Saving Grace Chapter 8:
"Everything I have experienced in the dream will come into reality…" I mumble to myself while panicky wipe the remnants of water on my body.
It all makes sense now; the flashlight I could bring, the wounds I received, and the freshwater from where I was drowning. Everything has come into reality.
"How is this possible?" I asked the wall cornering around me, thinking that they would provide me with the undemanding answers.
Having to deal with the wet mess, I looked around and spotted the trash bin in the farthest corner of the room and threw the used tissues inside. Afterwards, I attempted to observe the hallway for my parents that might come across my room. Fortunately, they were preoccupied with the procedure of frying the raw frozen meat, stored and forgotten for decades inside the fridge. However, knowing my mother, who was known for her outstanding cuisine, she might create some magic for those terrible ingredients we presently have.
"I pray for my dinner," I utter to myself while gently closing the front door as if nothing had ever happened.
After realising that not a single soul would bother my management, I quickly changed a pair of clothes and wrote everything that had happened inside my journal.
"I need to keep track of all these things," I said while gripping the edge of the pen and scribbling the first few sentences of my diary.
I only included the paramount sequence of events that struck a nerve- er, memorable occurrences that changed me. The things I have included in my journal are the pocket light that I got from the peculiar bullfrog, the woodlands with the man that vanished before, and the mysterious shadow. It was as if that the-.
"Dinner is ready," My train of thoughts was put into a halt after hearing a voice downstairs, calling for my attention to join them with their meal.
"Coming, mother!" I yelled back while hastily organising the bin and my journal to a shelf, concealed with the rest of the uninteresting books.
"I have no use worrying much about this," I told myself while tidying the things from where it belongs. After completing the task, I head downstairs and meet with both my parents waiting for me at the dining room.
"Hurry, the food is getting cold." My father insisted as he budges the chair for me to take the seat. I followed suit and carefully wielded the utensils already prepared on the table.
A mixture of different delicacies is lined up accordingly on top of their plates and made my mouth watery and excited. After all the trouble that I have been through, enjoying a nice, warm-hearted meal is a gratifying way to change the pace.
"Let's dig in." With the permission of my mother, the three of us hurriedly stuck out our knives and forks and skinned the large turkey to our liking.
"How is school?" My dad strikes me a question while filling up his mouth full with golden-brown skin and the freshly sliced meat.
With my mouth occupied with the same poultry, I turned my face to him and answered politely. "It's fine."
I did not want to surprise them by telling them I earned the highest mark in my recent examinations, let alone the bullying happening inside our classroom. Ignorance is bliss, and worrying them about these trivial occasions would lead to nothing but stress on their way to work.
"As long as you're learning, then we are always proud of you, Roxanne." My dad continues either from digesting the food inside his mouth or his lecture about life.
Mother, who had enough about his speech, urges him to be silent while enjoying the extravagant dinner.
Nothing much had happened afterwards, as my parents called it a night. Their idiom was then followed and reminded them about the pile of dishes left on the sink. Lucky for me that my mother took all the responsibility and requested that I should sleep early for school.
Taking their offer, I called them out and wished them a good night's rest while heading back to my begrimed room. As a matter of fact, all of this would not have happened if I was awake and not transported in that petrifying world. Letting out a heavy sigh, I shuffled my things and fixed every nick and cranny of my bedroom and cleaned the once polluted area of the house. Soon, my eyes were greeted and welcomed by sparkling flashes of stars. It had almost shown to me that my room was, well enough, unsullied.
Because of the condition of my weary body, I plummeted down on my futon. However, before I can even doze into sleep, I found a note lying under the comfort of my pillow.
The letter did not have any extraordinary features. It was cursively written with an average black pen, also with a signature. The note implies.
"Dear Roxanne,
Perhaps you have been startled and anxious from the depths of your dream. But, fear not, madam, but your quest has only begun! Countless treasures and benefits await you. However, if you are not careful-in exchange for your blunders, we will take your soul.
Sincerely yours,
Toad Road
I rub my eyes while producing a faint laugh, thinking that the message was an elaborate hoax. In spite of this ridiculousness as a letter, the words shuffle and then vanish in thin air. It was as if the sender knew that I have already perused what the person intended to convey and evanesced the missive.
Following suit was the paper itself, gradually fading away with the hovering ink above. As soon as the piece of paper and the words combine, the note that I read disappears.
I was sitting on the bed, nonplused on what exactly happened before me.
"First the dreams, now letters?" I retorted, still refusing to believe everything supernatural. "What is happening in my life!"
After screeching my lungs out, a single thud alerted my back to my senses, followed by a worried voice calling out for my name.
"Roxanne, is everything alright in there?"
Not wanting to make matters worse, I dashed through the front door and carved the most beaming smile that I can offer for them to ensure that I was okay.
"Yeah. Nothing is happening," I answered, still forcing my lips to curve upwards for a smile. "Why would something be wrong? My life is superbly fine; under control, even!"
I did not think that the plan worked at them after hearing my mother's footsteps striding away from my room. "I understand," I went on her way."
With that taken care of, I hastily jot down the peculiar note occurrences in my journal. After putting the events into stone, I finally hit the sack and prayed for my future.
Unfortunately for me, that note was just the warning that I needed to heed.
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"I am getting used to this furore." I evenly said while forcing my eyes to peer open. Thankfully, this time, I am tossed over to a dry land instead of the cold and salty water from last time.
Thinking that this dream did not differ from the previous ones, I immediately rose and studied my surroundings.
I uncomplicatedly perceive the sky-scraping buildings akin to those in the cities. It also seems like I was transferred and placed at the heart of the town-in fact, at the centre of two colliding streets. Fortunately for me, no rushing automobiles or civilians are walking around.
"No signs of life," I state the obvious while searching back and forth to assure my claim.
Satisfied that I am alone in this realm, I proceed forward but creeping at the side for better concealment. I am still hesitant that monstrous creatures may reside inside the houses, like the hideous pigs that chased me last time.
It happened before it can always occur again.
Judging the town, everyone fled in a hurry and would return upon further notice shown by the signs and flyers in the streets, despite the barricaded front doors.
"Abandoned," I said while peering over to the broken window of each house. "This too."
With nothing more to examine, I walk ahead towards the uncharted place. Eventually, my feet stumble upon an axe usually stored right beside the emergency fire glasses.
Unsure of what to do, I pick up the object and aimlessly swing it, thinking that I had hit an unseen target.
"With this, I can effortlessly defend myself for anything rather than this pocket light."
Realising my strength depleting inside my muscles, I tightly grip the newly found weapon and felt confident about my expedition.
With a brief grin emerging on my face, a surge of happiness flows inside my head. Unfortunately, the positivity hinders my focus as I spot an entity crawling from the dark alley. Before it could even ambush me from the rear, I swiftly glided over to the side and raised my weapon directly to my line of sight.
"You gotta be kidding me," The monster welcoming me in its lair has an appearance similar to a wolf. I can hardly see the hound's image in these obsidian conditions, but I am not too reckless to approach even further.
Instead of slowly backing away, I sit still and guard my area with the escape route on my flank. However, the canine abruptly senses my actions and steadily stride towards the linear direction, followed by its pack behind it. The rest of its kind shares the exact features of the leader in front. Their scarlet eyes glue to my shuffling figure trying to escape the bombarding attacks of the chief wolf. But no matter how hard they try, they could not reach my height.
"Amazing reflexes!" I shouted and complimented myself. I can never understand the theory behind my abrupt actions, but fleeing with my life is our utmost priority.
Testing my ability, I jump across the emergency stairs above me and follow the metallic trail. I do not wish to look behind, even so, I still did and check the wolves.
Much to my surprise, the four-legged mammal mimics my actions and arrives at the platform and continues chasing my rear. Baffled by their ability to climb and copy my procedures, I pumped up my speed and dashed straight towards the roof, unobstructed. Using the iron pipes attached between houses, I roll them over thinking it may slow their progression.
Unfortunately, my plan failed as they effortlessly sprung over to the other side and avoided the bowling tubes. Left with nothing but the axe, I swiftly changed direction and readied myself to parry their attacks.
As the alpha wolf hurriedly approaches me, I oscillate my hatchet and aim directly at its head while attempting to hit its vulnerable body. However, the speedy hound notices my prediction and evades my strike by lowering its figure. After finding an opening, the canine chews on my ankle and impales my foot with its razor-sharp jaws.