Intrinsical - Lani Woodland [76]
“It’s okay, Brent. Go to sleep. You kept us safe,” I whispered, leaning close to his ear, resting my hand lightly on top his. I continued humming until he finally drifted off.
When I was sure he was asleep, I pulled my hand away. Alone with my thoughts, I was able to really concentrate on what I had learned in Cherie’s room. Eventually a dull pain pulsed behind my eyes, and my head lulled back as I massaged my forehead. My eyes slid closed as my murky thoughts merged with my unconsciousness to form equally horrible dreams.
****
I was in the center of the groves, running hard, trying to make it to the edge of campus. Brent was beside me, holding my hand, urging me to move faster. My lungs burned, trying desperately to breathe. I could feel the mist growing stronger as it chased me, nipping at my heels. Cherie stood at the edge of campus, frozen. Brent was on the ground beside her, and yet still beside me. I was there, too, lying next to him, wearing my necklace.
“Brent,” an eerie voice called from behind us. “Please don’t run from me.”
Without warning, he stopped and spun around, dropping my hand. “Neal?”
“Brent,” I begged, “we have to keep going.”
I frantically grabbed his hand but he shook me off, stepping away from me and closer to the dark.
“Brent,” I began, but he ignored me and took another step further away.
Tears ran down my face, and my burning lungs were no longer getting air as I started hyperventilating.
“He needs me,” Brent explained. I reached for his hand again, but missed. I looked up and saw that the shadow had grown stronger. Two figures stood out from the rest: Neal, who was calling out to Brent, and Thomas, partially hidden in the shadows.
“That’s right, Brent.” Neal smiled with his mouth, but it didn’t reach his brown eyes. “Come to me.”
“I can’t leave her,” Brent explained to his brother.
His smile became more sinister. “Then bring her with you.”
Brent smiled at me like this was a good solution. He started toward me, and I fell to the ground, devastated, as the rain started pouring down. My heart broke in betrayal as I watched him draw closer, a vacant look in his eyes.
The mist hovered, closing in on Brent as he slunk toward me.
“We’ve been waiting for you, Yara,” it hissed as it glided ever closer. “You’ve avoided us for too long.”
I began crawling backward on the ground, trying to get away, slipping in my haste and whimpering in fear. I knew it was over. I heard myself scream as it overpowered me.
****
I sat up screaming, my eyes wide with panic. I gulped hard, urging my breathing to slow. It took some coaxing to convince myself it was only a nightmare. Brent still lay sleeping beside me somehow undisturbed by my scream. I rolled onto my side and watched the rise and fall of his chest, appearing untroubled in his sleep. Even though my nightmare had the same vivid texture of my prophetic dreams, I refused to be scared by this one. I knew Brent wouldn’t betray me. He had his chance and he didn’t take it. He hadn’t abandoned me. He had already made that choice. Right? Brent stirred beside me and I scooted closer to him, feeling safer as I did. My fingers rested next to his, a whisper away from touching. I closed my eyes, listening to his rhythmic breathing.
The terrible sentry that I was, I must have dozed off again because when my eyes slowly blinked open from a heavy sleep, the sun had risen over the mountains surrounding Corona. I wasn’t sure if I had dreamed, but at least I hadn’t had another horrible nightmare and I awoke feeling peaceful. My mind started dissecting the earlier nightmare, but found it was still too terrifying and shoved it aside until I was ready to deal with it.
The sun’s rays warmed my face, languidly rousing me even further from sleep. Birds were singing and the fountain was on. It was a beautiful day and I couldn’t help but smile. I felt happy, connected to this gorgeous garden, to Brent, and to my limbo existence. I lifted my arms and stretched, realizing that