Sleep Away

[`DAYmon]

“Please don’t forget your medicine, Ashlynn. The doctor said it was very important that you not miss a day,” her father explained in a soft tone as he fumbled with the bottles and placed them beside her cup of water.

She stared at them with hateful eyes. At first, she ignored it while slurping the remaining milk in her bowl of cereal. When it was gone, she tossed the pills in her mouth and took a few sips of water. As soon as the small objects slid down her throat, she wanted to throw them up. They weren’t supposed to help; all they did was remind her of how weak she was.

“That’s my girl,” her father said happily. With a slight smile, the girl slid out of her chair and stood straight, letting her father watch her. She was tall, for a thirteen year old. Most of her features were straight and narrow. Overall, she was pleased with her body, but it was the need for medicine that she hated. She knew about her problem with sleeping. Huffing loudly, she grabbed her blue and white backpack, slipped the straps over her shoulders, and headed toward the door.

“Can we go now? I want this day to be over,” Ashlynn said finally with a quick yawn.

“Yes,” he responded, grabbing a folded sheet and his car keys. “Don’t forget to give this to each of your teachers,” he reminded her while handing her the folded note that was in his hands.

“Yeah, I won’t forget, Dad.”

It was something that should have been explained face to face or in more detail than a note full of choppy sentences. It was hard to explaining the conditions of his daughter’s narcolepsy. Trying to keep a straight face while purposely leaving out one of the most important side effects was impossible. Hopefully, her new teachers would understand without constantly calling him at the office. Ashlynn’s father worst fear was getting the dreaded phone call again.

A few miles later, they arrived at the school. Ashlynn groaned as she heaved the door open. Staring at her new large middle school, she sighed, turning around to face her father before he zoomed off.

“Have a—,” he started before the slam of the car door interrupted him. No point in finishing his goodbye as his little girl walked away. Driving off, he prayed that some good would come out of the day.

---

“Class, this is Ashlynn Reeves,” a pudgy teacher said, moving her arms dramatically. “Say hi! Make her feel welcome.”

“Hi, Ashlynn,” came the uninterested response from the rest of the twelve and thirteen year olds in the room.

The teacher gave a heavy sigh. “At least they tried,” she said quietly, under her breath. Bending down, she was below Ashlynn’s eye level. “You can call me Mrs. Lena. If there is anything you need to tell me or need help with, I’m here.”
Ashlynn’s response was a quick nod, Then she jabbed Mrs. Lena with the note her father gave her earlier. “I need to give that to my other teachers,” she explained grimly. Turning around, she headed for the only empty seat and sat down, in the middle of the class. Dead center.

“Oh, I see, Ashlynn,” she said, placing the note on the new student’s desk. “Don’t forget to give that to all of your teachers,” she said, heading to the front of the class. “Okay, class!” she said, clasping her hands together and smiling brightly. “Turn to chapter seven in your science books, read section two, and finish the questions.”

Ashlynn found the science book under her desk and struggled to find the chapter Mrs. Lena assigned. She didn't have a chance to understand what the topic was before a strange pain on her shoulder disturbed her.

“Hey you, what's the note say?” came a voice from behind.

Slowly, Ashlynn turned her body around, trying hard for her movements not to be noticed by Mrs. Lena. “What?”

“The note you gave Mrs. Belinda. You gotta know what it says.”

“It's none of your business!” she snapped, disturbed that this boy was trying so hard to get a hold on her past.

“Fine then. I was just curious. My name's Drake.”

“Ashlynn.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

Ashlynn paused for a minute, trying hard not to blush. Of course! Just a few minutes ago, the entire class had welcomed her in a bored fashion. How could she be so stupid!

“We're talking about how cells make up all living things, if you need to know,” explained Drake before leaning back to read his own science book.

Ashlynn did the same, placing her wrist on her forehead as she read. A yawn built up in her throat, and she felt very drowsy. She could almost see sheep bouncing around the room. When Ashlynn felt that she could no longer hold onto consciousness, a sharp jab punctured her shoulder.

“Hey, don't fall asleep. Mrs. Lena gets really mad when one of us falls asleep. Who knows? She might give us extra homework,” Drake said, keeping his voice low.

“Thanks. I'll try to remember that.”

...

It was good that Ashlynn didn't fall asleep. Mrs. Lena gave her an extra load of work. It was “the work required to catch up and keep up.” At least, she was in third period art. This would probably end up being her favorite class—if she stayed in this school longer than in the other one. Already, the kind wide-eyed Mrs. Belinda allowed them to paint.

Ashlynn didn't know that much about painting, but then again, nobody appeared to know. Except for Drake perhaps. To her left, he had set up his painting station. Every few minutes, the new girl would stop her attempt at painting a forest and glance at his green island surrounded by crystal waters. A part of her wished for talent like that, but the rest of her was pleased with her dark forest.

Yet it needed more. Something. As soon as she closed her eyes to visualize more images and colors for the work of art, she regretted it. Her body grew limp, and it was difficult to balance on the stool. Before Ashlynn could open her eyes, she was on the ground, soundly sleeping.


Sixty seconds.
“Ah!” a random girl screeched.
“What was that thud?” asked another child.
Forty-five seconds.
“Dang, you're clumsy. Get up, Ashlynn. Ashlynn?” Putting his paintbrush down, Drake slid off his tall stool and gently shook his new friend.
Thirty seconds.
“Why is she on the floor?”
“Lazy lazy lazy!” taunted a bully.
“Mrs. Belinda!”
Fifteen seconds.
“Oh, dear. Her father's note warned me about this. Class, wait here while I go tell the office to page Nurse Sam. She’ll know what to do about Ashlynn,” she said, heading for the door. “Just don’t touch her!” Mrs. Belinda called out from the hall.
“What's wrong with the new girl?” asked a random child.
Five, four, three, two, one.

Ashlynn's eyes opened. They weren't the color of a normal human's. Instead the black pupil had grown much larger and was now glowing green. Her body tensed, fingers clawing the ground, yet her facial expression was serene. After the clawing, the doors leading in and out of the art building slammed shut and locked themselves.

Under her body, a patch of grass grew, and it quickly grew, spreading through the concrete floor, as if cement had been transformed into dirt. Whenever this grass touched another surface, like one of the easels or the legs of chairs and tables, vines wrapped and crawled upwards, defying gravity. For a majority of the witnesses to this strange power, they were unaffected. A thorn less rose bush grew in the middle of the class, offering beautiful perennial flowers and shoving art easels around the room. Of course, the bully who taunted her previously attempted to pluck a rose, but thorny vines attacked him, and his bulky body slammed on the ground. Drake, who was amazed at this instead of frightened like the rest of the class, snickered quietly at the bully. Glancing at Ashlynn, he watched her as her strange eyes stared into the center of this 'magic' she was producing.

As soon as the whole room was filled with green, ivy on the walls and ferns drooping off the ceiling, Ashlynn's eyes blinked rapidly, the too bright green eyes turning into her dark brown color. Her body relaxed and then her body moved slowly before she gave a great big yawn and rose up. At the time she stretched her long lanky arms above her, Mrs. Belinda and Nurse Sam had arrived.

“Oh, she must have awoken,” Mrs. Belinda said.

“That's good. It might be much harder or much more dangerous getting her awake once she goes into deep sleep,” Nurse Sam explained. “How are you feeling, dear?”

Ashlynn responded with a quick nod, rub of her eyes, and another drawn out yawn.

“Very good, darling,” said Nurse Sam. Directing the teacher toward the door, she asked, “Why are most of your students huddled against the wall in fear?”

The fifth graders hugged the four walls, fixing their fearful eyes on one subject, Ashlynn. Some of the braver boys attempted to glare her down, but they kept redirecting their vision. Others either stared wide-eyed at her or at Casey the bully from earlier, and his bleeding wounds.

“Oh, dear!” exclaimed Nurse Sam. “Casey, how did you get those injuries?”

No response from him, but the class answered for her. In unison, they pointed at Ashlynn, who had gotten to her feet with the help of Drake. “What?” mumbled Ashlynn looking around at all the rude pointing.

“You are not in elementary school anymore. Doing something naughty and then blaming in on the new girl is not how a middle schooler should act all.”

“But she did do it!” shouted a brave boy.

“Yeah! She fell asleep and then stuff started to happen,” explained a girl.

“She made some vines come out of nowhere and attack me,” stated Casey with occasional sniffling. Tears built up in his eyes, but he tried to retain his reputation. After that, an uproar of scared questions, accusing statements, and many other unpleasant sounds started. All the noise—Ashlynn had heard it before. Crouching on the floor in a defensive pose, she covered her ears with her hands.

“That was awesome!” exclaimed Drake in such a loud voice that all the roaring from the monster of fear stopped. Rushing to Ashlynn's side, he grabbed her arm, trying to pull her up. She relaxed her body and allowed her friend's strength to help her stand. “How did you do that?”

“I-I-I don't know. What happened?”

“Enough of this foolishness. The bell is about to ring. Grab your bags and get out,” Mrs. Belinda commanded in a light tone. A few seconds afterward, the bell rang.

“Not you, Ashlynn,” said the teacher as she moved toward the door with a distant look. “Go with Nurse Sam to the office. I think you need to go home for the rest of the day.”

...

The ride home was excruciatingly longer than it should have been. After all, Ashlynn and her dad only lived a blocks from the school. Staring out the window, the small girl wondered what her fate would be. Her mind thought about the six schools before this one. She remembered how she would grow sleepy, fall asleep, and wake up with the class calling her a freak—a monster, and then she would move. She loved this town more than she could ever love the city in Mississippi, the town in Maine, or the densely populated New York City. Occasionally, Ashlynn would glance away from the passing scenery of the small town in Georgia and stare at her father, who avoided contact at all costs, wondering if he knew anything about the strange occurrences in her life.

No answer.

No matter how much she thought about how Casey and the rest of the class mocked her and feared her for reasons unknown, she couldn't stop thinking about Drake and how he thought whatever she did was “awesome”. He had no fear like the others. The shine of curiosity in his eyes was etched in her mind, slowly drowning the glares of hate and stares of fear.

Soon, they arrived home. “Put your stuff in the room and then come in the living room. I need to tell you something.”

Was it the truth?

A part of Ashlynn was excited, yet she trudged to her room, slowly put her backpack on the foot of her bed, and curled in her favorite chair.

“Do you know what happened to you today?” her dad began, fumbling with his hands nervously.

“No,” Ashlynn responded hesitantly.

Taking a deep breath, he started, “When you turned seven, you were diagnosed with narcolepsy, but you know this. Something you didn't know was that when you fall asleep, strange things happen. That's why you have been to so many schools.”

“Strange things?”

“Yes. It started out small. You would fall asleep and images of the food you ate, shows you watched, and things you loved would materialize. Then it became more complicated. The images became real. No longer where they simply images that I could pass through with my hand. Cats came out of nowhere, and I could pet their fur and get bitten by their teeth. That's one reason your mother left.”

“You said she died!” Ashlynn shouted, not concerned with her strange power at the moment. All those years she had adjusted to her mother’s “death”—wasted.

“I know I did. I lied to protect you. Explaining your power at such a young age and why your mom left was too much for me. I had more important things to do, like raising you and paying your doctor bills.”

“I miss her.”

“I do too. Perhaps one day when we get this 'power' under control, we can see her again. The both of us.” A look of pain was plastered on his face. With his clutching of fists and hurt expression, it was easy to see that feelings of love still coursed through Ashlynn’s dad’s veins. “When you go back to school, try not to go to sleep. It was lucky for us that the teacher wasn't there and no one believed your classmates.

“I will, Dad.”

Even though she said yes, going to school was the last thing she wanted to do. They would taunt her for what happened yesterday. In such a small middle school, news was sure to travel left and right.

Or could she be lucky?

...

Lady Luck was not kind to Ashlynn. The second she returned to her first period class, glances were shot her way. All of them weren't bad. Some were sympathetic. They didn't believe the rumors of her power. A few were curious. Some wanted to witness Ashlynn's gift for themselves. Other than that, gazes of fear and hate watched her. Only one was unaffected by rumors and harsh eyes. Drake sat behind her seat, and he had a silly grin, waving his arm slightly. A small smile appeared. At least she had someone.

Later at break, Ashlynn sat alone with Drake. Earlier, Drake had invited her to eat with him and his friends, but his companions suddenly remembered forgotten tasks—at the same second she settled in.

“Aren't you afraid of me?” Ashlynn asked when her stomach could not handle the banana pudding she was fiddling with.

“Why would I be?” Drake said jokingly.

“You know. Because of what I can do.”

“Who would be afraid of that?”

“Everyone it would seem. Haven't you noticed all the strange looks I've been getting?”

“Not really. I hate this middle school, so I pay little attention to what kids say. Besides, my mom says the world is changing and people need to accept the ones that are changing.”

“Wow. Your mom sounds smart.”

“She is. I miss her.”

“What happened to her?” Ashlynn shivered as she asked. Was it possible that the same thing that happened to Ashlynn’s mom happened to Drake’s.

“Nothing. She works on planes, helping people. An attendant, I think it's called.”

Working on a plane sounded relaxing. Always moving. She would have no chance to fall asleep. Her mind wandered. Views of flying, darting through clouds, came into her mind.

Sixty seconds.
In a few seconds, her forehead slammed into the table where they were sitting at, and her breath became light.

Forty-five seconds.
Drake poked her gently, wanting to wake her up, but at the same time, wanted her to sleep. What would happen this time he wondered? Hopefully nothing would, for Ashlynn's sake. A part of him wanted to witness her amazing feats.

Thirty seconds.
“Hey Drake!” a familiar voice shouted. “Why don't you wake up your girlfriend? She'll destroy the school if you aren't careful.”

“Back off, Casey. Just because you hate your girly name doesn't mean you have to make everyone hate you,” Drake said slyly.

Fifteen seconds.
Anger burnt within Casey's dark green eyes. With his uninjured arm, he shoved Drake. The brave boy fell on the ground, scraping his elbow against the concrete. Tiny drops of blood sank through the open channel in his skin.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Ashlynn's eyes opened wide, the pupil a bright silver shade. Moving her chewed fingernails to the edge of the table, she gripped it tightly, slightly trembling. Her chin rose slightly from the table as a great burst of air erupted under it, blowing her straight black hair toward the sky. Then the wind lessened, allowing her to rest her chin on the flat surface again. The gusts of wind spread out, ruffling the leaves on nearby trees, and even blowing twigs and small branches. The supply of wind was constant, but around Casey and Drake, it was the strongest.

Twisted around Casey, the wind was furious. Faster and faster it spun until Casey was lifted off the ground. Hovering in midair, suspended by the vengeful wind, the bully panicked. Whimpering and whining, he shouted, “Put me down! I'm afraid of heights!”

As if to mock his pleas, the wind spun faster, howling loudly to him. Finally, when the wind could spin no faster, Casey was tossed into a nearby tree. Luckily, his large body became stuck in between two branches.

The tornado settled down, eventually slowing to a relaxing breeze. Around Drake though, the wind was still slightly strong. It assisted him in getting on his feet. Rubbing his elbows softly, Drake looked around. He felt something in the wind that lifted him up from the dirt and gravel.

Suddenly, like a vacuum defeating pesky dust bunnies, the wind was sucked back into Ashlynn’s body. Her body and hair relaxed. She gave a slight yawn as she stirred. Sitting up, the powerful little girl rubbed her head.

How did she get this terrible red spot on her forehead?
Where did this killer headache come from?

Eyes watched her as she awoke once more. Most of the spectators had no seen this power before, but their peers had shared stories. A forest of eyes watched her, most filled with doubt. Even the teachers that were supposed to “keep the peace” watched in absolute horror.

So the rumors were true.

One of calmer teachers rushed in the halls of the school. Ten minutes passed before anyone made any major moves. After a while, the double doors leading to Break Area flew open. There, in a dark suit, a man stood, watching the students carefully. He mumbled a question to the teacher that stood at his side. The teacher responded by pointing to Ashlynn.

“Ashlynn Reeves is it? I want to see you in my office,” he said, taking a few steps in her direction. “You too,” he commanded, pointing to Drake. He walked away, expecting the two fifth graders to follow him, but he stopped and looked at the teacher who had summoned him. “Get someone to get that kid down too,” he said, pointing to Casey, who was still stuck in the tree.

“Who is this?” questioned Ashlynn once the man was out of earshot.

“He’s the principal. You don’t see much of him, but when you do, something bad had or is going to happen.”

Ashlynn gulped, but the lump in her throat would not go away.

It was a long interrogation. Drake was the first to be questioned. Then Ashlynn joined them. The Principal reluctantly believed their sketchy story. Defense was the only option they had in their first situation. No teacher was there for help. The second story was inexcusable. Many teachers patrolled the area. When Casey started taunting them, the Principal expected them to find assistance, but, no, Ashlynn resorted to violence. Student and Principal had a little verbal argument when Drake was instructed to leave.

“Why did you do it, Ashlynn?”

“Do what? I don’t remember anything past falling asleep.”

“Really? I would think a little girl would remember putting a large boy into a tree.”

“But I don’t!”

“So you say, but if you could explain it to me, I wouldn’t have to consider to report this to the authorities. Many people would be interested in this ‘power’ you speak of.”

“Please don’t. Dad said terrible things would happen if people knew about me.”

“People do know about you.”

“Ashlynn!” interjected a voice. Her father slowly opened the door to The Principal’s office, and then rushed to greet his little girl with a big bear hug. “One of the teachers called me. Are you okay?”

“Ahem,” The Principal said too loudly. “Like I was saying, it would be better if I knew how you hurt Casey. I wouldn’t have to announce the strange occurrences to all of Georgia. That would make your life miserable, now would it? People would stalk you, Ashlynn. They would desire to hook you up to machines. Mr. Reeves, I doubt you want your daughter to go through such pain. I’m sure you can explain what might have caused your daughter to put a boy into a tree.”

Nothing was said for a few minutes. Just complete silence passed through the three. Finally, someone spoke up.

“You’re blackmailing us, aren’t you?” It was Ashlynn’s father. He glared at his man dressed in black angrily. “Why won’t you keep silent about his and let my daughter and I move to somewhere completely different from here?”

“I just want to know if she is the one.”

“The one?” Ashlynn asked, her bottom lip quivering with fear. This man frightened her. At first, he gave her an uneasy feeling, but most principals gave that vibe to their students.

“Only one human exists with the power to create real things out of dreams. It would appear you are that one. Ashlynn, you are not alone. I have a gift too. Who knows where it came from, but I have it. Unfortunately, I require others like you to live. I will free you of your powers. The Principal’s voice grew darker and darker as he spoke. For a few seconds, he chuckled sinisterly.

Anywhere but here. That is where Ashlynn wanted to be. Closing her eyes, her head felt light, and she fell asleep.

Sixty Seconds.

Ashlynn’s father grabbed her before her head could land on the metal armrests. “Free her! Don’t you me absorb? I am not ignorant to those with power. My wife—.”

Forty-five seconds.
Mother had powers?

“Ah, yes. The infamous Mrs. Reeves. Her power was great. When I absorbed her gift, she screamed so much. Even when I drained her, she screamed. Of course, her powers of transformation are mine now!” As to prove his story, he outstretched his arm. The hand turned into a bear’s paw.

Thirty seconds.
No.

“You drove her insane? Bastard! Where is she?”

“I dunno. Dead perhaps? She was quite weak when I told her to leave her family, or they would pay the price.”

Fifteen seconds.
No!

“Filth. You took a young girl’s mother away from her,” he said. “So she wasn’t afraid of Ashlynn. She wanted to protect her,” he said under his breath, finally understanding.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Ashlynn had entered deep sleep, but her eyes didn’t fly open. Her pupils did not change. Tears fell from her eyes. Her father may not have known, but she had heard. This sick man had practically killed her mother, taken away any chances of a normal life.

But what could she do?

The tears that she shed gathered into a small pool. The more she cried, the more the water grew. After many minutes, a feline shape had formed. It began alive, hissing low. In a quick movement, it pounced at The Principal. Alas, it had no effect. In one simple motion, he raised his bear paw and slashed at the water cat. The animal made from dreams slammed into the water and transformed into the small swirling pool it was before.

“Foolish girl. You have yet to master your powers,” The Principal gloated as he marched toward her. Raising the other hand, he moved forward to place it on the sleeping girl’s head.

“Leave her alone!” a voice said. Bursting open the door, a small boy rammed right into The Principal’s legs.
Drake. He was still here!
“Insolent brat! How dare you interfere with the process!” The Principal grabbed Drake by the neck, closing his grip.

Drake! No!
Put him down.
Put him down.
“Put. Him. Down,” she said, her eyes slowly opening. Ashlynn had awoken from her sleep, but the pupils in her eyes were now a deep blue. Raising an arm, she motioned to the puddle of water, which reformed into the large feline. Her index and middle finger went together and slowly separated. As she did, the water cat slowly doubled.

“Impossible. How can you use your powers while you’re awake?”

No answer came from her pursed lips.

His grip on the boy’s neck loosened, and Drake fell to the floor, landing hard.
“You destroyed my mother, my life,” Ashlynn stated in a monotone voice but still intimidating. Her father looked down, realizing that she was listening as she slept.

“So what? There is nothing you could do about it. I’ve had years of sharpening my skills while you appear to have reached a breakthrough in it.”

Her large blue eyes narrowed, and she said nothing. Ashlynn’s long lanky arms fell to her side, and she snapped their fingers. “Around,” she muttered.

The two water cats heard and obeyed. Lowering into a hunter’s crouch, they crawled forward and sprang. The original went first, but The Principal dodged it with ease. The copy went forward, and the watery paws moved so fast that his black suit and his skin. Gripping the section of his arm where the attack hit, he tried to stop the flow of blood, but crimson drops soaked his dark suit. He glared at her, wanting to ask his target many questions.

“Water is the most powerful force on the face of this earth. Don’t act so surprised that my creations could do such a thing to you,” she explained. “And as for me being in this state, I don’t know how. All I do know is that you better not say a word about me. You have your power to worry about now.”

“Who’s blackmailing who now?” sneered The Principal.

She said nothing. Giving him a blank stare with her large blue pupils, she turned around and started for the door as one of the water cats dispersed in the air while the original’s unsheathed claws waited for The Principal to make a wrong move.

Ashlynn’s father slowly stood to him feet from the corner where he was crouching. He helped Drake to his feet. The two followed Ashlynn as she led the way from the middle school campus. She dared not look back. Not a fiber of her being wanted to. Even though this town was great, there was more to see.

Comments are greatly appreciated.