If this is Life, then what's Hell?

When Deviency Grows, Loyalty Falters

"No, it's not-"

"Life is too much.... Until I get you to... leave Earth sucessfully... I will not give... up."

"What are you going to do?"

"Think fast!" He yelled the last word, has the knife plunged forward in an incredible speed. I closed my eyes, waiting for the sering pain to hit me. I could barely hear his maniatic laughter. Over that, I could only hear the thumping of my own heart, trying to escape this horrible moment. What did I do to deserve this? Why does he want me to die? Oh yeah, 'cause I killed him. I couldn't help, or stop the terrified scream that left my lips, but it quickly turned into me yelling, "No! No! No! Please, no! I didn't mean to kill you!" My screams were dripping with regret, not to mention that the majority was so that he would spare my life. I was so helpless, un-protected, I felt so vulnerable

But I didn't feel anything. Actually, I felt a little blow, like a little kid making a wish on his birthday cake. I felt a little piece of paper fall on my lap, but it started vibrating, the ground started to vibrate, even the wind, felt like it was vibrating. Then, I started to shake. Not vibrate, but shake. I squezed my eyes closed, wanting this weird nightmare to end.

The next time I opened my eyes, I awoke up to a worried Nick shaking me.

"...wake up! Gracie, come on, wake up!"

"Hey, your drug warded off."

"Yeah, but I've been trying to wake you up for 10 minutes!"

"Really?" I was asleep? All this didn't happen? The knife? Dad dieing? Nothing at all? Even though all this was confusing, it felt like a huge weight was lifted from my back, even though the lower-back pain was still there.

"Sleeping Beauty awakens." I totally forgot that Alex was here with us, driving, saving our butts. "What was your nightmare about?"

"Nightmare? How did-"

"Gracie, all the screaming, kicking, thrashing, come on, who has a dream with those reactions?" Nick rolled his eyes.

Well, um," How do I ask this? How does a girl ask a Guy if they believe dreams mean anything? "Do you guys-" I addressed them both, so it's more or less even. "-believe, that, um, dreams or nightmares try to send you a message?" Nick looked at me like I was nuts, and I bet I sounded it too, and Alex tried to hold in laughter by looking straight at the road, and not at me. "Ugh, never mind." I felt embarrassed, and I blushed uncontrollably.

"No... sorry, it just... you were nervous.... about... that?!" Neither Nick nor Alex could hold in their laughter anymore, and laughed. Hard. I blushed some more, so I buried my head in my arms, on top of my lap. Damn them. They don't understand. I blinked back tears by rubbing my forehead back and forth, but I felt something, and stopped. I lifted my head and found a folded paper. The exact one from my dream.

I picked it up, and unfolded the crumbled paper. I started reading its' contents.

         Gracie,

Be careful. Not every one you trust is trying to help you. Look for the clues. Look at the signs. Figure it out. Protect your-self. That's all I got to say.

The note was left un-signed.

"What's that?" I felt Nick's eyes on me, waiting for my next movement.

"Um, nothin'" I crumbled up the paper, and stuffed it in my pocket. Nick stared at me with a your hiding-something look, and I raised my eyebrows in response, kind of saying what-do-you-expect?

The rest of the ride was quiet, and it gave me time to think. Not every one is trying to help me? I kind of know that, but, some one I trust... it doesn't add up. Look for the clues? And look at what signs? Who am I supposed to protect my-self from?  Damn, I'm confusing my-self.