Sleep Tight, page 7
There was a sudden stinging pain on the left side of my face.
She slapped me.
I touched my cheek, feeling the heat coming off it, and looked down at her in surprise.
Ava stared at me in surprise too. Clearly, she did that without thinking. I had it coming though, I knew that. Her surprise quickly turned into anger again; she glared at me, hate in those bright green eyes.
We were standing just inches apart now. I had to look down just to meet her gaze. She was trying her best to seem tough, but her height wasn’t doing her any favors.
“I don’t care what you think about my dad or about me or my brothers. And I’m sorry that you might lose your precious powers if I die but I will not let you of all people tell me what to do! I can take care of myself I don’t need you.”
Swooping down I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder, making her gasp. “Put me down! What are you doing?”
“I told you I would take you back no matter what. Not my fault you didn’t believe me.” I started the walk back towards the cabin.
Ava kicked and grunted trying her best to get free. I tightly held her legs in place. She was small so it made carrying her easy. And I hated to admit that holding her was making my stomach do somersaults. I picked up my pace, my legs giving me the advantage of making big strides. After a few minutes of us walking Ava was finally starting to calm down.
“Okay you can let me down now; I can walk myself.”
“Nope. I don’t trust you. I’ll let you down when I see the cabin.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Ava grumbled.
“You put this on yourself.”
Something was wrong. I could feel it in the air, it felt electric, and then suddenly all sound stopped. No more chirping from birds or crickets.
“Come on just put me--”
“Quiet.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” Ava’s voice squeaked.
I put her down and emitted light out of my hand, giving it the shape of a small flame.
“I hate to admit it but that is so cool.”
“Stay close by me. There’s a Kryp nearby.”
“Are you sure? Where?” Ava looked around trying to see, squinting into the dark trees behind us. “I can’t see anything.” She whispered.
“Trust me it’s there.” I grabbed hold of her hand. “Come on.”
We started to walk again; the trees were starting to thin out, we were almost back to the cabin. I didn’t know how many Kryps were out here and with the bounty on Ava, I could be outnumbered.
A heavy wind plowed into the trees around us; small animals scurried around, running and hiding. Then nothing. All normal night noises just stopped again. Static filled the silence instead. Ava stopped walking, pulling me with her. Her wide eyes locked with mine.
“I remember that noise. They’re here.”
I moved my hand forward and a shadow just at the edge of the casted light appeared. Ava squeezed my hand. The shadow was small and hunched backwards, Kryps morphed into any shape they wanted, they usually stuck to human forms. This one was shaped like a small child hunched backward in an awkward position.
It crawled around a couple of times silently watching us, occasionally trying to get closer but growling each time it got to close to the light.
Finally, it spoke.
“I know who you are girl.” Its voice was low and raspy. It inhaled deeply and shuddered before speaking again. “I could smell you. Come out of the light so I can take a real good look at you.”
“Um... no thanks I’m good here.”
I pushed her behind me. “Unless you want to die tonight, you’ll back up. You won’t win this fight.”
An ugly cackling comes from the Kryp. “Oh, foolish boy, I’m not alone.”
A dozen more Kryps come out of the shadows. Some were shaped like humans, tall and lanky, some like wolves, even a couple like huge spiders.
I looked to Ava. “Are you afraid of spiders?”
“Maybe...” she whispered.
Kryps knew all your fears and if they could form into it, they would. I hated to admit that my fear was snakes and I could see some slithering around on the floor. The static was becoming more intense and louder, it was their way of disorienting and confusing you.
“Looks like you're outnumbered, boy.”
We were surrounded. I knew I could easily get out of this but with Ava here she was only going to hold me back. My only option at this point was just to walk back to the cabin with my light on and hope that they didn’t try anything.
Some Kryps were stronger than others, they could last in our light close to thirty seconds. If any of them showed up now we’d have a serious problem. I turned to Ava to tell her the plan.
“We’re going to keep walking to the cabin, we’re almost there. As long as no level one Kryps show up we’ll be good.”
Ava looked up at me in confusion. “Level one? Wait there's levels? What happens if a level one shows up?”
I groaned. “You have so much to learn. Level ones are much stronger and can take our light for thirty seconds before it causes damage. I could easily take one but not with you here, no back up and a bunch of level two’s waiting to lick your soul away.”
Ava gulped and nodded her head. “Okay I get it, let’s start walking.”
We slowly started to walk, whenever my light would get close to any of them, they would spread, a sea of shadows parting. We could finally make out the cabin in the distance, we were so close now. We were going to make it.
I turned to Ava; she smiled at me relieved.
“We made---” her eyes widened.
Before I could understand what was happening, she was being lifted and pulled back roughly. I heard her scream as a level one dragged her back into the dark.
Everyone came running out of the cabin.
I went after her with Blake and Ethan right behind me. The rest of them started battling the Kryps that had followed us.
When we caught up to Ava, she was on the floor with level two Kryps jumping on top of her, I threw a ball of light and they quickly scattered away. She tried to stand up but another level one appears behind her, dragging her away, she began cursing at the Kryp and tried to break free.
It was no use, the Kryp only cackled at her and kept on dragging her further into the forest. She disappeared for a few seconds, Kryps were fast and slippery. We reached her again; she was on the floor with Kryps jumping and scratching at her.
I blasted light towards her, and they ran away like roaches. She got on her hands and knees and tried crawling to us.
She’s grabbed by the ankle and dragged; she screams and grunts in frustration.
That’s it, I was tired of this cat and mouse game it was playing.
“Blake go west, Ethan go east.”
They nodded and headed off into the forest.
I extinguished my light and slowly walked in the direction of the Kryp. When I heard Ava’s cursing, I stopped and climbed up into a tree. From there I silently jump from tree to tree until I'm right above them.
Blake and Ethan are on either side of the Kryp already in position in a tree just like me, it's so caught up on Ava it doesn’t even realize were here.
I hold up my hand to them. They get ready to attack.
The Kryp is now speaking to Ava. “Do you remember me sweet one?”
“Don’t call me that. And no, I don’t remember you, am I supposed to?”
“I’m hurt. I visit you every night.”
Ava’s eyes widened. “That's you? You’ve been giving me my sleep paralysis?”
“The one and only. When the time comes, I want to be the one who ends you. You’re my sweet one.”
“Why haven't you killed me already?”
“Kill you? Why would I want to kill you? No, no, no sweet one, you got it all wrong.”
“I know what you all believe will happen if you kill me. So why wouldn’t you do it? What about my brothers?”
“I must give my friends something or else they won't be satisfied. I’ve promised them your brothers. But you are all mine.” Something resembling a tongue stuck out of its mouth, its long and thin and it twirled around its mouth.
Oh god I think it was trying to lick its lips.
“Don't you dare touch my brothers! You leave them alone or else.” Ava stood up to face the Kryp.
She was brave, I admired that.
“Or else what? We all know you don’t have access to your powers. You, my sweet one, are helpless.” The Kryp grew larger in size, it was a long skinny shadow, its arms hanging at its sides.
I was tired of hearing it talk, I signaled to Blake and Ethan that it was time to attack. Blake hit it with his light first, it was in the shape of a long blade, and it went straight through him.
It hissed and turned its attention to Blake; Ethan came out next and threw balls of light. I threw my own at it from above, not giving it the chance to recover. The Kryp hissed and screamed quickly curling into itself and disappearing.
I jumped down from the tree and head over to Blake and Ethan, who were already with Ava asking if she was okay.
“Yeah, I’m fine, thank you. I just got a couple of scratches, it's no big deal.” But the look in her eyes said differently.
She looked terrified. I couldn’t blame her. She was just attacked by a swarm of Kryps. You don’t just get over that. She was trying to hold it together.
She looked at me. “I just want to go. Take me back.”
We headed back to the cabin in silence. When we get there, everyone was outside still, all the Kryps that had followed us there were gone now. Everyone rushed towards us.
“Ava, are you okay?” Jesse asked pulling her into his arms. “We were so worried.”
Daniel hugged her next. “Please say something Ava. What happened?”
Ava started walking away from everyone heading to the house. “I’m fine, I just really need to lay down.”
Before she made it to the door her body went limp, falling hard onto the patio, no one was close enough to catch her in time. We ran to her; Jesse rolled her over. “Ava! Hey wake up.” He gently patted her cheek but she was out cold.
“She’ll be okay. Let's get her inside. She needs rest.” Dad calmly said.
Jesse and dad picked her up and headed inside.
I stayed outside and sat on the porch, letting everyone else head inside. I’d rather sit outside to slow down my adrenaline. The sky was beautiful tonight, the stars were shining bright, twinkling all around a crescent moon, I loved when it was in that shape, it was my favorite.
After all the horror we went through tonight it was still beautiful out here. I closed my eyes and inhaled deep breaths of crisp air. After a fight being out in the moon and with nature always helped bring my adrenaline down and brought back a feeling of peace.
Opening my eyes, I stared at the crescent moon hanging in the dark sky. That’s where it all started. The moon. We are at our most powerful at night because of it, but so were the Kryps.
I feel someone sit down next to me but keep looking at the sky not ready to make conversation just yet. After a few minutes Olivia’s voice broke the silence.
“What’s wrong, Elijah?”
I sighed deeply. “I’m fine, Olivia.” I gave her a sideways glance. She was looking up at the moon too, the moonlight making her eyes look like bright blue oceans. Her forehead was scrunched up in thinking mode, I couldn’t help but smile, her and Blake were the siblings I never had, and I had always seen her as a little sister.
“You’re seriously worried about us losing our power, aren't you?” I could feel Olivia’s eyes on me.
“Of course, I am. Shouldn’t we all be?” I looked at Olivia. “Why is it that I seem to be the only one concerned about this?”
“It hurts me to say this, but you sound like a selfish brat right now.” Ouch. I widened my eyes in surprise. Olivia was the sweetest person ever. But man could she hit you with the ugly truth when you needed it. I looked back to the moon in anger trying to find that peace again.
Olivia continued. “I had to say it, I’m sorry, but I'm tired of seeing you sulk about with an attitude while the rest of us are trying our best. Yes, of course we are worried about what might happen to our powers but that’s not all were focusing on.”
I scoffed. “What else is there to focus on?”
Olivia scoffed back. “How about the feelings of Jesse? Of Daniel? Ava?”
At the sound of Ava’s name, I shut my eyes. I knew what Olivia was getting at. I had seen how much all this change was affecting her, but I couldn't let myself feel. I needed to be distant to do my job well.
“Try to remember that they are human beings with feelings, won’t you? They had a life before all of this and now everything is changing for them. And we need to be there for them, to bring them back to where they belong. Everything else is details. Stop focusing on the negative.” She stood and dusted off her pants. “Show them the Elijah I know.”
“Alright. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.”
“I'm leaving with Aunt Wendy and Uncle Cass. But Uncle Cass wants you to stay and keep watch with Blake and Ethan, you okay with that?” She asked.
“Yeah, that’s fine. Let Blake and Ethan know I’ll keep watch first.”
“Actually....Uncle Cass wants you to check on Ava. But Blake will take the first watch.” Olivia smiled at me encouragingly.
I moaned and reluctantly stood up. “Can’t say no to dad.”
She patted me on the back. “Remember: be nice.”
I walked inside and saw Priya and Sky huddled together in the corner speaking in fast whispers to each other. Ethan and Blake were trying their best to act as though they weren’t staring at them. I knocked at the bedroom door and heard rustling on the other side. A moment later Daniel was standing in front of me. His brown eyes watched me with suspicion.
They were never going to trust me.
I cleared my throat. “I’m here to check on Ava.”
Daniel nodded slowly. “Come in.” He opened the door completely and moved aside.
Jesse was sitting at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed looking at Ava, she was laying so still; her light brown hair splayed against the pillow and her skin so pale that for a moment I thought she was dead, but then her chest moved up and down slowly.
I couldn’t help but think of sleeping beauty. Dad was packing up his medical bag beside her.
“So, is your dad a nurse? Doctor?” Daniel whispered beside me.
“No, we all have some basic medical training and always carry a med bag just in case.” Dad comes around the bed, gently pulling Jesse with him.
“How is she?” Jesse asked.
“She’ll be just fine. She has a small bump on the back of her head that she’ll need to ice for a couple of hours. I need Elijah to keep an eye on her though, make sure she doesn’t have a concussion. Just to be cautious.” Dad looked at me. “Make sure to stay here all night. Don’t fall asleep.”
“I’m offended. You know I don’t sleep.” I joked.
Jesse and Daniel both watched me, their eyebrows scrunched together, they needed to loosen up.
“I’m kidding guys. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your sister.”
Dad smiled at me, shaking his head. “Your mom and I will be leaving now with Olivia, if anything comes up call me right away.”
“Will do.”
Dad turned to Jesse and Daniel. “How about we give Ava some space to rest okay, walk with me boys.” He gently pushed them out of the room, but not before they threw me a warning with their eyes.
Then I’m left alone with Ava.
I walked around and sat beside her on the bed, her long dark lashes fluttered slightly, her face looked so peaceful. Before I knew what I was doing my body was leaning in, wanting to get closer to her.
Ava groaned, her forehead creasing just like Olivia’s did when she was in deep thought. She was having a bad dream. I didn’t know if I should wake her up or leave her. As I'm trying to decide what to do Ava begins to whimper in her sleep. I grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her.
“Hey wake up.”
She opened her eyes and looked around the room drowsily, then up at me. I stared into her eyes and couldn’t help but think of how pretty they were, I swore her green eyes were twinkling.
She looked down at my hands still on her shoulders. I quickly let go and stood up crossing the room to give us as much space as I could.
Ava sat up in bed, bringing her legs up to her chest, holding on to them like she did that day at the hospital. “What were you doing? And why are you in here?”
I cleared my throat. “Sorry you were starting to cry in your sleep, it looked like you were having a bad dream so I thought I should wake you up.”
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she looked away. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned the crying part.
“Why are you in my room?” She looked back at me, annoyed now. She sure changed emotions fast.
“I was asked to keep an eye on you, you hit your head pretty hard back there.”
She looked around the room for a couple of minutes and then meet my eyes. “Out of everyone they had to ask you?”
“Trust me, this is not how I want to spend my night. I just do what I’m told even if it means being stuck in a room with you.”
Ava’s face burned red. “So sorry you’re forced to be here with me. But trust me, I’m sure I don’t want you here more. This night is just one disaster after another.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. Thanks dad. You stuck two people together in a room who don’t even like each other.
“So, I’m another disaster?”
She smiled sweetly at me. “If the shoe fits.”
I smiled back at her and was about to give a snarky retort when Olivia’s voice entered my head. Damn it. “Listen I know we didn’t start off great and I’m sorry. That’s on me. But I would really like to start over.”
I coughed and scratched my head nervously. I hated this so much. Why did I have to always be a jerk?
Ava smiled and grabbed at something near her neck. “Yeah, you were kind of a jerk.”
