Chapter 18: Nightmares

                                    

                                          
WARNING:
What you are about to read may contain strong language and mature themes.
                          
Why? Why did she feel this type of sadness for the man who had beaten her for half of her life? Why did Ainsley care if he was breathing or buried six feet under?
                          
"I don't know why I feel this way, Colby. That's what scares me. Why am I so upset that he's gone?" Ainsley stammered as her voice cracked more and more. 
                          
"I don't know either, Ains, and I wish I could tell you. Just breathe," I reassured.
                          
"I-I'm trying," Ainsley sighed. Her bright green eyes fluttered shut before she fell into a depressing, deep sleep.
                          
AINSLEY'S POV
                          
Slam! Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.
                          
Panicking, I rushed to my door and locked it. I knew those sounds. And I knew, no matter how hard I tried, that I couldn't avoid it.
                          
"No. No. No. Not again," I whispered under my breath.
                          
BANG!
                          
"Let me in!" a low voice grumbled. But I stayed silent. Over the years, I've learned to try and ignore it. I held my hand over my mouth and tried my hardest not to cry.
                          
"Quick, think. Think. Think," I thought quietly out loud. Then it came to me: the bathroom. I ran into my bathroom that lie on the opposite side of the wall where the drunken monster was. After turning the lock, I sat against the door with my knees tucked to my chest. 
                          
CRASH!
                          
Oh no. I thought my bedroom door would have held him off longer.
                          
"Where are you, you little slut?!" my father shouted. At this point, I knew there was no avoiding it. I knew that if I hid, my punishment would be worse. Stupidly, I got up off of the cold tile floor and looked into the mirror. I wiped away my tears with my pajama shirt sleeve and unlocked the door.
                          
"I-I'm here," I stammered uncontrollably. I opened the door to see another horrid sight that would scar me forever. My father, with a bottle of whiskey in his hand, came barreling towards me. 
                          
I didn't even attempt to shield my myself... I knew it wouldn't do anything. 
                          
And without a moment's notice, an enormous fist came toward my face and submerged me into total darkness.
                          
———————————
                          
"Worthless."
                          
"Stop it!" I screamed.
                          
"Fat."
                          
"Ugly."
                          
"Leave me alone!" I shouted.
                          
"Loner."
                          
"Weak."
                          
The voices. They wouldn't stop. 
                          
Louder and louder.
                          
The voices crept up, viciously taking away my happiness. My life filled with colors, laughter, and smiles slowly washed away and became what I know now. The life filled with misery, pain, and tears. And soon, those voices had faces... all too familiar faces
                          
Colby.
Sam.
Devyn.
Jake.
Corey.
Aaron.
Mom.
Dad.
Doctor Wells.
                          
The faces... The faces burned themselves into the back of my brain. And I couldn't do anything about it... All I could do was scream.
                          
"Ainsley! Ainsley, wake up!" a muffled voice shouted. "Ainsley!" It screamed and yelled before I finally jolted awake.
                          
"Ainsley! Ainsley, what happened?" Colby questioned uncontrollably as he too sat up by my side.
                          
But I couldn't respond. I held my head in my delicate hands as I cried. The dream... The dream was all too real, that's what I was afraid of. 
                          
"Ains, what happened?" Colby asked again, this time in a more calm manner after he had realized that I was crying.
                          
"I just had a really bad dream," I muttered in between sobs.
                          
"Hey, it's okay. Relax. Come here," Colby soothed as he rubbed my back. I didn't speak, but I did listen. Colby sat up against the headboard of his bed while I made my way toward him. I put my head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around me.
                          
"It's okay, Ainsley," Colby comforted softly. "I'm here for you."
                          
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I'm sorry, I didn't realize this chapter was so short, but I have really good chapters coming to you guys next Friday! :)) I love you all and if you enjoyed this chapter, make sure to comment and vote!
                          
TO BE CONTINUED