CHAPTER 1 Serena
The stars in the sky were my only guide through the dark, empty, never ending forest. My lungs burned like I was breathing in a smoky fire. My legs felt as if heavy bricks were cemented to them until they had no feeling. It was hard to move, painful, but I kept on running. What I was running from, I wasn't sure. All I knew was that it was hunting me down, and I had to get away from it. Fast. I didn't know what it exactly wanted from me, and at this point I really didn't care. I just wanted it too stop.
All of a sudden, something grabbed my shoulders and lifted me to the sky, past the clouds and the stars, everything went black. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see. Was I dying? Maybe. Then out of nowhere, these big, piercing, blood red eyes appeared from the darkness and stared at me. I tried to look away, for I felt like they were looking right through me, knowing things that nobody else knows,killing me from inside. I tried to scream and call for help, but no sound came out. My air passages were blocked. There was a sound of laughter, and those eyes upturned as though the creature, whatever it was, was smiling. I was choking, dying, and there was no way out. I was trapped in the darkness. How could anything be so cruel? Finally the laughter stopped, and everything was silent, and empty except for a distant beeping noise. Beep Beep Beep. Where was that coming from? It sounded so familiar. Beep beep beep. But it's probably in my mind, because I was the only thing here, except for those devilish eyes.
"Serena, do you know what time it is?" I heard a distant voice call, but I couldn't see through the overwhelming darkness.
Was that my mother? Did this creature have my mother as well? My mother could be compulsively annoying at times , most mothers are at my age. But still, if it hurts her I don't know what I would do. A girl needs her mom at a time like this. Where was she? I need to warn her not too come close, for her too run away and save herself.
"Mom!" I screamed in the loudest voice I could make, even though it sounded more like a harsh whisper.
No response.
"MOM!" I screamed again until my lungs were begging for air.
I felt myself being jerked around. My head and shoulders starting violently bobbling back and forth. But it wasn't those eyes that were shaking me, it was something else. Something that wasn't exactly there.
"Serena? Serena!" it was my mother's frantic voice, only closer now.
" Mom! Don't come close mom! It might get you too," I answered quickly, trying to get my warning across before it was too late. The shaking continued.
Then slowly the red eyes started to fade, and the darkness became a swirl of blurry colors. I was able to breathe again, and I felt the rush of blood flow back into my head. As my eyes started to focus in, I became more aware of my surroundings.
" Hunny, wake up. Serena what are you talking about? Wake up," my mother asked nervously still shaking me in my bed.
"Mom? Mom! You're still alive!" I panted relieved. I jumped up and hugged her tightly.
"Yes sweetie, of course I'm alive. Why wouldn't I be?" My mother chuckled," Now you go get ready for school. And hurry up because you're running late."
" Those red eyes mom. I saw them again. And this time it was choking me, killing me. It seemed so real, it doesn't make sense. And this time I thought it had you as well." I said, still trying to catch my breath.
"Are you still having those nightmares? I thought that medicine the doctor gave you were sopossed to get rid of those terrifying dreams. And to think we payed so much money for a medicine that doesn't even work. We should sue, we should ma-" There goes my mother overreacting again.
"Mom,"I interrupted," The dreams have gotten less terrifying. And I cant even fall asleep now without my medicine, so calm down."
I tried to reassure her that everything was alright. That the medicine my shrink prescribed was in fact working. But she just thought I was making excuses so we don't fire the shrink. How can I already forget that my mother gets mad easily.
" Excuses excuses. You're always making excuses!" My mom yelled at me," I'm tired of your excuses Serena, you've got to learn to stop. You need to grow up. People don't accept excuses in the real world. Grow up already, you're grounded."
" But mom, I -" I tried to explain myself before she cut me off.
" No Serena, I'm not listening, you're grounded. End of story, now shut up." My mother fought back.
My mom always has these mood swings. She's sweet one minute, and a raging bull the next. It can get tiring after a while, with having to watch out for every little thing you say. But people always have to watch what they say, its a nessecitiy for life.
"Whatever," I mumbled under my breath watching my mom walk out of my room.
When my mother was completely gone, I ran to my closet. What should I wear? Does it even matter what I wear? It's just school, who cares right? All these questions rushed into my mind as I looked through my messy closet.
"Serena? Where are you? Does it really take you that long to get dressed? I told you to get an outfit ready last night so come down," My mother called from the kitchen.
"Okay, I'll be right there," I answered in the sweetest half-sincere voice I could make.
I quickly grabbed a pair of jeans, the first decent T-shirt I could find,and my bag, then ran downstairs. My mother was already waiting by the door.
" Ready?" she asked impatiently.
" Yeah lets go." I said as we walked to the car and headed toward my school.
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