C14 Real

Lily

Blood, Pain. No..

Red, wolves…Icy blue eyes…

‘Somebody help.'

I jolted awake, darting up immediately. I took in ragged breaths as the cool air hit my body.

My breath hitched once it all came to me. Where was I?

Panic clutched at me as I looked around the dimly lit place trying to make sense of what had just happened. But as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, a startling realisation came to me.

I was in my room.

My gaze fell to the sheets, finding my familiar sheets all around me.

I was back in my own bed, safe and sound.

‘What the hell?’ I wondered, my breaths still came out shaky as I looked around.

My gaze fell upon my bedroom door, and I stilled.

It was perfectly intact, standing on its hinges with no signs of the violent assault I had witnessed last night. I blinked in disbelief, my mind struggling to reconcile the vivid, horrifying images from the night before with the smooth unblemished surface.

I cautiously got off the bed. My bare feet made contact with the cool hardwood floor, grounding me to the disbelieving present.

With slow, deliberate steps, I made my way to the bedroom door and ran my trembling fingers over its smooth surface, half-expecting to find splintered wood or evidence of the chaos that had played out the previous night. But there was nothing. No holes, no damage. Nothing.

With trembling hands I held the lock carefully. My chest grew tight as the door creaked open, heart hammering for a beast to reveal itself at any moment.

Swallowing deeply, I finally pushed the door open.

My gaze swept across the familiar surroundings, taking in the unblemished bookshelf, the neatly arranged love seat, and the soft glow of the table lamp in the corner.

I eyed my phone on the couch, where I'd accidentally left it.

Not a thing was out of place. Everything was the same way I'd left it yesterday.

It was as if the nightmarish events of the previous night had never occurred.

I stumbled back, colliding with the door behind me, disbelief coursing through me as I looked around.

It was as if I had crossed into some kind of alternate reality. I pinched myself, half-expecting to wake up from a dream, but it only confirmed that I was indeed awake.

I took a deep breath and decided to conduct a thorough inspection of my apartment. I examined the walls, the windows, and even the ceiling for any sign of the chaos that had unfolded in my nightmare. But there was no indication that anything out of the ordinary had happened.

What on earth was going on then? I shut my eyes tightly until little white spots blinked in and out of existence.

It all felt so real, so vivid—the kidnapping, the monstrous creatures, the blood and gore. I shivered as I closed my eyes, the memories playing out like a horror movie in my mind.

It was all real. I believed it was real.

Wasn't it?

I opened my eyes, facing the calm serene environment that told me otherwise.

"Was it all just some messed up dream?" I whispered to myself in disbelief.

I turned back to focus on my bedroom door undamaged, a stark contrast to the nightmarish image of it being torn from its hinges.

I had never had such a vivid dream before.

With a heavy sigh, I forced myself to relax. I looked down at my arms. There were no marks to speak of, no bruises where their hands gripped one tightly or the ropes were wrapped around me.

Despite my lingering fear, the doubt sank deeper.

‘Maybe it was a dream?’ My doubts came to the forefront of my mind, sinking deep into me. There was no rational explanation for what happened and what I had seen, and dwelling on it would only fuel my anxiety.

For now, there was no other choice but to leave it be.

Picking up my phone from the living room, I took a final look around the living room before turning away.

No matter how sick of a dream it was, it was most certainly something that would stay with me.

I looked down at my messages, relief flooding me once I saw the date. It was a weekend and I was supposed to be relaxing already. But now, the fear still lingered.

‘Perhaps I should call Marina?’ The suggestion was tempting as I looked at my phone.

Taking in a deep breath I locked it and threw it to the bed. It was still too early to think about that. For now I had to calm down by myself.

I stretched, lightly I peeled off the sweat-drenched clothes that clung to my body, the fabric sticking unpleasantly as I tossed them aside.

Finally moving to the bathroom I aimed to take a long, soothing shower. Perhaps the warm water would wash away any lingering worries.

I stepped into the bathroom, the cool tiles beneath my feet reminding me of where I was. Turning on the shower, I reached for my lemon-scented shampoo, squeezing a generous amount into my palm. The sharp citrus aroma filled my nose and I breathed it in.

‘You're safe.’ I reminded myself as I began to work the fragrant foam into my hair.

A sharp sting made me hiss, pulling my hands away. Panic surged through me, and I quickly rubbed the shampoo away from my eyes. It didn't stop and I let the warm water rain over my head. Ignoring the continuous pain slowly dulling.

Turning it off I moved to the back of my head, silently cursing immediately I felt the dull pain again. Shutting my eyes, I felt it.

There was a slight swelling on my head, an injury I didn't notice. I felt it again.

It must have been an open injury, although it felt more like a slight pinprick. Likely a scratch.

I frowned. I hadn't injured my head last night. Unless…

I shivered as dread washed over me. Recalling the memories I wanted to pass off as a dream, I remembered the pounding headache I bore. That slight pain shielded by the already present ache when that burly man pushed me away.

But if I got this injury then, that meant-

My throat tightened as I looked at my hands one more time.

There were no bruises. My skin was fresh and nothing hurt. So it couldn't be.

I looked at my fingernails, and my breath hitched.

It was faint, barely noticeable, but there was a slight tint of red underneath one nail that was unmistakable. I thought back to the time the man gripped my cheeks hard, forcing me to scratch against his arm for reprieve.

“Don't try to struggle.” I trembled at the reminder of his words.

This spot of blood was evidence of my frantic struggle to break free.

I sucked in my breath. They were slight, but they were tangible proof.

Every hair on my body stood on end as the realisation hit me.

"If these are real," I whispered to myself, my voice trembling,

“Then.." I couldn't bring myself to finish the thought, but the unspoken words hung heavy in the air.

The events of the previous night—the kidnapping, the monstrous creatures, the blood and gore wasn't some twisted dream born of my imagination.

My hands trembled as I looked down at them, the weight of the truth sinking in.

Faintly water dripped onto the floor in slow pulses, but with each one I felt a sickening knot in my belly grow tighter like a noose.

It meant that the abduction, the wolves, the nightmare that had unfolded, all of it was real.