Chapter 11 - Dream or Reality
I woke up, breathing heavily, my clothes were soaked from sweat.
"It was all a dream "
"A more distinct dream"
"What sort of dream is this?"
Fear gripped my body as I recalled every detail of the dream.
"No, this wasn't a dream. When did I sleep off?"
This dream felt so real and vivid, the images of the dark room, the giant hall, the man she meant earlier at Williams house lingered in my mind.
I tried shaking off the feeling of unease that came with the thought of the dream.
" I didn't sleep!, I didn't sleep, I didn't sleep!!!"
I shouted repeatedly holding my head hopelessly with my hands, recalling how this all started, from the knock on my door, I went to Mia's room, I came to my room to see the windows open, windows I personally closed, I closed the again before, I paused trying to figure out how I got to that dark room ….
" why am I being tortured?"
"What did I do to deserve this?"
I was scared to get up from bed because I didn't know what will happen next to me.
This whole new development was taking a toll on my mental health.
"But then why did it end with the same nightmare I've been experiencing lately?"
"Does that guy Ray has something to do with this?"
"Ray" i whispered
And the stranger I met at Williams house, he is also part of this.
There is a connection with this dream and the strange feeling that I've been experiencing lately and I must get to the root of all this.
"This whole stuff started after the accident, it really have something to do with the accident and the guy who knocked me down" i thought to myself.
A wave of courage washed over me as I threw off the duvet on my body and got out of bed, I opened the window letting in fresh air.
The morning was calm and peaceful, far from the chaotic night I had.
I went to take a bath, hoping that the water will wash off all the memories from the dream, but the water wasn't enough to wash deep into my soul.
After my bath, I went to Mia's room to check on her, luckily for me she hadn't gone to work yet.
She was dressing up for work.
"Good morning Mia" I said smiling
"Good morning Sleepy head, I came to your room earlier but you were still asleep " she said adjusting her clothes.
"Really?" I said folding my arms.
She looked up at me and twisted her face, walking up to me, she held my chin examining my face.
" are you okay, Aubrey?" She asked looking straight into my eye.
"Yes, I am or do I look sick ?"
"Not that, you look like you haven't had enough sleep for over a year"
"Well I'm fine miss Mia, thank you for your sincere concern " i said giggling as I left the room.
"Can you help me pack my lunch please…" she asked peering through her door.
" No problem miss…" I replied as I left for the kitchen.
I packed Mia's lunch bag and made tea and sandwich for myself. I sat down at the table as I sipped my tea, somehow I was drawn back into the dream, the memories flooded my head.
I closed my eyes tightly, focusing on my breath trying to get rid of the memories.
Lost in the memories, I didn't notice when Mia came out to take her lunch bag.
"Aubrey, are you sure you are okay?" She asked.
"Aubrey"
"Aubrey!"
Aubrey!!" for some minutes I thought I heard those words from my head.
Slowly opening my eyes I saw her looking down at me concerned.
I faked a smile when I saw her confused face.
"You know you could talk to me about what's wrong, right?"
"I'm fine Mia, it is nothing you should be worried about " I responded.
"Aubrey, you are not fine!"
" you keep emaciating daily, what's eating you up?
" is it Williams?, forget about him a better person will come "
" I don't like the state you are in"
" you are becoming a shadow of yourself " she said holding my hands.
Her voice was low and steady, she was really worried about me.
I can't tell her what I've been experiencing lately, she will be worried sick about me.
"I need a new phone" i said sheepishly, trying to brighten her mood.
"Is that all?" She replied
I nodded like a child, she pinched my cheek before replying " I'll get you one today okay?"
I nodded again, she chuckled, smiling at the way I behaved, before leaving for work.
The way she cared so much for me left me feeling emotional, she's the only person that has been by my side through thick and thin. I'm grateful for a friend like her.
I smiled as I remembered every time she's been there for me when I needed her.
Slowly I felt like I was being drawn into something otherworldly, my senses became active, my heart was racing as I stood up, my mind whirling with possibilities. I felt a sense of anticipation and trepidation. I closed my eyes tightly intending to bring myself out of this situation, but as I close my eyes, I saw myself in an entire new environment.
The place was like a forest, surrounded with trees and shrubs , I could feel myself transforming into something different. But my body was still there, my mind wasn't working at this point.
I was no longer an ordinary person, living an ordinary life. I could feel myself becoming something more, something supernatural.
I blink several times trying to bring myself back into reality but it wasn't working.
"You want answers to your questions, right?" A strange voice echoed through the thick forest, leaving the trees and grasses vibrating.
My heart was racing, my feet shaking - my body suddenly became too heavy for them to carry. I could sense the tension in the air.
"What was happening?"
"Am I imagining things again?"
"Is this one of those dreams?"
"Could this be a dream or a reality?" I muttered as I stood there weak, confused and helpless.