Chapter 2: Nightmare.
The night was restless for Ling Yue as she drifted into a world consumed by fear. The tendrils of her nightmare wrapped around her consciousness, pulling her into the depths of a haunting memory. In this dream, she found herself trapped in the fragile body of her younger self, a little girl burdened with desperation.
Huddled behind a decrepit trash can in a dimly lit alley, little Ling Yue trembled with both cold and fear. The moon cast eerie shadows, revealing the harsh reality of her surroundings. She could hear the distant echoes of laughter, the menacing whispers of the night. It was a village she didn't recognise, a place foreign yet suffocatingly close.
She cautiously peeked out from her hiding place, her malnourished body a stark contrast to her current self, a dazzling beauty with emerald eyes and waist-length black hair. The air was thick with anticipation, and she believed, even if just for a moment, that she was safe. Ling Yue took tentative steps forward, her tiny frame navigating the desolate alley.
Just as she had taken barely ten steps, a chilling presence filled the night, shattering her fragile sense of security. A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, towering above her like an ominous specter. Panic seized her heart as her breath quickened, and the familiar scent of danger permeated the air. The man's cruel eyes glinted under the moonlight, a sinister smile stretching across his face.
BAM..
Without warning, the man swung a fat iron rod towards little Ling Yue's head, the blow crushing her small body and sending waves of pain coursing through her. The world around her dissolved into darkness as her dream abruptly shattered, and Ling Yue's eyes flew open, drenched in cold sweat.
Gasping for air, Ling Yue frantically looked around and finally sighed in relief after finding herself in her room. Her heart still beating erratically and the image of the night refused to leave her mind. She slowly sat on bed with her back resting against the headboard. Looking around she found her mobile phone and switched it on to look at the time.
Dawn was nearing, the first rays of sunlight preparing to break through the horizon. A sense of urgency propelled her into action, dispelling the remnants of her nightmare. Ling Yue knew watching sunrise on the mountain peak was her medicine to calm herself down. She doesn't know why, but that place had always provided the comfort and solace she needed and for her it was like a calming potion flowing inside her the moment she steps on to the peak.
Throwing aside the suffocating covers, she leaped out of bed and in next fifteen minutes she was done with all her morning needs. Ling Yue slipped into her running shoes, the cool touch of the floor grounding her. As she stepped out of her room, she could feel the anticipation building, the beckoning call of the mountain peak echoing in her ears and this feeling was a mystery she never understood.
The villa was silent, its occupants still lost in slumber. Ling Yue moved swiftly and silently, her agile form gliding through the corridors, her mind focused on the destination that awaited her. The crisp morning air greeted her as she stepped out into the vastness of the outdoors. The first signs of light danced on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold.
With each step, Ling Yue felt her heartbeat synchronize with the rhythm of her surroundings. The mountain peak called to her, promising solace and release from the chains of her nightmares. She revelled in the sensation of her body in motion, the steady thump of her feet against the earth, as if leaving behind the weight of her past with each stride.
As Ling Yue ascended the mountain, the landscape unfolded before her like a painting. The village she had left behind in her dream now lay peacefully beneath her, its rooftops embracing the rising sun. Ling Yue reached the summit, her breath hitching in awe as she witnessed the birth of a new day. No matter how many times she witnessed this stunning scenery in front of her, she would never get tired of it. Every visit here was a familiar yet new experience for her. Perhaps others would think that she was exaggerating the view, but only she knew she wasn't, and the reason, she's yet to find.
The warmth of the sun's rays caressed her skin, infusing her spirit with renewed vitality. Ling Yue's gaze swept across the expansive vista, her eyes tracing the contours of the land. In this moment, she found solace. In this moment, she was no longer defined by her nightmares, but by the strength and beauty that resided within her. There was something in this place that chase away every demon away from her.
Ling Yue chuckled at this thought. Might be this is where my guardian angel resides. This was the only answer she can think of. With a serene smile adorning her lips, Ling Yue breathed in deeply, her lungs filling with the crisp mountain air.
"GOOD MORNING LING YUE"
Good Morning Ling Yue...
Good Morning Ling Yue..
Good Morning Ling Yue..
....
..
"HAPPY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY"
Happy eighteenth Birthday...
Happy eighteenth Birthday...
Happy eighteenth Birthday...
...
..
Her soft voice echoed through out the mountains and river as she wished herself happy birthday. She does the same every year and this year was the same. Since she doesn't have a happy family to bless her she lets these peaceful mountain ranges and beautiful nature to greet her.
Spending some more time on the top, she made her way back to the villa while softly humming one of her's favourite tune.
After few minutes she reached the estate gates and turned around to look at the peak. A soft smile lit up on her delicate face as she made her way into the villa. This was the only villa in the entire mountain area.
"Ahhh..."
Just as she opened the gate her three villa companions who have woken up from their slumber and were getting hyper to greet her ran towards her and pounced on her causing her to fall back on grass.
Bow Bow Meow Bow
BOW Meow
"Xiao Bai, DouDou, BaoBao...stop..haha...stop licking me..haha..Okay okay got it. Thank you for your wishes. Now get off me". Her three little pets climbed off her and Xiao Bai, a ragdoll breed in cats got back into her princess mode and elegantly walked into the villa with it's tails almost smashing into the face of the little malamute pup and scaring the poor one who didn't seem to be friends with that proud cat.
Seeing this Ling Yue cannot help but roll her eyes and she took the sulking DouDou into her arms and followed the cat.
[DouDou: Hmph. Stupid cat. Look at what I will do once I grow up. Just wait and watch.]
"BaoBao, are you not coming in?" she turned before entering the villa and as usual BaoBao ran into the woods outside the gate. Since this was a daily routine for the four them she didn't stop German shepherd. She knew he would come back after bullying few innocent animals in the forest. She entered the house with a smile, leaving the main door open for BaoBao.