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"Ugh… where am I?" I thought, opening my eyes.
"I'm back in that place again? Is it normal to have the same dream twice?" I drifted in the void of my dreamscape, weightless.
"Well, if I'm right, then a giant knight in golden armor should show up any second now to cut me in half… or not. Who knows?"
"GRRR."
"…Oookayyy, what was that?" I muttered, eyes wide as saucers, my heart pounding like a war drum.
"GRRRR." The sound came again, this time with glowing red eyes glaring at me from the darkness—eyes filled with malice, set above a mouth packed with rows of jagged, shark-like teeth.
"Wait, this didn't happen last time…" Fear took over. Seeing that demonic face peering at me through the void, I wasn't just scared anymore—I was absolutely terrified.
Worst part? I had nowhere to run. I tried to float away, to swim into the darkness, but no matter how I struggled, I stayed frozen in place. I could only wait for the creature to reach me and devour me.
"I don't care if this is a dream—please! I don't want to die like this!" I screamed, hoping something—anything—would save me.
But it was useless. It was already upon me. Too late.
'I'm a goner…' Tears blurred my vision.
"God please… God please…" I sobbed. "GOD, PLEASE!" I screamed as its fangs tore into me.
"Suru, you dey alright?" A voice broke through as I snapped my eyes open, gasping. I leapt from my seat, patting my body frantically.
"I'm alive… I'm alive…" I whispered, tears still streaming down my face.
"Suru? Suru, can you hear me?" The voice was clearer now—my teacher's. Wiping my face, I looked up to find the entire class staring at me. Some amused, some concerned.
Ignoring the bastards I called classmates, I focused on my teacher, who was already approaching with worry written on her face. "I'm fine, ma. I just… hit my knee," I lied. A terrible excuse, but better than admitting I'd just had a nightmare in the middle of class.
She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow like she didn't believe me for a second. Still, she didn't press and simply motioned toward the infirmary.
I muttered a quick thanks and stepped out of the classroom. Leaning against the wall outside, I pressed a trembling hand against my chest.
"Man… I need help," I breathed heavily. I closed my eyes but snapped them open immediately as flashes of that creature returned.
"Yeah, that's it. I'm calling my pastor when I get home," I muttered, forcing myself toward the infirmary—mostly for painkillers to deal with the pounding in my skull.
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Timeskip
'What a long day…' I thought, walking home alone. My younger brother had things to do at school, and I didn't feel like waiting.
'He'll be fine. He's thirteen—just a year younger than me. No need to worry. Besides, he'll probably come home with his friends.' I trusted him not to do anything stupid like following strangers.
Lost in thought, I passed a few shops, then turned a corner—only to freeze.
Right in front of me stood something straight out of a nightmare. Not a dog. Not even close.
'What the hell is that!?' My mind reeled. The creature's body was covered in pitch-black fur, its eyes glowed a menacing red, and its mouth dripped with razor-sharp fangs.
I couldn't move. If I ran, it would chase me, and I knew I couldn't outrun that thing. But as I stood frozen, I noticed something chilling—nobody else reacted. People walked past casually, oblivious. It was like the beast was invisible to them.
"GRRRR." It growled, padding toward me slowly.
'Shit… what do I do!?' My heart pounded so violently it felt like it would burst from my chest.
"Run." The thought didn't feel like mine, yet my legs obeyed before I could resist.
The monster lunged after me immediately. Terror fueled my sprint as I darted between pedestrians and okada riders, weaving through traffic like a madman. I didn't dare stop. Not until I burst onto the expressway.
Finally, I gave in to every horror movie instinct and looked back—only to find… nothing. No glowing eyes. No monster. Nothing chasing me.
"Am I going insane?" I whispered, stepping off the road. But then—my legs refused to move.
'What the—!? Why can't I move!?'
In my struggle, I didn't notice the truck barreling toward me. Even if I had, I couldn't have dodged.
"BAM!"
Glass shattered. Metal crumpled. The impact threw me into darkness.
'I don't… want to die…' The thought echoed weakly.
But it was already too late.
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