I decided to take my journal over to the bed to finish so I could concentrate better, but within minutes I was fast asleep.
Though my brain seemed foggy, I was somehow aware of the boy as he slowly approached my bed, gently taking my journal from my hands and setting it aside. He towered over me, one knee on the bed. His hand brushed my hair back from my face as he studied me. He took his finger and traced the shape of my lips. I parted them— waiting. His face inched closer and closer until I could feel his breath in my face, causing a recollection to come to me. I gasped and bolted straight up in bed. I looked around, but there was no one there. Again I was alone in the quiet. Only my loud breathing was audible.
I frequently scanned the forest as I walked from my car through the school parking lot. What are the odds that he would be in the forest a second day, but I couldn’t help but wonder. There’s no way I could cut class another day. I shouldn’t have done it yesterday, but yet I couldn’t quite regret it either.
I was wondering if I made as big of an impression on him as he’d made on me. But he was gorgeous while I was just—weird. Then again, maybe he likes weird. He purposely described me as the girl he was looking for, but it was also hard to take him seriously.
“Shae! There you are. I’ve been missing you the last few days. What’s up?” my best friend Sara asked, as she approached. She looked particularly put together with her straight, auburn hair tucked behind both ears with her books gripped against her chest.
“Oh, hey. Sorry. I’ve had some things going on, no big deal. What about you?”
“Oh, you won’t believe what’s been going on with me.”
She proceeded in telling me a long story of which I only comprehended parts. My mind just wasn’t with it, until she said something that brought me back into focus.
“I just heard about what Karen and Darcy did to you the other night. That was cruel of them to leave you in the clearing like that. And on the night of a full moon of all things. We have to think of a way to get back at them. And it’s gotta be good.”
My jaw dropped as I gawked at my friend. So my suspicions were right. The other night had really happened. That meant all of my other dreams had really happened as well. My mind was reeling. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but somehow I was going to find out.
For the next two days I walked through my life with unexpected normalcy. Everything seemed to be back in order as it should be, but I knew it was only a facade. At some point things would start to change again and I would be thrust back into the confusion which had become my life. A confusion that had been haunting me and making me question my own sanity. But I had a plan.
Chapter Five
Shae
After school, I sat at my desk in my bedroom and tried to focus on the homework in front of me. I didn’t have time to daydream; Mrs. Eccleston expected this report to be finished by Monday, and I had barely started. But my eyes kept drifting past my window to the forest. I had a thought. I got up and left my room. I exited the house and crossed my backyard, headed right for the forest. Funny, but it didn’t look so menacing in the daytime. I stepped boldly into the thick brush, determined not to be intimidated by the memories of my dreams.
I walked a little ways, trying to keep my house in view, when I heard a soft laugh. I spun around. “You.” It was the beautiful boy from the forest, leaning against a stump rolling a coin through his fingers. My heart skipped in my chest at the sight of him.
“Hello again.”
When he smiled I noticed dimples.
“What are you doing in my forest?” I asked in surprise.
His eyes widened. “Your forest? The last I checked this forest belonged to my brother.”
“Your brother? Who is your brother, and how can he own an entire forest?”
“Wow, a lot of questions. What if I don’t want to answer?” He stepped closer, causing me instant nervousness.
“Please,” I pleaded, making myself bat my eyes flirtatiously.
He laughed. “How could I deny you now? Well, my family has owned this forest from the beginning. My brother is the oldest, and it’s in his name now.”
“Where are your parents? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking, of course.”
“I don’t mind. They’re here too. Actually, I have two sets of parents. I was adopted, but have recently reconnected with my birth parents.”
“Yes. It’s very nice. Would you like to take a walk with me?” He motioned deeper into the forest.
I instantly felt clammy. “Um, you mean go in there? I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. It could be dangerous in there.”
He stepped closer, taking my hand in his and peering down into my eyes. “I’ll protect you. I’m scarier than anything in there.”
“I-I”
“Oh, come on.”
He continued to hold my hand as we walked. He was amused at my hesitation. “I promise you’re safe with me. Why are you so afraid?”
I closed my eyes and focused on how wonderful it felt with my hand engulfed in his. I opened my eyes and glanced up at him. “I’ll make a deal with you. If you’ll tell me your name—your whole name, I’ll answer your question.”
He stared at me as if he was considering my offer. “Fine,” he finally said, “My name is Eli Nathaniel Drake. Now you.”
His eyes widened. “Nightmares? What kind of nightmares?”
“Well, something hairy and scary grabs me and carries me off every time I step into this forest.”
“Let me guess. You pass out from fear and wake up in your bed. Well, nothing’s carried you off this time.”
“That’s still debatable.”
“I assure you nothing will grab you in this forest except me.” He smiled down at me and my stomach instantly knotted.
“Where do you go to school?”
“I’m almost nineteen. I graduated at my school in Atlanta.”
“Oh, well why are you walking around in the forest anyway?” I asked curiously, peering up at him. What I really wanted to ask him was, why did it seem like he was stalking me?
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“I guess I’m trying to overcome my fear—that or prove to myself that they were actually dreams and not reality.”
He stopped walking, peering down at me seriously. “You think it’s possible they really happened?”
“I’m starting to think so,” I admitted, although I wasn’t sure why I did. “The last dream I had I ripped my nightgown, and when I woke, my nightgown was really ripped.”
“Hmm, sounds interesting. What did your nightgown look like? Was it white and tight?”
