Having no other choice, she movedin front of Professor Turner’s office and knocked softly. “Professor,” shewhispered, “are you in there?”
No response.
“Professor, it’s urgent! I knowit’s not during school hours, but I must speak with you. There are things Ineed to tell you.”
Still no response.
“Professor! Someone is followingme!” She knocked again, anxious to get out of the open hallway and into thesafety of his office.
Yet, no response came.
Devon swallowed back her risinganxiety, and she did what she never would have normally done. She reached outher hand for the door handle, knowing that it wasn’t smart, knowing that itwould lead to her downfall, but she had to get away. Whoever was chasing herwas forcing her hand.
She twisted the knob and slowlyeased it open to a seemingly empty room.
“Professor,” she murmured softly,glancing around.
“Devon,” someone called out.
But she didn’t know who it was oreven where the voice came from.
Just then, ahand clamped down on her wrist.
“DEVON. DEVON,” SOMEONE called outto her, shaking her shoulder.
Gasping in air, her eyes shotopen, and she stared up at Hadley. She couldn’t breathe, and her heart wasracing. No matter what she did, she just kept sucking in dry dead air.
“Hey, it’s alright. It’s justme,” Hadley said, rubbing her shoulder reassuringly. “Are you okay?”
Devon tried to get herself undercontrol, but she was having considerable trouble. Her skin was cold andsticky, and her shirt was soaked through. She pulled in a shuddering breath,and her chest expanded appreciatively as oxygen filled her lungs. She slowlyreleased the air. The movements became easier with time. As she brushed herfingertips under her eyes, she felt her eyelashes were wet.
God, can you cry in yoursleep? she wondered.
“Seriously, Devon, you look likea ghost. Do you need me to get you something?” Hadley asked with concernwritten across her pretty face.
Devon ran a hand back through hermatted blonde hair. Great, she would have to take another shower. “Yeah,I’m alright,” she whispered, her voice strained.
“You sure?” Hadley asked, hereyes wide. “I’m going to get you some water. Be right back.”
Hadley disappeared, and Devon wasgrateful. She was grateful for the silence and the light that streamed inthrough the window, signifying it was still daytime. Her bottom lip quiveredas she scooted up against the headboard, letting the chills work their way out ofher body.
She had been having nightmaresall week, the most vivid ones she had ever had in her entire life. Everymorning, she had woken up more exhausted than when she had went to bed, likeshe had been running a marathon instead of sleeping for eight hours. She feltbeyond dehydrated, and her head constantly ached.
Devon had taken to napping duringthe day, so she could sleep less at night to avoid dreaming. Until today, thenightmares had never come for her while she was napping.
Hadley reappeared in the doorwaywith a glass of water. She carefully handed it to Devon, looking reallyfreaked out. Devon felt bad about the whole situation. She took a few sips ofthe water, feeling the ice-cold liquid slide down her throat and coat herstomach.
“Sooo…are you okay?” Hadleyasked, repeating her question.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Devon saidreflexively.
“Bad dream?” Hadley asked,clearly not buying her statement.
“I don’t know. I don’tremember,” Devon lied. She couldn’t tell Hadley what she had been seeing dayin and day out; that would only raise questions. Devon didn’t know what allthe dreams were about, but she had a clue. And if she had a clue, Hadley couldfathom a guess as well.
Hadley gave her a perplexedlook. With a sigh, she nodded. “Alright. If you don’t want to talk about it,that’s fine. I’ve just never seen you like this. You’ve never had nightmaresbefore, did you?”
What could Devon say? Hadley hadlived with her for two-and-a-half years, and Hadley knew her like no one else. Devon could only hold up pretenses for so long.
“No,” Devon finally answered. “Ididn’t have them before. They’re new.”
“When did they start?” Hadleyasked like an overindulgent parent.
“I don’t know,” Devon said,looking down. She knew perfectly well when they had started, but she wasn’tabout to spill.
“Well, I hope they stop. It’snot healthy,” Hadley said, standing. She seemed resigned to let Devon off thehook.
“I hope they stop, too,” Devonagreed with a tentative smile.
“We’re leaving for the partysoon. I was about to get dressed. See you in a bit.” Hadley walked out ofthe room, leaving Devon in peace.
Devon sighed, sitting backagainst the headboard. She closed her eyes, submitting to the darkness. Howcould this keep happening? When she had left, she thought the dreams wouldgo away. She had hoped that maybe she made the right decision, so they wouldstop entirely. Instead, they had done the opposite.
Peeling her eyes open, shefinished off the rest of the water Hadley had given her and walked into thebathroom. She stripped off her clothes, tossing them into a basket next to thetoilet, and then she turned on the shower as hot as it would go. She ran abrush through her tangled hair until it was free of knots as the room thickenedwith steam. All she wanted to do was scald away the memories of someone’s eyeson her, the desperation of the chase, and the nauseating feel of the person’sgrip on her arm.
She stepped into the water,hissing as it touched her skin. The water felt like needles piercing throughher skin wherever it touched her. It hurt. She couldn’t deny that ithurt, but the pain felt like home. And so, instead of turning down the heat,she succumbed to it.
Her hair soaked through as shefinally edged her body back into the blistering water. Closing her eyes, shelet the water slowly rake over her face, rush down her front, and pool at herfeet. At least in here, she only felt the pain from the
