“It feels wrong. There’s something really off; I’m holding my breath waiting for the end of days or something.” The strain showed across her features.
“I thought I was imagining it, but a definite undercurrent of malevolence has been growing steadily over the last few years.”
During human relations class, a subject I struggled to endure, our teachers went on about how people are just animals deep down. Decency and morals were merely (and unsuccessfully) cultivated to keep society running smoothly. But once the dark depression started, that pretense disappeared. Even the rebels don’t particularly care about using people. They might not be as blatantly cruel and destructive, but I guess that perspective simply depends on whether you hold the power or are the victim.
Shaking off my dark thoughts, I led Lucy across the last road and into the alley.
“Wow, Abbs, could you have found a creepier alley?” She jumped, wrenching painfully on my bruised side.
“Did you see THAT?” she screeched in my ear.
I shook my head. “I’m not worried about seeing anymore. It’s my hearing that’s been severely compromised.”
She shoved me. “There is no way you missed that. It was a giant bat ... or ... no – it was a rat, with wings.”
I laughed.
She glared and yanked me further into the alley.
“Just hurry the hell up. I feel much more comfortable at the compound. Our own little piece of terror and despair.”
She then refused to budge from her spot near the entrance.
As I moved into the alley, small particles of daylight penetrated the gloom. It was clearly empty. Remembering my hiding spot, I double-checked the dumpsters on my way back.
As I walked toward Lucy, a strange sensation trickled up my spine. Spinning around, I searched for the source. This was familiar, an early-warning system. But the alley was still empty.
As the cold shivers continued to traverse my spinal cord, my vision wavered. I shook my head to clear it when a sudden headache stabbed at my temples. The alley was trembling, spinning. I struggled to remain upright; I couldn’t pass out and leave Lucy alone. Screaming sounded from far away and the pounding continued. Dropping to my knees, I cradled my head in my hands. Unable to take the pressure anymore, it was a relief when consciousness faded.
Awareness returned quickly. I waited, eyes closed, but the pain didn’t return. Excellent. I probably had some rare brain tumor.
“Well, that was the strangest...”
As I opened my eyes, my heart stuttered a few times. Looking around frantically, I tried to comprehend what I was seeing. Instead of ankle-deep in alley scum, I was sprawled in immense fern-like bushes.
Alright, this is fine, no need to panic yet.
There was an explanation for this. It was eluding me at that moment, but there had to be one. Like, I hadn’t woken from my little blackout in the alley and this was a dream. A fantastically realistic dream, where for the first time there was a distinctive and pungent pine scent in the air.
In a daze, I pulled myself up. Stepping over to the nearest plant, reaching out, I gripped the shrubbery. The green foliage broke off easily in my hand. It was slightly crunchy, contributing to that pine scent. I let out a short burst of hysterical laughter.
Keep it together.
The sound of strong wind, like the noise of an immense cyclone powering through the forest, had my head whipping around. Breathing shallowly, I ran through the possibilities in my head. Crazy beast, angry native, axe-wielding lunatic.
As it moved closer, I knew I had to get out of sight.
I glanced around. There was nowhere to hide.
The crashing was louder now; I was running out of time. Hopping on the spot in panic, I dived under a large-leafed plant with unusual red spiky foliage. The itching started immediately, my eyes watering as I struggled to stay quiet. Through a small gap, I caught a blur of colors. They dashed past me. Masculine laughter trailed off.
Waiting an extra moment, unable to stand the itching any longer, I wiggled out. My ribs were on fire as I dragged myself backwards from the bushy plant. What the hell was with that? I’d never felt physical pain in my dream world before.
I froze at a crunch behind me, but by the time I spun around it was too late. A heavy body crashed into me. I stifled a shriek as the impact sent both of us hurtling toward the ground. At the last moment the huge lump twisted and managed to land next to instead of on top of me.
My head was throbbing where I’d slammed it into the ground and my first attempt to open my eyes had spots dancing. I flinched as hands began a methodical investigation along my body. He was either checking for injuries or groping me. He paused, his hands resting on either side of my face. This gesture felt strangely familiar. Sanity returned in pieces and my eyes flew open. The light still burned but I ignored my tearing eyes to pound on his rock-hard chest.