This
is the first time I look back. Looking back at all my decisions
I
ever
made. I scream, scream and scream, running fast. I look back and
forth.
Looking
back to see how far he is from me, then looking forward to see
if
anything
will get in my way. My heart filled with adrenaline, and I run
faster.
Then
I entered, entered a dark, scary, black, quiet tunnel. I step into
the
darkness
leaving all light behind. I bring my right hand up to my mouth
and
start
biting my nails. Making slow, careful and quiet steps, making sure
there
isn't
a gap in the ground.

"Uhhh,"
I breathe in a whisper, afraid that he is not far off. I started
a
slow walk, looking around as I walk. Yet I wasn't really looking at
anything.
I
was looking through darkness.

"Why
was I so careful because...” I stopped in my tracks because I
heard
something.
Why did the lights have to be out today? Out of all the days
why
today?
After school I always take the abandoned, light up highway tunnel as
a
shortcut
forever and the lights are always a glowing a soft orange light at
the
top
corners of the walls. But now it is dark. It’s so dark, so
scary.

"Was
he here?" I ask myself. I waited and waited, but no sound
emerged
from
the darkness. I was waiting to wake up in bed screaming. But I
didn't. I
distinctly
remember dreaming about running into a dark tunnel on January
7th,
2014.
But my dream ended there. I guess the rest of this dream is up to me
to
finish,
if it is a dream at all.

"Is
this a dream or is it real life? I usually woke up screaming in
my
dark
room when I dreamt of this tunnel. I guess maybe it isn't a dream
after
all.
I don't know anymore. I have re-dreamed so many dreams, so many times
that
I
just...don't...know." I breathed out those last three words. I
kept running
for
what felt like hours. I felt the blisters on my feet rub painfully
off my
loose
shoes. I feel my lungs clasp together and I don't feel my feet
anymore. I
am
now practically gasping for air, and the fact the air was getting
emptier
than
ever. I felt dizzy and lightheaded but was determined to get out of
this
nasty
place. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it! A light! That meant I
was
not
far from getting out of this place. I picked up my pace. I went from
a fast
walk
to jogging to running. Then I realized I had not gotten any closer to
the
light.
It felt as if I was running in place. My heart filled with anger
and
dreads
I fell and started to cry. I was crying, crying, and crying. The
corners
of
my eyes were becoming dark and covering the light that I had finally
reached.
All
was dark after I had tasted a second of lightness. I felt my body no
more as
I
fell to the ground, falling back into darkness.

Then
I
thought I heard a voice.
”Are
you okay?!?!” I hear someone say. I slowly open my eyelids
blinking
rapidly
because of the bright daylight. I sit up slowly turning my head and
at
the
same time rubbing the back of my head as I soak in my surroundings.
Looking
around
I was on the grass on the side of a black long road. I then look at
the person hovering
over
me.

”What,”
I reply weakly, rubbing my eye.

”Oh
dear! This is worse than we thought! She is really dehydrated!"
A
second
woman says who has short gray hair in a bun, with bright blue eyes
and
pink
lipstick on. She has a light, knitted purple shirt on with a cat
pattern on
it,
dark purple bead necklace, and pink, low heels. I turn to her and
just stare
blankly.

”And
she has been there for a while.” The other lady wearing a
green
jacket
with a yellow shirt, and tennis shorts up to her knees says as I turn
to
look
at her too.

”Where
am I?” I finally ask.

”Ummm,”
The second woman says as she looks down the empty street.

”We
are umm, on Private Drive.” The second woman said after squinting
her
eyes
to look at the street address.

”My
name is Rosie and this is Leana." The second woman adds in a
high
pitched
voice as she points first at herself and then at Leana.

”OH,
but you can call me lea or just L.” Leana adds to Rosie. They
stand
there
next to each other looking at me. I finally remember my manners and
say,
“oh
dear, where are my manners? I am sorry my name is Sapphire.” I say
quietly
and
gently. The two women looked and acted as if they were 80 years old
but they
sure
moved like 60 year old. After I picked myself up off the green,
shiny
grass,
Rosie and Lea started walking. I stood there for a moment not sure
what
to
do and where to go. Then Lea turned back and said, “Well...you
coming ummm
Sapphire?”
I blink and then start walking.

”How
do you know where I live?” I ask them. Rosie turned around
and
points
to the house next to mine. I blink and realize that they were
my
neighbors.
I remember my aunt mentioning two women moving into the house
next
door.