SleepWalker

Chapter 1

Agony

Waking up feels like such a chore, alarm blaring, using the bathroom, changing clothes. It feels monotonous. Always taking my medicine in the morning or else my mom gets on my back about it. Good old classic risperidone and zoloft, shaking the bottle it seems to only have a few days worth. After swallowing the medicine with some sink water, I quickly get my school clothes and go to school. Winter seems to be coming, light snow scatters on the concrete sidewalk.

Letting out a soft breath, it appears in the air, watching it I don’t notice my friend Dylan coming by my side. “Hey Even! You do realize winter is coming right? Where’s your jacket man?” looking down at my arms I realize that all I have on is a shirt and pants. “Uh I seem to have forgotten about it ha.” letting out a short laugh, Dylan punches my shoulder. “You've always been like this, that’s why I got you this one!” He hands me a jacket, putting it on I feel the warmth snug around my body and arms.

We arrive at the school, the walls showing graffiti and age torn across it. Dylan and I walk to class and start this long school day, all the while I’m trying to avoid the gazes of people around me. As the seat creaks against the ground, my stomach aches. Worried about what the others must think. Finally seated, the teacher begins their work, like a cog in the machine, same emotionless work each day. During this class time whispers are thrown around about my father and I. As I showed up on the local news during the weekend for my fathers death. I was already dealing with this issue only to have knocked upon the front door of the house. My mother opened it to only have a news team there. ‘Had to be some kinda stunt my mother pulled for this…’ I thought to myself.

Hearing the whispers my mind starts working overdrive, trying to shut the noise out. Unable to take anymore, I stand- “Can I use the bathroom please!” The teacher sees the pleading eyes before him and nods. Walking to the bathroom I constantly feel like adjusting the length of my legs, the swing of my arms, the breathing of my lungs. Getting in the bathroom, water is splashed on my face, trying to run through my mind. ‘I am fine I am fine I am fine.’ Taking a deep breath I calm myself and leave the bathroom, contemplating ditching school, can’t stand hearing the whispers around me.

Deciding to sneak out of school not caring about my bag, too much on my mind to care for that. Along the sidewalk looks like a crumpled piece of newspaper, picking up the words scribed on it is still about my fathers death. News has nothing else better to release. Looking at the lines of the paper I start reading a bit of it. ‘The sad death of Mr.Iles, caused by a faulty brake system. We had a chance to speak to his family.’ Gripping the paper, I threw it away not wanting to read anymore.

Getting home I open my window and move to the embrace of my bed, staring at the ceiling in silence. My eyes slowly saw darkness and stuck in my mind once again.

Jumping awake and turning to the side the clock shows 6:48, school is long over now. Mom is gonna be mad at me, not that it matters much. Just gonna go back to sleep and skip school tomorrow, not feeling up to it right now.

Chapter 2

Restlessness

BANG BANG BANG The door swings open and curtains are ripped opened, showing the shining sun. Startled awake, my eyes open and feeling a bit groggy, the silhouette of a woman is in my vision. Ah wait, my mom. “Why aren't you at school yet! It's almost 11 in the morning!” Her hands go to her waist, waiting for some kind of response. “Sorry I just… I don’t want to go for a while..” Using the blanket I cover myself from the world. My mom does a small huff with a frown. “You've already been like this for 2 weeks now...When will you move on with your own life, instead of focusing on the one that's gone.” Moving the blanket away I stare at her with angered eyes. “Seriously?! So I’m just supposed to move on from my...my own fathers death?!” Getting up I put on a random set of clothes and start to leave before saying. “You barely mourned for dad's death..” Walking away and outside mom calls out. “That's not what I meant hon!” Shrugging it off I go to a park trying to clear my thoughts.

Finally organizing everything I go back home, avoiding my mom. Moving to the bathroom I search for my medicine, only to find them missing from their usual place. Panicking I looked all around, even the trash, maybe I threw it away by accident. No no that can’t be, I would never do anything that foolish, or..did I? Unable to bring myself to ask mom about it, I ignore it for now, that's the issue for future me to deal with.

Moving to my bed I take a seat and start watching videos on my phone, just wanting this day to end. Waking up and turning towards the clock it reads 4:02 pm. Rubbing my eyes I try turning on my phone, only to be met with a black screen. Pressing the power buttons a few more times I let out a sigh and plug in the charger. Getting up my stomach rumbles, I sneak out and see mom has left some food on the table. Chomping it down as if it is the last meal I’ll ever have. Going back in the room, my body hits the bed and finds sleep. Shivering and snapped awake, I got up only to find my body sweating. The world around me is turning a bit, shaking it off. I go and take a cold shower, trying to wake myself up.

Moving out the bathroom clean and fresh, the world still looks as if it's twisting and turning. Gripping my head I shake it trying to get a hold of myself. Opening my eyes it seems to have calmed down, feeling a strange prickle on my skin I turn towards my side.

“AH!” My mom is standing there with a confused look on her face. “Hon whats wrong?”

My feet move back a little with words forming along my lips saying. “Nothing just...feeling off..I’m gonna go back to my room now..” Walking away from her I shut my door and grip the side of my face, steadying my breathing. ‘What's happening to me..maybe..just need more rest..’ Committed to trying to get rid of this awful feeling, the bed is once met again with my body for another time of sleep. Only nothing happened, the feeling of eyes kept going along my neck. As if I had a stalker right near the windows, getting up and grabbing a cardboard box I rip it to square pieces and begin covering the window, taping any openings. Only then the feelings lessen, looking around the room I notice my laptop camera and in a fast motion cover it. Still this feeling persists! Grabbing my phone I cover both cameras on it. The feeling only feels now as an itch right out of my reach. Still it's better than before.

Moving towards the room door I turn the lock, making sure no one can get in, in my only safe place. Laying back down for the rest of the day, in a cocoon of blankets. Staying awake for hours as the sunlight goes down from the new cardboard window. Drifting to a calm and hungry sleep eventually.

Chapter 3

Eyes

Snapped awake, my body shoots up only to regret that decision. A feeling of dread and nausea hits me like a truck. Getting up I move to go to the bathroom only to see my door is unlocked and ajar. Getting out I notice my mom in the kitchen making breakfast. “Hey hon, are you feeling okay? Do we need to go to the doctor again, you were in your room all day yesterday.” My head shakes as if it's an automatic motion, saying. “No no it’s fine. Hey, did you go into my room last night?”

“No, why what happened?”

“Nothing..nothing..”

Walking back, my mind races with what could have happened. Scared for the possibility that someone or something is watching me. As I move to sit at my desk I notice a journal on the desk, opening it I freeze.

‘Go find car, the junkyard, find it.’ In scratch handwriting appears to be in it.

Throwing the journal to the side I start breathing heavily, going into a panic state. ‘That's it! Someone has to be watching me. My instincts are never wrong.’ Throwing on some clothes, I move to the front door, only to wait and see the lock, noticing that it is still locked.

Moving outside I start walking towards the junkyard. During the walk, a sensation of being watched is back, Dylan pops up behind me, causing me to jump.

“Hey Even! Where have you been man! Tried going to your house but only your mom answered.”

Moving away a bit, with the ground meeting my eyes. “I've been busy..I got to go.”

Moving away I leave Dylan, as he watches my back with a worried face.

Arriving at the junkyard I start searching for my dad's car. Finding it after a few hours. The car looks as if it is crumbled paper, a pipe piercing the windows driver seat. Looking at the seat, it is stained in a brown dried liquid, with the pipe covered in the same substance.

Laying down, I look at the underside of the car looking at the brake lines. It looks as if small holes have punctured through the hoses. ‘Could have this been done on purpose? Or was it with age…’ Moving back up I start walking back home contemplating.

Getting home I sit down to eat, every spoonful, slight adjustments, constant state of mind telling how to act, panic rising and rising.

“ENOUGH” A shout rang through the house. Mom comes out of her room, walking to me with her mouth forming a frown. “Hon what is it..?”

“Why did you barely mourn for dad's death?”

“He would want us to move past and focus on the future..”

“That would seem like something to say after a few more months..His body isn't even rotten yet”

She gasps and hurriedly walks back into her room.

Gripping my head, I throw the plate against the wall, shattering it.

Moving down to the pieces my hand grips towards the broken shards. Gripping it tightly, causing cuts and bleeding to run down the fingers of my hand.

Moving to the bathroom I grab a bundle of gauze and wrap it around the bloodied hand.

Stepping back into my room I lock the door and begin sorting through my mind. ‘Could mom have done it..? She wouldn't right..?’ Tapping the floor quickly is a nervous foot, which is quickly stopped by a hand. My hand. Looking at my hand I frown and grab the side of my face, feeling the soft skin of the one that's done this to himself.

I start whispering to myself before drifting to sleep land.

Chapter 4

Insanity

Waking up in the middle of the night, my body is again in a cold sweat. Looking towards the door, it is open once again. Getting up the floor feels cold, the world around me looks as if it's twisting. Going to my desk I open the journal once again “SHE DID IT SHE DID IT SHE DID IT SHE DID IT SHE DID IT SHE DID IT SHE DID IT SHE DID IT SHE DID IT” The door begins creaking, turning around I see only muddy footprints leading to the ceiling. Looking up, it is the image of my dead father, and he begins screaming. “SHE DID IT”

Waking up screaming I look around only to find everything is normal, looking at the clock it reads 8:00 am. Gripping my chest I feel as if my heart will burst through my chest. Taking a moment to calm down and forget what just happened, I see the front door open, and then looking towards the desk my journal looks closed.

Getting up I immediately grab the journal and flip through the pages, finding what I was looking for. Scribbled writing with ‘END IT.’

Dried blood appears to be splattered across the words. Getting up I move to the kitchen and grab a knife only to throw it on the ground. Moving to the trash bin I grip one of the large plate pieces. Wincing in pain, blood trails down and drips onto the ground. Walking towards my mothers room she opens the door only to be greeted by a stab to the throat. She tries screaming only to be met with blood filling her mouth. Falling to her knees she looks up at me, her eyes filled with tears. “You shouldn’t have killed dad.” She shakes her head, slowly falling to the ground as she grips my pants.

Kicking the body away I moved to her room, finding a photo of dad on her bed, and used tissue papers on the ground. A knock rocks the door of the house with a voice coming through. “Hey Ms. Iles? Is Even gonna come out today?”

Hearing the voice I move to the door, blood on my clothes and still holding the broken piece. Opening the door I see that it’s Dylan. “Hey Ev..-” Looking at the bloodied person before him and a hand of a dead Ms. Iles behind me. Dylan runs away screaming bloody murder.

Later with no where else to go I am caught by the police, still holding the murder weapon, still by the body, still bloodied.

They took me to an asylum, taking my journal away from me. Using it to convince everyone I am insane. Stuck in the cell with nothing else to do I can faintly hear a radio from a nearby guard. “She did it she did it she did it”

I know she did. I know she did. Scribbling the walls and talking to my new journal is the only thing that can keep me entertained here...