• I lay dying, on the cold, cold pavement. My killer loomed above me with an evil grin on his face, and I knew then that I wouldnt be saved. I lay pouring crimson regret, guilt, and betrayal. I thought this man was my friend. I guess everything is not what it seems. But why did it have to be me suffering this violent twist of fate? I was only fifteen years old, and I had so much of my life in front of me. But, because of him, its lost. Is this my destiny? To be lost in his twisted destiny of death? I couldnt believe I was truly dying. By now, I could hardly feel the pain. Dante, my killer, kneeled and stared into my soon-to-be lifeless eyes. "Now you're mine." he whispered, without a trace of guilt, but with a surge of satisfaction at yet another win.
    I'm Emeralda Jones, though most people called me Emma. Lately I've been having this dream, nightmare rather, and I didnt know what it meant. I am a Seer, so I wondered if this was a premonition. Whatever it was, it happened so frequently that I knew I wouldnt be able to escape my fate of death. Everytime I had this nightmare, I woke up screaming bloody murder, sweating, and breathing heavily. My parents and two older siblings-Moriah and Darryl-would come rushing in only to guess what had happened. In the end, only my siblings-mainly Darryl-would stay with me while my parents and sister would go back to bed. Darryl would stay and hold sweaty me in his arms until I was calmed down enough to try and get back some of my lost sleep.
    He would whisper, "Shh, Em, you're alright. Nothing will hurt you." he would repeat this in a soothing whisper and have me calmed within minutes. So when I woke up screaming bloody murder again tonight, I wanted Darryl. And all but Darryl came rushing in. I forced my screaming to stop and stared at them while I caught my breath. "Where's Darry?" I asked, my heartbeat increasing evermore. They were silent. Mom ran a hand through her short black hair and walked out of the room and down the stairs. Probably heading to the kitchen to get the bottle of red wine she kept hidden in the back of the cabinet-the one of which I wasnt supposed to know about.
    Dad looked uncomfortable, for he wasnt one to express the truth in an awkward moment such as this. So, with a nervous glance toward my sister, he left the room with his hands in either of his front pockets. Now I knew something was up, and they were trying so hard to make me not worry about my oldest sibling. Well, they were doing a horrible job. I wanted Darry, and he wasnt here. Where was he?! "Where's Darryl?" I asked, pulling myself into a sitting position on my bed. I wouldnt let Moriah free until she told me what I wished to know. Her face was calm, but her navy blue eyes were filled with worry. "Darryl has some business to take care of." She said slowly, and I knew she didnt want to be in this position right now. "Where is he?!" Without realizing it, my voice had risen.
    She looked at me with a desperate look in her eyes. "He went looking for Dante! He wants to kill Dante for what he's doing to you-his baby sister!" Moriah exploded. I knew I would get the truth out of her soon enough, but I didnt think it would be so soon. "What?" I asked, stunned. "It's your fault he's out there risking his life, just so you can stop having nightmares all the time!" It felt like my heart had stopped beating. "Why cant you just leave this family? Why did you have to be born?! Darry and I were just fine until you came along!" then, without another word, she stomped out of the room, and I could hear her sobbing. I knew then that my sister hated me. Why? Just yesterday we got along just fine, and the next thing I knew, we were fighting. Well, she was fighting with me.
    I wish Darryl were here. I mean, he knows that I have visions of the future-and he knows that I cannot stop them from coming. Especially when I'm sleeping. Why did Darryl have to go after something that was only a dream? Well, for now anyway. I rubbed my head with the palm of my hand. Why did my life have to be so mixed up? Why did it have to be me having these visions? So many questions, so little answers. I let out a sigh and slipped out of the comfort of my bed. Bright sunlight shone through the curtains that were pulled over my windows. I didnt want to open them. It felt like everything would come to life if I did. Including my nightmare/premonition.
    I wandered into the bathroom with a clean set of dry clothes and took a quick shower, disappointed that the warm water wouldnt wash away my distress or the memories of my premonition. I dried off after stepping out of the shower and into the cold air. I changed into a black, long-sleeve shirt and blue, dark-washed jeans. As I combed my short, straight black hair, I wondered again where Darry was. Why did he have to do this? I'd have to ask him that when and if I ever saw him again. I trooped downstairs and smelled scrambled eggs. My mother-having had her dose of red wine-was busying herself with what she loved best: Cooking.
    She looked up when she heard me cross the threshold of kitchen and living room hallway. "Good morning, sweetie. Eggs?" I didnt think I could eat. "No, I'm not really hungry." I spoke the truth; my stomach churned at the thought of food. Thankfully, she didnt ask about what had gone on earlier. Without even realizing it, about half an hour had passed since my ordeal. I ran my hand through my damp hair and grabbed my shoulder bag from the closet out in the hallway. I wasnt sure why I'd gone into the kitchen in the first place; I guess it was just something to do while I contemplated my plan of running away to find Darry and Dante.
    I ascended the staircase and packed what I thought I would need for my journey to wherever Darry and Dante were hiding. Hopefully I would meet Darry on my way there-that way I could discourage him from going further.