24 Nightmares End P1 (1/2)
”I had another nightmare last night.”
”.......”
”No, it's quite tame compared to the ones before.”
”.......”
”You're curious about it? Okay I'll tell you.”
”.......”
”I saw an altar made from wood, red and black water seeping through it's boards. A familiar figure, one I can't quite remember the features of...It's been too long, though I know who it is...Jason, My husband. His face is blurry. I hear a scream, I turn my head and I see him. I remember his features clearly, John the old pastor.”
”Every detail on his weathered face I remember with absolute clarity, from his long white beard to his crooked hawk like nose. His eyes gleam with madness has he jumped towards me with a blood soaked letter opener in hand and then I wake up.”
”......”
”Isn't it strange papa? That I can remember every detail about my husband's murderer but I can't seem to recall what my Jason looked like?”
”......”
”You say it's because of trauma? That it's easier to remember the bad things and not the good things? Hmm.. Maybe you're right. Hehe, you should totally be a psychiatrist papa.”
”......”
”You're thinking about them again?”
”........”
”Me too..”
”......”
”Don't be so pessimistic papa, I'm sure they're still alive.”
”......”
”Even if it's been several months, they're survivors just like us papa. I know they're alive and kicking.”
”......”
”Hehe, if I wasn't around to scold you papa, you would be hopeless.”
”........”
”You see someone!?”
...
It was midday, the skies blue and clear. Blistering waves of heat poured down from the sun making the air dry and hot.
Beside a dried up lake was a rather conspicuous observation tower, it was around 60'ft tall and made primarily of concrete and steel. It bordered a burned forest, the trees were withered and leafless. Their bark turned to charcoal.
Inside the tower was a woman, crouching behind the cover of the steel guardrails.
She was wearing denim jeans that were full of rips and holes, leather military boots; a worn cargo jacket and a brown trench coat. A red scarf hung around her thin neck and a medium sized backpack was strapped to her back.
She was as skinny as a stick. It looked as if she hadn't eaten properly for months. She was balding, only a few locks of her brown hair remained which was styled into a rather passable mohawk.
Her skin was tanned, and her face weatherbeaten. A large scar ran down from her eyebrow to her lip giving her an intimidating look.
Mary was currently looking through the scope of her hunting rifle, her expression excited.
She whispered. ”I can see him papa, there's a man about 400 hundred meters away. He's walking past the dried up lake.”
”.......”
Mary snickered in a low voice. ”You want to shoot him this time? Pfft, You couldn't hit the side of a barn from the inside papa.”
”........”