Everyone Thought My Screams Were Fake Novels & Stories

I woke up in the middle of night due to a nightmare that felt so real. I dreamt about being in front of the press and being all over the news, tagged as a fraud. I was mortified and ran for cover but no one was there and there was nowhere to hide. I reached out for help from everyone I knew but they all stood and watched me with disappointed looks on their faces. I screamed so loud but no one listened to my pleas. The flashes of cameras had me going blind and I sunk to the ground, fighting the yells and the many profanities thrown at me. I tried blocking my ears but nothing stopped it, nothing at all.

I did care for what others would think of me after this, perhaps my reputation will be ruined, but I did not have any other option left. So I shook off all the thoughts, and screamed, “I am an Alpha- seducing whore.” Olivia and her friends burst out in laughter behind me. One of them was holding a camera, standing just a few inches away from me. “We did not hear it. Say it again.” Olivia ordered, “Louder.” I did. “Once more. Scream it out loud. Everyone should know you, right?” Olivia giggled. I breathed deeply, swallowing my tears, and screamed again.

I was glad to still have my earphones plugged into my ear so it looked real. Mom let out a deep breathe and just walked closer to me. Dad walked behind her. "Have you been standing there for long?" She asked. "I PROMISE I DIDN'T FART," I screamed, pretending to be listening to loud music. She gave a relieved smile and turned to Dad. I held my tummy and screamed, "OH FUCK, I MAY IF I DON'T LEAVE." I stormed out and got into the restroom. I locked the door behind me and leaned on the door.

I lose myself in it, in him, and believe—even if it’s for a second—that all of this is real and let him chase the last shred of doubt from my mind. Cheers erupt from the crowd. Someone whistles, inciting more laughs and clapping. I can forget that this group is full of gun-wielding soldiers. I can even forget that none of my friends or family are aware of what I’ve done. But I didn’t do anything. This is all pretend. Right?

I told him, and he chuckled. “Was it that funny? Even though you didn't see?” He asked, softening his tone, so I could know he wasn't mocking my inability to see. “He kept on shouting and saying incoherent things, I think almost everyone couldn't make sense of.” I lied and was awed at my ability to make it seem real. “But you said they told you he fell.” “Yeah, everyone laughed, and when a girl saw me looking confused, she… she told me. Then he began to scream.” I lied continuously and he laughed.

I stopped dead in the center of the hallway, gaping at the image. Obviously it had been photoshopped. But the comments were full of crying-laughing emojis, and the soundtrack that played over the top that sounded like a woman gasping… over and over again. No one would care that it was fake because they would want to believe I’d done that to get back at Daniel. I was going to throw up.

I just looked at her, and never showed her any reaction. “And now you're using the siblings to support your lies? Who are you to be with them? Do you think they will talk to you? Really? I can't believe it!” I grit my teeth because the woman doesn't want to believe me. She continued laughing that my claims were just a hallucination. “Look! They woke up now!” I was about to open my mouth when everyone started screaming in surprise.

I stammered as I faked tears in my eyes. “YOU WHAT ?” they shouted in disbelief. I could feel the pain their broken hearts were going through but this was so fun and an opportunity of the lifetime which I could not miss ! “You heard me,” I said as I started laughing this time. Corwin was the first to realize what I did and shouted, “You bratty, little minx, you just scared me to death !” he bellowed as he started laughing too. “I-I a-am s-so s-sorry g-guys, i-it w-was s-so fucking hard t-to miss this o-opportunity for worlds,” I managed to say between my fits of laughter.

"Why were you screaming, Nuella?" His words were like an invitation as the others surged forward again, eyes filled with curiosity. Evans' grip on me tightened, and I knew wanted me to get rid o them immediately. I forced my lips into a smile again. “I—I’m sorry,” I stammered, my voice pitched higher than usual. “I just… I saw an insect. It startled me. That’s all.” The neighbors exchanged skeptical glances. Mr. Alphonso crossed his arms, clearly unconvinced. “That scream didn’t sound like someone afraid of a bug, Nuella. Besides, we've been hearing sounds coming from your room, Everyone’s been talking—”

"My mom!" I screamed from the depths of my being in an agonizing cry of the spirit echoing through the room. "Is she dead?" My voice quivered; the last few words were hardly spoken, as if I feared to utter the truth. "No, this has got to be a mistake," I stammered in disbelief. "Who knows? Maybe you just misread it." I gave a laugh, a chilling, mirthless sound, like a cracking piece of ice, as I desperately sought a way to wipe the truth away, to evade the overwhelming press of reality.