SATURDAY

He heard Penny's mom leaving early the next  morning.  He wondered where she was going on a saturday. He closed his eyes, but seconds later forced them open. He could not sleep. He would not sleep. It was not worth the memories. He didn't wait long before getting up. He downed his first cup of coffee feeling sick. He savored his second a little more. But before the others had even woken up he was on a fourth. Hestill felt sick and exhausted. Penny was up first.

“Hey Lucas, you're up early.” She said trotting down the stairs.

Lucas nodded and smiled faintly.

“How'd you sleep?” She asked, pouring herself the rest of the coffee and starting a new pot.

“Ok.” Lucas shrugged. His shoulder hurt again.

“You ok, your eyes are a little bloodshot. you're not getting sick are you?” Penny asked, walking over and looking into Lucas' eyes.  

“No I'm fine, just not normally up this early. Still getting used to being here again.” He said smiling.

Penny nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer.

“You want to go to the park today?” Penny asked abruptly.

“What?” 

“It's just, I think itd be nice to you know get out of the house.” Penny said, shrugging.

“Yeah, I think that'd be nice.” Lucas said smiling.

They left around noon. Penny had been right. The park felt amazing. It was so refreshing. He could smell the fresh green scents of summer and the light appeared almost a warm green through the trees foliage. Lucas felt as if he were shaking off some of the stress and pain. He felt as if a weight were leaving him. The monster was dead. If it weren't they would know by now. I Knew it was dead. Now Lucas had to move on. He sighed smiling, really smiling. It made Penny smile too. She felt so much better to see ucas smile. They enjoyed the park for a little bit longer before the sky began to cloud and they hurried back to the car. Lucas didn't even mind the rain. He was trying really hard to be happy. Knowing that he was with Penny, he was away from the bad memories. He needed to leave them. 

That night Lucas lay there, Exhausted, he would sleep. He felt so relaxed he had made himself, he had chosen to have a good day. He was healing. He would recover, and he would be able to sleep. So he let sleep take him. Darkness crawling up his finger tips sinking into his bones, the exhaustion felt good this time. Like warm water falling over his body.

Again he dreamed. And again he saw the monster. Again the bone popped him sticking out of his body. He screamed and sobbed. He stood up. Blood dripped from his face. People were everywhere pointing and shooting. Spitting and throwing things. Lucas begged for help. No one came. He was drowning in blood. Blood everywhere, sweet and metallic. Thick and red. Death, death everywhere. Lucas sat upright. It was still dark outside. He wanted to scream. He opened his mouth, but slapped his hand to his face, half shocking himself. He gasped and sobbed. Hiccupping and choking. He made muttering sounds. He tasted blood from his own hand and tears. Drool dripped down his chin. it was over, over, over and over. There was no point in trying; he was cursed to see it every night. Why him? WHat only him? What had he done? His entire body shook and he choked coughing. Why? Why me? why me? He found himself muttering. He could not control himself. He only wanted some sort of release but nothing would unbind him from his personal torment. He was bound by some sort of ungodly bloody seal.

SUNDAY

Sunday was nothing special. He had tried to keep the same true smile for Pennys sake. He had done an ok job. He had almost tricked himself. He felt like some puppet on a string. Trying to play a part in some story. Go be this thing to entertain others. To play a part for himself. If he smiled he could maybe ignore everything. So he smiled for the camera. SMiled for Penny, smiled for Roxan, smiled For Mark. He would look happy. And then he would die one day, looking happy. 

Again he dreamed. But this dream was different from the others. He was walking, it was dark but that didn't bother him if anything that was better it helped him hide. And then he heard someone laughing. He crept towards them as a cat creeps towards a mouse. As he got closer he lowered his body to the ground. Keeping careful not to cause a sound. Then he was right behind the man. And it was a man alone. He was laughing and smoking something. Lucas stretched out his huge arm and quickly impaled the man in the head, there was a guttural sound and a kind of wet cracking and then nothing but the quiet sound of blood dripping on pavement. He brought his prey close looking at the corpse. And then, Lucas sat bolt upright. He did not scream know. He only felt deeply disturbed. He got up ignoring the burning pain in his legs and hobling to the bathroom, fell down to the side and threw up on the bathroom floor. He lay there, vomit still dripping from his mouth. He whimpered. 

He had made it through Sunday, having spent the rest of the early morning cleaning the bathroom and showering. Then had laid in bed for a good portion of the day. Penny had gone in to check on him but he had just pretended to sleep and she had let him, whether she knew he was asleep or not Lucas didn't know. Then he had made it through the rest of the day quietly trying to laugh, but he felt sick. He couldn’t eat. and then Sunday was over. It had seemed to go by so quickly. And then Lucas faced another night. As he sat in the bed contemplating what his next move should be. Lucas was disrupted by a nock on the door.

“Hey Lucas, it's me.” Penny whispered.

“Oh come in.” Lucas whispered, turning. She slipped into the room smiling. 

“What's up?” Lucas said scooting over on the bed to make room for Penny.

“It's just, I dont know, i know your not feeling ok, and I just wanted to ask just you and me, do you want to talk about it?” Penny asked sitting close by him.

“It's just.” Lucas started,

‘Don't say it's nothing. Listen if you really dont talk, that's ok, but it's not nothing.” Penny interrupted.

Lucas felt taken aback for a moment but then he smiled faintly nodding.

“Dreams, I keep having dreams. The monster, Gasper, My grandfather, you guys. They always end in death. Every Night without fail.” Lucas found himself saying.

“Lucas, why didn't you just say so.” Penny said, grabbing his hand.

“I dont know. Because you can't change anything. You can't make the dreams go away. they'll never go away. They never stop coming.” Lucas said, shrugging and looking down at his hand. He had been able to hide the marks on it fairly well. He had not ripped up the skin too much. 

“Lucas, I know I might not be able to make them go away,  but I want to help. Is there something I can do?” She asked.

“I dont know. I dont know.” he said rubbing his eyes.

“Really I just tied Penny. I just want to sleep.” Lucas said.

“Then I'll stay here till you sleep.” Penny said, scooting closer.

“Its ok, you can go to bed, I dont want to keep you up.” Lucas said, laughing a little.

“No, it's ok, I'll stay. I'll stay no matter how long it takes.” 

It was peaceful. They talked about lighthearted things. It felt good, it felt normal. And finally Lucas found himself falling asleep.

“penny.” He whispered half asleep now.

“Yah.”

“Penny dont die. Don't die and leave me.” He said pulled her closer.

“I won't Lucas.” 

“Don't leave me, dont die, Penny please stay. Just dont die.” he muttered, even asleep tears spilled from his eyes. 

Penny stroked his hair for a little while. His body was relaxed and he had stopped crying but he would still mutter things in his sleep.

MONDAY

Lucas woke with a start. Penny had gone, the sun was up. He had had no bad dreams. He felt so different and so revived. So alive.  At breakfast he smiled at Penny, she smiled back feeling relieved to see him looking so rested. 

“You want to go to the diner today? We haven't been in a while.” Penny asked.

“Oh that's a good idea, ill text Roxan.” Mark nodded.

“Yeah it'll be fun.” Lucas nodded.

The diner felt so peaceful after so long away. It was such a familiar environment. He sat laughing. Everything felt so at peace. So nice. But he felt it never lasted so soon he was saying goodbye to Roxanne and going home. Penny is going home with Roxan. Lucas had insisted it was ok. Mike took Penny's car driving them home. 

He could almost feel the peace slowly being dragged out of him. A kind of nervous shaking anxiety began to creep forwards. Slowly it crawled back out of the darkness. He tried to ignore it as Mark and he gamed slightly but it did not leave. It remained there staring, watching and waiting. And then finally they said good night going to bed. It was very late but Lucas didn't really feel tired. He felt a strange adrenaline pumping in him. His entire body was hurting. Especially his legs. He tried to ignore it, chalking it up to his body just being sore. Lucas went to bed. Forcing his mind to quite. But the adrenaline was not leaving. It made him feel sick. Finally he sat up flicking a light on.  His body hurt, it hurt so badly. And then, then the pain seemed to much. He grit his teeth. And tore off his shirt. Looking down to his shoulder he felt a quam of terror and nausea flooding his body. There just sticking out of his shoulder, there was a bone. The skin around was pushed out and little streams of blood dribbled down. The absolute terror, it felt so disgusting. He held his hand to his mouth squeezing his eyes shut. And slowly carefully reached up a hand touching it so gently. He grit his teeth tears coming to his eyes. The pain from even the smallest touch reverberated down his entire arm and across his back. And then before he even allowed himself to think he grabbed the peace and yanked. there was a snapping sound of bone breaking. He smashed his head down.  Gasping in pain. biting down on the blanket. Blood pooled from the wound across the sheats. Lucas lay there. Sobbing. This was real, this was no dream. This was real. He couldn't escape it. It was real. He healed in a silent scream curled up there. Hours passed as he silently lay sobbing. Finally after a he was able to stop enough to sit up. He took a cleaner blanket and biting it he ripped off a strip. And wincing wrapped it around his shoulder. And then grabbing the bloodied blankets dragged himself to the bathroom he shoved them under the sink. Then he went back to bed. He shivered in fear. Insanity creeping ever closer.

TUESDAY

Another day, another day of smiling. He could do it. Day after day he could do it. Day after day he could smile and pretend everything was nice and good. He would ignore it, admitting it was there, would let it win. 

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday went by. He was again struggling to hide it again, exhaustion was taking over again. Penny offered to sit with him again. But he declined, he was afraid she would see his shoulder. 

THURSDAY

Thursday was another uneventful day. He had again tried to smile. He had ignored the worried looks from the others he would try and pretend he was ok. He would have to try. Try and be ok, but again that night as he lay there. He felt a strange feeling. it hurt but not unbearable it was as if his bones were being stretched pulled at like puddy. He lay there eyes shut tight, until the feeling passed and he was able to let sleep claim him. 

And then he was walking. Walking again, pushing himself forwards with the bony legs. He could hear the clacking as he clicked each step. Hard and loud on the pavement, he felt hungry, starving. And again he heard people chattering. This was his pray. He hungered to taste their blood. He felt the hot liquid dripping down his face. His mouth watered and he felt adrenaline and pure joy spike through him as he neared them. And then he saw bolt up in bed. Again feeling sick. But this time it was different as he flicked on the lights. The room was not the same. Things in it were overturned. There was dirt sprinkled over the floor. ANd then there was the blood. The wood floor was splattered with blood. Lucas staired. This wasn't real. This was some dream. Not real not real. He found himself muttering to himself.  But still, when he looked up. It was real. The blood was real. He could smell it. He forced himself up, running to grab towels and soap from his bathroom. He began to scrub the floors and walls. THe blood seemed to trail from the window. He opened it consciously, peering out but he saw nothing. So he returned to cleaning. It took him hours. Upon finishing his legs burned so bad he could not walk and only frag himself with his arms to his bed. He lay there panting sweat dripping down his body. His mind was in shock he could not think. His mind felt shut off.