easily. So I slipped into his room, and went up to closet.

When I got there, I checked over my shoulder to see if he was looking, and thank goodness he wasn't. So I slowly opened the closet, and saw nothing but his clothes. I frowned, gritting my teeth. He's smarter then I thought! I left his room, and closed the door, and quickly, but quietly, ran to my room, and opened the door, entering my room quickly and slowly closing the door. Once I was in my room I sighed, resting my head on the door as I started feeling a headache coming on. Not again... I thought as I headed to my bed to go lay down, as my head started aching badly. Once I was there I flopped onto my bed and groaned, holding my head as it felt like a migraine was brewing in my head.

I rolled to my back, and sighed. My head wasn't this bad before. But why now? I placed my hands onto my stomach, and looked up at the ceiling, wondering. Is there a reason why I am experiencing these feelings and the nightmares? Is there something wrong with me? Am I... cursed?