Chapter 2- Shaken

The nightmare is always the same joyful beginning. A happy family is sitting around a dinner table basking the warmth of laughter and thrilling tails. Tails of another day where the parents saved someone on the brink of death with the practiced hands of two talented army surgeons. With the face of pure glee their only daughter is taking in every word, enchanted by the notion that the two most important people in her life are real live heroes. She is determined to one day carry their legacy by becoming one herself. Little did she know that a few minutes later her dream would be shattered by three simple chimes of a doorbell.

All too quickly the smiles faded from her parents faces and a look of concern etched the lines of their faces. Quickly taking her small hands in theirs they pulled her up from her seat and ran towards the nearest bedroom and in a small coat closet. Whispering in hushed urgent tones they told her to stay there, be quiet, and don't come out for any reason. Both kissing her on the forehead they exited the closet securing the door behind them, silently shutting the bedroom door, and ran out the room.

Regardless of her parent's warning the little girl left the safety of the tiny closet and opened the bedroom door just a crack so she could hear as her parents answer the front door and greet the stranger on the other side. She could hear a whispered conversation begin but no clear words. The tones were calm and welcoming at first, then concerned, pleading, and finally frantic and frightened. She was just about to go to her parent's side to see what the matter was when she heard screaming and running. As they ran past her, her mother briefly looked over at the her door and their met eyes.

Her mother's eyes were filled with panic and absolute dread. Quicker then she ever thought possible her mother ran to the door and shut it. Trying with all her might she tried to open the door and get to her mother but it was no use, her mother's strength far exceeded her own. Pressing her ear to the door she heard footsteps approaching and an amused laugh. Then a distant shout of her father and running footsteps that got seemed to get louder and closer. Before the footsteps reached the door she heard the most terrifying sound that would forever haunt her. It was a heartbroken plea with just two words, “Not Maya”.

Before anything else was spoken there was multiple hard thudding against the door and a malicious laugh of sheer joy. Maya wanted the twisted laughing to stop but she was choking on her own tears and struggling for each breath. Not even a second after she had wished for the horrendous laughing to stop she heard a thud that shook the floor. She could hear scuffling, banging, things falling to the floor and then finally silence.

Maya couldn't move she was frozen with fear and confusion. Was it over was? Was the intruder gone? Where her parent's okay? Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and then opened them again. Slowly she reached with a shaking hand toward the doorknob before she could reach the handle the doorknob turned and opened revealing a man with crazy eyes, a lopsided grin, and hands covered in red. The man grabbed her outstretched hand with has stained ones and pulled her out of her sanctuary and pushed her towards two figures lying on the floor.

Unable to keep her balance she too fell on the floor with her face mere inches away from the blank lifeless eyes of her father and when looking away in fear on his right side she looked into her mother's same dreadful eyes. 

Trying to get up as fast as possible she was stopped by a hand pressed to her back that pushed her right back down. Bending down her parent's murderer whispered into her ear what she believed would be the last words she would hear he said, “Don't worry I won't kill you. I'll let you suffer with the memory of you're uselessness and let their dead eyes hunt you for the rest of your miserable and insignificant life”. Without knowing it he removed his hand from her back leaving a red hand print like a branding and walked right out the door. Sirens of police cars were blaring only couple block away and sadly far too late to save her.

Maya woke with a start gasping for breath as tears were streaming down her face and landing on the back of her hands that were clutching desperately to her blanking like a life support. No matter how often she relived this nightmare she could never get used to it and probably never would. Unlike normal nightmares that could be brushed off and later forgotten this one could never be so. This nightmare was real and couldn't be changed.

Her only relief from this reality would be to finally bring justice to the man who ruined her life. Some would say it is hopeless to run after a curl devil with no known face. A devil who enjoyed the suffering of others and took pleasure in taking the last important thing the grieving victims could hold on to. The face of their loved one and twisting it into something so curl in order to commit the worst crime someone could ever commit, taking human life. It was suicide but she no longer feared death for after her revenge was fulfilled she knew there was nothing left for her in this life.

When the final bell rang indicating the end of the school day Maya started picking up her things when a hand reached out and waved in front of her distracted face. Maya looked up into the face of Alic who looked obviously concerned and confused. Maya mentally kicked herself for being so transparent. She was a pro about showing no emotion and just moving on with the boring routine of her life. Today was not one of those days. She always knew she had trouble putting herself back together right after an episode of that awful nightmare but she wasn't use to anyone committing on her behavior because normally she didn't have anyone around to care. Another reason she would be glad to get rid of Alic's presence when she won that bet.

“I kept calling your name with no reaction at all. Usually you get this little annoyed line right between your eyebrows but today I got nothing”. Making his point while touching the line right between her eyebrows now. Slapping his hands away Maya just picked up her stuff and started walking away really not wanting to have this conversation.

“You know I'm here if you want to talk”. Clearly trying to get her to open up. She so couldn't deal with this right now, trying to get away she curtly replied, “Well I don't, please leave me be I'm trying to win this bet so if you will excuse me I'll get to it.” “What have you found so far?” Well that clearly didn't work, did he not know how to take a hint? She thought to herself as she turned to him to give another biting reply. Then she remembered her promise with Rick. She grinned looking forward to wiping off that eager look on his face while still living up to her promise with Rick in helping Alic as well as helping her win the bet. She still didn't trust him and with the mood she was in she really wanted to shake him.

"I met your ex best-friend yesterday, Rick right?" Seeing the smile wiped off his face and a hard set jaw appear made her satisfied and she smirked just a bit. “Well we had a nice little conversation, don't worry he didn't sell you out so you're safe, but he did say something about you most likely trying to protect Benjamin. So I was thinking how can an anti social kid like Benjamin be connected to some of the most popular kids in school? I know he is bullied by the normal typical high school types however, never you, Rick, Julie, and Rylee and he is in none of their social circles. So there must be a middle man no one knows about right? How well do you know Jake? If I was you I'd keep a very close eye on him”. With that she turned to leave a clearly surprised and shaken student body president who she knew would now leave her be for the remainder of the day.