Little Nightmare

My first time sleeping in the presence of Calleigh didn't turn out to be as wonderful as I had hoped. What I would imagine to be a peaceful dreamed turned out to be a huge nightmare. It's like my brain took one of my worst fears and put it into a visual for me. My sleep started out dreamless for some time, but a vision slowly faded into view revealing something horrific. I was in Calleigh's kitchen in the same place where I took a bath, but this time I couldn't move or even turn my head. My senses picked up on a hint of chocolate of some kind, only to be revealed the moment I saw Calleigh walk through the doorway followed by Natalia. Their footsteps signaled their approach long before they even entered the room, but I wasn't scared until I saw Natalia look at me with excitement saying, "Oh look! I love brownies!" That's when the horror of my situation clicked in my head. I was laying on my back half submerged in a brownie. My mouth opened to call out to them but no sound ever came out. Every attempt I made to cry or scream only followed in silence.

Calleigh's eyes locked right onto me, hungry for a snack I was stuck in the middle of, "I do too! Want to split this one with me?" "Of course!" My heart pounded hard in my chest, still continuing to try to get their attention while I watched Calleigh pull out a butter knife. Tears started flowing down my face when she positioned the blade above my midsection. I could tell she was looking at me, it's how is what scared me the most that told me I wasn't going to be freed. She was hungry. Calleigh brought the knife down until it barely brushed against my stomach, making my whole body shiver with fear, "I'll cut it right here so we both can get a little extra goodie with it." "That sounds good to me," Natalia said happily.

Without a second thought, I felt a quick pain as the knife easily slice through my body before all feeling from my legs and lower back were gone. I never felt any more pain after that. I assumed it was from my nerves being severed so quickly that nothing really registered that anything was happening. Looking down with my eyes, I watched Natalia lift her piece up that was now leaking red from where the blood was pouring out of my lower half. She turned it around to look at it with more eagerness, "And she has a liquid center." "All the more flavor," Calleigh said at the exact moment Natalia place the entire piece into her mouth. When she bit down, her eyes closed in satisfaction, "Mmmm. You've got to try this. Best brownie I've ever tasted." I'm sure if I had a bladder still, it would have emptied right then as I watched Natalia enjoy turning part of my body into mush.

Before another thought could plague my mind, the piece my top half suddenly lurched upward. I silently screamed in startlement, turning my gaze to those large, hungry green eyes that used to be full of love and care. "Please stop," I tried to beg. When nothing came out, I decided to mentally give up. They either didn't hear me because they can't or because they didn't want to. I was just a snack to them and I accepted that fate. Relaxing my mind the best I could in defeat, I watched as Calleigh's top teeth glide over me before closing, sealing me in darkness. Though there was no light, I could still see every detail of each tooth and her tongue that was eager to maneuver the chocolate treat onto her molars. Once placed there, I kept my focus on the top jagged boulder as it fell, instantly crushing me.

My eyes jerked open while gasping in shock. Looking around at my surroundings, I realized it was just a dream. A really bad dream. I also saw that I wasn't in Calleigh's hand anymore, where I had fallen asleep. This was some kind of makeshift cloth cave that held in heat to keep me warm. I decided then to crawl towards the opening to see what all was going on in the house and if Calleigh was nearby. Before I got to the entrance, there was a shadow that passed over briefly, causing me to freeze. Shaking my head, I told myself to keep going. I want to see her so I can get the kind version of her back in my head.

Getting to the hole leading out of my cave, I peaked out and saw Calleigh sitting in her bed right next to me looking at her laptop. She wasn't far, but I knew I couldn't get to her either. Looking down, I noticed the floor beneath my sleeping quarters was a light brown wood. I would guess that this was her bedside table so that I could stay close. I also noticed my clean clothes laying in front of my doorway, laid out and ready to put on. Pushing my legs forward first, I hopped down to get them, hoping to not disturb Calleigh. But it was right then that she decided to close it and reach for the lamp above me. Seeing that I was out of my little room, she smiled, "Hey there sleepyhead." I laughed, "I didn't mean to fall asleep. Wasn't even aware that I was tired." "It's okay. You had a rough day. I can imagine what you went through took a lot of energy."

Nodding in agreement, I said, "Especially climbing a wall." This time Calleigh laughed, "Yeah, I can see that. Well, you're clothes are all clean but I can see you found them. I hoped you would. I didn't want to wake you just for that." "Thank you for this. And also this," I motioned to the cloth house. "You are very welcome. I pulled out a washcloth from the dryer and set it up like a cave so that you could stay warm. I needed both hands to fold laundry and I didn't want you to get cold." "I'm impressed that you moved me without me waking up." "It was hard to figure out at first without hurting you but I think I did alright." Nodding again, I continued the compliment, "You did very well. Nothing is broken and nothing hurts other than my arm muscles."

Looking over back at Calleigh, I couldn't help but feel love for her. I know I crush on her character so badly, but now I have a new love for how gently she's been with me. My heart yearned for her, but I had to settle for friendship, which I'm hoping to build. I took a step forward, saying, "You are way too nice to me. Being as small as I am and everything you do in such a gentle manner, I definitely wouldn't survive without you. I don't think saying thank you will ever be enough."

Calleigh's smile melted my aching heart as she extended her finger toward me. When I wrapped my arms around it for a hug, she lifted her hand up with my arms still clinging tight to her finger and placed me over her other hand. I didn't wait for her to get close enough before dropping into her waiting palm. It's soft, warm touch was becoming my secure happy place. A place I never wanted to leave. Looking up, I saw those big green eyes that held so much love and care. Their attention never left me as she brought her now free hand to place a finger next to my face.

In a failed attempt to rub my cheek, I simply just rested my head on it as well as my hand when she spoke, "After realizing what you were and then spending time talking with you, I couldn't see myself handing you over to anyone else. When you're in my care, I know you're safe. I'm sure Natalia would agree. She actually wants you to go home with her tomorrow. Is that something you'd be okay with?" I nodded, "You and Natalia are the only ones I trust with me. I think some time with her would be great." Calleigh's smile grew bigger, "I feel the exact same way. I'll let her know."

Pulling out her phone, Calleigh turned the screen on and brought up Natalia's number. I watched as she used her right thumb to send her a text message saying, "Sorry for such a late reply. Melissa fell asleep earlier and just recently woke up. I told her you wanted to have her over tomorrow and she said she'd like that." We didn't wait for long because I think Natalia was waiting on that text. Her reply came back almost instantly, "That's awesome! I'm excited to hear that. Thanks for letting me know. See you in the morning."

After placing her phone down, I was picked up and placed back at my cloth room. Calleigh was notably tired as she said, "I know you may not be able to go back to sleep right away, but you do need to try. Tomorrow will most likely be a long day again and I would like you to be fully rested." Turning myself around so that I was sitting at the edge of my doorway, I said to her, "I will do my best. I also promise to stay here so that you'll know where I am the moment you wake up. I think I've had enough adventures for one day anyway." She laughed, "Yes, I think so too. Good night."

Switching off the lamp, Calleigh sunk into the bed and pulled the covers over her shoulders. It took several minutes after my eyes adjusted to the darkness before I could make myself move back into my room. Seeing her laying there pulled at me to explore, but I knew better. I didn't want to disrespect her that way and with a forceful sigh, I crawled back into my bed and fell back asleep. The nightmare thankfully never returned so I was able to sleep peacefully in the presence of my savior, Calleigh Duquesne.