Nightmares

Stella's POV

I saw myself in a hallway with rooms highlighted with tongues of fire like that of the day of pentecost. It took me an hour to decide on what to do, suddenly a hand pushed me and i started running searching for that familiar room which could take away all the fears but the hallway seemed endless as i kept running breathing heavily.

Once again, the dark hallway came to light which brought a large grin to my already swollen face. But then as i ran past each room, the lights went off and the bulbs were falling. Fear gripped me bad as my forehead starting heating, my teeth vibrating but the tears refused to fall off. I kept moving scared to turn back, when i finally did a face with fiercy eyes stared back. I tried to scream but it kept staring and coming closer and closer, as i tried to absorb the fear by closing my eyes, it smiled and vanished.

It seemed like i was in a roller coaster, i turned like a whirlwind under the spell of a witch and suddenly, a sharp edged knife screwed into my mouth, down to my throat dragging out my intestines which seemed like a long rope with lots of blood in them. All i could do was stand there transfixed staring at the devil performing his task, he immediately opened his mouth to mutter something and as he opened his mouth, i could see maggots and dead thing in between his large teeth and on his tongue. The smell alone drove me mad as i slumed with my intestines hanging on my lips. He carried his elephant legs full of thorns and kept on my stomach making me scream loudly while he kept laughing wickedly.

His face was invisible but i could see his mouth, feel his presence and hear whatever he said. When he was satisfied, he took off his legs and smiled while i laid there helplessly. He opened his mouth once again to say something but closed it again and again then finally, he said " 𝑫𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊'𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂, 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖" that gave me a good laugh as he went away, the hallway lights came back. I felt at peace kinda but his words bothered me "𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆" was that how to show it??

And with that i woke up to my mum tapping me hard..."𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂, 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒍. 𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑" I jerked up immediately breathing heavily to realise twas just another nightmare. My mum was confused as i let out a loud cry. "𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂, 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈??" my mum asked with a concerned voice, i was scared i couldn't mutter a word all i could do was stare at her confused face and close my eyes.....

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I started College with the help of my mum's best friend, Maggie. She made sure I and her daughter Prisca started the same time at Preston College Of Music which was my dream right from highschool. I put myself into learning music as my role model was Ellie Ross and my best piece was "Bad girl", I and Prisca had been childhood friends so it was so easy for both of us to get along and fun yunno, leaving the house finally and staying away from the outside world for awhile was one of the things that made me glad about college. Mum and Maggie dropped us off in Preston College on the resumption date and seriously I didn't expect mum to shed a tear but she cried and that alone made me remember my dad.

" Don't fail your dad" Thats all she could mutter between sobs and i appreciated that afterall.

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First day in college was really exicting as I looked forward to making friends and becoming a star girl!!. Prisca and I hurried to grab coffee before rushing over for our first class. I guess we were a bit early because the door was still locked and we met a guy equally waiting for the door.

"Hey, I'm Richie. And I'm new here"

"Ohh. I'm Prisca and she's Stella". We shool hands as expected. "And we're new here" I added smiling which gave him a good laugh.

As we started chatting the lecturer arrived and the door gave way for us and others who joined us later on.

The lecture was just an introductory lecture.

"Hello everyone. I welcome you all to Preston College Of Music" he paused and everyone applauded him.

"Okay. I'm Spencer, and I'm gonna take you on the introductory part of what is ahead of you. And I really want you to be at your best behaviour"

And thats how it ended though i was glad because the next lecture venue was far off.

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Richie became our first friend ib college which made it easier for us. At least he was a guy and what surprised me was that freshman are not treated like juniors here, everyone is the same. We grabbed ice cream to go watch some movies in the school's cinema though i kinda hated going to cinemas since my dad died I just had to so I won't fail my friends.

When we got there, it was already filled with people so we sat at the back close to the door which i suggested was good.

Everyone clapped. The first movie was over and the next was about to start as people stood up to stretch thmeselves a bit. The movie started funny as i laughed seriously but suddenly everywhere became dark yet a girl was standing at the hallway before she started running and yelling loudly. A face black and thick showed up at the end of the hallway laughing hysterically, the girl in question was scared that she ran off and that same face was behind her which hurriedly took off a sharp edged knife and screwed it into her her mouth and with that she screamed loud and as i watched that part with fear, i screamed and passed out.

Prisca's POV

I was so scared when I heard Stella scream, though I studied her when she was laughing but she suddenly stopped at the beginning of a particular scene. Her face went pale as she watched with keen interest before she screamed and passed out.

Everyone in the cinema paused but continued with their movies when she passed out and I ws so grateful for that. I and Richie quickly rushed her to the College hospital which was not very far from the cinema, though the hospital was a bit crowded, we were attended to quickly because of the emergency.

The nurses had Stella put in a bed as she was rolled to the Special Care Unit for tests.

"I'm really sorry about the incident Richie" I pleaded when I noticed how worned out he looked already.

He only smiled "It's fine Prisca, people just need others"

I was a bit stunned about his reply as I kept repeating it in my mind but yet I didn't still get the meaning of it. I didn't even notice he was staring seriously and smiling until I turned to face him, we just stood there facing each other. His blue shiny eyes made me swoon already, his broad chest levelled with the picture of his abs which showed in my imagination and that was me lost in his little world. He gently kept his hands behind my waist and pulled me gently to his chest, all I wanted to do was kiss him and know the taste of his soft looking and chewable lips but as we drew closer to each other about to meet with my eyes closed. The door opened.

" Prisca Walters........."

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Stella's POV

I woke up to find myself in a strange environment, the bed, the room and the scent didn't seem like my room or house. I realises I was pinned to the bed with ropes connected to my hand hanging up with liquid running into my veins. How'd I even get end up here?? My head was blank and I couldn't even remember anything that happened.

I was so worried, until the door opened and Prisca and Richie walked in with a man on white with a sethoscope??

Oh! I was in a hospital but how?? and what for??.

" Hey Stella, I'm glad you're good now" Richie said smiling making me more confused. "Good now??" It kept repeating in my mind before I noticed Prisca wasn't saying a word..

"Prisca, what happened to me and what I'm I doing here?" I asked confused.

"You're good now" was all she could say before she made a face which meant she wasn't ready to talk about it.

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Prisca's POV

I noticed Stella's reaction when we walked into the room, already the doctor told me it was just a shock but to me i guessed there was something else more to it.

I really wanted finding out from her but her confused look told me to forget about the topic. I was still angry because I didn't get the chance to taste Richie's soft lips and the thought of it was driving me insane already but i tried my best in hiding it though i know Stella noticed it but I was grateful she didn't ask about it.

"Just make sure she doesn't watch something scary next time. Maybe she's not a fan" I jolted as Dr. Ken whispered which brought me back to life. I only smiled and gave him a friendly nod, before he finally bade us goodbye.

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Poe's POV

My mind had not been at rest since the day I saw Stella crying at her father's funeral, at first I had wanted to change my mind about hurting her but I just knew she was gonna make good money so I had to go for what I wanted. My plan was to start from nightmares which was to test her powers before going physically. I set her nights to be her night of powers to make her weak and scared and even develop an unusual but serious illness which will lead to her sudden death!!.

Actually, her starting College was a perfect way to make my plans work effectively. As far as I had her mum under my thumb, I knew I would equally have Stella. My greatest happiness was that nobody knew my secrets and I had promised to keep it away from The Peters who had already fallen victim.

Yes, I'm young but rich and famous. My parents died when I was 18, my siblings died in a car accident while returning from school so I was left all alone, until Mr. Peters accepted to help me but when I clocked 19, some old friends introduced me to their business and I joined happily and that's how I started having everything I ever wanted to have in life.

My life became meaningful unlike the orphan I was before, I met important people from the different states of America and beyond. My rule was that I did whatever I wanted to do in the day but in the night, I dealt with whosoever I wished to.

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Stella's POV

The gates of the mansion was built with marbles and gold sparkling colourfully with inscription "You're highly welcomed".

Alot of people walked in and outta the gate as if the mansion was for everyone. It took me some minutes to walk in through the colourful gate, and there stood the strange mansion which has never existed. Pop music blaring loudly from speakers upstairs reached my ear and I felt elated to be in a place of music as I hurried upstairs. As I got there, the music stopped suddenly, the lights went off too and that same face, that mouth, that legs showed this time with fire in his hands while he laughed wildly.

At first, I got scared but I felt powers from nowhere in me which made me fearless and a sharp edged knife with a mallet, big and heavy but I was shocked as I carried it like a leaf. I stood face to face with the devil who was not only shocked but equally scared which gave me courage to move closer to him; but as I moved closer and closer he vanished and the doors began making noise like that of a weaver bird making fear come back gradually. I just stood there waiting for the devil to appear but he never did, unknown to me he appeared behind me ready to strike his fire on me but as he lifted it up close to me, a hand held it down making him scream as I turned to face him.

" Go away.....go away, he begged

I was so confused until I heard the bearer of the hand speak

" You betrayed me" he sobbed..

And that voice was damn too familiar. I turned and met the only person I loved, the person that meant the world to me........My Dad

With that I jerked up as my alarm sounded so loud even to my dreams.

Another nightmare. I sighed as it had already become my usuals.......

Stella's POV

I continued with nightmares as they had become part of nights already. The nightmares at times didn't allow me focus on school work which always landed me in one or two issues. I joined the school main musical team through a competition which I performed very well and was chosen by merit.

Prisca and Richie were really getting along as I noticed their moves which wasn't only about friendship but more to that and I was really happy about that and prayed it worked out. The different lectures I got about music made me happy and hopeful of achieving my goals, Prisca had stopped taking me to the cinema and each time she did that I felt like I was the only horror attacked person and her reasons were confusing too.

"You're not coming Stella, so you won't pass out again"

That's what she usually reply each time I asked her why and each time I'm alone, my thoughts runs down to seeing my dad in my nightmares

"You betrayed me" He'd always said.

Was he talking to me or that terrific face?? Did I actually betray him??

I was really worried about his sentence and I didn't know who to talk to about it because each time I told Prisca about seeing my dad in my dreams, She'll just say,

"You're just missing him"

Yes! I'm missing him but I got over it when I realised he would never come back again. And I didn't trust my mum enough to tell her because she might even end up telling Poe, whom I was told to beware of.

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Barb Peter's POV

Home without Stella was a bit too quiet for me, nobody to scream at or laugh or discuss with, it was just me and pictures.

I had started having nightmares where my late husband was always reminding me to beware of Poe. I saw that coming though but I had already gotten used to the young man and I really saw nothing wrong with him afterall, he was just showing love to me as he did to him. Poe was just my confidant, he bought me very expensive gifts and his presence made me forget I was alone in the house. I felt loved and cared for by a young man my family despised

"I'm just doing my best to make sure you're fine, Mrs. Peters"

"Call me Barb. And I reallt appreciate your efforts" I replied happily

A rich and famous guy taking care of me?? That was just a whole lot and I was not ready to listen to anyone's advice on who and who to be close to even my lovely Stella who warned me consistently. Each time Poe was closer to me, I felt this urge to kiss him or touch his well curled hair and his brown thick eyes and his extraordinary lips which was just tempting and inviting.

I was just in love with Poe and nothing would change it.

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Prisca's POV

Mum, Barb and Poe visited us during one of our free days. It was my first time of seeing Poe though Stella told me about him a bit and I won't lie he was really a cute guy. The visit was a surprise one for Stella as I didn't inform her of it, I was just hoping the visit will make her a bit happy from her normal moods swings.

I waited at the College cafeteria for the trio which gave good sight of the College gate. Barb and arrived in an SUV which I guessed belonged to Poe while my mum drove her Benz but to my surprise Poe noticed me first before telling others and thats how they knew where I waited for them.

"Hey Mum!!, I missed ya" I said hugging my mum tightly. "You too baby"

"Barb. You look super sweet"

She laughed. "Thanks Prisca. And where is Stella??"

" I'll go bring her"

I replied moving towards the exit door where I saw Poe and he just waved at me blushing suspiciously and walked into the cafe before I walked away.

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Stella's POV

I was busy trying to get my songs ready for presentation when Prisca zoomed in.

" Hey babe. Try knocking next time" I said with a large grin on my face.

" Okay. I have a surprise for you, If only you get up and follow my lead"

I didn't want to argue so I just did as she said.

We arrived at the cafeteria and she pointed at a table with three occupants, two ladies and a guy. At first I wanted going back but I kept following and Poe!!!, Mum and Maggie.

"Mum??, You didn't inform me about this??"

I noticed Prisca wink at her and the both laughed.

" Come on baby. It's called a surprise" She replied smiling awkwardly

"Hey Maggie. I'm glad you came too" I said with my most genuine smile.

Poe just waved though with a very annoying face which made me feel uncomfortable and unsafe sitting there.

We just chatted about good old days and laughed. At a point, I watched Poe closely he had a very unusual wound on his right cheek and in one of my nightmares, dad hit that terrific face on the right cheek but I immediately put away the thought. Poe was just a lucky guy that's all, I never took him to be a bad guy though he was so cute just that I kinda hated him and with saying I should beware of him...I was glad.

I was so deep in thoughts until Maggie tapped me gently, "Stella, You sure you're okay??"

"Yeah. I'm real good" I replied blushing.

My mum was so filled with joy and I noticed she had changed just too much. She was all smiles and Poe really did concentrated on her and talked as if they were long lost lovers, while Maggie, I and Prisca talked about College life and its challenges. I really noticed that each time I made eye contact with Poe, he avoided it with all means and that was just too suspicious but I didn't know what to suspect either. I really wanted to ask but I didn't know how to ask and what to expect too.

I let out a sigh of relief when it was about time for them to leave, I and Prisca saw them off and left.