14"Mark! You're here! Mom's gone! I don't know where she went. I don't think she was feeling too well either. She didn't eat any lunch and I went out to buy some eggs like you said and I came back and couldn't find her. There's no note or anything. You have to call- " Jake tripped. The pants he was wearing were too big for him. They were Mark's hand-me-downs.
Poor Jake; filled with worry. Mark rushed to his side and tried to comfort his younger brother, but the sobs would not stop. Still unsure of what to do, Mark awkwardly patted Jake's back until he slowly went to sleep, hiccupping the entire time.
After taking Jake to his room, Mark searched Mom's room. Jake was right; there was no note. Worry filled his heart. He muffled a cry of frustration. How could she leave? Why now, of all times? School was starting in a month. Mom was sick and needed to get better.
Mark couldn't hold it in. He burst. Hot, salty tears rolled down his cheeks and he gasped for air. A dry cough escaped his lips reminding him that he couldn't afford to cry. He wiped his tears immediately and got ready for bed. Perhaps Mom would return in the morning.
~ (AN: this is supposed to be in italics, but I can't get it to do that on the web. If you know how, plz tell me.)
The old man was dressed all in white. A frown was plastered on his face.
"Come, come my child. Your destiny awaits you. Come, come to your home," he beckoned.
Mark reached out and a vision of Jake appeared in his head. He withdrew his hand and shook his head regretfully. He tried to speak. He wanted to explain that he had to care for his brother, but Mark could not open his mouth. It was as if his lips glued together.
The old man retreated, shaking his head in disapproval.
"You shall regret this my child. Everyone must make a choice. It is now your turn. What would you prefer? A human? Or a." (End of italics)
The dream ended abruptly. There was a sharp tapping on Mark's side. Instantly, Mark rose and prepared to bash a thief on the head. Jake was thrown off course and almost flew backwards.
"Jake! What are you doing?! It's so early!"
"I'm sorry Mark. I had a bad dream."he began to whimper.
Mark felt horrible for making the miserable boy cry once more. He had come for comfort and instead, received hostility. Mark took his brother in his arms and gave him a sound hug.
"Aw. I'm sorry Jakey," he said softly," I think I had a bad dream too."
"Did you see Mom," Jake asked curiously.
"No. I saw someone else." Mark's thoughts wandered back to the stranger who had visited his dream. It had seemed so real.
"Was it Dad?"
Mark paused, unsure of what to say. He struggled to remember the face. All of the sudden, the memory was gone. Mark sighed. This was what dreams were all about. He looked around and realized Jake was still waiting for an answer. So he gave the best he could think of.
"I don't know. Maybe it was."
This chapter was not as good as the first. I'll probably edit it over time. Thanks for all the reviews! You guys are awesome! Sorry for not updating, but I think that I'll only be able to update once a week. It stinks. Please give me lots of feedback! Thanks!
~ DwYnNe