Down End Road

Bright lights flashed. Roars of rage resounded. Cries of war reverberated through my bones. A dizzying movement of the ground shook me to my very core. Sickening waves of heat boiled in the air. Ashy smoke choked my lungs.

It all melded together into a terrifying picture of the eerily beautiful mansion. The sun blazed through the large windows, illuminating the obsidian walls to life. It felt more menacing and ominous now, any feeling of comfort I had experienced, erased.

The air condensed behind me as something reeking of death reached out to me. I turned, a figure cloaked in shadows that swirled around it's wraith-thin form. It moved and for a moment milk whit scaly skin could be seen through the dark coat of shadows around the creature.

My stomach churned before the sounds and bright lights flooded me again.

I gasped for air as I jolted upright, I whipped my head around my room, chest heaving as I scanned for monsters. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, before a form even darker emerged from the corner of my room. It stalked toward me, its bony shadowed arms reached out before grabbing my shoulders.

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My eyes flew open, body jolting upright, chest heaving for air. Salty tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I inhaled deeper. Slick sweat collected at my forehead and at the base of my skull. My sleep shirt was damp from my perspiration.

John Adam's diary laid open on my bedside. I shut the foreboding journal in hopes to calm my racing pulse. I dragged my clammy hand down my heated face before I slid out from under the duvet, reaching for the lamp on my bedside. As the soft glow danced around the room, I checked the clock by my bedside.

4:30 am

I shakily sighed, "it was just a dream." I paced around my room, the only sound my deep inhales. My gown hung on the room divider near my bathroom. The blue tulle shimmered, reminding me of Alex in his daring blue suit. I sighed and walked into my dark en-suite. The small shower cornered next to the sink invited me into it's luxury.

I peeled off my layers, a brisk chill met my skin and I shivered. Eeeek. The shower sputtered to life and I climbed in, letting the water wash away my terror and sweat.

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I walked toward the common room, my hands fisted in my hoodie pockets as an invisible forced guided my steps. The closer I got the more safe and secure I felt, my steps no longer cautious and quiet.

Popcorn softly popped in the microwave as I walked in and saw Alex mindlessly staring at the machine. I sat down on the orange couch, quietly. "Bad dream," Alex murmured. I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.

"You," I asked. I looked over to where he stood silently, he was wearing a grey zip up, with darker grey basketball shorts.

"No," came his clipped reply.

The microwave dinged, and I snapped my gaze forward, to the black TV screen. Alex moved over to where I sat, silently handing me the popcorn bowl. It had been a week since the ball. Waking up at four thirty in the morning on a Saturday, after a long week was not what either of us had in mind.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Alex asked. I looked over to the window, avoiding his gaze.

"I was in a house and there was a monster, I woke up and the monster was there in my room, then I woke up for real and I was safe." I answered shortly, not wanting to delve any deeper.

"Why are you up?" I asked. Alex sucked in a large breath, and slumped deeper into the couch.

"Couldn't sleep, something felt off." He replied. I leaned my head on his shoulder. I handed the bowl back to Alex and he gladly took a handful, we kept passing the bowl between us. The morning suns rays bathed the orange room in a golden glow.

"We aren't going back to bed, and I personally do not want to be here when people wake up." I explained. "Do you wanna head back to mine, yours, the library, woods," I continued to list viable options, my body still nestled into his.

"I'm cool going to yours." Alex said. We went back to my dorm, a small shudder ripped through me when we entered, remembering my nightmare. My bed was messy and my clothes were slung about the decently sized place. I gathered the few items and dumped them behind the room divider, before rummaging through my suitcase and pulling out my laptop.

Alex's face brightened up when he saw the small DVD slot in the side of the thick metal. "I have some DVDs in my room, I'll go get them." I nodded and watched as he sped off.

I made up my bed a little, then dragged the ottoman and beanbag near the coffee table. Alex came back in with a loud slam of my door, and dumped a bundle of DVDs on the small wooden table before I rummaged through my secret stash of candy.

"Aha, here you go." I said handing him a pack of twizzlers and setting the cardboard carton of milk duds on the table, along with the cheddar cheese popcorn I had an unhealthy obsession with.

"That stuff will kill you, you know." Alex said absent-mindedly. His eyes glued to my bright screen. I scoffed and opened the cheddar popcorn before dumping a whole hand full in my mouth.

"We're all going to die some day Griffin, might as well enjoy life while you can." I dismissed. He snorted before leaning his wight onto my beanbag. He swung his arm over my shoulders and I snuggled closer to him. As the morning turned brighter my eyes grew heavier.

Before I knew it, my breaths become a slow rhythm and all noise faded to static as I fell into the black abyss of sleep.

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"You think they're dead." I heard a voice whisper by my head.

"I hope not she borrowed my history notes and I don't know where she put them." A southern accent responded.

"Ooh cheddar popcorn. My favourite." The voice alerted. I heard a rustle and munch before a satisfied sigh. "That's some good stuff."

"Oh will you stop it. We should wake them up... Even though they do look down right adorable right now." The texan drawled. My brain stuttered to life and realised it was Ally and Maverick. I heard a shutter and flash before she said, "picture for their grandkids."

My eyes felt too heavy to open and I felt colder now my door was probably ajar. Snuggling into the comfy warm thing I was leaning on, Ally giggled.

"Now that is just downright cute." Ally commented. I wanted to scowl but lethargy kept me incapacitated.

"You said that." Maverick replied irked. "How long ago do you think they woke up. They watched a whole Rocky movie." Maverick said.

"Probably around four." Ally dismissed.

"I'm going to wake them up, I want to get some breakfast then head to town." I felt a small shake on my shoulder, but groaned and pressed my face into the pillow I was snuggled against. I took a deep exhale and inhale.

The scent of boy, twizzlers and a musky after shave assaulted my senses. I shot my eyes open and saw Alex with his arm wrapped around me, leaning against the ottoman as a back rest and snuggled into my bean bag.

I smiled softly when I saw his crinkled sleep face, he looked deep in thought, but not stressed. I smoothed out the lines with my hand, oblivious to the shutter of a camera flash.

"Long life memories and bonds." Ally sighed, I instantly retreated my hand and stood. adjusting my sideways hoodie and crinkled leggings. I kicked Alex in the shin and hissed at him to get up. With a long incoherent mumble he sleepily opened his eyes, swept his gaze over the room and sighed falling back into the bean bag sideways.

"Blimey, can a man not get some decent sleep around here." Alex groaned falling deeper into the bean bag chair.

"Who you calling man, all I see is a whole lot of boy." I insulted, a slight quietness to my voice. Alex smirked and stood towering over me. He stretched, making sure to flex his biceps and chest muscles right in my line of sight. I felt a heat crawl up the back of my neck and stain the tips of my ears.

"Well since your the expert." Alex said sarcastically. I shoved him away from me and hurriedly ushered the boys out of my room.

"I need a shower. Stay in my room if you want," I dismissed Ally unassertively, as I strutted to my en suite. That encroaching fear never left me though, even as the shower stuttered to life and the steam encompassed my being.