The morning sun felt nice, and I wasn't overly evil toward my clock today, simply turning it off as I sat up. It was a relief to be done with that creature, and I felt almost lighter, a burden lifted off from my shoulders. If only I could be that cool in real life. Oh well, I don't mind, as long as I have my friends, I'm content. Getting up and out of bed, I got ready for school with a hop to my step. Before leaving though, I looked at the gem and thanked it for letting me conquer what was hurting me for a long time now.
At the school, everyone was already there, ready to do some weird school activity that I didn't care much for. I just wanted to be here with some friends, walking up to the group and already hearing Johndavid blab about something insignificant. Today felt different though, and not because we were at school on a Saturday. Looking over to the entrance of the school, half expecting the creature to just burst in, Camilla walked in. Just her presence was suffocating, everyone automatically lowering their heads but I didn't feel weak.
Neither did Grif, but I just thought that it was because Grif was a weird kind of person that didn't really care about the standings of anyone. For myself though, I guess coming to terms with my problems raised my confidence or something. She noticed that too, her eyes like daggers, stabbing into my heart as the sound of an engine roaring to life drew everyone's attention.
Her ride was just outside with its motor running, a fancy mustang that only rich people are able to buy. She lives the life of luxury that no one else in this school could even imagine obtaining. Though I wasn't suffocating from her just being here, Camilla's glare caused me to look away, noticing that Dominique was humiliated to be lower than her. I've never seen an expression like that on his face; it was full of contempt and anguish.
After she passed through, everyone went back to normal as I realized the pain in my arm was gone. It didn't just happen now, it must've gone away last night or the morning I woke up. So it was the monster who injured me, and defeating it somehow took away the pain... I guess Dominique was right in a way.
Later on through the school day, I found myself doing the aforementioned dumb activity, which was just finding all of the baby ducks in a small little outside area we had in the middle of the school. It was surrounded by glass and had a living ecosystem; with a pond, bees, cattails, and other things.
Ashley seemed especially interested in finding the ones hidden away so we could have a headcount, and of course, I was thrust into the same group as her. She seemed to have other motives though, pulling me to the side once the other groups had distanced themselves to do their own thing. Finding the nearest tree, she brought me behind it and held my shoulders while her eyes stared into mine.
Before I could protest or, well, do anything else, she began whispering, "That tall friend of yours, has he been acting strange lately?" I didn't really know what to say, I should say that he didn't really change but I haven't really been paying attention.
"Well, I'm not sure, has he?" I said in hopes that she would just let it go. Besides Johndavid doesn't really like anyone knowing his personal life.
She immediately responded with almost a snarl to her voice, "You're his friend, London. To be honest, He's been arriving earlier to school each day, and just look at him." Looking over, I could see that his movements were slow and he kept blinking as if something was in his eyes. He looked really tired as if he hadn't had any good sleep for days, but his sleep schedule is normally messed up. I could be falling asleep at midnight, but he'll still be awake until sometime around two o'clock without any problems.
I... maybe it's just a couple of bad days. Ashley caught my attention again before saying, "Not to be annoying, but yet again, he is your friend." Just like that, she continued looking for the baby ducks hidden in the grass as I couldn't help but put it off for now. Not everything is going to be perfect, and right now, I need to focus on facing Jose's group in real life now.
Finally, the day-long school activity of fixing up the outdoor area was over, with the other activities like having to play some good old fashion football sped up the day. I didn't see Jose or his gang anywhere though, which surprised me until I set foot outside. There they were, waiting for me... I should've known that they wouldn't actually just go to school, but instead wait outside for me. Well, I could only hope that my amazing fighting skills could save me now.
"Out already, how lucky for us." Jackson said, which was strange in itself as he hardly spoke to began with before Jose stepped forward in front of them all.
He somehow held the same monotonous tone except when he said bastard, in which it would then flare up like an overconfident junior in a choir, looking at me and saying, "You had us waiting all day bastard. How about apologizing for it and maybe we won't hurt you as bad." Emotions swirled in my head and body before fading away just as quickly as they came. I didn't feel hate or disgust toward them, but simply anger that they ambushed me again.
"Is that all, I'm not going to bow down like your personal lap dog anymore. Besides, that's Taylor's job." I could see his expression in the back of the group change in what I could only describe as rage turning into a bright fire, being the first to run forward at me. I wasn't really expecting him to be the first one, maybe Cadell or Jose but not Taylor. As he inevitably swung, I attempted to duck and move my leg under him, but my body wouldn't do it fast enough or with enough force.
As my leg hit the back of his knee, my body felt like toppling over, but not before Taylor looked unamused at me, one fist landing into the side of my forehead. The pain was excruciating, but I didn't have time to wallow as Cadell grabbed my collar and slammed me against the brick wall, slightly lifting my feet off the ground. I didn't even notice him walking up to me as I attempted to break out, looking around for anything to help me.
There was nothing though, nothing to save me as Jose began laughing, "What was that bastard, did you really try to swipe Taylor's legs while going on the down-low. You're so fucking stupid." The others began to laugh as well, but I didn't falter, I had no reason to, keeping my head raised up high and waiting for them to start beating on my stomach. Jessica was nowhere to be seen though, probably left before waiting all this time.
"Well, you guys must really be in love me, staying here for so long. You could've at least given me a love letter or taken me out to dinner first" I said before Jose's fist crashed into the pit of my chest, causing me to cough in desperation, all the air being knocked out of me.
"You're in a good mood, bastard. How about we give you a little anniversary present. Cadell, teach him what it means to mess with us." I knew what was about to occur but then something different happened. I could hear Grif and Johndavid yelling loudly in the distance before trying to push them off of me. If they continued to do that, they were going to become targets, I couldn't let them, but the words in my throat just wouldn't leave.
Words were thrown across, but I couldn't seem to understand any of it as all I could focus on was breathing in and out. Then feet began to scramble about, looking up to see the gang running off. My eyes could not believe it, before seeing that a few teachers came by to see what was happening. They're still alive on pure luck that some teachers were nearby, I guess I'm just a lucky guy today. Johndavid helped me to my feet as they began questioning me on what Jose was doing.
I didn't have the strength to explain though, with the other two taking the reins. Just like that, I was let off to walk home but I still didn't feel horrible or defeated, just a little hurt. Not any emotional pain in the very least with all of it just being the physical pain I felt in my head and stomach... I guess that's a plus, not like it mattered much. Getting home, I kept the situation quiet as I also told the teachers who saw what happened to do so as well, just in case my dad might go full ex-military killer-mode on Jose's gang.
It's my problem too, no one else's. I need to become stronger or come up with different ways to deal with them. Ah, I'll just deal with it on Monday, I have the weekend to relax. Finally, the exhale of my breath can escape my lips as I could finally relax for the rest of my day.
Normally, dad wouldn't get home until late at night, but I guess he was let off early. His smile when he opened the door was bright and it made everything seem so pointless when compared to the happiness he was bringing in. The rest of the day was just us hanging out, playing games, and everything we don't get to do on a normal day. It was fun as the worries of yesterday and tomorrow simply melted into the background, he's honestly the best. Before I knew it, the sun had already gone down, and my eyes began to feel heavy.
There are those families who argue all the time and those who just never speak to each other, but I'm not unfortunate like them. I don't remember much about my mother, only seeing pictures of her from when I was just a baby in her arms... he never did tell me what happened to her. All I know is that there are cruel people out there whose hate manages to hurts other people, but I don't really think about it all that much. I'm just happy that I still have my dad, who continues to live life without her help. Sometimes, when the silence is too much, I imagine if she was alive and how much happier we would be. These thoughts never really stopped swirling around in my head late at night, closing my eyes and imagining how much greater my life could be if she was still here.
A slight breeze tickled the hair that barely touched my ear. It was soothing but out of the ordinary, opening my eyes to see a different piece of the world. Yet again, I was in another lucid dream, but this wasn't the same as the last one. The ground was a dark blue color with baby blue reflections from the sky. From the side of my eye, I could see a small house only a few feet away, maybe ten or twenty feet. Everything else though was... what was the word? Abstract? The sky was a single color of baby blue and the sun, which I could look at directly, was a bright yellow.
The house was absent of color and as I looked at it from my peripheral, the entire thing seemed to grow quadruple its size. Almost the size of a mansion, yet somehow keeping the same number of windows, doors, and well...everything. It's hard to explain as it was huge if I wasn't looking directly at it but if I stared at it, the house was surprisingly normal and average. There weren't any trees or anything else either, just a flat surface across as a large plot of land before suddenly dropping off into nothingness.
I reached my hand out to the sky, hoping to feel the breeze I felt earlier only to see that something covered my hand. No, not only my hand but my entire body. The color of it was a depressing orange that grew darker in some areas like my wrist and chest. It reminded me of some kind of suit that seemed to have some kind of hoodie...or jacket part to it. I don't remember what they're called but something like a cape with a hoodie. The sudden surprise of everything sent me backwards until I tripped on the dark blue ground.
I didn't hit the ground though... being caught by some force before falling all the way down, turning around to see the next shock. Six long slender mechanical stilts...or spider legs were attached to my back. They almost looked like the ones on that creature from my other dream... did I become it? That's impossible, I was still me but with this weird suit on. I still didn't understand the colors with dark orange blotted across the suit, mixing with the depressing main tone of orange across the rest. If these, well, mechanical prods held me up, I guess they're supposed to be under my control.
After catching my breath, I slung my open fist forward, seeing three of the mechanical legs on that side pull toward that direction with deadly speed. They looked sharp too, the robotic movements of these things being clunky and shining in the baby blue light. I can't keep calling them mechanical legs, so how about splinters? It's not like anyone is going to disagree with me here or even know what I'm talking about when I wake up.
Now to focus on this world, everything being completely different from the other one. To be honest, I was hoping that this thing would continue but not in this way. The last lucid dream theme was my hatred and despair toward Jose's gang, so what is this about? Well, the last thing I could think that this dream could be about was my mother, but I don't remember this strange house.
The paint seemed to be peeling near the base and there were some things that were in disrepair like a screen door barely hanging from its hinges. The weeds in the front were outgrown, killing the grass and leaving the area in a gross yellow colour. It was depressing to look at, even with the house growing as big as a mansion if I stared slightly away from it. One of the windows on the left was cracked with a small fist-sized hole through it, a piece of cardboard blocking any air from getting into the house. If I've ever seen this house before, I would remember it, a broken-down two-story house that turned into... maybe a thirty-story mansion.
Well, I won't get anywhere by standing here, walking toward the door, and grabbing the knob. The bottom of the door had scrapes and a small indent. Not only that but there wasn't any paint on the bottom like the rest of the brown door as well as if it was scraped off or something. I guess that could happen over time but someone kicking the door over and over again might just do the same. I finally opened the door to see an empty room. The walls were white with some discolored stains sprayed across the level of my head. They were spread across like an arch, with small lines rolling down.
To me, it looked as if someone threw a drink at the wall, with it drying and leaving a stain before reaching the floor. Other than that though, there wasn't anything else in this room, two doorways drawing my eyes away from the stain as the darkness on the other side of them was well... darker over there. They were on either side of the walls, being so close to each other and only separated by the corner of this room.
Both doorways didn't seem all that different from one another either. Slowly, I walked up to one of the doorways and peered inside, only seeing what I could only call the abyss. I could make out some pieces of furniture like an armchair but before I could look any further, the feeling of urgency pulled me back. As my head swung backward, a bottle flew past me, barely brushing past my eyes as I could see my pupils in the reflection of the glass before it shattered on the wall. I would've fallen if it wasn't for my splinters holding me up, but I didn't have time to admire them as a deep grueling force erupting from the room to my right.