Serenia laid on her bed and tried to sleep, but all she got were nightmares-almost like flashbacks. She got pictures of girls falling through ice into the lake, their thoughts as they were dying ringing in her head.
"I wish I could have said goodbye..."
"It's so cold...it's true what they say about a thousand needles in freezing water..."
"Please, mom...please, dad, don't cry when I'm gone..."
Then, it all changed to Serenia seeing  a boy, but not just any boy, James.
Serenia lightly struggled to wake up, but it was like she was frozen where she was. James didn't have his shirt on, and there were several scars on his back. Serenia didn't have to wait long to find out why.
His dad came out, carrying a whip. He did not look happy. In fact, he looked angry. The first time that he slapped James' back, Serenia felt the sting on her own back and squealed in surprise. The second time hurt worse. Three...four...Finally, she woke up screaming as if someone was torturing her.
Her father did not hesitate to run into her room and run his hand against her forehead, which was wet with sweat, "Sweetheart, it's okay. It's just a nightmare," but then seeing the blood on the bed, he wasn't so sure, "What happened?"
Serenia looked away, "Nothing." something within her wanted to keep this to herself.
Paul looked at his young daughter worriedly. She had never kept secrets from him before, and he knew that some of them were just a part of growing up. However, this was too serious of a secret to keep from him, "Serenia, turn around and pull up your shirt."
Serenia's eyes shot up, "Dad! I'm sixteen!" she protested vigorously.
But Paul only shook his head, "If you will not tell me what's going on, I have to find out for myself."
Serenia was confused, but slowly turned and showed him her back. There were several deep cuts on her back. Paul lightly touched one of them, and Serenia hissed in pain.
"Who did this to you?!" Paul was angry that anyone would lay a hand on his baby girl.
"No one, dad, it's okay." Serenia pulled her shirt down.
"I want to know!" her dad stood up angrily and looked at her.
Serenia never felt so afraid in her life. It wasn't possible that the last part of her nightmare happened in real life, was it? No, this must be an addition to the nightmare, but it definitely didn't feel like it.
Her dad was still standing in front of her, awaiting a response, "I honestly don't know, dad. One minute, I was asleep, the next, I wake up in pain. I know that it doesn't make sense, but that's what happened.
Paul was taken aback. He never suspected that Serenia had blackouts, but now he had to think about that.
What should he do-call a shrink? He never, in his lifetime, thought he would resort to something like this, but he was desperate for answers, and maybe this was the only way to get them.
Paul walked over to the phone and picked it up. He looked back at Serenia, who looked like she was in a daze. He walked to his computer and looked up the numbers for a psychologist, and got her scheduled for the day after tomorrow after school.
Paul sighed and realized that he didn't know how to relay the news to his daughter, or how she'd react. Well, I do know how she'll react, he thought to himself, Which is why I don't want to tell her.
Just as he expected, Serenia did not take the news well, "You think I'm a nutcase! I am telling you the truth, and you won't listen to me!"
"Isn't it possible that you blacked out?" Paul asked calmly.
"No." there was no hesitation in her voice, and that worried Paul even more.
Paul left her room without another word. He didn't know what to do. He had sworn to always be there for his young daughter, especially after her mother left. And he had kept his word, but this was the worst trial by far. It seemed like a ghost was hurting Serenia, and worse, he felt powerless to stop it.
Somehow, he knew the psychiatrist probably wouldn't be much help and would only think that Serenia was insane. On top of that, they would make her pop pills to make her even crazier, giving her the excuse to still see them.
On this last part, Paul believed that he was exaggerating a little,but the consequences would be the same. Child services and the psychiatrist would suggest her staying in therapy until adulthood.
This thinking was almost enough to take him to the phone and cancel the appointment, but he also knew that the stress of the situation was not allowing him to think correctly.
Paul sighed and sat in his easy chair, realizing that Serenia hadn't come out of her room in four hours...