The cold night air burned in her lungs as she ran her bare feet, barely finding balance on the dump forest floor. shadows twisted and stretched between the towering trees. Her breath came in ragged gasp, each one a desperate gulp of air that barely kept her legs moving. she didn't dare look back. She could hear its heavy footsteps crushing through the trees rustling the leaves it was getting closer.
Tears blur her vision, panic clawing at her chest. The darkness swallowed everything, making it difficult for her to tell which way to go. Her legs ached, and her heart pounded like a drumbeat of terror and a scream built in her throat, but she bit her lips, preventing her from screaming because she was terrified screaming wouldn't save her. Nothing would. Something snarled behind her. making a loud sound that made her stomach dropped, she tried to run faster, but her feet failed her. Her foot was caught on a root, and she stumbled. The impact jolted through her, pain flaring in her hands and knees as she hit the dirt. Before she could get up, it was on her.
A shadow loomed over her, clawed hand seized her, sharp nails biting into her flesh. A scream ripped from her throat as she fought, kicking and struggling, but the creature was too strong. The pain jolted through her, and she jolted awake. It was only a dream, but it felt so real. sweat dropped from her skin her bed sheets tangled around her like a trap, her chest heaved her heart hammering in her ears for a while she stared at the ceiling trying to convince herself it wasn't real. "it's just a nightmare," she said repeatedly to herself.
Sunlight streamed through the thin gap in her curtains she blinked, trying to shake off the thought of claws and teeth from her dream. then the sound of footsteps was heard, and then the door creaked open , and her mother's voice broke the silence.
"Aurelia, time to wake up," her mother called from behind the door, her tone gentle but firm. Aurelia was still squeaking on her bed when her mother walked into the room moving swiftly as she reached for the curtains with one quick pull the heavy curtain slide aside flooding the room with sunlight, Aurelia immediately covered her eyes blocking the sun rays. Aurelia squinted against the brightness groaning softly as she rubbed her eyes, "mum" she muttered, her voice still thick with sleep. Her mother chuckled. "No excuse, sweetheart, you will be late for school." For a moment, Aurelia just sat they her body still tense, her body struggling to separate reality from the dream. She wanted to tell her mum about the dream, but it sounded ridiculous to her, so instead, she just nodded, forcing herself to shake it off. " Yeah, I'm getting up." Her mother smiled and left the room. But as Aurelia swung her legs over the side of the bed, something cold settled in her stomach she couldn't shake the feeling that something from that nightmare had followed her back.
Running down from the stairs with her backpack and books in her hands Aurelia was running late for school and making the whole family late, the horns of her mother's cars kept beeping, a sign telling her to be fast in whatever she's doing, she quickly ran into the kitchen and grab a banana and she headed for her mother's cars and they drove off.
Aurelia sat in the passenger seat of her mother's cars, staring outside the window with headphones stuffed in her ears. Her older brother Jaylen was sitting in front next to their mum.
Jaylen had a charming personality, a warm and capturing smile that lit up his face. His skin, smooth as silk glowing with a radiant complexion,his body strong and lean, a body that sculptured to perfection. His brown eyes burned with an inner fire, but a dark aura swirled above them like storm clouds gathering on a trubulent horizon. He wore a brown sweatshirt that matched the color of his eyes.
The sun had risen higher now, casting golden light over the quiet street. Her mother hummed softly to the radio, her fingers tapping against the steering wheel as they stopped to a red light. "You're awfully quiet this morning," she said, glancing at Aurelia, "didn't sleep well."? Aurelia still on her headphones didn't hear, so her mum tapped her and then asked the question again. She lied about being busy with school activities because she didn't want to get her mum worried. Then she shifted her, gazed to Jaylen, and asked why he was quiet. Jaylen hesitated, his fingers tightening solidly against the fabric of his sweatshirt. He glanced at the side mirror as if checking something outside, then shook his head. "Just tired, I guess." Then their mother studied him for a moment as if she didn't believe him, she sighed refocusing on the road, "well you and your sister both need and early night, no more late night gaming Jaylen." He let out a chuckle "yeah sure."
Their mother pulled up to the school drop-off zone, and the car stopped smoothly. "Alright, you two have a great day." she said, smiling brightly. Aurelia muttered a quick "Thanks mum" as she grabbed her backpack and stepped out.
"bye mum" Jaylen mumbled, swinging his backpack over one shoulder before stepping on the sidewalk. Their mother immediately drove off she was already running late for work.
Aurelia walked ahead blending into a sea of students, from behind she felt someone jumped on her back it was her best friend Layla "they you are, I was starting to think you were adducted by aliens or something. Aurelia turned towards her best friend. "Jesus Christ, Layla, don't ever do that again. You scared the hell out of me." Layla found it funny, and she burst into laughter, which annoyed Aurelia. Then Layla crossed her arms around Aurelia's neck, and they walked into the school building together.
Layla had sharp cheekbones, full lips, and hazel eyes that flickered with quiet mischief. Her golden brown hair was neatly arranged. Most of the times she wore a smirk, like she knew something no one else did. While Aurelia, on the other hand, was the kind of beauty that wasn't from this world. Her hair was deep ink black, cascading soft wave that shimmer like silk. It framed her delicate features, making her striking blue eyes stand out even more. Her eyes were blue like the ocean, her skin smooth and fair with a natural glow.