"Baby, stay in here okay? Don't move." Mom hugged me tight, smiling before exiting the room, closing the door behind her.
Loud noise sounded from downstairs and I got off the bed where I sat. I walked towards the door and slowly opened it. The door creaked loudly as my heart pounded in my ears.
I looked down the dark hall and saw that it was empty. I slowly walked towards the top of the stairs and carefully walked down. It was eeriely quiet. The only thing I could hear was my heart pounding louder and louder as my footsteps brushed the carpeted stairs as I moved down.
Once I reached the last step, my nerves were as tight as a harp string getting ready to snap. I looked around but the whole house was dark and silent. There was no sign indicating that mom or dad is here.
I swallowed nervously as I stepped forward away from the stairs. I wanted to call out but I was scared that someone else could be here with me.
I carefully walked towards the wall to the right with my hands stretched out so I could feel for anything that I could possibly hit. Once I touched the wall, I sighed in relief before running my hands along the wall.
Right when I felt the light switch underneath my fingers, I heard a slight tap on the tiled floors and I froze. I held my breath as I tried to hear for anything else. I could feel myself trembling as my ears rang from the absolute silence. I bit my lip hard as tears started pooling into my eyes.
Tap. Tap.
This time the sound was closer but to my left. I took a deep breath as I faced my body towards where I heard the sound coming from. I mentally counted to three and flipped the switch, just to see a face covered in blood inches from my face. It took about half a second before I let out a blood-curdling scream.
"Ava..." It gasped as it's hands reached up towards my face. "Ava."
I tried to push myself further back into the wall to distance myself as much as possible. The blood was dripping onto the floor. Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I stood, trembling.
"AVA!"
I gasped, shooting up from the bed.
"Hey, hey, hey, calm down."
It took me a few seconds to realize that it was Uncle Dave that was talking to me. He rubbed circles on my back in comfort as he waited for me to calm down.
By the time my heart beat and breathing was back to normal, Mary walked into the room. She handed me a glass of cold water and I gladly took it.
After I handed the cup back, I leaned my head against Uncle Dave who was sitting beside me.
"You okay, kiddo?" He asked concerned.
"Yeah." I whispered, throat sore from screaming.
Maria must've signalled him to move aside because he suddenly moved and she sat where he originally sat. She didn't say a thing. She just gathered me in her arms and hugged me tight.
My throat clogged up with raw emotions and it was like a dam burst. I started sobbing, clinging to her desperately as I tried to erase the nightmare from my mind.
She just held me tight as she spoke in a soothing voice, telling me that everything's okay and that they were here for me. She didn't seem to mind that I was dripping snot and tears onto her as I cried.
I would've felt embarrassed if I didn't think of her as my own mother figure. I picked up my head from her chest as I wiped the tears from my face.
"You want to talk about it, sweetie?"
I sniffled and took a deep shaky breath. "It was the same dream as always. My mom would leave me alone in the room, I'd go downstairs where it was dark and when I finally turn on the lights, my mom was standing right in front of me, bleeding." My head started throbbing which made the back of my eyes ache so I started rubbing my head. "I don't even know why I still cry about it. It's nothing new. So why the hell am I still crying over this?"
"It's because you're still hurting." Uncle Dave said.
I let out a dry laugh. "Of course I'm still hurting. The asshole that murdered my parents is still out there!" I stood up, agitated. "I mean, this is too damn pathetic! Here I am, searching for that piece of trash and all it takes is a dream to break me down into tears! Tell me, isn't that pathetic?"
Uncle Dave stood up and slowly pulled me into a hug. "No. It isn't pathetic. It just means you need to get stronger and isn't that what you're doing?"
I shrugged, leaning into him. "I don't know. I feel so weak, I just wanna throw myself into a wall and hopefully learn some strength from it."
I felt my uncle shaking and I grunted. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, you just never cease to amuse me." He said, giving me a tight hug before pulling away. "Are you okay now? You want to stay home for today and rest a bit?"
I rolled my eyes. "No, it's just a nightmare. I'm not going to miss school just for this minor problem."
"Do you know how many people your age would kill to be able to miss a day of school?"
"Ha! Kill, isn't that a bit over exaggerating?"
"No, I'm pretty sure-"
"Okay, let's save the talk for later." Mary cut in. "I'll cook us some breakfast while you get ready okay?"
I nodded as I turned and walked towards my bathroom. I bumped into the doorframe and groaned.
"You okay there?" Uncle Dave asked, worried.
"Yep, just dandy." I gritted out before shutting the bathroom door. I was trying to show that the dream wasn't affecting me anymore but it didn't work out so well. I can't even focus on my surroundings. My head is throbbing more than before, my mind's a mess and I just feel so damn tired.
I carefully worked my way around my bathroom and managed to take a shower without killing myself in the process.
I stepped out of the shower with a towel wrapped around my body. I ran my hand along the wall until I found what I was looking for. I pressed on the intercom and waited a few seconds before Mary's voice came through.
"You need anything?"
"Uh, yeah," I hesitated before shaking my head. "When you're done with breakfast, could you come and help me please?"
"Sure, just give me less than ten minutes."
I sat down on my bed, massaging my head as I waited. After awhile, Mary walked in, asking. "Hair?"
I slightly nodded. "Yeah and could you also pick out a few clothes for me? I'd do it but I think I'd just end up hurting myself at this point."
Mary sighed as she stood in front of me. She placed her hands on my temples and firmly massaged it, chasing the throbbing headache that seemed to get worse with every passing second.
I sighed in relieve, leaning my head against her. "Thank you."
"You sure you don't want to stay home?" She asked, her voice full of worry.
"No, I'm fine. It's just a little headache."
"Fine but you're taking your white cane today."
I groaned. "Nooo, I don't want it nor do I need it."
She lightly tugged on my hair. "Yes, you do. Don't think I don't see how much pain you're in. You can't even walk without bumping into something. You're taking it."
I sighed in defeat after hearing Mary's tone. When she wants something to go her way, it'll go her way whether you like it or not. "Okay. You're such a nag."
She chuckled. "Why, thank you. It just means I'm showing how much I care so suck it up. Now let's get you ready."
Within 30 minutes, I was dressed and my hair was done in a high ponytail. I ran my fingers along the leather jacket that Mary handed to me and I smiled. "Where did this come from?"
"I bought it for you when I went to babysit. I just placed it in your closet and forgot to tell you about it."
I hugged her, thanking her before we both walked out of my room. My head was still in pain, even after taking pills to relieve my headache.
"Kiddo! I'm eating your share if you don't hurry up!" Uncle Dave yelled from the kitchen table.
I snickered, shaking my head. "Mary, I don't understand how you could love a pig like that..."
She giggled. "I wonder about that too."
"Hey," Uncle Dave said, offended. "Excuse me? But all these meat on my body is all muscles."
"Mhm, okay, sure." I said, dismissively.
*****
"Have fun! Be careful and you better be using that cane, Ava!"
I sighed as I shut the door. "Uncle Dave, you don't need to shout. I'm still right outside the car."
"Yup, I know but annoying you is my favorite thing to do, remember?"
"Go. Now. Before I throw my cane at you." I said as I walked away.
When I was a few feet away, he shouted. "I love you, my beautiful, smart and wonderful niece!"
I sighed in exasperation but couldn't stop the smile that formed on my face. "I love you, too, you obnoxious old man!"
It took me longer than it should've to get to my locker and placed my cane down before opening my locker.
Just as I slammed it shut, Hailz and Kenzie came over, talking about God knows what.
"No, she said that it was due on Tuesday." Hailz argued.
"The essay is due on Tuesday, the project is due on Friday." Kenzie argued back.
"What are you guys talking about?" I grabbed my cane and turned to face them.
"Before that, are you okay?" Kenzie asked. "I've never seen you with your cane in so long."
I sighed, gripping the tool that I desperately wanted to throw away. "Yeah, just not having a good day, that's all. So what were you guys arguing about?"
"Hailee thinks that the project for Mrs. Benson is due on Tuesday but I told her that she's mixing it with our essay."
"Are you talking about the essay about legends and myths?"
"Yeah, why?" Kenzie asked.
"Because you are both wrong. The essay is due today and the project is due next Monday."
"What?!" They both screeched and I winced.
"Yeah, my classmate takes that class and she told me about it when she asked for my help about any legends and myths that I know of. She was told that she can't use the most well-known stories, she has to find rare ones or to make up a moral story."
"What the fu- are you serious?! Dammit! I'm going to fail! I'm going to head straight to the library, see you guys later." Before she finished talking, I could already hear her rushing towards direction of the library.
I shook my head in amusement and faced Kenzie. "And you?"
"Hm? Hold on." She said absentmindedly. "I'm researching about any rare myths that are worth writing about."
I laughed and started to head to class, my cane tapping on the tiled floor. "Well, good luck. Meet you later."
"Uh huh..." Kenzie replied, tapping away on her phone.
I shook my head again. I wonder when they're going to actually start paying attention in class.
The day went by slowly. The headache that I got went into a full blown migraine by the time lunch rolled by and lets just say that I wasn't as nice as I would've been.
"Hey, Ava!"
I winced and snapped. "What?"
"Whoa there, someone's a ray of sunshine."
"Leave her alone, Derrick. Ava has a migraine and it's messing with her." Kenzie said.
Kenzie and Hailz were seated beside me but they left me alone and tried to be as quiet as possible. Ryder was held up at class with Jake, enduring a lecture from Mr. Vilwen. Derrick said that Jake was messing around in class as he annoyed Ryder, which got them both in trouble. Knowing Ryder, Jake will probably be killed right when they step out the door of the classroom.
"Guys, help!"
I tilted my head towards the girlish scream and heard rapid footsteps heading towards our table.
"Sorry, Jake, you're on your own and if I were you, I'd find a place to hide. Fast." Hailz said.
"Jake! Get your ass back here!" Ryder roared out from the cafeteria doors.
Jake squealed. It sounded like he was trying to run away but ended up tripping over his feet and fell right to the floor.
Jake groaned in pain.
"You okay down there?" I asked.
"No," he groaned out.
"Oh okay." I went back to what I was doing. Nibbling on my food.
"Really? That's it?"
"Mhm," I hummed, chewing on my food.
Right as he stood up, Ryder tackled him down.
Despite the migraine and the noise, I couldn't help but smile at the playful fight.
"Okay, stop it," Kenzie growled out in irritation. "I swear to all that I love, I will kill you both right now if you don't stop acting like a bunch of buffoons."
The boys went silent before slowly placing themselves on the seat of the cafeteria table.
Kenzie sighed before turning back to Hailz, squealing about the new pair of stiletto boots that she got on sale.
I shook my head, cleaning up my mess before standing up.
"Where you going?" Ryder asked.
"I'm gonna head to Mr. Logan's class and hang there for a bit."
"Could I tag along?"
I shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
"Ooh, could I ta- ugh, owww, what was that for?" Justin whined.
I don't know what happened but he sounded like he was in pain. I waited for a few minutes for him to continue what he was saying but I guess he changed his mind. I continued on out of the cafeteria with Ryder close behind me.
"So you're going there to sing again?"
I stopped. "What? How'd you know I go there to sing?"
"I heard you once when I was passing by the class. You sounded great, what was the song called?" He asked, curious.
"A Thousand Years. Its sung by Christina Perri and-"
Thump.
I stopped, frowning. "What was tha-"
For a split second, I felt a sharp pain at the back of my head before I fell forward, groaning. "Who the fuck...mph!"
I struggled to remove the cloth on my face while trying not to breathe in the chloroform but it didn't take long before I finally felt weaker and weaker.
I hope Ryder's okay, I thought as I finally had no choice but to give in.