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This was a new and odd sensation. It felt almost as though I were floating, but I knew very well at this point that I was dreaming, as I looked down at my own sleeping body sprawled out across the old faded cushions of the couch. I looked...peaceful. With the dreams that usually haunted me, I imagined that I looked anything but peaceful as I slept. But here I looked serene, as if I had no worry in my waking world and all was well.
As I floated above myself, a gust of wind brought a sudden chill to the room. My senses honed in on the sound of the patio door sliding open. A hooded figure in flowing black robes swept into the room as if they were gliding in air, coming to a stop next to my still form. The figure cocked their head inquisitively to one side as even breathes escaped past my parted lips. It leaned over me, inches away from my face, and while I could not see their eye, I could somehow feel them on me, roaming across my features; memorizing them.
Hands with long, thin fingers as white as bone materialized from beneath the cloak. In one outstretched hand, the mysterious figure held a double sided blade, it's handle gilded in fine jewels. A large ruby was set in the center of the hilt where it met with the blade and appeared to glow. Quickly, the figure reached out, grasping a tendril of hair in one hand and used the blade to cut a 2 inch section of hair before grinding silently out the sliding glass door as the first sounds of of the grinding lock of the front door echoed through the front entry way and into the living room. With the loud slam of a door and quickly approaching footsteps, I was sucked out of the air, crashing into my still sleeping body on the couch.
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I lurched up from the sofa, woken by the sound of booming steps entering the house. My eyes scanned the room wildly, settling in my mother as her red face came into view as she entered the living room from the front entry way. The same time I saw her face reddened by the angry tirade that she had prepared the entire drive home, I took it the open patio door, the rain spilling over the threshold and soaking the old wooden floors. My blood ran cold. But...it was a dream...only a dream. It was a dream...wasn't it? I repeated this over and over again in my head like a mantra. But no matter how many times I repeated it, I couldn't convince myself that it truly had been a dream.
My mother was already going off, but in my terror 8 hadn't heard a single word she had spoken. I leapt off the couch and rushing her where she stood. I could see in her eyes that she was taken aback by the obvious horror on my face.
She paused, "Ainsley?" Her voice was now cloaked with worry. "What's going on?"
"Mom," I hissed. "We have to go, we have to get out right now,"
Her shoulder relaxed and her eyes rolled about in her skull, making it clear she thought I was playing at some game. "Ainsley, I don't know what's gotten into you but you are being ridiculous. Don't think for a second you're going to distract me to avoid the ass-chewing you have gone out of your way to e-"
"MOM!" I shouted grabbing her shoulder, almost shaking her. In a whisper that resembled more of a hiss I said, "There's someone in the house."
My mother blinked wildly for a moment before responding. "What the hell are you talking about? There's no one here but us, Ainsley. Have you lost your damn mind?"
"You don't understand! Mom, PLEASE listen to me. Someone is IN. THE. HOUSE." I smacked my fist into the palm of my hand as I punctuated my last few words. "LOOK!" I pointed my index finger dramatically towards the open patio door and the growing puddle on the wood floor.
"So you left the patio door open? We're you born in a barn?" She made a beeline for the door, pulling it closed lowering the security bar. "Don't just stand there! Get a mop!" She shouted.
"Will you just listen to me, that's what I'm trying to tell you." I said exasperated. "I didn't leave the door open mom. I came home, sat down on the couch to work on some school stuff, and fell asleep. When I woke up, the door was open and you came in a few seconds later."
Her eyebrow arched the way it did when she was suspicious that I was spinning a tale. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that, Ainsley. I mean, really? You show up late to first period, only to cut out of school after second period, and THEN expect me to believe some far fetched story about how someone managed to not only unlock AND unbar the patio door from OUTSIDE of the house? Honestly? THAT'S the hill you want to die on?"
"Mom, I SAW IT! I KNOW someone was here!" My voice was thick with desperation and my eyes stung with tears that threatened to spill over.
"You just said you were asleep? How did you see anything if that were the case? If you are going to lie, at least get your story straight first!" The frustration in her voice grew.
"I can't explain it. But I felt it, I SAW them...in my dream. They came an-"
"That's enough!" She cut me off with a flourish of her hand. "I am done listening to this nonsense, Ainsley. Clean up this mess, and then go to your room. Come talk to me when you are ready to explain what is going on with you."
"Mom, please..."
"I said ENOUGH, Ainsley!" She pinched the bridge of her nose and inhaled deeply as she tried to calm her anger. "You know what, I'll take care of the mess, just...go Ainsley."
My shoulders slumped in defeat. I ascended the stairs, pausing for just a moment to look back at my mother as she began mopping at the pool of water. "Ya know..."I sighed," just once, I wish you would believe me." I took the rest of the steps two at a time, slamming my door and falling face first into the welcoming embrace of my mattress. I stayed there the rest of the night.