"Dani!" 

My eyes fling open. Sophie's honey blonde hair hits my face. "Oh thank goodness. You were in here screaming like crazy." 

"Sorry. I had a nightmare." I explain. Sweat littered my forehead. I sit up and wipe my forehead off. 

"It's common. Totally normal. When my grandma died, I had nightmare's for weeks." Sophie reaches over and grabs a cup of hot coco. "I made this for you."

"Thanks." I take the cup from her and drink in the sweet, warm drink. 

"What do you say we go to a doctor and get you some sleeping medicine? It used to help me." Sophie sighs as she sits on the bed. 

"No!" I say, too quickly. "I mean, not until I really need it. You know? Not until it's mandatory. Until I really need it." 

Sophie stares at me. "Are you sure?"

I nod. "Positive." 

"Okay.." Sophie reaches over and grabs something. She hands me a pile of clothes. "These are for you to wear until tomorrow." She smiles.

"Thanks." I take them from her. 

"Do you want to come and watch a movie? It's not too late."

"I'm okay. I just really need some more rest." 

"Totally understood. Do you need anything else before I go?"

"No." I say softly. 

"Alright, I'll be in my room if you need me." Sophie stands, leaving the room. I sit there in silence before finally sitting up. I change into the pajamas that Sophie had left for me. 

I grab the book off of the beside table and began reading. 

As I'm reading, I hear something. It almost sounds like someone else talking, but it's too muffled for me to make out what the voices are saying. But, as I keep listening, I can hear some of the conversation. 

"....Here, take her there."

"Be careful.... not a toy." 

"Can you believe what....."

"Crazy..."

"... life."

I try to keep listening, but the voices start to disappear. They are still there, but they are very soft. I get up and try to find the source of the voices. I had to keep telling myself that they were't in my head, that I wasn't crazy. But my dream. 

I walk out into the hallway. Coming from Sophie's room, were voices. I slowly walk over to her door and pressed my ear to the door. 

"Poor thing. She does't even know what she's done."

"I know. It's awful."

"But, she did this to herself. If only she had known what she has..."

Suddenly, the door slings open. I scream and jump backwards. Sophie stands there, taken back by my eavesdropping, "What are you doing?"

"Sorry.. I was just.." I pause. I glance around her room. Her TV. Her TV was on. She was watching some kind of drama on TV, something that my mom used to watch. 

"You just?" 

"Sorry. I thought I heard something." I say softly. 

"It's okay. Sorry if my TV was loud. I'll turn it down for you." 

"No, it's okay. I'll be fine." And with that, I walk to back to my room. I sit on my bed. You're just paranoid, I tell myself.

I grab my book and began reading again. My eyes were starting to get heavy. But with my crazy, literally, dreams, I didn't know if I was ready to sleep. But sleep seemed so pleasing right now. I set down my book, turned off my bed side lamp, and crawl underneath the covers. 

I lay there, thinking. So many thoughts for just one brain. 

Dreams. 

Murder. 

Killer on the loose. 

My family. 

My father. 

Cheating.

The Asylum.

How all of each of these things related was beyond me. But hopefully I'd figure it all out soon.
That is, if I can get enough sleep, of course.

~ ~ ~ 

     It took me a second to realize where I was. After remembering everything from yesterday, tears start running down my face. I tried to wipe them away, to hold them back. But, nothing was working.

     That's when I hear it. 

     A soft knock. 

     So soft, so gentle. 

     Who on earth would be knock on the door? Especially since it's the middle of the night and in the middle of no where. 

     I get out of bed and open my door. It was pitch black everywhere, except for a small light coming from the kitchen. I creep over to the front door. My mind flashes with images from horror movies. This never goes well. 

     I look out the window. I see nothing, just darkness. I unlock the door and open it, ever so slowly. 

     Nothing's there. 

     But then, I glance down. 

     And then, I scream.