Chapter 3 Dreams

She shifted her gaze back to the mirror and saw nothing. It was gone.

"What the hell!" She cursed and dashed out of the bathroom panting. Was her mind playing trick on her again? She was hundred percent sure of what she saw. If indeed her eyes were deceiving her were her ears also doing same? The growling. It was real. She heard it.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tensed for Gabriella. she would constantly look around the room to check for anything unusual and cringed at any slight body contact with an object.

To say she was afraid was an understatement. She was scared to death.

Soon, she couldn't bare it any longer. She had to leave the room for it was getting too suffocating for her.

She inhaled and exhaled the moment she was out of the room. She went down the stairs to the sitting room and sat on one of the long couches.

" This is creepy." She whispered to herself as her eyes roamed round her environment and it landed on the big wall clock. It was already past 10. She was scared of falling asleep but soon enough, she couldn't resist the urge to sleep as she laid on the couch. She won't even dare think of returning to her room.

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"Gabriella" she felt a light tap on her leg accompanied by the voice of her mother.

"Wakeup Gabby, it's morning." She slowly opened her eyes that felt heavy. She sat up and wiped her face with her hands and damn! Her neck hurts badly.

"You neck hurts right? Whatever happened to your room that you had to pass the night here?" Her mother asked Wondering why her daughter will leave the comfort of her bedroom to sleep in the sitting room. Gabriella couldn't say anything but sigh. Sighing. That was one thing she has been doing a lot lately. When she can't express herself, she sighs.

"Just go to your room and freshen up then, you can come join me for breakfast" her mother said leaving for the kitchen.

Hearing the mention of her room brought back memories from last night. The reason why she still sat on the couch instead of getting ready for school. But somehow, she felt braver than last night as she stood up and made for the bedroom.

Holding unto the knob of the door, she closed her eyes for some seconds before she finally pushed it open. Everything was how she had left it with no sign of abnormality. She entered fully, closing the door behind. Was she just seeing things the previous night? Or Maybe she needed to see a doctor. All this might be a symptom of some illness.

Soon, she was on her way to school. As she rod, her head felt heavy. A blur image constantly appears in her head. She finally made it to school as she went straight to class.

Lecture began as she tried hard to concentrate but to no avail as her head was aching and the image fighting it's into her head.

" Ella, what's wrong? Are you ok?" Fred who was sitting next to her, noticed her restlessness and as she just nodded at him curtly.

And suddenly, the image fighting with her head prevailed and there she was, in some sort of trance. She saw a moving bus carrying a bunch of youth chatting and laughing. She could tell they were students who seem to be on a trip to camp or on excursion. She couldn't tell which but then, the bus stopped moving in the middle of no where. The driver and an older man whom she presumed to be in charge of the students, came down to examine the car.

Some students also came down to look around when suddenly, something appeared and grabbed a student by his neck. It was the same demon that appears in her dream. It dug it's claws into the boys chest ripping out his heart as screams of terror filled the air. Gabriella also gasped in shock returning to reality.

"Young lady. Is anything the matter?" The lecturer asked sternly as all eyes where on her. She didn't know she had gasped that loud. She couldn't speak as she was suddenly struck by a sharp pain in the head.

"Arrrrrrh!" She whined and held her head.

"Gabby?" Fred called.

" Arrrrrrh! It hurts! Make it stop!" She screamed as the pain was excruciating.

"Somebody, get help" Fred alerted as she began to lose consciousness.

"Hold on Gabby, just hold on" she heard Fred's distinct voice as she completely blanked out.

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Walking on that familiar route,she kept going deep into the forest. Finally, she made it out into the open. Colourful butterflies hovered around the scenery and the fresh flowers gave it a sweet scent. Faraway, she could see a beautiful city evolving bright green emerald rays. It was a sight to behold.

She closed her eyes to inhaled more of the fresh summer sent of the flowers but instead, perceived an offensive smell causing her to open her eyes and behold, the sky had been covered by thick dark clouds. The field of flowers had dried off and the butterflies were no where to be found. The beautiful city had be destroyed with flying creatures hovering round it. She felt a strong grip on her wrist followed by pain. Whatever was holding her had it's claws dug in her flesh. She slowly turned and saw the demon tormenting her as she let out a scream that echoed.

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She opened her eyes and all she could see was plain white. her vision cleared and she could see a rolling ceiling fan. Her eyes trailed to the fluid dripping slowly that was connect to her hand. That was when the realization hit her that she was in the hospital.

The door cracked open as Fred and a man in white lab coat entered.

" My goodness you're awake. You got everyone worried." He sighed in relief as he went to her bed.

" How are you feeling now?" He asked as she could only nod.

"What's wrong with me doctor?" She asked trying to sit up as Fred assisted her.

"Well, you passed out due to the pain. You brain couldn't handle it. The pain was caused by shock but you'll be fine after your treatment is over." The doctor said as she nodded.

" Thanks doc" Fred said.

" It's my job." He replied with a smile and left as Fred turned to Gabby who was starring blankly at nothing.

"Gabby, what's going on? Is there something you're not telling me?" Fred asked but she didn't reply nor even look his way as he sighed and took her palms in his.

"You know you can trust me right? I might be able to help if you just tell me" he pushed harder hoping she'll just spill it. He furrowed his brow as his eyes landed on their locked palms.

"Gabby, what's this? What happened to your wrist? Why is it bruised?" He asked as her head snapped to his direction, looking down at her wrist which was still held by Fred. It was the same wrist the demon had dug his claws in,in her dream.