*Dong!* As the clock struck midnight, a deep chime reverberated, jolting Kelly awake. She sat up in bed, her heart racing in the silent darkness. Her eyes adjusted slowly as she glanced around the dimly lit room, disoriented. A sense of unease crept over her, and she got up, shuffling toward the window. That's when she saw it: a massive clock tower looming outside, its pendulum swinging heavily, rhythmically slicing through the night.
*Dong!* The sound rang out again, piercing through her thoughts. A dull ache pulsed in her temples, growing sharper with each chime.
In the distance, a faint voice drifted toward her, warped and echoing. *"Amara… help me! Help me! Please…"* The pleas hung in the air, chilling her to the bone. Kelly clutched her head as the pain intensified, each beat of the clock sending another wave of agony through her skull.
*"Help me… help me…"* The words echoed, overlapping with the clock's relentless tolling. The room seemed to close in around her, the shadows pressing against her as the chimes continued, louder and more menacing.
Then she noticed it: crimson blood trickling down her arm, pooling at her feet. It dripped steadily, matching the rhythm of the clock's strikes. *Dong!* Each drop was a drumbeat, echoing the relentless chime, painting the floor in horrifying splashes of red.
The clock struck once more, and the cacophony reached a fever pitch. Kelly's head felt like it was splitting open. The voice calling for help grew more desperate, more urgent. The blood spread further, a macabre river filling the room. Just as she thought she couldn't take it anymore, a voice shattered through the nightmare.
"Kelly! Kelly! Wake up!" A hand shook her shoulder.
She jolted upright, gasping for breath. Her friend Jane sat beside her, concern etched across her face.
"Did you have that dream again?" Jane asked, her voice soft.
Kelly nodded, rubbing her temples. "Yeah… the one with the boy."
Jane sighed, worry flashing in her eyes. "You really should stop skipping your psychiatrist appointments. Your health isn't getting any better."
Kelly managed a weak smile. "You're probably right. By the way, what time is it?"
"It's already 7:45!" Jane said, exasperated.
"What?!" Kelly leapt out of bed. "I'm late again!"
She rushed through her morning routine and arrived at her classroom, breathless. "Good morning, Mr. Jones!" she called out, trying to catch her breath.
"You're late again, Ms. Gomez," Mr. Jones said, giving her a disapproving look. "Why are you always late?"
Kelly gave him an apologetic smile. "I… overslept. I'm really sorry."
Mr. Jones sighed but waved her in. "Come in, but don't let it happen again."
"Thank you, sir," she said, relief washing over her as she slid into her seat.
Class went on, and Sarah, her friend sitting beside her, leaned over. "Hey, did you hear? There's a new student in Class A. Apparently, he's really handsome. We should go check him out later!"
Kelly shook her head, smiling slightly. "I'll pass. I have to see my psychiatrist after class."
Sarah pouted. "Aw, that's no fun."
After the bell rang, Kelly made her way to the art room to pick up some supplies for Jane. As she stepped inside, she spotted a boy standing by the window, bathed in a stream of golden sunlight. He was painting, his back to her.
Curiosity prickled at her, and she approached quietly, her eyes widening when she saw the canvas. It was the big clock from her dream. This time, there was no blood, but the clock looked just as ominous and haunting. A sudden, sharp pain pierced her temples, and she winced, clutching her head.
The boy turned around, his gaze meeting hers. He had piercing blue eyes, bronze skin, and hair that fell carelessly across his forehead. His expression was unreadable, but something about him seemed achingly familiar.
Kelly's breath caught in her throat. Her chest tightened, and she struggled to make sense of the feeling. The boy's eyes held hers, and for a moment, the world felt still, suspended in that shared gaze. Then the bell rang, shattering the moment, and Kelly stumbled back, muttering a quick goodbye as she hurried out of the room.
Her thoughts raced as she made her way to the school gate, where Jane was waiting.
"Hey! What took you so long?" Jane demanded. "You're going to be late for your appointment with Mr. Smith."
Kelly forced a smile. "Sorry… I got distracted."
Jane raised an eyebrow. "By what?"
"Never mind," Kelly said, brushing off the question. "Let's go."
---
At her psychiatrist's office, Kelly tried to relax. "Good afternoon, Mr. Smith," she greeted, her voice cheery but tired.
"Good afternoon, Kelly," Mr. Smith replied warmly. "How have you been? Are the dreams still bothering you?"
Kelly nodded, her face clouding over. "Yes… they're getting worse. And the headaches, too."
Mr. Smith studied her thoughtfully. "I see… and the boy? Do you still hear or sense him?"
"Yes," Kelly admitted. "It feels like he's getting closer. And today, I saw a boy at school painting the clock from my dream. He even felt… familiar."
Mr. Smith's face shifted, a flash of something like fear crossing his features before he quickly masked it.
"Mr. Smith? Are you okay?" Kelly asked, concerned.
He forced a smile. "Oh, I'm fine, Kelly. Just a little distracted today. Let's talk more next time, alright?"
"Sure," Kelly agreed, though unease lingered in her gut. "Take care, Mr. Smith."
"Thank you, Kelly," he said, but his voice held a note of worry.
---
Later, back at the dorm, Jane was bubbling with excitement. "Kelly! Did you see the new student in Class A? He's so cute, and super nice!"
Kelly zoned out, her mind replaying the boy's image over and over.
"Hello? Are you even listening?" Jane waved a hand in front of Kelly's face.
Kelly blinked. "Sorry. I'm just… tired."
Jane sighed. "You're always thinking about your dreams, aren't you?"
"Yeah…" Kelly murmured, a sheepish smile spreading across her face.
"Well, tomorrow we're meeting the new guy, whether you like it or not!" Jane declared.
Kelly managed a laugh. "Alright, alright."
The two friends chatted until sleep claimed them.
---
That night, Kelly awoke abruptly to the familiar sound of the clock's chime. Groggy, she stumbled to the window. The giant clock stood there, its pendulum slicing through the darkness. A smooth, haunting voice called out.
"Amara? Are you awake?"
Kelly squinted, trying to make out the figure in the shadows.
"Who… who are you?" she whispered, heart pounding.
The voice echoed, smooth yet ghostly. "Help… please help, Amara," growing louder, more insistent. Her head throbbed, pain lancing through her skull as the figure stepped forward.
"Amara… remember…" the voice urged.
Kelly woke up with a start, drenched in sweat. The clock on her nightstand read 4:00 a.m. Too restless to sleep, she decided to take a walk around campus.
The art room drew her in once more, and she stepped inside, studying the paintings lining the walls. Her eyes landed on a portrait of a regal woman in a flowing, ancient dress, her eyes piercing and wise.
A sudden bang startled her, and she spun around to find that a painting had fallen from the wall. When she looked up, the boy from before was there, his bronze skin glowing in the dim light.
"Oh! Um… hi," she stammered, her cheeks flushing. "I saw you painting the other day. So, you're up late too?"
The boy didn't answer, only watched her with that same, intense stare.
"This is your painting, right?" Kelly gestured toward the fallen artwork. "It's… really good."
Still, he said nothing, and Kelly's nervousness grew.
"Okay… well, I should go," she said awkwardly, inching toward the door. The boy continued to watch her, his gaze unreadable, as she slipped out into the hallway.