The Nightmares

NIGHTMARE FOUR
(cont.)

When I got home, I sighed, somewhat happy with my day. The beating of Johnny was a damper on it, but for the most part it had been a good one. The only REAL thing that bothered me was in the bathroom, and outside. What was I hearing? Just my own head playing tricks on me? I prayed for that, but I doubted greatly that was the answer I was looking for.

I walked over to my mom's room after tossing my coat and backpack into the closet. I knocked, and then swung the door open easily. My legs moved over to my mothers bed, and spotted a note. I looked at it, then picked it up hesitantly. For whatever reason, I felt a bit strange at the moment. Looking it over, my mom wrote:

'Hello Jake and Sam, sorry I'm not home right now. I had to go to the doctors for something that I had gotten earlier. I accidently cut myself on some glass, and there was some certain liquids in the glass so I got it checked out. If I'm not home by when you are, don't worry dears.
Love, mom'

The words were slightly hastily written, but I shrugged it off and set the slip from the principal onto the bedside table, she'd see it later. I strolled out of the room calmly, walking to the kitchen and grabbing a pack of crackers and in mere seconds found myself starting up my computer.

The normal run of the day went on, myself laughing and sighing, possible groaning in annoyance because of videos and comments on YouTube. It seemed normal, especially considering my situation. I just beat up a kid at school, got a slip, and here I am sitting like nothing happened... I thought, smiling to myself slightly. It was easier than I thought to get out of shit like this. I pulled out a project I had been working on and started typing again, barely noticing the amount of time I put in.

My fingers flowed freely, typing away on the keyboard in the text document. The stupid project was for school, an essay, but I had to do it. No matter how angry I was about some stuff, I can keep myself under control so I simply kept working.

It had been about one or two hours when I heard the front door open. I walked out, expecting my mother to come in, maybe a bandage on her leg. But no. Instead, my mother came in with crutches and I felt somewhat distressed. What had happened, and how in the hell did she break glass against her leg?

Ignoring the complications of it, I quickly made my own way to her, helping my mother to her room and letting her slip down and fall into it. She grunted with pain, and I felt my compassion starting to take hold once more. She smiled, looking me over, "Jeez Sam, you look like you got in a fight." I felt myself grin inwardly, considering how right she was. I reached to pick up the slip, but I instead rested my hand on the stand. With an hour or so, I could have some more freedom before she bans me from using anything electronic.

I smiled, and she said, "Ugh, today's been horrible. Apparently my leg got a small infection because of the cut, but I'm sure it'll be fine, you know. Anyways, how was your day?" I did a small motion with my head, making it look like I was weighing the bad and good, before saying, "It was a day. That was mine." I laughed quietly at my horrible joke as my mother chuckled slightly. We both sat in silence, until she spoke up, "You know, I've heard you've been having bad dreams, trouble staying awake...anything you want to talk about?"

I shook my head. As much of a waste that I was, I wouldn't get someone else involved in it that fast. My mom simply stared at me, a somewhat angry look on her face. She knew how to crack me pretty easily, and it was annoying as all hell when she did. In a minute of our impromptu staring contest, I said, "Okay, yeah, fine. Yes, I have, but it's fine mom. They're just nightmares."

I was lying through my teeth, but I just couldn't bring myself to talk about them with her. She'd think I'm crazy and drop me in a loony house, which isn't going to happen. She opened her mouth to comment, but i said, "Mom, seriously, they're just nightmares, calm down."

She closed her mouth with an irritated sigh, then said, "Mhm, sure. Well, if you get the feeling they're not 'just nightmares' come and get me." I nodded quickly, then made my way out of her room and yawned. I needed more sleep, but i didn't want to deal with that thing inside my head.

I made my way over to the kitchen and opened the fridge, looking around. There was some sandwich meat, random shit in tinfoil or plastic containers, but i couldn't see much that I would even eat, I let my shoulders sag slightly, but I sat back up and closed the fridge, walking over to the garage door which was down a small hallway near the cabinet. I opened it and poked my head out, leaning forward almost comically. I saw a pack of soda sitting on a shelf, so I reached in and pulled out a cold can.

Walking back to my room after closing the door, the whole house was silent except for my mother's TV, something like video games downstairs, and the fizz of the soda cracking open with the tab. I sat in my computer chair, taking a generous sip from the can, then set it down and looked over the project I had been working on.

With a dejected sigh, I minimized it. While yes, school was an annoying necessity, I didn't want to work on it. I sat back in my chair, stretching my arms. If I took just a little nap, nothing could happen right? Right. It didn't change the fact I needed to wake up, so I put earphones in my ears and put a timer on my phone.

I laid my head down in my arms, my eyes slowly drifting closed.

I found myself sitting with my legs crossed. A weight was on my legs, so I looked and saw that the doll was laying atop my knees. I felt a pang of guilt, I'd treated it, or her, horribly. If she really was Rainbow Dash, a murdered one at that. Not to mention by her best friend.

I hesitantly placed a gentle hand on her, almost like she was a fragile child.

She then spoke up, "I...thanks..." I blinked, than asked, "What for?"

Rainbow twitched slightly, as if trying to move, "...just...i can hear you.." I almost asked what it was she meant, but then I understood that she meant my thoughts. I wasn't completely comfortable with it, but it's better than with Pinkie doing it. I looked up, seeing a sun. The details of my dream were amazing, a large open field, a few trees and a setting sun. I took a moment to look behind me, seeing another wide expanse of prairie.

I felt a very calm sensation over my mind at the moment, like I could just lay down, or play in the fields like a small child. It was a great feeling, and I all but knew what caused it. I looked down to spot the Rainbow Dash doll, but saw something else which made my eyes widen.

It was as if the doll had made itself more alive, it no longer had the ripped stitches, and instead it was whole and made together. It's eyes were like the show, a beautiful magenta iris shining at me. Her colorful hair was blown slightly by the breeze as I blinked, my mouth agape. It was Rainbow Dash, like the show. The fact that the pony was laying next to me, staring up at me made my mind go blank.

While she was still smaller and had one or two stitches where I presume she was cut, I didn't exactly think about it then. I hesitantly reached out to touch her mane, entranced by the sudden change. Then I woke up suddenly.

I sat up, not afraid but still gasping slightly. It felt like the air was depleted from my lungs for minutes. I surveyed my surroundings. Nothing out of the ordinary. The only thing that perplexed me was the dream. Was it more like what happened with Pinkie, or was it just a good dream? I had no answers and meagerly laid back down.

The TV kept playing and I watched, waiting for myself to get tired enough to sleep. I was fairly exhausted at this point, and just wanted more sleep. I wouldn't care for school right now, I needed sleep more than anything. It kept playing, interesting me. However, the episodes were at least an hour long, so I tried to stop watching and laid on my side, closing my eyes.

Sleep creeped up on me like a snake, and I welcomed it's embrace. Even if it was just a good dream, I had to see it again, I just had to.

I opened my eyes, now in my room. I almost questioned if I was awake, then I noticed the doll next to me. It looked grayer, more beaten. I asked then, "What happened?" The standard crackling noise happened before she said clearly, "I don't want to talk about it."

I laid back in my bed and held the doll close, huddling my knees, "So...about that other dream..." She responded quickly saying, "Huh? Oh, that. It was nothing, just your head playing tricks with you. Maybe Pinkie." I would have asked what she meant, but it was obvious that she was telling the truth. Even though she wasn't the element of honesty, she was still one of the more loyal ponies that I knew of.

She seemed to pick up on what I was saying, "Please, don't talk about my friends. I don't want to think about them..." I decided to stop thinking, talking, whatever. It was a sensitive subject and I didn't want to make her angrier or sadder than she needed to be.

I hesitantly hugged her, saying, "I'm sorry for what you've lost...Rainbow.." She seemed to almost choke out, "Don't. I don't need sympathy, please. I've cried enough tears." I was trying to be nice, but I suppose it was best to do what she said rather than what I thought was right. She was the more experience obviously.

I set her back down, trying to be gentle so I didn't rip any stitches. Only god knows what pain she's been put through. I sat up, cracking my neck, deciding to go on a walk instead of sitting here for however long. I looked over, asking, "How long should we be waiting here before either she comes along or I wake up?" Rainbow said, with another crackling noise, "I have no idea."

I walked over to the door, trying to open it, only for the door to stay locked and shut. The knob wouldn't even turn. I hit the door with the bottom of my fist, sighing in slight annoyance. I walked to the bay window in my room, pushing a shutter up so i could see. Outside, it was like my neighborhood, just darker. Like the moon was much smaller, so it was almost pitch black.

I closed the shutters and walked over to my computer. It seemed like an empty shell, just a cheap make-up of it. I snorted lightly, almost amused. Then I heard a screech. I looked back, finding myself on a dirt road, I blinked, looking around once more, "Dash?!" Only the beeping of a car horn answered me, and I saw bright white headlights before I was hit in my chest, and I grunted loudly, before I slipped away.

I sat up, sweating as I rubbed my forehead. A small bruise. From what? I wondered, and then I quickly hopped out of bed, seeing the time was 5:30, around the time I should wake up. I slapped clothes on and, without thinking, got my pack together, swearing under my breath.

I needed more sleep, but I already woke up, so no time to wait. The day was going to be long, and for some reason, it felt...tainted.

END NIGHTMARE FOUR