Phoenix’s Nightmares

-Phoenix-

I don’t sleep well anymore. Too many bad dreams. I’ve had them since my sister disappeared. They all start the same.

I’m wandering around in the dark. I don’t know where I’m going. But I have to keep walking. I don’t know why.

I am alone here. But…

I am not.

I turn around. I can’t see anything. Also, I am not thirteen. I looked down at my body. Wait… Am I six again?

A rustling noise made me turn my head.

“Hello?” I tried to ask. Only no sound comes out. I put my hand to my throat. My voice box and vocal cords were still there. Heavy breathing came up behind me in the darkness. Against my better judgment, I turn around.

Nothing. There is nothing there.

My stomach dropped. I can’t stay here. I had to get away. But where will I go? It’s just all black. I couldn’t see where I was going. I held the teddy bear to my chest. (Heh. I hadn’t seen him in years.) I tightly shut my eyes. I can’t stay here. I have to get out of here.

The heavy breathing grew closer. I want to run, but I can’t move. Come on. Move!

Then I hear someone calling my name.

Phoenix. Phoenix. Phoenix.

I opened my eyes. I’m still in the dark. I’m alone. But I am not.

Phoenix!

I turned around. There was a figure reaching out for me. I can’t move. There’s something warm about this figure. Why do I know them? It’s them. They are calling me. But why? Who are they?

I feel like I had to go to them.

But then…

I wake up.

Every time I wake up, I can’t escape this feeling of dread. I feel like I’m going to vomit. I don’t remember how many times I’ve had this dream. Little details change about it all the time.

Either way, I don’t have a good feeling about it. I looked up when I heard my phone ringing.

“Hello?” I asked.

“Is this Phoenix Finch?” a man’s voice asked. I froze.

“Who is this?” I asked. My stomach dropped at what I heard next.

“I know your sister is still alive.”