My Nightmare

My Nightmare
(Insomniacs Playground Short Story Contest: (October 2007)

Time came crashing to a halt, and before I realized what was happening, my world went black.

When my eyes opened again, I recognized the familiar sight. A dingy hotel room that smelled of stale cigarettes and booze. I sat up and focused on the only other person in the room – him.

I screamed and sat up. I wasn't in the hotel room. I was in my own bed, in my own apartment. It was a hellish nightmare I'd had every night for the past three years. I flopped back onto the pillows and took a few deep breaths.

My apartment purposefully was decorated with light, airy colors. Baby blue, lace curtains, soft grey carpet, oak wood furniture. The heavy plastic blinds provided me a bit of privacy when I wanted it – or needed it.

The light colors of the room helped me to relax a little from the nightmare. Again, something I carefully planned when I got the place. Happy colors, no darkness, sparkling clean.

The shrill ringing of the phone made me jump.

"What?" I snapped into the phone.

"Is that the way to greet an old friend?"

I bolted up in the bed and tried to get my breathing under control. It was him. The fear from my teenage years returned full force. I had thought that nightmare was over.

"Sorry, David, I didn't know it was you. How are you doing?"

"I'm simply wonderful. How is my favorite girl?"

"I'm wonderful too," I said. I stayed quiet after that for I didn't want to say anything to anger the man on the other end. That was the rule he'd made. Let him ask the questions and I'll give the answers.

"I need your special services this weekend."

I closed my eyes and hung my head. I should have known better than to get my hopes up. The nightmare had never ended like I hoped. It had only been on pause.

"David, I…"

"You're not trying to back out on our little deal, are you? I don't think you really want that to happen, do you?"

I sighed. "No, David. Where do I need to be?"

"Good girl. Be at the Ritz hotel at eight p.m. on Friday. Be prepared to not return home until Sunday night."

"Okay. Will there be others there or just you this time?" I asked, hoping for an answer.

The only reply was a 'click' as David hung up the phone.

I threw the phone across the room in disgust. I wiped my sweating palms on the sheets. As scared as I was, I had learned a long time ago how to hide my fear. I got out of bed and showered. I scrubbed as hard as I could to remove the sickening feeling that seemed to ooze from my pores. It only helped a little.

Twenty minutes later, I hopped into my car and headed for D's Place. As usual for this time of day, my best friend Lilly sat at "our table." She was talking to the waiter as the wind blew his apron about his legs.

"Hey, Lilly," I said sitting down at the table.

"Dude, what's wrong with you? You look terrible."

"Thanks," I said sarcastically.

The waiter took my order, and then disappeared back inside. I lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply trying to calm my nerves. Lilly followed my actions and lit a cigarette after moving her thick black hair away from her face.

The small café was a popular spot with the teenagers. I wasn’t sure why I liked going there but I guess it was my attempt to live a normal life. People socialized and left their houses. All I ever wanted to do was hide. This place was calm and sitting outside made me feel a bit more at ease.

"He called again," I whispered as if someone else would know what I'm talking about.

"Oh no! What are you going to do?"

"What he says. We made a deal. I can't go back on it now." I sighed.

"Look, you're my best friend. You can't keep doing this. You need to report him to the authorities," Lilly said with concern in her voice.

I sighed again and shook my head. My hair waved in front of my face and the feeling of having hair was something I still was getting used to. There was a time that I had no hair at all. It was not from cancer or some kind of illness – no. I was the girl who had to get kidnapped my sophomore year of high school – at least that's what the news reports had said.

I pinched the bridge of my nose to stop the memory from surfacing as the waiter sat my coffee in front of me. I mumbled a thanks and he moved on.

"How about if I call the cops and make an anonymous report?" Lilly suggested.

I smiled weakly but shook my head. "I appreciate the offer. But it won't do any good. He’s evaded the cops before and he has powerful friends."

Lilly chewed on her bottom lip, a sure sign she was deep in thought. It touched my heart that she cared so much about me. She had always been a good friend.

"Lilly, I don't want you do to anything. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you." I said placing my hand over hers.

"You're the one I’m worried about," she said with a small smile.

We changed the subject and went shopping the rest of the afternoon. I knew she was trying to keep my mind off of my current hell. It worked, until I was back at home that evening – alone in my apartment.

I made myself a TV dinner and settled on the couch to watch the evening news. I woke up a few hours later with the half eaten dinner in my lap and a static filled TV screen. Sighing, I switched off the tube and crawled into bed – but sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned all night.

At four a.m. I gave up trying to sleep and sat in front of my computer. I logged online to sign into my regular chat room, hoping to see 'Archangel.' He was there and I sighed in relief.

Archangel: What you doing up so late, love?

BlackSoul: Couldn't sleep

Archangel: Haunting memories?

BlackSoul: Yes. Can we talk about something else?

Archangel: Sure. I tell you what, I'm tired. I've been awake since 5 am yesterday morning.

BlackSoul: That's early.

Archangel: I want to take a vacation and come spend some time with you.

BlackSoul: That's sweet…..

Archangel: Anything interesting going on there?

I didn't type anything at first. I couldn't. Although I had told him before about my past, I couldn't bring myself to tell him now. Even the anonymity of the computer gave me no comfort.

The only reason I told him before was that it wasn’t like I was ever going to meet him in person or face to face. We talked a few times on the phone but never exchanged real names or where we lived. He probably lived clear across the country.

BlackSoul: Nothing interesting really. I had lunch with L today…well yesterday.

Archangel: How is she doing?

BlackSoul: She's fine…..

Archangel: Is something bothering you babe?

BlackSoul: No why?

Archangel: We've been chatting for a few years now. I know when something is bothering you.

BlackSoul: Really, I'm fine. Just tired. I think I might try to go back to sleep.

Archangel: Okay, if you're sure you're all right. Do you want me to call you tomorrow?

BlackSoul: No. I'm fine really.

We wrapped up the conversation with cheesy online "kisses" and I switched off the computer. However, I didn't go back to bed. Instead I paced in my room before trying to find something on the television to occupy my mind.

By ten a.m. I showered and left the house. I had no destination in mind; I just couldn't stand to be in my apartment anymore. As I drove downtown memories of my childhood came to mind. It was a nice safe town to raise children – at least for the other children. Not for me. This town was a nightmare.

My drive led me to the retirement home where my mother lived. Sitting in the car, I stared up at the large, four story building. I could see my Mother's window and a tear escaped my eyes.

She was the other part of the deal. I made that horrible deal with David to save her. She dated him for a short time but it had become obvious that he was a horrible person. The first time she came home with bruises on her face, she told us that she had an accident at work.

Eventually things got worse, as they often do. She began staying out all night and crying at random points of the day. She lost her job and fell into a huge depression. We feared she was going to fall asleep and not wake up the next day from the amount of pills she was taking.

David came for me one night, took me right out of my bed. Mom was in a drugged sleep and couldn’t hear me call to her. I was missing for three weeks. That’s when I made the deal. To save her, to protect her.

I never told her that I knew about David forcing her on his little ‘assignments’ nor did I tell her how she was able to get out of her dealings with him. I assumed she counted her blessings and was living the rest of her days in peace. At least, that's what I hoped.

I dried my eyes and made my way up to her small apartment on the third floor. She gave me a squeeze when she opened the door.

"I'm so glad you came to see me. I always love it when you visit," she said.

"Hi Mom. How are you doing today?" I said, kissing her cheek.

"I'm okay I suppose. Come in, have a seat. So how are you doing?"

"I'm…I'm okay." I forced a smile not wanting her to worry. It didn't work.

"What's wrong? And don't tell me nothing. I'm your Mother and you can't lie to me."

I smiled warmly at that. "I'm just dealing with some stuff Mom. Don't worry about me. I'll be alright."

"You're not thinking about Stacy are you?" she whispered with tears in her eyes.

"I do sometimes," I admitted with a sigh.

Stacy was my older sister and the stronger one of us three girls. Another tragedy caused to David's cruelty. My Mother would tell people the car accident that killed her was a tragic accident but I knew better. I knew the truth of what happened because I was there. I watched, helpless, as David threw my drugged, unconscious sister into the car, put the car in drive, and let gravity pull the car to the bottom of a lake. He told me if I tried to defy his commands again, the deal was off and he was coming after my Mother and my other sister, Renee.

So I did whatever David asked me to do to save my family. Our Dad had died when I was six and there was only Mom to protect us. Fate it seemed had its own plans, for I ended up being the protector.

"She's in a better place now," my mother said with a sad smile.

If she only knew how right she was. I changed the subject and spent the rest of the afternoon there. The distraction helped and with the lack of sleep the night before, I was able to fall asleep quickly that night.

I awoke at six a.m. on Friday morning – which is very, very early for me. I stared at the ceiling in my room, willing it to be any day but Friday. As the clock neared seven, I dragged myself out of bed.

Thirteen hours was all I had left.

I wanted to cry but couldn't find the tears. I had worked so hard to put all those painful memories behind me, to put my life together and move on. I had actually started to live a little. Now the ghosts of my past were coming back to return me to hell.

As I had made myself do for years, I got ready for the day as if nothing else was going on. I went ahead and packed a very small bag with the things I needed for the nightmarish weekend. I tried to make it seem like I was packing for an actual vacation. It helped a little – at least I was able to pack the bag at all.

Then I had nothing to do, but wait. Lilly was at work and Renee was still out of town. I thought to pay a visit to my Mom again but decided against it. It would only serve to make me feel worse.

My tension and nervousness grew as the clock ticked on slowly. I scrubbed every surface in my apartment, vacuumed twice, and reorganized the dresser and both closets. When it was finally seven p.m., I bolted from the house with an urgency to get the weekend behind me.

I arrived at the Ritz hotel at seven-forty-five. I was very timid walking into the all too familiar lobby. David sat on a bench, waiting for me. From years of experience, I masked my fear and tension with a smile. As if I stepped out of my body, I became someone else. Someone David made with his cruelty. Now my name was "Jade."

"Hello David." I smiled sweetly.

David slowly looked me up and down. The trench coat I wore covered the skimpy clothes I was wearing. He quirked his eyebrow at me. “Jade” immediately took off the coat to reveal the cut-off shorts and the practically transparent tank top. I wanted to scream, to stop her from doing this to us, but Jade was David’s pet. I could only watch.

"Jade. How wonderful to see you. Have a seat," he said, patting the cushioned bench.

Jade sat down without hesitation. I would have hesitated and said no, but Jade was in control now. Jade did whatever David told her too without question – and always with a smile.

David slipped a room key-card into my hand. Jade kissed him on the cheek as she was supposed to do, and led the way over to the elevators.

Once in the elevators, I tried to push my way through Jade's unemotional exterior. I couldn’t let this happen. Not again. Jade won the fight by the time we reached the penthouse level.

The elevator doors slid open and another door was revealed behind it. I slid the key-card into the slot on the door, and stepped into the penthouse.

I was alone in the room but I heard laughter coming from the bedroom. Jade knew what to do, stayed where she was and waited for someone to come get her. She didn't sit down or get something to eat or drink. She stood to the left of the door leaning against the wall with her bag still in her hands.

A big man came from the bedroom five minutes later and looked us over. Any other time I might have thought this man was attractive. He had thick brown hair held back in a tail at the base of his neck. He stood well over six feet. Wearing only sweat pants, I could see his rippled muscles in his arms and torso.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. He had a slight southern twang when he spoke. It sounded so familiar but yet I couldn't place why his voice felt that way. For some reason, it gave me a bit of comfort.

"David sent me. My name is Jade," the other-me said as seductively as she could. She twirled her hair around her finger and batted her eyelashes at the man.

"Wait there. Don't move," he said gruffly. He pulled a cell phone from his pants pocket and punched in a number.

He moved into the bedroom but I could hear him yelling at someone. He came back into the room and told me to sit down on the couch. Jade obeyed. He sat down on the other end of the couch.

"Jade, I was just talking to David. He'll be here in a few minutes," he said gently.

I was terrified. The fear that I had done something to displease the man consumed me. However, the Jade mask never faltered. I looked down at my lap wanting to ask what I did wrong, but knowing better than to do so.

"Look at me," he said. I locked eyes with him and didn't look away. "Have you ever met me before?" he asked.

The gentleness I saw in his eyes made it impossible to lie to him. "No. But your voice does sound familiar to me," I said. "I just don't know why."

"You should. We have spoken many times before, on the phone at least," he said.

My mind raced to try to remember who he could be. No one came to mind.

"I only know you as BlackSoul. And you only know me as Archangel," he whispered with a smile.

I leaned back so far I should've flipped over the arm of the couch. I couldn't believe it. The Jade mask fell then and I started to tremble. I felt so betrayed. Archangel, the only man I thought I could trust had paid money to "have" me for the weekend. I wanted to die.

"Listen, Jade. We don't have much time. I'm an undercover cop. When David comes up here, I'm going to arrest him," he said.

"Excuse me?" I squeaked.

He reached into his pocket and handed me his badge. "I'm here to help you," he said softly.

I wanted to cry and laugh. I had the urge to run from the room but at the same time wanted to curl up in this mans arms.

"I don't understand," I finally said only to fill the silence.

"Jade, when you told me about what David had done and why you made the deal with him – it angered me. As a cop, I'm supposed to help people. I devoted my career to tracking this guy down. With your help I was able to do so. He's going to go to jail for a very long time for what he did to you and your entire family."

I couldn't believe my ears. I had to be dreaming. This sounded too good to be true. I simply stared at him in awe.

"It'll be over soon, I promise," he said. "Do you want something to eat or drink?"

I could only shake my head in response. The elevator dinged and David walked into the room a few seconds later.

"What did she do?" he demanded, glaring at me.

"It's not what she did, it's what you did," he said. The whistle Archangel made hurt my ears.

What happened next was a blur. Uniformed cops came running from the bedroom – I counted at least three. They tackled David down and put him into handcuffs. He was shouting something but I couldn't hear what. They pulled him into the elevator and just like that, it was over.

Archangel came over to me.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded.

"My name is Michael," he said, holding out his hand.

"Just like the angel," was the only response I could think of as I timidly shook his hand. "My name is Victoria."

"Pleasure to finally, officially meet you." He smiled warmly.

Michael had saved me from the fires of Hell. As I breathed in the night air, I felt more alive in that moment than in any other moment of my life.

I smiled at him with the first, but not last, real smile of my adult life. My Angel continues to make me smile to this day.

(word count 3,361)