The Day Before

                                    

                                          
"Tomorrow we're out of here, let's enjoy ourselves because who knows when we can again." Tee-jay explained.
"I don't know if I can now that we're going through with this, it's all I can think about." 
"Kayla we'll all be there for each other like we have already, we won't let anything bad happen."
"I know Polly, still I don't think I am in the mood for much fun."
"You mean what you're saying Polly but there's no guarantee we'll survive this. I have told everyone this and at least if I'm meant to die I'll have done what I can." Tee-jay added. 
"We should all celebrate the New Year together, be merry and all that dogshit then tomorrow we don't look back. I guess we can have a final debate about it if we really want to hold up here forever. But who's to say it will stay safe for us while she's alive."
"She has to die, that's my opinion and I'm seeing this through." Kayla told her.
"Me too Poll."
Polly nodded. "I wish we could just live here and have fun everyday, hopefully in time we can."
Everyone talked and stories were told that day, it was fun and everyone put the next day to the back of their minds.
But it was going too fast, when it got to early evening the realisation that nothing could delay the inevitable made the company somber.
"I'm sorry it's come to this. But I'm going to ask Tee and Kay one more time..."
"Polly I'm coming with you and that's it. I'm not debating it anymore, Kellen is not getting away with what he's done."
"I understand Kay. Tee?"
"I'm not letting you both go without me, I know how capable you both are but that's not the point. I'm the best shooter too, Kayla you're a close second though you've got the brains so it balances things out."
"Just come back safe." Jennifer said nothing else.
"You'd better." Mick warned them. Olga just watched them, sadness in every crook and crevice of her face.
Jennifer got up hugged everyone, Tee-jay last whispering 'look out for them' in his ear. Polly made no hint she'd heard.
Jennifer then led Davis away with Zym, she didn't look around.
Mick led Olga away before she had swapped hugs with everyone. They all bid their farewells and the trio were left alone again.
"Hmmm that's that then." Kayla was understandably disgruntled.
"Don't be mad at them, they're scared, maybe they have to distance themselves for their own sanity."
"I get that Polly, I think I'm done with this dog-shit conversation for good."
"I'll be honest guys I'm kind of done too, I need some time to get my head together so I'll take my leave."
"Don't wake us up at stupid O'clock." Kayla replied.
"When we're all up and got things in order we'll go, but don't lie in til midday you two or I'm pouring water over you both."
"Meanie. We'll get off early too, as far as I'm concerned Kayla can handle Leaf Spot, we're there as back up. Naia is barely worth it but we'll deal with that issue soon enough. I have to deal with the true evil myself, just stay out of the way until I need you. I'm not letting her get her hands on you. We've been over it so many times now we're bored of hearing it. It's important and we don't lose sight of it we will be okay. See you in the morning Tee."
"We don't need to go over it again, talking time is over, rest up." Tee-jay left them in peace.
"Early to bed Kay or stay up a little longer?"
"Bed, with your arm around me, we'll just talk until sleep takes us. Fine with you?"
"I couldn't have put it better."
They did just that.
Polly dreamt again.
She lay in a long black dress on a floor covered in skulls. Picking one up she inspected it, the eyes burned red and fire shot from its mouth blinding her. Dropping it she wailed, hands to her eyes she rubbed at the sizzling pain than penetrated into her throbbing brain.
She heard footsteps.
"Who...who's there?" The pain was agonising, she howled like a banshee as fluid poured down her cheeks. Blood? 
Laughter was the reply.
"I can't see, help me please."
More laughter.
A hand grabbed her around the throat, she began to choke, the pain she had already endured made her attempts at fight a pathetic charade.
Foul breath offended her nostrils, she tried to pull away.
A strong hand pulled at her hair.
"You won't remember me."
"G...get off me please. I...I can't breathe."
The hand let go of her throat, she drew in sweet oxygen, she was grateful. 
It didn't last long. The hand forced itself inside her mouth taking hold of her tongue.
She tried to gargle protest as the hand began to tear the organ from her mouth.
Fear, anxiety, pain everything she'd felt for years came flooding back.
Her tongue was torn from her mouth, blood exploded forth. Her scalp was ripped from her head, no one living would prefer this over death.
The hand caressed her exposed skull before breaking it open like an eggshell and taking hold of her brain.
"This damaged piece of jelly has caused you to do too much harm to the earth." She felt a tongue lick her expanding brain before teeth bit into it, there was only blackness.
Polly knew this was a dream but couldn't escape it, she had to relive the feeling for the rest of her slumber.