24 Dreams

I stared at the ring on my finger, only yesterday did Ingo gave it to me, he looked shy when he asked my hand for marriage, Papa seemed to be happy about the news. I felt relieved, it was unbelievable that a man would take interest in me... the ones I had met in Spain were spineless fools who court women as if we were trophies to be paraded.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Nina!" I heard Ingo's voice from the other side, my heart fluttered in excitement, "are you still dawdling? We still have lessons you must be at the study soon."

What!? I thought as I rushed to the door, what lessons? This man just proposed to me and now he speaks about lessons? The audacity!

I pulled back the door and I was welcomed by a stern stare, "Have you forgotten of your lessons today Senorita?"

"Ay! My love, why the stern look and why do you address me as such? Have you forgotten that I am now your fiance?" I said to him as I waved my ringed hand at his face.

"Fiance or not Nina you are still my student and I must not neglect my duties in making sure that you are properly educated. Besides, you do not expect to be married quite soon do you?"

I sighed, "you are one fine work my dear sir, I shall see you at the study in a few moments."

"Very well", but instead of turning towards the study Ingo had took by his arms and gave me a kiss, "do not take too long my love".

I felt my face burn as I blushed.

I finished dressing up as quickly as I could and almost ran to the study, I bumped to my cousin, in a rush I fell back with great force and speed that I was going. Damian stared at me as he helped me back to my feet. He stayed for the week due to the number of meetings Tia Lorenza had prepared for him, and just by the look on his face he was already getting tired of meeting girls.

"I never saw you this excited to study", he said to me as I picked up my books, I just smiled, "Nina, he is your tutor, even if you are both affianced I suggest that you study hard, men like him like intelligent girls."

"Damian, I am intelligent", I responded and my cousin smiled at me, he still hasn't gotten over Ysabella De Martine, and my aunt has just no clue that it was much more painful for him to go to these marriage meetings than to work in the plantation.

"Now, go to your lessons", he said and went on his way.

I walked towards the study a little more relaxed after the small chat with my cousin, and inside Ingo was sitting across the table and engrossed with reading. I knew that our courtship was quite short unlike those whom I know but in a span of three short months he was able to show me what kind of man he was and made his feelings known. He knew so much about me that I was a bit surprised, and when Papa told me of the arrangement in the letter a month back it was all clear. He had always cared about me.

I stared at him for a brief moment, feeling lucky, I smiled to myself, wouldn't it be nice to wake up by his side one day.

*****

I opened my eyes to darkness. My body felt as if I was suspended in water, nothing was above nor below me, my limbs were limp like noodles. As I floated a rush of wind pushed me towards a direction in the infinite abyss, then it stopped. My feet felt something cold and hard beneath it, I began to walk, just letting my feet touch the cold hard surface with every step. Where am I? I asked myself, I cannot see any source of light, am I dead?

Then in the distance a shine caught my sight, desperate I ran towards it, until I arrived at a small candle in front of a mirror. I saw myself in the mirror, I was bruised and battered in most parts of my body, then at a blink of an eye the image in the mirror changed. I was looking at the image of Antonina Zarragoza, she was staring at me as I did with her. Her face was tear-stained and looked scared, she moved her hands as if she wanted to touch me, but could not, she bawled at the sight of me. Why?

I felt confused, why did she cry? Why did she want to touch me? Was this another memory? I shook my head, what's going on?

I felt a hand on my own and I looked to my side and I saw no-one beside me. I Looked back in the mirror she was still there crying, she already went down on her knees with her hands covering her face.

I went to the mirror hoping to comfort the crying woman, but as my hand touched the mirror, I found myself staring at Domingo De Leon as he read by the window.

"Nina?" he said as he looked up, "have you been standing there for a long time?" I shook my head and a warm feeling spread out on my cheeks, my body moved on it's own as if I didn't have any control

"Well take your seat and let's start. We have algebra today.", I felt my head nod and my lips smiled. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I walked towards the table and sat. I forced my body to stop moving or to run away but nothing seemed to work. I watched as Domingo De Leon moved around me, it was then that I realized that I was not in the mind of Antonina, it's as if I was trapped in her head. I looked around me, it feels as if I was in her memory once more, I looked at my wrist, it was thin but it was starting to be visible, the Mark of the Limbo of Fathers was beginning to appear. Everything was becoming clear, the demon had taken me to Limbo and locked away Antonina's spirit so she would not be able to help.

They want to drive me into insanity, to make me think that I am Antonina Zarragoza, they want me to be madly in love with Domingo De Leon and to do whatever it is that they wish. My stomach turned, I felt sick at the thought.

No! I told myself, I will resist until my very last breath!

My body moved in accordance to the memory, but I forced myself to take control, I cannot allow myself to fall into their trap. It came to a point where I began to hurt as I forced my own wishes to the body, I was so painful that even the Antonina's persona will cry in pain. When she does Domingo De Leon would rush to her and for some reason a sudden surge of electric pulse will run through me. At those moments I knew he was there with me.

I watched my wrists as the Mark of the Limbo of Fathers began to complete itself, I shuddered at the thought, I was a prisoner, in this world, resisting that is true but nonetheless a prisoner. I knew that they were aware that I was awake, but even with my resistance I was starting to lose myself in the memory, it was only a matter of time before I fell.