Chapter Fifteen

Now

I jerk awake, sweaty, screaming.

I see Elena’s eyes judging me. Calling Ty the devil, and coining me the same. I see Ty with horns. With smoke coming from his nose and hooves as he shifts into one of Jake’s killer bison, charging me, and throwing me into the air, while Lucy looks on sobbing.

I can’t sleep in the dark, not anymore, so the hall light illuminates the sleeping violets on my walls, creating creepy shadows and images. I shudder, burying myself farther under the covers, but it doesn’t help. I’m chilled to the bone.

When my heart rate slows with deep, steady breaths, I wander into the kitchen and open the fridge. White light pools onto the dark floor.

The house is still and quiet. No hum of Dad’s machines, no pitter-patter of Anna going about her business.

I look at the phone, and in my nightmare it rings. Not just a ring, but a shrill warning of an approaching train. Head beams flood the tracks, and he screams and I scream because I’m too late. I’m always too late.

I wake up sobbing alone in my room. Again sweating and chilled to the bone, but this time I’m actually awake.

This happens night after night after night.

A never-ending nightmare I’m afraid I’ll never wake up from. And it’s getting harder to keep the nightmares separate from reality.