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Junie
I’m running through a dark hall. I can’t see what I’m running from. I just know it’s there. All around me there’s this evil laughter, and I may not be able to see a face, but I know that laughter.
It’s Greg.
There are mirrors all along the hall and my reflection is in every single one of them.
“I see you…” Greg’s voice singsongs, as if he is taking so much pleasure from that fact. I’m wearing a bright red dress.Why would I wear this?I’ve been trying to hide from him. Why would I make myself stand out? I don’t understand.
“Stay away from me. Stay away!” I scream the words, my voice hoarse and raw.
“I’m going to get you, Juniper. You can’t run from me, Punkin’. You might as well stop trying.I see you. I see you no matter where you try to hide,” he mocks and fear moves through my body as if it’s in my bloodstream, taking over.
“I’m coming for you, lover,” he chants, causing me to run faster. I fall, and even the floor is mirrored. I claw at it trying to pull myself up, but it’s too late. Greg’s found me, and he’s pulling at my hands to drag me away.
“No!”I scream with all my might.
“Junie.”
“No,” I try to scream again, but it just comes out a sorrowful cry, and I keep repeating that one word over and over as if saying it will ward him off. “No, no, no…. No, no, no….”
“Junie, Baby, wake up. Wake up, you’re okay. You’re with me. We’re in our bed and you’re safe, Baby. You’re safe.” I jerk, my eyes opening as I hear Ben’s voice. I look around frantically, but Ben’s right. We’re alone in his bed, at his house.
“Oh God,” I cry, holding onto Ben as he pulls me into his arms, wrapping his warmth around me, and chasing away the remnants of the dream.
“It’s okay, Baby. It’s okay,” he keeps repeating, and I can hear the pain in his voice. I hate that I brought that to him. I hate that I’m so weak that I can’t push all thoughts of Greg out of my mind.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him sometime later, when I’ve finally calmed and the tears that stung my eyes are mostly dried.
“Don’t be sorry, Baby. You had a bad day.”
“I hate him, Ben. I hate him so much. I don’t understand how this happened. He didn’t always seem like a monster. Did something happen? Was he always like this and I was just a stupid fool? I just can’t wrap my head around it and understand. I’m so ashamed…”
“Stop that. You can’t be responsible for someone else’s actions, Junie.”
“But—”
“And you can’t try and understand a madman,” he adds, and I finally relax against him and close my eyes, because he’s right. “What was the dream about, Junebug?”
“Again, with that name?” I ask him, strangely having the urge to laugh, despite how horrible my dream was.
Ben gives me a squeeze. “What was the dream about?”
“Greg was chasing me. I was trying to get away. Standard nightmare stuff, I guess.”
“Sounds like it. I’m sorry, Baby.”
“It’s not your fault,” I tell him, yawning, my body giving out a shudder.
“Do you want to try and go back to sleep?” Ben suggests.
“I’m not sure I can after that dream. It was so weird. I was wearing a red dress, almost like I wanted to be the center of attention, and the hall I was running in had mirrors everywhere. It felt like I had a million eyes on me.”
“It’s okay, Baby. I mean, you know he’s been watching you from that picture of us and then with everything that happened today… not to mention he fact that you had to talk to Rat Boy, you’re just on overload. I wish I had come in the room sooner so I could have gotten the phone before you answered.”
“Is it weak to admit that I wish you had too?” I mumble, and Ben squeezes me, kissing me to try and reassure me. “Besides,” I add, “the minute he saw you come in the room his whole demeanor changed. He was still having fun torturing me, but I could have sworn I heard fear in his voice—”
“What did you say, Junie?”
