Page 77 of After Midnight

Sometime later, I heard another knock and opened my eyes to see Miss Rita peeking into the room. “Hey, I hate to wake you,” she said softly, “but there are a couple girls who need to see their big brother.”

I smiled wide and sat up, a little gingerly. “There are two short britches who wanna see their most awesome brother? Is that what you said?” I raised my voice, and a pair of giggles followed.

“Send in my subjects, great guardian of the realm,” I said, and Miss Rita rolled her eyes, but the girls dashed in and threw themselves into my outstretched arms. Having them there was like jumping in a cool pool on a hot day. Relief washed through me as I held them.

“Hey, bugs,” I finally said. I hadn’t used the endearment for years, not since Olivia had gotten huffy about it once, but it just slipped out. She made no objections to it now, though, and only snuggled into me more.

“Are you okay?” Alli asked when she finally pulled back far enough to see my face but still not letting me go.

“I’m going to be. I’m still tired and a little sore, but for the most part, yeah, I’m okay.”

We sat there a long time like that, the girls clinging to me as if they thought I’d disappear again if they let go too soon. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you go get your book, and I’ll read to you for a while until I need sleep again.”

Olivia jumped off the bed and was back a moment later with the book in hand. They snuggled up on either side of me and I read for about fifteen minutes before my energy waned.

“I bet I’ll be able to last longer tomorrow,” I said, and the girls seemed to understand. I was usually harassed by both of them to read more, but I guessed Miss Rita had prepared them beforehand to not give me any grief about it today.

When they’d gone, Miss Rita returned and asked if there was anything she could get me.

“Not at the moment, but thanks.”

She looked over at the half-empty glass of water and refused to leave until I finished it.

When I complied, she seemed satisfied and said she would bring up some Gatorade next because I needed the electrolytes.

I saluted her and then rolled over and went back to sleep.

Dreams are such strange things. Uncontrollable, at least for me, but containing enough bits of reality so that I could recognize the players from my real life. I had to assume this dream was so vivid because I’d been through such an ordeal plus I’d slept so much.

It was dark, and my heartbeat kicked up. I could hear voices, so I climbed off the smelly mattress and inched closer toward the sounds. My anxiety was beginning to rise and, feeling desperate, I started to feel along the walls when suddenly, where the corner should’ve been, a vast emptiness opened up before me. Not a hole exactly, more like a wide, open space with no discernable end. I wasn’t outside, though, near as I could tell.

Not wanting to remain in that little room again with no light, I slowly navigated my way through the darkness, following the sound of voices.

Light began to filter down what appeared to be a tunnel, and I could see walls made of stone. The voices, growing louder now, led me to a big wooden door. I tried opening it, but it wouldn’t budge, so I continued my way through the tunnel until I came upon a window.

The voices were even louder here, and when I looked out the window, I realized I was in a tower several stories high. Looking below to the ground, I could see Olivia and Alli running around. They were dressed similar to the fairies in the old Disney movieSleeping Beauty.

I saw Dillon galloping toward them on horseback. He was dressed as a prince, even wearing a crown that shimmered in the sunlight, and I could hear him shouting at the girls but couldn’t make out the words.

Seconds later, the sunny skies began to bleed red, and I yelled for the girls to run. They didn’t hear me or Dillon, though, since they continued playing without a care in the world. I could nowsee a dragon in the distance, heading toward them, and I began to panic.

Dillon leapt off his horse when he reached the girls and pulled them into the castle just as the female dragon approached. She flew up until her face was level with mine, and in Margarette’s voice, said, “I never lose.” Then she rose up in the sky, turned, and dove toward the tower.

I turned to escape, but the tunnel I’d come through had disappeared, and I was now trapped in a small, round room with nowhere to run.

Time passed slowly and I felt the walls tremble as the dragon struck.

I grabbed a crystal dagger lying next to the bed, just as the roof of the tower flew off, and the dragon looked down at me spitefully and breathing fire.

She drew in a deep breath, and as she did, I threw the dagger at her. She sucked it into her lungs and began coughing.

“What have you done?” she screamed and flew back.

The tower shook as I watched the dragon struggle and eventually fall out of the sky, crashing hard to the ground. I was caught in the collapse. I was going to die. I may have vanquished the dragon, but in her demise, she had managed to kill us both.

A small voice penetrated my mind and as I woke up, I saw Olivia standing next to my bed.

“Miss Rita asked me to bring you this,” she said, holding out a bottle of Gatorade.

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