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NODP - Wake Up (Part 1)
By Carnotaur3
WAKE UP
A SHORT STORY BY CARNOTAUR3
PROLOGUE: NIGHTMARES FEEL REAL
Out of the dark lush forest came a shadowy figure eluded by the blue haze drifting around him. A gun was in sight, making him seem armed and dangerous. The man approached the area cautiously, his hands sweating up. His gun slipped out of his hands but he caught it in mid-air. The smell of dead animals was around him, flies flying everywhere. The bugs were the worst problem he had. No it wasn’t…it was the enemy. He could be anywhere.
Suddenly, he heard the rustle in the brush, coming right behind him. He turned slowly his gun at hand, aiming straight at the sound. He saw the enemy’s foot drag across the ground. He took aim again and shot. He had missed. The man did. Missed.
He felt the sudden urge to run for it. He obviously did, leaping over each bush he saw in the nighttime, the moon light as his guide. A shot was heard and his back went to a shock of pain. He landed on the ground panting from the run. He felt the shot. It hurt like the dickens. He put his fists on the ground, then wiped off the paint on his back.
“Damn it, you got me again,” said Tod.
The enemy jumped to his feet from a nearby bush and took off his mask.
“I’m telling you, you need to where a mask when you play paintball, one of these days someone’s gonna shoot you in the eye; make you not see anymore,” said Jack, the enemy.
Tod Jenkins and Jack Turner were best of friends. Through high school they did everything. By everything, I mean everything. They put smoke bombs in the principal’s office; they shoved small kids into lockers and trashcans. Hell, they even developed their own “get even” club. They were jokers in school throughout their whole youth years. Nothing changed them until that ‘college’ came. They grew up the first year of it, went their own ways. Jack went into computers, he was the smart one, and Tod went into praising. He often hit the road, helping people on their old junk from the attic or basement. He knew a lot about them. Much more then he ever thought he could. But lately Tod and Jack have gotten together…to have fun once again.
Now, they had just finished up the paint ball war. They did this in their youth as well. When they did it they often made a scene in front of neighbors like they were really shot. One time they called the police. After that they never did it again. That gave them a lot to laugh about. Over the years they hadn’t laughed much at all.
Tod took the gun and threw it to the ground.
“I’ll remember the mask next time.” Tod said, unzipping his bag.
“No you won’t.” Jack muttered. “So, what’s new?”
“Nothing much…except…” Tod stopped throwing things in his bag and sat down on the ground.
“What? Something bad?”
“Really depends. Do you have dreams or nightmares that seem so real that you live it like it was? Have you felt pain from a dream or nightmare?”
“No. I don’t have dreams much. Just don’t have time for them.” He said with a chuckle.
“That’s my problem.”
“What kind of dreams?”
A police siren sounded from the trails. A cop car was moving in. Tod and Jack scrambled up a steep hill just like two teenage boys, grasping every tree they could to get up. They weren’t allowed on the trails, not at midnight at least. Already at the top, they watched the police car drive by and away from them. Tod blew a sigh of relief and turned to Jack to give the thumbs up. Then, it happened. His foot broke a small tree and he stumbled down the hill. He fell over head first, taking a giant blow to the head. He heard Jack’s screams as he kept falling on the dirt, mud, and rocks. As soon as it had begun, he made an abrupt stop at the bottom of the hill. His eyes felt heavy, and he made a big effort to prop himself up some to find his way around. He looked over seeing the police car on the side of him. The officer was already out, looking at his bloodied face. Tod couldn’t say anything; he was in a daze. And when he thought that he could actually get help from him, the police officer smiled, leaped back in his driver’s seat, and shut the door.
Tod heard the ignition start back up, and he made his way toward the window, grasping to the open space and finally holding onto the edge.
“Please….he…lp…m…m…me.” He managed to get out these words, still in a world of spin. He didn’t understand why this guy was not trying to help him.
Tod looked through the open window and saw the face of rotten flesh, protruding spikes coming out of his eye sockets, blood dripping down his cheeks. No lips were seen, only teeth. It was either smiling or frowning, and Tod couldn’t tell which. The creature in the police outfit grabbed Tod’s arm.
“Want to go for a ride?” The thing said; it’s voice raspy and deep throated.
With that, the vehicle took off, with the thing still holding onto Tod’s arm. Tod felt a rush of fearful excitement, as he tore through the air on the driver’s side of the police car. He kept trying to get the creature to let go of his arms but he felt like he couldn’t move. The thing laughed in it’s own creepy voice and entered a tunnel. The tunnel was very bright and within moments Tod could actually come back to his own mind, he was regaining strength.
He tugged; trying to pull himself away from the thing, it still wouldn’t work. The creature pointed to the steering wheel and slightly turned the wheel. The vehicle sped faster and was slowly heading over to the side of the tunnel. Tod screamed in terror, still tugging as hard as he could with all of his might. By this time, Tod had regained all strength. The vehicle roared and he felt his body being driven straight into the wall of the tunnel. He screamed in pain as his spinal chord scrapped against the concrete and blood spattered to the street. He felt as if his whole world was dying with him.
Then, he opened his eyes seeing Jack. He was pouring some water on his face. Tod spit out some water that was in his mouth, then, got up looking at Jack.
“You ok? That was a big fall!” Jack said comforting Tod.
Tod didn’t know how real that felt, he was still uncertain. He couldn’t tell Jack, he would think he was nuts. No way was he letting him know. But of course, he had already told him before about the others. Best just to leave it alone.
“I’m tired!” Tod exclaimed and got up to his feet and left on the dark trail leaving behind Jack.
CHAPTER 1: SEARCH FOR HELP
The window reflected the morning sun’s light beams and shined through it and on Tod’s face. He was slightly awoken by the light, sensing it. He lifted up his eyelids into the bright beam and rubbed them. Propping up in bed, he yawned and took a glance at the clock located on the right side of him.
10:23 A.M.
He yawned again, stretching his throat and then rolled his head around on his neck making it creak. He got out of bed. Tod was a man in his early 20’s with dirty blond hair and gray eyes. His hair at this point was pointing in all directions. Guttural sounds came from his throat as he coughed. He didn’t see how he was so icky. He didn’t get to sleep till 4:30 last night.
Walking down the stairs of his apartment, he opened the door to feel the summer breeze grazing his face. Nothing new ever came around here. The door next door opened as Tod looked out over the hills. The man next door stood tall as can be, he had a hat on and some old white T-shirt that looked like it hadn’t been washed in years. His jeans were new though. The man was Denny Grayson. The annoying kind around the neighborhood.
“How’s it going, neighbor?” Denny asked, opening the door and tossing his hat back inside.
Tod gave a little smile and returned to looking at the white fluffy clouds that hung over the hill. Denny cocked his eyebrow up, in a sort of position as saying, “what they hell was his problem.”
“I heard something last night. Did you come in late?” Denny asked.
Finally, Tod got the nerve to say something to him.
“Yeah, I was up all night last night picking up hookers. They are getting really cheap around here, I guess you haven’t tried one have you?” Tod said, laughing in his mind.
Denny’s jaw opened, cringing at the thought of what Tod had just said. Surely he wasn’t serious when he said that. Was he? Tod kept a straight face, trying not to crack a smile or his funny joke would be over. Denny saw he wasn’t going to smirk so he quickly opened the door and walked back inside his apartment. Tod burst into laughter and took off back into his apartment as well.
Inside, the phone gave a ring. Tod hurried to the receiver and managed to pick it up on the last ring.
“Hello?” Tod said trying to get a good grip on the phone. A familiar voice came. It was Jack.
“Yo. Have a good time last night? You didn’t really stay long to let me ask. What happened when you fell?” Jack said.
“Oh, well, I don’t know. I think I had a dream or something. But anyway, you still up for getting girls tonight?”
“You’re the only one that needs one, Tod. Not I, I’m the man of ‘Love’. No need to worry about me. Just so happens that I picked one up the other night.”
“You kidding me,” asked Tod in surprise.
“Hell no, why would I? I met her at a club, she was fantastic. I bought her a drink, she bought me a drink, and we both got wild. Took her shopping the next day. I’m supposed to call her back for lunch.”
“What he hell? She bought you a drink?”
“Well, you can’t think straight when you’re drinking, can you?”
“I suppose not.” Tod said taking the phone on his shoulder and getting out his clothing. “Well, I’m still up for tonight. Outback is it?”
“Hell yeah, they are having a special on crab. 9:00, be there!”
“Great I’m there. See you.”
“Bye.”
Tod hung up the phone, looked at his watch, and then went straight to his bathroom to wash up.
7/11/2002 11:45:22 PM
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