The sound of a neck snapping, the look in his red and white eyes, the small pendant that had hung from the dead man's neck.
The same images kept flashing through her mind over and over again, fragmented pieces of the scene that had just played out before her. Suddenly, she jolted upright, fear finally waking her from her chilling nightmare and pulled her knees up hugging them to her chest.
“It was just a dream, it was just a dream, everything’s fine, it was just a dream.” She was no stranger to nightmares, a victim of a very active imagination she was used to her brain coming up with weird shit to mess with her. But this time something had been different. It hadn’t felt like a typical nightmare, and if she really thought about it she could almost swear she’d actually been standing in the cave with the figures. She could still faintly feel the cold stone underneath her feet and the ominous pit in her stomach that had made her whole body feel heavier.
She sighed and ran her hands through her hair, moving them over the top of her head and linking them together to press on the back of her neck. She hoped that the pressure would help to ground her and had almost gotten her heart beat back to a moderately normal pace when her alarm clock began to beep loudly. With an exhausted groan she flung herself onto the bed and towards the clock, stretching her arm out to shut off the annoying object. Once it was silenced, she nimbly slid her legs off the side of her bed and stood as the rest of her body followed.
Stretching her arms over her head, she walked over to open her door and made her way down the narrow upstairs balcony to the houses only bathroom. As she passed over the small downstairs kitchen her brother glanced up at her, “Hey, Nic! How you want your eggs?”
“Scrambled!” She called down before ducking into the bathroom and locking the door behind her. She quickly splashed some cold water on her face, partially to help her wake up but mostly to get her mind off of her nightmare. She imagined the cold water washing the images and the faint trail of tears on her cheek down the drain somewhere she wouldn’t have to think about them before numbly going through her morning routine.
After she’d finished in the bathroom she made her way back to her room, as she walked past the kitchen a familiar and delicious smell grabbed at her attention and helped her move a bit faster. She was definitely not a morning person, her brother would swear to that, but she was a breakfast person. She hurried to get all of her things together before walking past her brothers room and down the spiral staircase at the other end of the balcony.
She threw her messenger bag onto the couch as she passed it and slid into her normal seat at the table, watching her brother move through the kitchen, finishing whatever food was making the house smell so amazing.
“Something smells good.” She said as she tried to get a glance at whatever he was making. Her efforts proved to be in vain as he perfectly positioned himself to block her view.
“I figured you could smell it from upstairs, just give me a few more seconds and it’ll be ready.” He replied as he placed two plates side by side on the counter next to him.
She anxiously tapped on the table and let her eyes wander around the room, trying desperately to find something to distract her. Nothing seemed to work until she looked out the window to her left at a clear blue sky and fluffy clouds.
The window was enchanted, allowing them to see the sky above their apartment instead of the brickwall of the building next to them. It was glitchy and raised their rent price, but Nicole was still glad that it was there.
As she watched a cloud pass by the small window her brother placed her plate of food down on the table and slid into the chair across from her with his own plate.
She turned to look at her breakfast and grinned at the surprise waiting for her, “Did you make… bacon?” she looked up at her brother happily as he smiled back at her.
“There was an extra shipment about to go bad at work last night, so they let me take it. You better enjoy it since it’s the expensive kind.”
“Isaac, have I mentioned that you’re the best big brother ever.” she said before digging into her warm meal.
“Yes, but it wouldn’t hurt to say it more often.”
“Yor da best bruder evr.” She repeated through a mouthful of food, receiving a small chuckle and a reprimand to not talk with her mouth full.
She quickly finished her food and dumped her plate into the sink. “Are you working late again tonight?”
“Not too late, I should get home around 8:00, 8:30.” He replied as she walked over to the couch to grab her bag and head for the door.
“Guess I'm making dinner then, see yah after work!” She tossed over her shoulder, pulling the large rolling door open with a slight squeak.
“Be safe!”
She rolled her eyes at the fond and familiar goodbye and slid the door closed behind her.
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