Nightmare on Third Street - Chapter Two

Dominic was up before me, making noise in the bathroom as he flushed the toilet with his sleepy little hands. Next, the faucet on the sink turned on, and I smiled to myself, for he remembered to wash his hands. That was always a good thing. As he lumbered down the hall, I heard his little feet stop just in front of my door. He was probably wondering if I was up, but he didn't knock or anything, he just kept going. I heard him enter his room, and he closed the door behind him. I sighed contentedly as I snuggled back under the covers, ready to lie there for a few more hours.

Dominic's door opened again, and he walked back down the hall to my door. I inwardly groaned as I looked over at the alarm clock on my bedside table. 4:45 a.m. I didn't need this, I didn't want to get up just yet. He knocked once, then opened the door slowly, which really wasn't like him. "Bryan?" he asked as he took a timid step inside.

Light from the hall blinded me. "Come in," I said from the warmth of my bed. He closed the door and walked toward me, stopping on my side of the bed, looking at me. "What's up, pup?" I questioned, rubbing clarity back into my eyes. "Anything wrong? Did you sleep okay?"

"I...had a bad dream," he said, looking away.

I frowned. "Bad dream?"

"...Yeah. Can...can I sleep with you?" he looked nervous.

I frowned again. "Of course you can, Dominic." he smiled and climbed over me, snuggling under the covers on my right side. He gave me a tight hug, then let go before I could hug back.

"Thanks," he said.

"No problem," I yawned. "Get some sleep, kiddo. The sun's not even up yet."

He nodded, and I rolled over onto my left side. I felt him snuggle into the small of my back, trying to get warm. Maybe he was cold, maybe he was scared, I wasn't sure, but it didn't matter to me. I wasn't just going to push him away when he needed me. If he wanted to snuggle, he would only do it for about another year, then I'd probably start getting the cold shoulder. I knew what would happen. I'd gone through it myself.

I closed my eyes and felt myself drift off to sleep once again.
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When I awoke a little later, Dominic was still curled into my side, snoring softly. I smiled at him as I slowly moved out of bed, in desperate need to relieve myself before I did it all over the floor. I hated those mornings when you had to go so bad that it hurt, and that was the only thing you could think of. I was doing the little dance that people do when they have to go really bad as I tucked Dominic in and raced out of my room.

I slammed the bathroom door shut, relieved myself, washed my hands, and exited the room with one of those sighs people give when they're in one of those happy, blissfull moods. I migrated back to my room and opened the door, walking back to bed. It was only 6:52, after all, I could sleep a little longer.

I crawled back into bed, careful not to disturb Dominic as I did so. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as I got comfortable and warm, the phone rang right in my ear. I flinched and jumped and reached for the phone, successfully knocking over the alarm clock as I did so. I cursed once, probably a little louder than was necessary, as Dominic stirred at my side, and grabbed the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, cutie," came Kim's voice.

I smiled. "Hey, Kim. What's up?"

"Nothing, I was just thinking about you."

"Aw, how sweet."

"I'm on my way to work. How about I come by your place and pick you up a little later, when I'm off, and we go see a movie?" she sounded hopeful.

"...I have my brother over."

"Don't worry, we can take him too. I'm not going to take you to some rater R film, ya know."

I smirked. "I know, Kim. Okay. Sounds great. Call me before you come."

"Okay. Love you, Bryan."

"Love you too, Kim," I said, and we both hung up. I snuggled back into bed, desperate for more sleep. Dominic and I had stayed up late, eating pizza, watching T.V., and playing his game. My wrists were chaffed. I probably should have stopped sooner. Heh.

I closed my eyes again and went back to sleep, thankful that Dominic hadn't woken up yet.
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I poured Dominic a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Froot Loops. He loved them. What kid didn't? He ate them as if he hadn't eaten in days. I shook my head as I watched him, sitting in a kitchen chair. I could never eat in the mornings, I didn't know why. I was sure I could when I was younger, but not now. I wondered if Dominic would be like me in that aspect, before I mentally shrugged it off. It didn't matter right now, anyway. I doubted it ever would.

The phone began to ring. I moved toward it and picked it up.

"Hello?"

The only answer I got was someone breathing. I shrugged and tried again. Still, there was no answer. Suddenly, the line went dead.

I frowned and hung the phone up. Almost as soon as my hand had released it, it began to ring again. I picked it up. More breathing. I got annoyed, yelling into the phone, and hung up. It rang yet again.

I slowly answered it, thinking it had to be someone else. Why would the same person call three times in a row?

"Hello?"

This time it was different. I got screaming for my answer. Screams of pain. My eyes widened as a gunshot went off, and then everything was silent. The line went dead. I shakily hung up the phone.

"Who was it?" Dominic asked, happily eating his Froot Loops.

"...No one," I said, if not a bit shakily. "It was no one."

If only I believed that. Why were they calling me to begin with? And what had happened? None of it made any sense, and it only made me worry.

What was going on? I prayed that we had nothing to do with it.