Dreamer by Kierstyn Faith Barbour (best historical biographies TXT) 📕

side, trying to get him to start hitting my shoulder. His hand snapped onto my shoulder and slammed my back into the ground.
“Kaylee!” James’s voice echoed through the air, at the same time a white hot pain laced through my stomach. I whimpered, but didn't have enough energy to scream. Mr. Phillips face floated above mine with a sadistic smile. Something warm and wet was soaking my shirt and spilling onto the ground.
Blood. I was bleeding. I closed my eyes and let my head fall to the side. But my eyes snapped right back open when I heard footsteps pounding into the snow. My body jarred as Mr. Phillips was vaulted off me and onto the ground. I pressed my hands into the wound. I narrowed my eyes in pain and slowly sat up. Blood gushed on to my fingers and I pressed harder. My eyes sought out Mr. Phillips, and found him unconscious, lying under James, who was still pounding away at his face.
I stumbled to my feet and slowly made my way over to James. In the background I could hear siren blaring through the air and tires splashing and crunching through the snow. I clutched James's shoulder and tried to stay upright. “James, he’s done. He’s asleep.” I shook his shoulder and his fist stilled while he caught his breath. I clutched both of his shoulders for support and pulled him to his feet.
He turned and I gave him a wary smile before collapsing into his arms. His arms locked around me and lifted me off the ground. I stared at his face as he strode over to the side walk, where the police and ambulance were starting to arrive.
Then hands were lifting me from his arms and setting me on a stretcher. I floated there and watched as they hooked up tubes and wires, but grasped James’s hand roughly when they went near my stomach. My bleary eyes sought out James and found him sitting to the left of me with horror and sorrow swirling through his eyes.
He smiled down at me and made an attempt to get up; but I held onto his hand with all the strength that I had left and managed to struggle out a few words. “Don’t leave me.”
After hearing my hoarse voice choke out those words, I laid back and remained conscious long enough to hear him say, “I will never leave you, not ever.” I felt his lips press against my forehead and as he removed his lips, my body went still and I drifted off to sleep.


I shook my head to get rid of the memory and strapped on my fighting gloves. I strode over to one of the dummies and started my routine. The moves I did were self defense moves I learned from my aunt. My favorite one was S.I.N.G. In the move you would elbow your attacker in the solar plexus, step on the instep of their foot, break their nose and elbow them in the groin. I repeated this a few times before moving to the weights.
I counted out 50lbs before starting the rep. As I went through the work out I thought about what had been happening lately and had the strange sense that something bad was going to happen. After doing 25 reps I got off the weight bench and went to my IPod home and turned on my workout play list.
The first song was "Bodies" by Drowning Pool. I started up the treadmill and put it on high, knowing I needed to run my frustration out.



Chapter 2

Chapter 2
After finishing my workout, I sprinted up the stairs and into the kitchen. I started a pot of coffee, knowing it was only this that was going to get me through the day. I pressed the 'Start' button on the machine and skipped up the second flight of stairs and into the bathroom. I closed the door with my hip and started to strip out of my sweaty pajamas. I threw my clothes in the hamper and hopped into the shower, hoping that it would wake me up.
My mind started to drift as the hot water pelted my back. I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice the dark figure that had just entered the bathroom. I was thinking of my parents and all the fun times I had with them before they died, but I let a few images of their death enter my mind. I shook my head to get rid of the dark thoughts and started to wash my hair. I squirted the pomegranate scented shampoo into my hair and started to rub it in.
While the shampoo was washing out of my hair I started to wash away the coat of sweat that covered my body. The scent of jasmine permeated the air and mixed with the citrus scent of pomegranate. I watched the soap slide off my body and into the drain in little rivulets. I stood there for a moment before turning off the water and stepping out of the shower stall. Taking a towel from the rack I wrapped it around my body and stood in front of the sink.
I was about to brush my teeth when I noticed that black figure in the mirror. I dropped my tooth brush and spun around, expecting to see someone standing there but it was only the shower stall. I slowly moved to face the mirror and came face to face to a black mist. I stared at the mist with a shocked expression. The two beings in the bathroom continue to stare at each other, until a strange noise came from the mist. "скоро мой маленький мечтатель," I faintly recognized the language but before I could say anything the mist disappeared and I was alone.
I looked at myself in the mirror for a moment before shaking my head, 'You’re just seeing and hearing things’. I grabbed my tooth brush and started the process of getting rid of my morning breath. Once I was satisfied with my teeth being clean I spit the leftovers into the sink. I then took the hair brush to my hair and started to get all the knots and snarls out of my raven hair.
With my hair and teeth finished I crossed the hall into my room to get dressed. The brisk wind from my open window moved through my hair, making it lift and flow as I continued into my room. The air in my room was chilled and caused to my arms to pebble with goose bumps as I searched for my clothes. I made my way to the dresser and started to pull out random drawers and throwing clothes out that I might wear. I settled on a pair of black skinny jeans with a plain white tank top. I grabbed a pair of socks from the drawer and started hopping around the room trying to put them on.
I sunk down onto my bed breathing hard from the fight I just had with my socks. I sighed loudly before looking at the clock next my bed; the bright blue numbers on the clock read 7:07. I groaned and went over to my vanity to put my make up on. I stared at myself in the mirror and finally noticed how tired and worn out I was starting to look. Faded purple bags were under my eyes and I was sickly pale. I frowned at my reflection before applying my eye liner and mascara.
I stood up from the vanity and made my way to the door. Without breaking my stride I grabbed my phone and bag from the desk breezed out the door. As I passed my aunt and uncles door I noticed their room was empty and assumed they were down stairs. I continued my stride down the stairs and into the kitchen. Weirdly enough the kitchen was empty and the coffee was untouched. I furrowed my brow before getting my to-go cup and filling it with coffee.
With coffee in hand I exited the house through the garage door only to be greeted by my aunt and uncle, both looking angry while waiting for me in the car. I locked the garage door and slid into the back seat of my aunts green Ford Focus. The tension was thick in the air as we made our way to Burner High school. My eyes flickered between the two adults while I thought about the conversation I had over heard earlier.
They were both hiding something from me and I knew it. Lately they had been closed off and distant. Ever since my nightmares came back their attitude had changed for the worse. I quirked an eyebrow and decided it was time to figure out what was happening. I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the back of their seats. Both of the adults jumped when my head suddenly appeared next to theirs. I noticed their reaction and moved on with my plan. I smiled sweetly at them before speaking, “How is life guys; Anything bothering you?”
I observed my aunts reaction from the corner of my eye; her spine had stiffened and she was now throwing frantic glances at my impassive uncle. No response came from either of the adults. I sat back with a huff and tried to ignore the obvious tension in the car. I guess I’ll have to find a different way to get them to talk about it. The car was silent the whole trip to the school.
The green car came to a halt in front of the school. I glanced outside before getting out of the car. A few students stopped and stared but the rest of them went on with their lives. I ignored the looks and practically jogged to the entrance of the school. I traveled through the crowds of teenagers and tried to avoid getting pushed and shoved.
After going up a flight of stairs and three groups of people I finally arrived at my locker. I grasped the lock in my hand and twisted in my combination. 14-32-25. Click. The lock snapped open and the door to my locker swung free. I pulled out my Trig book and notebook before stuffing it in my back pack and closing my locker. With my school work collected I headed down the stairs towards the common area. The common area was where students ate lunch and hung out before school started.
When I arrived the commons were filled with people and I couldn’t see the ones I was looking for. I took the plunge and started to weave myself through the body of students. Dang it, Casey where are you! I was starting to loose my temper when a pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I was about to elbow the person in the face when I heard his voice, “Hey beautiful.”
My body relaxed when my I recognized the voice. I leaned back against the lean body and smiled, “Hey yourself.” I smiled up at my boyfriend, James, and