Nightmare in Niceville Read Online Free PDF Page A

trying to pass the time until I’m out of this hellhole. Maybe you should do the same . . . and stop bringing up my past! It’s getting old real quick,” he said as he shoved flavorless mush into his mouth.
    â€œYou know, I’ve always wanted green eyes.”
    He slowly turned his head to stare at me.
    If only he knew what was coming.
    I stared at the lumpy mashed potatoes on my plate. I threw my food out, disgusted, and headed toward my cell. Suddenly, Josie’s face had flashed into my mind without my permission. She was always doing that, pushing her way into my thoughts. I had to stop and regain my balance. I needed to get out of here before Josie killed me with her haunting memories. Then another image hit me.
    â€œJosie . . . don’t leave me,” I sputtered.
    â€œDon’t . . . worry . . . about me. Just . . . take care . . . of the girls,” Josie whispered between short raspy breaths. Seeing her on the old bed in the guest room, with blood-spattered sheets and pillows, ripped my soul from the inside out. Josie was my world, my love. She coughed, and it sounded so wet, so full of her blood. She rolled onto her side and was violently sick into the little bin by the bed. Everything was red. She rolled onto her back again and closed her eyes, breathing heavily.
    â€œPromise me,” she had said, her eyes full of love despite her condition.
    â€œI–I . . .” I sobbed, not being able to finish the sentence.
    â€œGet . . . the girls.”
    â€œI can’t leave you. There’s no time. And I want them to remember you in your health. Not like this.” I looked down, ashamed of myself. She nodded, a tear sliding down her gaunt face. Her hand twitched and I took it fervently. Her lips tried to smile. I gently touched her clammy cheek.
    â€œI love you, Josie.” I held back tears.
    â€œI . . . love . . .” She gasped, coughed, and tried again. “I love . . . you . . . t—” the T sound faded into a soft exhale. Her eyes stared off into nothingness, losing their warmth. I fell to the floor and sobbed.
    Screaming. People screaming. Someone had run past me, pushing me into the wall. I turned and pressed my back against the wall like a frightened animal. I was disoriented. Why were there so many screams? A fight had broken out. Guards were screaming, and the men were yelling at each other. Everyone was screaming.
    Josie was always haunting my mind, but that was the day everything finally made sense. That was the day my flashbacks seemed hopeful rather than reliving a nightmare. My cellmate came out of our cell, confusion on his face. As I’d stared at him, I could almost swear that I was staring into a mirror. I knew then what I needed to do.
    And now, here I was . . . sitting underneath a tree in the cozy little town of Niceville.
    If only they knew what was coming.

4
    Lily
    T he alarm went off for work, causing me to jump. I scanned the room groggily. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. I definitely didn’t sleep well.
    As I stumbled down the stairs, the smell of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and coffee mixed with the sound of sizzling food made my stomach grumble and my steps a little more graceful.
    â€œMorning,” I said as pleasantly as possible considering the early hour.
    â€œGood morning, sweetheart,” Mom said as she was frying eggs on the stove.
    â€œMorning, Lily,” Ashley said sleepily. Her sparkling green eyes fought to stay open. Her light-brown hair messily stuck out in strange angles. She had Mom’s hair, silky and pretty. I had my father’s hair that was thick and hard to manage—another reason why I left it straight—but it was soft, thanks to shampoo and conditioner. Mom had chocolaty-brown eyes, but Ashley and I both had pretty green eyes. We got our eye color from our dad. I liked the color, but I hated the fact that they were from my father. They were a constant reminder of him. Our dad was a painful