LEGEND OF THE EMERALD

"Where I'm I? She asked rhetorically looking round her unfamiliar and strange environment in fear.

"GABRIELLA" she heard the whispers of her name echo in the strange forest as she shook in fright.

" Who...who are you?" She stuttered as she began to hear a violent approaching sound. Without being told, she took to her heels running as fast as her legs could go.

She could feel the presence of her adversery behind her and she increased her pace. Soon, she reached a cliff. It was er end point and looking back, she saw the face of the creature chasing after her to be very scary and acting on impulse, she jumped off the cliff with a scream.

"Arrrrrrh!" Gabriella screamed and jumped off the bed.

"It was a dream" she said out loud to pacify herself, panting heavily. It had appeared to be so real to her that she could still feel her legs shaking.

She cleaned the beams of sweat off her forehead as she reached for the bottle of water on her bedside stool. Gulping the whole content, she tossed the empty bottle aside. Feeling a bit relaxed, she sat back at the edge of the bed and unconsciously glanced at her alarm clock standing right where she had taken the bottle of water from.

It read 5:26 as she sighed and rubbed her temple. It was still quite early and she would have still be in bed if not for the nightmare.

After few minutes of sitting, she felt a lot better and decided to start her day. Getting up from the 🛏️ bed yet again, she went into the bathroom for her normal morning routine. Minutes past and she came out looking refreshed. Soon, she was all dressed up in a long sleeved emerald flay gown stopping right at her knees. Her long thick and black hair held back with a white hair band. If there was anything Gabby considered a burden it was her hair. It's extreme length and thickness was what annoys her most.

Gabriella was what you could describe as a perfect definition of beauty. Her skin spotless, smooth and almost as white as snow. Her facial features was worth dying for.

She made it out of her room and down the stairs into the silence of the sitting room and once again, she wish she had a sibling.

Her phone bussed in her pocket as she brought it out discovering a new message from a contact named Fred.

"Happy birthday to the queen herself. I wanted to be the first to wish you a happy birthday and I hope I achieved that though. See you later birthday girl" she read the message as a smile lingered on her lips. She had totally forgotten her own birthday.

Stocking her phone back into her pocket, she made a journey to the kitchen. Since she was awake, she decided to save her mom the stress of preparing breakfast. She went for the neatly arranged apron hanged on the kitchen array and picked one which she wore over her dress. She set to work immediately and soon enough, the sweet aroma of omelette and toast bread filled the atmosphere.

She took the meal to dinning and after setting the table, decided to go invite her mom over. She was already metres away from the table when suddenly she sensed a glass was about to fall of the table and within the blink of an eye, she was back at the table with the glass in her hands. She stood dumb staring at the glass in her hands in confusion. How did she get back to the table that fast and saved the glass? How did she even know the glass was about to fall in the first place when her back was literally turned to the table? She let out a chuckle that held many meanings. Was she hallucinating? She glanced at the glass in her hands and with a gulp gently placed it back on the table. Maybe she had not at all left the table in the first place. Yes. That was it. That was the only logical explanation she could think of and was forcing herself to believe it.

"Gabby?" She gasped in fright as she was taken aback by the voice of her mother.

"Oh dear! Did I startle you?" Her mother asked seeing the way her daughter had shook.

"It's fine mom. Don't worry about it." She said regaining herself.

"I was just about to come to your room" she added as they both took their sit.

"You know, it's really been a while since you last prepared breakfast. What's the occasion?" Her mother asked dishing out the meal as Gabby only shrugged. Her mother suddenly gasped dropping her spoon and putting a hand over her mouth.

"OMG! It's your birthday today. It totally skipped my mind. Happy 20th birthday dear." Mother said

"It's my 21st birthday mother" she corrected with an eye roll

"Wait you're now 21?" Her mother asked and she didn't fail to notice surprise and nervousness in her eyes.

"Yes. Is everything ok mom?"she asked seeing the look on her mother's face

"Of course everything is alright it's just that time flies it was just like yesterday when you were so little" she said and gave a weird laugh.Gabby nodded and sighed as they continued the rest of the breakfast in total silence. They finished their breakfast and Gabby was set to leave for school with her handbag over her shoulders.

" Mom I'm off" she said looking towards the stairs as she made to leave.

"Wait. I've got something for you." Her mother stopped her as she came down the stairs with a small rectangular box with her.

"This is for you." She gave the box to Gabby who collected it and opened it revealing a shiny emerald bracelet. It looked old, but still held it's beauty.

"Wow!" She muttered.

"Beautiful right? I'll help you put it on your wrist" she collected it from her and fixed it on her wrist.

"I love it mom thanks." She said sincerely smiling at the bracelet

" You should get going" her mother said as she kissed her on the cheek. Saying bye to her mother, she hit for the road riding on her bicycle. She was half way through when she suddenly started feeling strange. The feeling was so strong that she had to stop riding. A little boy with school uniform was headed for her direction and it was as if he was the source of the feeling because it grew stronger the more he drew nearer. She could sense a strange aura coming from him and the word DEATH was ringing in her head. She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding when the boy had past.

"What's wrong with me?" She muttered and continued her journey to school.

On her arrival, the first person her gaze caught was Fred. He was standing among the few people looking like he was awaiting someone. He finally saw her and his face lightened with a broad smile. One he only has on when he sees her.

"Hey Ella!" He called out on getting to where she stood parking her cycle.

"Good morning Frederick" she said calling his full name. Something she loves doing.

"Happy birthday"he said holding out a tiny jewelry box which she collected and opened with a smile. Her smile broaden on seeing the beautiful pair of diamond earrings.

"Thanks Fred but, you shouldn't have bothered. This must have cost you a lot" she said the obvious.

"Nah! Just a few dollar bills. It doesn't really matter ok? Let me help you with it." He said collecting it from her and helping her fix them on her ears.

"There you go. Perfect" he said admiring the earrings.

"Thanks!"she said gratefully.

" I think we should start heading to class now. You know lectures begins soon" he said and held her hand as they headed to class together.

Frederick cortex is the childhood friend of Gabriella. He is a handsome fair young man with a well built structure and good height. He was just slightly taller than Gabby. They were very found of each other. Inseparable and doing almost everything together. Once it had rumoured in their school that they were lovers because of the closeness.

Soon, it was midday and time for lunch. Fred had earlier promised to treat her out and she won't dare refuse. They both went to an eatery some miles away from school and settled for a meal.

"So, what are your plans after school?" He asked sipping his cola drink as she just shrugged.

"Well, I'll just sit at home and work on my assignment. You know it's kinda tough right?"she said also sipping her drink as he scoffed.

"Really? I mean it's your day for crying out loud can't you be less boring? Gosh! You should......" He was cut short by the screeching sound of a vehicle followed by a scream. They both snapped their head to the direction of the sound and behold, a car just ran over someone. They immediately rushed to the scene that has already started attracting crowd as Gabriella almost fainted. Her eyes almost pooping out of its socket. It was the little boy she saw on her way to school lying in the pool of his own blood.

The shock was overwhelming that she couldn't move a limb. She stood transfixed.

"Step aside everyone. Give him space." Fred said pushing the crowd away from getting too close to the scene. As a medical student, he thought of helping till official help arrived.

"Has anyone called the ambulance?" He asked squatting beside the boy.

"They are on their way" someone answered from the crowd. He nodded and checked the pulse of the child.

"His pulse is getting weak" he muttered to himself and glanced at Gabriella who stood like someone on trance.

" C'mon Ella don't just stand there, come help save a life." He said bringing her back from her reverie.

"Does anyone by any means know this boy?" Fred asked as no one admit to know him.

"I...I...I know this boy" Gabby stuttered trying to put her words together.

"You do?" Fred asked puzzled.

"No, i mean I've seen him before." She said not knowing how best to explain herself as Fred shook his head with a sigh and placed his head on the chest of the victim to feel his heart beat.

"Jezz!" He exclaimed and started pressing his chest. The child's heart beat was rapidly depleting.

They heard the blaring sound of siren as the ambulance and a police van arrived. They immediately placed the boy on a stretcher and took him away in the ambulance but the police stayed behind to investigate. The ruthless driver had ran off after running over the little boy.

After answering a few question from the cops, Fred led Gabriella away from the scene and back to the eatery.

"What happened to you back there? It's not your first time witnessing something like this so, why where you so shocked?" Of course it was not her first time witnessing an accident infact, she had seen even worst than what had happened moments ago. She was known to be the bravest in their department.

She didn't answer to Fred as she solemnly took her bag and made her way out of the eatery. What was she gonna tell him? That she knew the boy was gonna die before hand? Hell no! He was gonna see her as a pyscho so, she had rather not say anything.

"What's wrong with her?" He asked rhetorically as he dropped some dollar note on the table and hurried to catch up with her.

Through out the rest of school for that day, Gabby was awfully quiet and this made Fred to begin to worry about her.

" Are you sure you're ok?" He asked for the up tenth time as they came out of their department building.

"I'm alright." She said yet again as Fred sighed in surrender. They said their byes and parted ways as Gabby got on her bicycle and rod away, heading straight home.

On getting home, she parked her ride on it's usual spot and made for the main entrance door. She twisted the knob but the door won't bulge and that was when she remembered nobody was home. Her mother was probably at her mall running her business as usual but Gabriella's mind was far away that she had literally forgot that. She lifted the flower pot at the verandah and brought out a key which she inserted into the keyhole and this time, the door cracked open.

Entering into the house, she headed straight for her room. She flung her bag on the bed and sat at the edge as she palmed her face. The image of the accident still playing in her head. She somehow felt guilty. Maybe if she had taken what she felt earlier serious, the accident would have been prevented. She checked the time on her phone and it was already past four (4). She decided to go for a cool bath and afterwards, make an attempt on her assignment. Maybe it could help her mind off the incident.

Dressed in a baggy green T-shirt and a jean trouser, she sat on her bed with her laptop before her as she set to work.

Soon, she started dozing off and when she couldn't resist the sleep anymore, she gently closed her system, shifted it aside and immediately drove into a slumber.

**********

"GABRIELLA!" The whispers of her name echoed in the silent forest. She began to run on that familiar route. Oh yes! It was the same route from her first dream. She kept running until she reach the same cliff and without a second thought, she jumped again with a scream.

She gasped opening her eyes and sitting up from the bed. Her face was covered in hot sweat as she had a hand over her chest feeling her own heart beat. The same dream again? Why would she have the same dream twice in a day?

She unconsciously glanced at the window and it was almost dark. She came down fully from the bed and slipped her feet into her feet wears as she found her way out of the room and went down to the living room. Everywhere was as she had left it indicating that her mother was yet to return. She decided to go out for an evening walk to cool off.

Without a destination at mind, she let her legs lead her to wherever it felt like going. As she wandered, her mind reflected on all that had happened throughout the day. From waking up from a strange dream to the wonder at the dinning and then the mysterious boy and the accident. She couldn't help but feel lost. Something was wrong somewhere and she could feel it. There was something that she suppose to know that no one was telling her. she spotted a perfect place under a tree and went for it. She sat down with her face buried in her palms. It was her birthday day and was suppose to be cheerful but so far, it had been the worst birthday. The cool evening breeze soothed her skin as she shivered a bit. She lifted her head to the ringing of her phone as she brought it out of her pocket.

"Hello Mom"

"Gabby? Where are you? You got me worried" her mother said.

"Just went for a stroll but I'm on my way now" she said getting to her feet.

" Alright. Hurry up." Her mother said and disconnected. She didn't even know she had already spent a lot of time already.

She was in time for dinner as both mother and daughter sat at the dinning eating in silence.

"Mother?" She called dropping her spoon.

"Yes dear."

"What really happened to my father?" She asked out of the blues as her mother almost choked on her food.

"What brought about that question?" She said trying to hide her nervousness under a frown which of course Gabby noticed.

"Don't I have the right to talk about my father?"

"I thought we've already discussed about this. I told you he lost his life before you were born. What more do you want to know? How he died? Well he died in battle. Are you now satisfied?" Her mother asked rising her voice a bit. She sighed when Gabby didn't say a word but stare at her.

"Your father was in the military and...."

"It's ok. you've said that before" Gabriella cut her mother short standing up from the dinning. She had barely even touched her food.

"Where are you going?"

"I lost my appetite" she replied and left the table heading up the stairs. Her mother was definitely hiding something from her. That she knows but what? And why?

She reached her room and decided to prepare herself for the night as she entered the bathroom. She reached for her tooth brush and added some paste as she began brushing her teeth. She rinsed her mouth and splash water on her face. Facing the mirror, she wiped her face with a towel and looking back at the mirror, she froze in shock as the towel fell from her hands. It was the creature she saw in her dreams standing behind her. The creature looked more like a zombie with it's face covered in blood. The sight was more scary than irritating. She could swear she heard a growl behind her and when she turned to her ultimate surprise, she saw nothing.

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.

*****************

"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.

*************

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.

*********

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.