7.5 – Fear is a fickle thing

Oh the music has appeared! It’s always in the beginning of a generation, I find a song which I listen to over and over again as I write it. And well, apparently for this generation its this song

James’ POV

I tossed around in my bed, half-asleep, as the nightmares plagued my dreams. The blood that dripped off cold dead skin. My sister’s screams that reverberated in my skull. The harsh silence that remained in place of the corpse.

They haunt my sleep and they tend to wake me up in the middle of the night.

Which is why I don’t know if it was the nightmares or the soft thud of feet touching the floor that woke me up this time.

As I started to wake up, the patter of footsteps headed past my bed. I groggily rubbed my eyes, my brain started to register what was happening around me.

It took me a few seconds before I recognized my sister as she walked by. I silently swung my legs over the bed, taking my time as I waited for my muscles to completely wake up.

Aliska walked straight for the door, not halting in her steps.

She opened the door, making it creak slightly before leaving the room.

She must be having nightmares as well. A walk might do me some good too.

It’s only after I remembered we had a strict curfew that I completely woke up.

Aliska knows we can’t get leave our rooms after nine, what was she doing? Was she trying to get in trouble?

I have to go get her.

I quickly exited the room, trying not to wake the others up.

Aliska was already entering the main school hallway.

Was it a dare? Was she sleepwalking?

Not wanting me or her to get in trouble, I ran over to her, my feet slapping against the wood.

I gripped my big sister’s arm to attract her attention.

Aliska turned towards me so slowly, I started to worry for her.

She looked at me with a look that made me think I was transparent. Her eyes glowed slightly in the darkness.

‘Are you okay?’ I asked her by pointing at her and then crossing my left hand onto the palm of right hand, lifting my flat left hand up vertically afterwards. I furrowed my brows in question and concern.

She continued to stare.

After a few seconds she finally reacted. She let out a loud sigh and avoided my eyes, covering her mouth slightly as she muttered something. But I managed to catch what she said.

“The vampire.”

‘The vampire that killed the teacher and the student?’ I signed.

She continued to avoid my eyes, looking down the corridor as if all she wanted to do was get away from me. I stepped closer, I wasn’t sure if she’d seen what I’d tried to tell her.

‘Are you talking about Carla?’ I tried again.

Looking impatient, she leaned forwards and whispered something else.

“He’s coming.” She warned, her eyes wide.

He?

I wanted to ask her what was going on when she looked away again, exhaling sharply through her nose. She went to leave again.

And even though I tried to hold my big sister back so she wouldn’t get in trouble, she shook me off and left me feeling a little more scared that I had been before.

The unknown was eating me from the inside.

***

I hit the floor with a thud and laughs followed the sound.

“Not so tough now are you vampire?” One of the kids chuckled.

“Serves you right. Maybe you’ll stop killing now.” Another one said.

Four kids in total had decided to single me out. I was hanging out with Joshua and Jamie like usual when out of nowhere, I got pushed.

“What are you doing?” Jamie demanded.

“Are you blaming him for the dead people?” Joshua asked, looking outraged. “James didn’t kill them!”

“You guys shut up! For all we know you’re accomplices.” Another one growled at them. “It was all you three that found the last one after all.”

“I think it’s because he was feeling inferior. You know, because he’s mute and all.” The one with the cap said mockingly.

I tried to get up, but one of them shoved me back down.

“What? I didn’t quite hear what you said.” The one with the green shirt asked, cupping his ears. The others laughed.

“Stop it you jerks! We’ll get the teacher!” Jamie threatened.

“We’ll get the teacher, wah wah.” One of the imitated in a cheap baby voice. “Our friend here is a witch, so I wouldn’t get on his bad side.”

“I’m a witch too.” Jamie declared with a lot less confidence. It was true, she’d told us before, but she was kind of really bad at it.

The boy scoffed. “Yeah, one hell of a witch.” And with a roll of eyes, they forgot about Joshua and Jamie.

“I think we need to teach him a lesson so he doesn’t kill again.” One of them proposed. The others nodded in agreement.

I could tell they were just as scared as I was when I get those nightmares. The killings were freaking everyone out. And it was obvious they knew I hadn’t killed, or else they’d be scared of me. They just want to take it out on me.

I glared at them.

Well I won’t let them get to me.

The boy didn’t take too kindly to my resistance.

“You asked for it.” He said, smirking and forming a fist.

Whatever courage or stubbornness I’d managed to scramble up dissipated into thin air as I realized the boy was actually going to hit me.

He was ready to throw his fist at me to purposefully cause me pain and I didn’t want that.

That’s all I was aware of as I watched the fist come towards me.

All I wanted was for them to leave me alone.

It’s what I screamed in my head.

I didn’t expect it to actually happen.

The fist stopped in its descent and the bullies looked around in confusion.

“This is…boring.” One muttered uncertainly.

“Let’s get out of here.” Another one said.

“I’m going to go play my video games.” The one who was about to hit me said as he got up.

In a matter of seconds they’d left and I’d sat up in a more comfortable position.

I didn’t dare look at my friends.

I didn’t know of what I was more ashamed. That they’d seen me almost get beaten up or what I had just done.

I just want to disappear now.

I want to hug you now James! *hugs*

To be truthful, I hadn’t planned on adding the fear factor, it accidently showed up in the last chapter, and it made so much sense in this situation I decided to keep it.

So, a chapter without a dead person at the end, but at least we have a poll this time!