"I was dreaming, only to wake up to a nightmare..."


   The wind outside called through my open window.  It moaned and roared erraticaly.  I pulled my bed blankets tighter around me so only my face was exposed.  I had dealt with winter air way too long.  I would not give in and close my window on this summer night.  Even if it was noisy.  I smiled and turned over.  As I drifted off into sleep I smelled pleasent scents... my plug in air freshner.  mmm.
    I was so peaceful.  So relazed.  I could see ocean waves around me and carrying me.  The beach ahead of me sparkled as though it was made of ground diamonds.  So bright.  All my friends were there.  Suddenly the sun was setting and I was with everyone around a bonfire.  The smoke floated through the air and shrouded the moon.  Someone was playing a guitar.  We all laughed and sang.  I was so happy.  Suddenly the smoke began to choke me.  There was too much smoke.  I couldn't see my friends anymore.  I could barely see the moon.  So much smoke..... The guitarist continued to strum, but instead of a melody it was a rhytmic note over and over.... beep.. beep... beep... Guitars dont beap!  I sat up in bed awakened from my dream.  The great intake of air burned my lungs so badly.  Smoke!  My room was filled with smoke and the fire alarm was going off.  There was faint screaming outside my window... I couldn't see... I was getting faint... my heart was beating too fast... it hurt...

      "You need to get to the floor."   a stern voice stated in my mind.
where did it come from?  Me?  I rolled over and fell to the floor.  The smoke was not as thick here. I started to breathe as much air as i could.  The smoke burned, but it was clearer.  
       "Crawl."
That wasn't my voice.. if I had a gut feeling wouldn't it be in my own voice? not this stranger's.  Who ever it was, they made sense.  I crawled.  I made my way to the far wall.  I could hear sirens outside.  I started to cry.  "I'll never get out! I'm going to die!" I screamed.
        "The window."
        "I'm two stories up!"
     silence...
I was talking to myself?  Oh well. I might as well try to get out the window.  I'd rather fall to my death than burn. 
      I grappled the wall trying to figure out where I was. 
        "The other way"
  I started moving sideways to my right and soon found the base of the window.
  I held on to the wood and pulled my self up.
  I pulled my hand up to feel the screen blocking my way out
        "Punch it."
  I pulled my hand backwards then hit the screen.  It shook and popped back into place.
        "Again.  Don't stop." 
   I began punching the screen over and over.  My left hand ripped a hole through it.  I felt my skin tear at the knuckles.  I had to get out.
        "Rip the screen out."
   I grabbed the edges of the hole and yanked.  I could feel my palms being punctured.  The screen came out.  My head began to get dizzy.  Any second now I could pass out.  
         "Come out."
   I stood up and leaned out the window.  Smoke was billowing out around me.  The moon shone down upon the yard. I could see the a firetruck on the other side of the house.  Didn't they know my room was over here?  I looked down at the ground as i dropped the screen I was holding.  My senses seemed to comeback when it bounced on the ground.  
         "Jump"
         "I'll die!" I cried.  tears still streamed down my face.  I turned to look behind me.  My room was black with the thick smoke. I could see an orange..... almost red glow beneath my door. 
          "Jump."
          "Why? There's nothing to save me.  I might as well stay in bed."
   a faint light flickered by the screen. A small white feather landed on the ground.
          "You are safe. Jump."  I could see the firemen retreating to the truck.  I could see the fire engulfing my home around me.  Air from an explosion flew around me and I knew I was burning. I felt nothing.
      I closed my eyes and jumped.