Natalie's Dream

I laugh, punching Mark's shoulder, "You should jump first!"

He shakes his head, "No way! You should go!"

I look down from the top of the Ferris Wheel, down to the group of people, all standing with their arms linked. I look at the distance from where we stand, at the very top. This is probably a 200 foot drop, but I know I can do this. If not, I have my powers to help me.

"Here goes nothing!" I yell.

I take a running leap from the top, screaming in delight as the wind flows around my body. I watch the people below me, slowly start to scatter. My screams change to fright, watching as a single person remains.

I close my eyes, terrified of what will happen. I feel my knees and shoulders connect with something, no, someone. I look up, to see Blake holding me. I smile, "You saved my life!"

He gives me that cheeky grin, "I know, come on, we are going to miss the train."

I raise an eyebrow, "What train?"

"That one." He points to the tracks, maybe 10 yards, away, with a train fast approaching.

He keeps carrying me, even as the train approaches. With just a few seconds to make it, he sets me down, and we both go running to line up with the door. I jump on first, falling forward, and him right after me.

We both lean against the door, chests heaving. "Where are we going?" I ask.

"Who says we ever have to get off." He shrugs.

That's...creepy. I look out the door, seeing Mom, Dad, Aunt Christina, Nadia, and all of my other family jumping on the train.

I stand up, going to hug Dad, and he simply says, "No."

"No what?" I ask, trying to hug him again.

"This is for your own good." He says, blank faced.

I know those words... Dad is turning into Marcus.

I look over, and Dad has a whip in his hand. I grab Blake and we go to the door, ready to jump. The second my food hit's air, somebody grabs the collar of my shirt, Uncle Uriah. Uncle Zeke stands beside him, and they both have the same cruel look on their faces. I am terrified.

Blake rushes to me, before I know what's happening. Dad strikes him with the metal whip, and I scream, lunging towards him. He whips Blake again, no mercy. I run to Dad, pounding on him, but he just grabs me by the neck and throws me onto the floor.

"Stop it Dad, he didn't do anything!" I scream, running back to him.

He keeps pushing me away, never setting down the whip. I manage to grasp his hand, and struggle to tear it out. I lash him, feeling no regret. My own father just tried to hurt somebody, he was just like Marcus, a cruel human being.

End dream

"Natalie get up!" Mom shakes my shoulder.

I sit up, terrified of all of the thoughts racing through my head. I have tears pouring down my face, and my throat hurts.

"What...what happened?" I ask, wiping my face.

"You... You were screaming. Saying things like 'Don't touch him'. What was that, Natalie?" She asks, pulling me into a hug. 

I look over to my door, seeing Marcus Jr. looking terrified. 

"It's him!" I scream, pointing. 

"What do you mean sweetie? That is just your father." Mom says, holding me closer. 

"No, Mom, he was hurting us! He is just like Marcus!" I scream again, tears welling up in my eyes. 

He is immediately hit with grief, obviously feeling hurt at those words. I don't even care, I just cry. 

"He is terrible, he is just like his Dad. He was hurting us! He didn't even care that I was his daughter!" I sob, holding Mom closer. 

I don't know when, but Dad leaves, and I don't think I care. 

"Natalie, it was all a nightmare. Your Dad is an amazing man." Mom tries to console me, but I don't believe her. 

"He is a despicable and awful human being." I shake my head. 

"You know that is not true, it was just a nightmare." She says, pulling me so I directly face her. 

"It-it seemed so real. I don't want him near me. I don't want someone like Marcus anywhere near me." I tell her. 

She sighs, "You know he is not Marcus. I will go talk to him, try to go back to sleep." 

Mom walks out of my room, and I curl into a ball, pulling my blankets around me. It was a dream. It was a nightmare. It was a nightmare. It was...was it a nightmare? I try to clear my mind, ridding myself of that terrible image burning in my mind. 

I let myself relax, eventually letting sleep pull me into a dreamless comfort.