ROSALEIGH ISABELLÉ
*Flashback.
Heavy pairs of feet thudded as I continued to run, the gravel under the scorching sun was nothing but an addition in my struggle to escape. The deserted road was deprived of an aid, someone who could ward off these murderous people. Why are they following me?
Abruptly a blurry image of man appeared from the very direction I was running to as I stumbled to a stop. My breathing ragged, the burning in my lungs and hightened rhythm against my ribs had me gasping for air.
Where do you think you were escaping? - echoed a heavily accented voice through my mind.
I was coming up with a plan to divert their attention when all of the sudden I fell face forward. The suddenness resulting in the bone crushing pain in my ribs as the men tackled me on the ground from behind, knees were pushed against my back intensifying the ache in my ribs.
"He.. Help.." I choked before a dark cloth blinded my vision while the other stiffled my pleas for help.
"Our Lord will be so happy to finally meet you." said the same man, his voice filled with a malicious leer.
***
I woke up gasping for air, frantically searching something to hold on as realisation set in. I was in my room.
It was a yet another nightmare.
With every passing day my nightmares were making a comeback, stronger, stranger and more palpable than ever. With every nightmare my will to sleep diminished considerably as I feared being overpowered by the men in them. They were heavy builted, ruthless and out for my blood.
Questions gathered like the flocks of bird drumming their beaks against my head. What did the men want from me? Were my nightmares a memory I have lived through or just a product of my distraught imagination?
To distract myself from overthinking further I eyed the books on my lap remembering how I was studying before falling asleep. I focused on the notes in an attempt to continue from where I left.
Words faded, lines jumbled as I struggled to process the sentence in its entity. I stared at the concept that appeared miles away from my comprehension. The cursive handwriting of the book reminded me of it's owner. Alexander.
Currently Alex was miles away from me, in London to handle matters of their business still most of my thoughts consisted him as the main lead.
I could hardly recall a word from the pages I had grazed my eyes through for the past two hours. I thumped the book shut irritated at my inablity to study.
Sleeping was the sole recourse from studying as my gaze found it's way to the side table, where the temporary remedy of my problem sat hidden. Nightmares were kept at bay when my head was at peace thus I've started inclining myself on pills. Since the past month not once did I slept without taking them.
My decision of maintaining distance from Alexander had backfired as the more I avoided him, the more nightmares would haunt me in the night. He kept them at bay in his own tricky way.
Or so you think! - my mind replied doubting Alex's seraphic ablities to wade off the nightmares.
Why would Alexander have any relation with my nightmares?
Alex had turned into a friend and may be loosing him as a friend refreshed my subconscious mind into thinking about the friends I dont remember anymore.
How many friends did I not remember?
Trying to keep myself from thinking again, I started rearranging my bookshelf. Inadvertently Alex's notes fell with a thud, sprawling near my feet. But what captured my interest was a picture that had came out of its hiding.
Taking a closer look at the two young couples as they stood front what liked an historical monument, something similar to a castle, I noticed a somewhat 3 year old boy perked beside a baby's carriage holding her tiny hand. Both their faces had the purest kind of smile.
My bookshelf was long forgotten as I walked back to my bed. Laying on the bed I stared back at the couples noting how the Lady in the right was wearing a simple yet immacullate winter coat as the Man standing beside her matched her blue coat with his tux. She looked so much like my mother as the Man resembled Dad. The second couple too was much similar to Uncle David and Aunt Rachel.
It blew me away as realization settled in like dust do on unoperated things. Alex's and my parents must have taken this picture in good times which meant the boy was Alex and the toddler in the carriage was me.
This piece of information ignited the curious spirit in me as I tried to find something more on the photo. The back of it had a date-Christmas'96.
It was taken in the same year I was born according to my Birth Certificate.
As I gazed at my younger self, it stared at me with same intensity while the difference was the amount of happiness and innocence that reflected in my eyes. In the past I was much more closer to Alex than I thought. He must've been a major part of memories.
Clock ticked as I couldn't take my eyes off from the photo I had in my hand, unwillingly my eyes became droopy as I gave in to the sleep.
***
Flashback.
"Miss Bellé, Prince Jayden is currently taking his archery class. You'll have to wait for another hour." said a tough yet respectful voice.
"Okay."
Suddenly the surroundings changed and a not so vivid image of a large sized pony came in view.
The little girl walked closer as he neighed several times in a very gentle way. He'd acknowledge the presence of the girl as if they were friends since long.
With a change of scenery again, The girl stood in front of the Huge Palace as ringing of bells sounded around. The enormous oak doors slowly opened as the music took its pace. The Palace was...
***
I woke up with jerk and grabbed the photo on my side table, observing the Palace again. This was the same castle I saw in my dream. Some parts of the dream started to faded away as quickly as they came.
I kept staring at the photo as tranquility settled in the air inviting sleep in its wake. No type of sleeping pills would have caused me the amount of peaceful slumber I had enjoyed that night.
***