Frights at Twilight

Frights at Twilight (Part 4)

Sloane Baecker (7)

Chapter 8 ~We’re Real~

Perry woke up the next morning, she didn’t get up or do anything after that. That night was more overwhelming than anything she’d ever been through before, she wept as the image of Bea’s corpse stayed burnt in her mind. The image was unforgettable. She just sat there, still mesmerized, and tried to wrap her head around what actually happened. It was all so confusing. She was sunken into the bed, being held down by the drowning feeling of not knowing how deep in a dream she could be in without even knowing. Perry had so much running through her mind. But she couldn’t lay there all day, eventually Bea woke up and wanted to know what had happened. Sure enough, that was the first thing she asked when she awoke. 

They sat there for a while as Perry told her what happened and Bea tried to wrap her head around what she was hearing. “I don’t even know what to say. I can’t imagine what you must have felt going through that,” Bea started. Perry knew by Bea’s expression that she wanted to say more; she just needed to find the words. 

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I honestly still can’t tell if I’m still in the dream or not,” Perry admitted. 

Bea looked up at Perry, shocked by what she told her and immediately said, “Hey, this is real, 100%. I’m really here, and not dead. You’re out of it, you’re safe.” Bea assured her, but Perry clearly wasn’t convinced. Perry looked away clearly trying to avoid eye contact as Bea pleaded, “Perry, please look at me.” Growing desperate to make her feel safe, Perry looked back at her. “You’re not dreaming anymore, you are safe.” Bea repeated sincerely. 

“Okay,” Perry whispered. Her smile was clearly faked, as were her words and Bea didn’t see past it for a second. She looked back at Perry, appearing very annoyed by it. 

Bea sat back up, “Well I think  you should stay home today. I’ll stay too if you want me to, but if not I’ll go to work. How does that sound? Just take a day to reorient yourself,” Bea suggested.

“Sure,” replied Perry.

Bea came back later that day to find that Perry had an idea, one that went against everything Bea had told her that morning. She walked in and saw that Perry had been setting up the spare room. 

“Perry, what are you doing?” Bea asked. “I don’t want to put you in danger, even if the chances are slim, I just can’t. I’ll start sleeping in this room, and you won’t have to be put through dealing with my terrors or be put in danger again.” 

Perry told her this with confidence that she’d agree, but Bea looked at her in disbelief; disbelief that Perry still didn’t believe the dream was over. The disbelief faded into worry as Perry continued to set up the spare room. 

“Perry, you won’t hurt me, after years of helping you through your terrors you have never hurt me. Plus, have you considered what could happen to you? If someone doesn’t ease you out of it calmly you could seriously hurt yourself.” she told Perry. 

Bea saw her look over while she was talking but kept setting up, she started speeding up in fact. “Perry…” Bea said trying to get her attention but she kept going “Perry…” she repeated getting annoyed. “Perry!” she shouted. Perry finally stopped and looked at her as Bea stepped closer and began again. 

“Perry, it’s over. You’re not gonna hurt me and if you want to be in this room instead feel free to, but you need to know that you won’t hurt me.” she cried, getting Perry’s full attention now. “Listen, I need you to know you won’t hurt me.” Perry looked into Bea’s eyes and saw how much this upset her, so Perry decided to try to believe that. 

“Ok, but I’m still staying in the spare room,” Perry told her.

 “Thank you, I don’t think this is easy for you, but I’m glad you’ll try to believe we’re real and awake.” Bea replied. Bea noticed that Perry’s attitude changed towards her. 

Perry was still very scared though, she took a deep breath and ran into Bea’s arms. “You’re okay,” Bea told her, this brought great comfort to her. This had been a rough day for them, but despite that at that moment Perry wanted to stay exactly where she was forever. 

 The rest of the day went by and it was the most dreadful time of any day. Night had come, terrors awaited and it was inevitable. Both Perry and Bea stood outside of their rooms on opposite ends of the house. They stood there for a moment as they both knew this night would be rough. 

“If you hear me having terrors, will you stay there or will you stay?” Perry asked with almost no emotion painted on her face. 

Meanwhile, Bea looked at her like she couldn’t believe what she had just asked, “Of course I’ll come. I wouldn’t be able to just sit, especially now knowing what you could possibly be going through.” Bea told her. They then both fled to their dreams. 

The next morning, Bea woke from a sleep feeling better than she had in a while. She didn’t wake up once in the night. Perry was already waiting in the main room facing away, towards the window, holding a cup of coffee. 

“Good morning, Perry.”  Bea said. Perry heard her, but didn’t turn around. 

She just sat there and uttered, “Good morning to you too. Sleep well?” 

Bea was very concerned by this, “…Yeah-I  guess are you okay?” Bea asked. 

“Yes I’m fine, why do you ask?” Perry seemed caught off guard when she answered. 

“It’s just, you seem–” Bea tried to get closer and see her face but she just turned and walked away, “– very off, why are you avoiding me?” she continued. 

Perry kept walking away. “I’m not avoiding you,” Perry replied. But Bea kept trying to get in front of her. Eventually, she grabbed the cup out of Perry’s hands and Perry stopped in her tracks still looking away. 

“Can I have the cup back?” Perry asked. 

“Can you look at me?” Bea retorted.

Perry finally gave in. She slowly turned around, and the cup shattered and it hit the ground as Bea shrieked. 

“WHAT HAPPENED?!?” she cried in terror.