I watched Julian slide the back door shut, his figure looking at me through the glass as he walked away. We agreed he'd need to leave at least ten to fifteen minutes before his mom was back, and, not knowing when that time would come, we didn't take any risks. I didn't know what I wanted to do for the rest of the time. I just sat on the couch and drowned myself in thoughts. It was 11:30 and I was already slipping away, trying to stay awake at least until Mrs. Gates or her husband got home. But eventually, I couldn't hold on anymore. I didn't even notice myself falling asleep. But my mind was wide awake.
I could see myself in a scene. Cameras and lights were surrounding me with a full crew manning them. I was on a couch with a cigarette, looking out a window. Tears were dropping slowly down my eyes. I felt a tingling feeling in my throat, and gave a look that seemed as if I was holding back a sob. And then I let it out. Sobbing as though I was really hurting. I could feel a pain coming from somewhere in my mind, forcing my eyes to give in. All of the sudden, I was standing on a podium, talking to a full crowd. They cheered as I stepped off, and, looking at my hand, I could see a shiny, dazzling Oscar. A smile stretched onto my face and I let out a few tears. I'd made it. I walked back to what I guess was my seat, and I say Ray right next to me. She was hugging me and crying, too. And next to her was, Julian? He looked at me with a stern look.
"You have to go," he said.
"What?"
"You have to go," he repeated. I could barely hear him over the crowd.
"Why? Go where?" This was becoming confusing.
"Go!" He yelled, and the roof broke through. Everything around me spun like a turbine. People were morphing into shadows and melting into the darkness. I took one last look at Julian's scared face before he sunk into black. And then nothing. I was nothing. I couldn't see my own hand. I didn't have any feeling. It was...surreal.
"You have to go," a voice whispered. I was terrified. I wanted to respond but I couldn't speak. I didn't have anything to speak with. The voice repeated itself, getting closer each time.
"You have to go... You have to go... You have to go..."
I could sense a presence right next to my non-existent body. I wanted to cry, but with nothing to cry with I just drowned in terror.
"Wake up," it whispered loudly, right into what was probably my ear.
My eyes blinked open. I noticed how heavy I was breathing, sweat running down my forehead. Someone turned the knob on the door. I tensed for a second. Was the door open? Then, Mrs. Gates walked in, a smug look still plastered on her face. She had tear stains and looked incredibly tired. She tried to force a smile when she saw me stand up.
"Thank you so much," she said, handing me the money, "Drive safe."
"I will," I replied, not knowing why she was acting so odd. This woman was practically bipolar. The first time I met her, she seemed cheery and optimistic. Then, Julian described her as some sort of monster. All of the sudden, she's all down and depressed and now she's just downright creepy. I opened the door and walked to my car. I spotted a shadow from the wall next to my car. I stopped moving my keys and tried to move more quietly, really wanting to just go home. The shadow moved towards the end of the wall, closer to me. I decided I'd better just get in my car. I quickly stuck the keys into my car door and opened it, hopping in as quick as possible.
"What's the rush?" Julian said, coming out of the shadows. I put my hand on my chest and took a breath of relief.
"My god! You scared me!" I said, while he silently laughed.
"Really?" He said, licking his lips, "I didn't think you were scared like that."
"Well, when I think I'm gonna get kidnapped, my heart rate goes up a few hundred beats."
"I saw you fell asleep in there," he remarked. Oh, I'm probably not a pretty sleeper. This is awkward.
"Yeah, I had a weird dream. It probably got me a little skittish," I said.
"Did you? Was I in it?" He asked, a sly look on his face.
"Um, no," I lied, "it was just one of those Oscar winning dreams, you know." He nodded with a closed mouth grin on his face.
"Well, good night," he said calmly. He looked at me one more time and then started walking down the street aimlessly, hands in his pockets and a backpack on his back. This wasn't a good part of town to be alone like that.
"Hey!" I yelled. He turned around and looked at me. "You have somewhere to stay tonight?" He looked up and thought about it for a few seconds.
"Well, I was gonna just try to crash at one of my friends' house," he replied and started walking again. I backed out of the drive way in my trashed, old car and drove next to him.
"Come on," I said, "You can crash at my house tonight."
"Oh, I wouldn't wanna freak out your motha' or nothin'," he said nervously, "I don't think your parents would be cool with it."
"Well, it's just my mom you'd have to worry about. And she won't have a problem with helping someone out for a night," I stated while opening the passenger door. He stood there and thought about it for a second. I looked at him with wide, puppy eyes. He put on a defeat grin and drooped his head as he squeezed into the small car. I'm guessing he didn't realize I lived in the neighborhood, because when we pulled into my driveway a few blocks down from his, he looked confused.
"This is it?" He asked.
"Yup," I said, pulling the keys out of the car. I led him to the door and opened it. All the lights were off and it was dead silent. My house was just as small as his, but it had a second story, AKA the attic, AKA my room. I'd decided as soon as we got here, I wanted a room on the second floor. The attic was pretty small and rugged but it worked for me. We installed a small bathroom with a shower and it worked itself out. Julian looked around the house curiously as I turned the lights on.
"It's nice," he said. I shrugged.
"Yeah, so is the dump downtown," I stated. He chuckled and sat down on the couch. I got some pillows and blankets from the closet and came back. I started laying them down on the couch.
"Hey, I got it," he said, "You go to sleep."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure," he said, looking me straight in the eye. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek and began laying down the blankets.
"Hey, if you need anything," I started. I guess he could figure out the rest.
"Good night," he said for the second time tonight. He put on a small smile as I walked up the stairs. I got ready quickly and jumped into bed, instantly scared of going to sleep. I didn't want that dream to come back. But of course, as soon as I drifted away, the dream continued. This time it was scarier than the first time. I could feel my body, but I still couldn't see it. I saw myself in a cage sitting on a chair, head down. I walked to the cage and held onto one of the bars. I flattened my face against it, trying to get a better look.
The me in the cage was still looking down, but I could hear whimpering. She was tied to the chair. A man was standing behind her with a metal box. Wires from the box were connecting to the me in the chair. The man was wearing a black robe that covered him completely. He was speaking in a weird language that I didn't recognize. All of the sudden, he flipped a switch on the box. The pain that subsided over me was critical. I fell to the ground and felt myself spazzing and sputtering. It was an electrical current raging though my body. I could barely see myself in the chair, sitting calmly as if it didn't affect her. I couldn't stand up with the pain. My limbs were jerking in every which direction. Then it stopped. The single light in the cage turned off and total darkness took over. I felt myself breathing heavily, still on the ground. I was practically unable to move, my face smushed against cold concrete. A light appeared above. I slowly moved to look at it. It was the man. His black robes ceased to cover his mask. It was flesh colored with a man's face. It had no eyes, just empty sockets. It had no nose or mouth, just those sockets and a shiny, plastic cover. I screamed for my life as blood began seeping from the edges and dripped onto my face. My screams drowned out as I woke up. I heard feet on the stairs and looked over to them. Julian came up, no shirt, just his basketball shorts.
"You okay?" He said, a concerned look on his face. I shook my head and let tears fall from my eyes. He sat down on my bed and held me, rocking me back and forth.
"You're okay," he said soothingly, "You're okay." I held onto him tight, not wanting to let go.
"Did anyone hear me?" I asked weakly, holding back any other tears.
"No, I guess not," he replied, still holding me.
"Can you stay here?" I said while looking up at his smooth-shaven chin. He looked down into my eyes.
"Of, course," he said, setting himself under the covers with me. He put his arm over my back and I rested my head on his chest. I could feel his breathing, soft and warm. It was probably torture for him to be in bed with a girl and not banging her, but he seemed very restful and calm. I let myself slip away slowly to the beat of his chest. I spent the rest of the night without a single dream.