Chapter 5: The Nightmare

Astra's POV

As I was almost asleep, my mom came into my room.

"Ready to sleep?" she asked, walks toward my bed and lay down beside me.

"Yes," I reply half asleep. I slowly close my eyes and open them again. I tried not to fall asleep completely because my mom is saying something.

"Alright. I know you are tired from playing all day. Remember we love you, ok? Sweet dreams baby!" she said affectionately and kissed my forehead.

"Will you love me tomorrow, Mom?" I ask cause I didn't hear clearly what she said.

"I love you now, I'll love you tomorrow, so sweet dreams for now." Her last word before I fall asleep completely.

A moment after,

I suddenly open my eyes and close them immediately because of the light that made me feel inferior. I tried to open my eyes again but slowly. This time, I successfully opened my eyes and witnessed a beautiful land full of flowers. I ran off it and made some flower crowns.

"This is for Daddy. Next, I'll make mommy's crown" I said to myself. I first made mine, daddy then lasts for mommy.

While thinking of her, the flower field starts to die, and a strong wind blows from my back.

"My flower crowns," I said when my crown was blown away. I feel like crying but I tried not to because I'm a big girl now. 'Big girl doesn't cry!'

My head throbs with pain as the world around me shifts and changes. The vibrant field turns into a dark abyss of swirling ashes, whipped up by a fierce wind. I shield my eyes from the stinging debris, waiting for the tempest to subside. When I dare to look again, my heart sinks at the sight of my parents standing distantly, accompanied by two unfamiliar figures.

I began to walk towards them to surprise them. As I drew closer and closer, I noticed two more adults with them. 'I think they're old'.

Everything happened so fast, like a whirlwind swirling around me. Despite the throbbing pain in my head, I raced forward when the old woman spoke.

"Don't interfere with us. You're the reason why she needs to die," she snapped angrily.

I reached my mom and hugged her tightly, begging her not to leave. But she just stared back at me, her face blank as if she didn't even know who I was. Fear and sadness gripped me as I clung to her.

Then, out of nowhere, Daddy appeared in front of us, leaning down to whisper in my ear.

"Astra, listen carefully. I know you're scared and confused, but you have to remember something important," Daddy whispered urgently, his voice trembling with emotion. He paused to catch his breath before continuing, "I'm doing this for you and your mom because I love you both," He gently placed my hand and Mom's hand together, his touch warm and reassuring. "No matter what happens, don't let go of your mom's hand, ok?"

As the two strange men began to move, Daddy stood up bravely, like a hero in a story. But then, something strange happened.

"Don't interfere, former Armann! She must die, and I'm here to claim her soul," my dad declared with authority. "She doesn't deserve this! It's my curse to bear, not hers! Please, spare them!" he added with pleading in his voice.

"Arman! Let the Reaper do his duty. You cannot defy fate," the other man interjected.

After hearing that, my dad froze for a moment and noticed one of the men stopped moving.

After all the comotion, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. It felt like magic, like a bolt of lightning striking, and suddenly we were standing right beside the stranger.

"What are you doing here?" The man holding my mom's arm asked when he noticed me. His face is both handsome and intimidating. I felt Mom's grip on my hand tighten suddenly, as if she were trying to protect me from something unseen.

"It's supposed to be Taaliyah's nightmare, set in the cemetery because it reflects her fears and the challenges she's facing," the other man, smaller but still handsome, remarked. "But what do we do? It's not her time yet, is it?" He glanced at the first man, who seemed even more striking.

As I pondered this strange turn of events, a red envelope materialized in front of the handsome man. He reached out and read its contents in silence. After a long moment, he spoke, his voice commanding.

"The answer is here. The child is involved. I will claim her soul as well!" he declared confidently.

Confusion clouded my thoughts as my head throbbed with pain, making it harder to understand what was happening.

"Who are you?" Mom's voice trembled with fear. "Don't touch my daughter," she pleaded, her voice growing more desperate. "What is happening?" Her questions echoed through the strange scene unfolding before us.

I tried to close my eyes and reopen them, hoping to make sense of it all, but the pain in my head only intensified. It felt like sharp pulses, pounding in rhythm with my heartbeat, making it difficult to focus.

"You had four days left to live, but thanks to your husband's interference, you've forfeited that time. And now, with your child's unexpected presence here, I'll claim her too," the handsome man became scarier when he said those.

I'm distracted by my headaches when I hear dad shouting.

"Taaliyah, it's your dream. Focus on something—anything," dad shouted.

My headache became severe and about to pass out. At the same time as my flickering, a light suddenly appeared to the point that I can't look directly into it.

"Mom," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

As my vision cleared, I saw the man holding my mom by her neck, lifting her three inches off the ground. She struggled against his grip, her breaths coming in short gasps. My head was spinning, and I didn't know what to do.

Unable to bear seeing my mom in distress, I rushed towards the man, intending to punch him. But my efforts were futile; it was like I had no strength at all.

The man turned his attention towards me, grabbing my arm tightly. "No!" I cried out, trying to break free, but I was too weak.

As he released my mom and focused on me, I was at a loss for words. I closed my eyes, hoping to make sense of the chaos around me. When I opened them again, I saw my mom struggling to catch her breath on the ground.

The man holding my arm seemed confused. "You! Who are you?" he asked, his grip tightening. I struggled to find my voice when he grabbed my other arm, his expression turning hostile. "You need to die!" he screamed, as a piece of paper transformed into a sword in front of us.

Confusion overwhelmed me. "I don't know what you're talking about," I managed to say, just as my mom grabbed me tightly. Suddenly, my dad appeared before us, but his joy was short-lived as blood began to trickle from his mouth.

"Dad!" I gasped, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Please," he pleaded, just as the environment around us began to change.

Slowly, my parents started to fade away, like characters in a dream after waking up, leaving me with no memory of them.

Then, everything went black, and I woke up a minute later.

~ To be Continued ~