Afterlife - Stephanie Hudson Page 0,97

I knew it was coming I still jumped again when it cracked the silent sky, filling it with a boom. I shook my head and laughed again at myself at how jumpy I was. Then the lightening hit again only this time it didn't just light up the sky. I looked down into the garden and for a spilt second I could see a figure under my window looking up at me. I didn't take my eyes away from it but now without the lightening it was too dark to make out who or what it was.

I strained my eyes and waited for the next flash of light to reveal the mystery. The storm was getting closer as now I only got to three seconds until the thunder erupted once more. I could see the figure moving slowly and it looked as though it was motioning me to come down to join him. I could now make out that it was a man, being far too tall and bulky to be a woman. He moved his arm up and his hand was waving at me.

I waited and waited for some more light. If only the moon had been out I could have seen him clearer. Whoever he was he wore a long coat down to the ground and he wore a hat. The hat was like one you would have seen from those old corny detective shows, what were they called... a trilby. I could only see his mouth and chin as the hat concealed his face but my mind was processing where that hat looked familiar.

I was sure I remembered someone wearing one like that but where? I didn't have to wait much longer to find out as the sky lit up in three different places giving me more than enough light as the storm was now directly above the house. What my eyes saw there was scarier than any nightmare or any monster I had seen.

For there, under my window, beckoning me to join him... was my past.

I screamed and screamed until my lungs needed more air, I was gripping something as it felt like I was being smothered. I was in a bag! That must have been it, he had got me again, no, no, no! I had to get free. Someone must hear me. I screamed again and again. I could taste the material over my face and I could smell the sweat from my body as I twisted and turned.

I was scratching and clawing at it in hopes of escape. Not again, not again! I screamed again using all of the air left in my lungs and then the material lifted from my face as I heard a familiar voice saying my name.

“Kaz, Kazzy its ok, its ok it’s just me...calm down, you’re ok now, it was just a dream.” My sister was smoothing her hand across my forehead looking as pale as I must have been. She helped me sit up as my head started to find its way back to reality. My breathing slowed and the tears started to flow from my sore eyes.

I'm sor..sor..sorry!” I mumbled through sobs. She smiled and took my head into her arms, letting me cry freely into her shoulder.

“Is she all right?” Frank stood near the door with a baseball bat in hand looking like he was ready for action. She waved an arm at him in response and he backed away leaving me in Libby's arms like a small frightened child.

“Feeling better?” She said after ten minutes of hysterics.

“I'm sorry for that, it was just I haven't had a dream like that for a while, I guess it threw me.” I took the tissue out of her hand and wiped my eyes and runny nose, feeling a little embarrassed.

“It’s fine, but the way you were screaming I think Frank was ready to bust the door down, and it wasn't even locked, I think sometimes he thinks he's Jack Bauer from 24!” We both laughed and I instantly felt better.

“Poor Frank, he looked worried,” I said feeling guilty.

“Well at least you know you have a big brother in the house to protect you.” That was more comforting than she realised.

“Was it about him?” She asked carefully not wanting to upset me anymore. I just nodded feeling my eyes fill again. Her face looked both angry and sad at the same time.

“Try and get some rest, do you want to take some pills?”

“It's ok I already...oh no wait