Chapter 1

  The boy ran as fast as he could, racing through the trees. His heart pounded in his chest and his breathing was quick and heavy. Yet on he ran. Hunters fired behind him, snakes sslithered along the path in front of him, trees fell behind him as he ran. It seemed as if there was no way to escape. Suddenly the path ended. The boy, black hair swishing and dark brown eyes wild with fear, looked up at the gigantic tree above him.

  Abruptly, the tree came smashing down. The boy let out a terrified scream and then...

  I awoke with a start. My breathing was as ragged as the boy's had been, my dark brown hair wild from tossing and turning. I searched the room and then, satisfied that I was still in my own bed, lay back down to sleep again. I glanced at the clock... 8:15.

  "Crud!" I hissed, throwing the blankets off and rushing to get ready. I threw on a t-shirt and jeans and brushed my teeth. So much for looking nice today. I pulled my brush through my mess of hair several times until it was unknotted enough for me to braid it. My hands flew through the process until, at last, I was ready. I glanced at the clock again. 8:22.

  'New record' I thought as I grabbed my backpack and flute and ran downstairs.

  "I knew I should've woken you this morning! Come on! We're running late!" My dad called as I hurried into the kitchen. I grabbed an apple and a gronola bar and sprinted out to the car. I tossed my bag to the floor of the passenger side of the car and climbed in, taking a quick bite of the apple.

  "Bad idea" I told him. "The dream again"

  My dad sighed. "Why won't you go see a therapist about it then? Or a counselor at the least" he asked me.

  "What good will it do? They'll only tell me what I already know. And if they don't tell me that they'll send me off to a mental hospital or something" I retorted.

  "Your mother was never this stubborn..." He told me.

  "Yeah? Well mom didn't have the same nightmare every night..." I snapped.

  He started the car and side. "Sam... I know you miss her... I do too... But we can't do anything until you tell someone what happened!" He reminded me.

  "I know that... But I doubt I'll ever be ready to talk about it..." I answered.

  We drove off in silence, heading to my new school... Great.