"Atlast....they are gone."
"You think so? I don't feel like it."
"Why? What's making you think like that, my dear Niran?"
"I don't know, something is not right."
" Look, Menelaus, along with his army, is gone. For good. You don't need to worry about it."
"No, I mean.."
"Paris! The Greek army has made it's way into the town.They are wrecking havoc!"
"What? How did the-"
"The horse! It's the Trojan horse they gifted isn't it?"
"How- How do you know it, Niran?"
"I-"
"It's her! She was behind it! She doesn't love you, Paris! She just wanted Troy!"
"No! It's not true! I just knew it!"
"How?!"
"Paris! Where're you? Get ready for the battle!"
"I'm coming Hector!"
"Paris, please, I swear it's not me."
"How come you said that then?"
"Because I have read the book!"
"What?"
"Yes! I know the story! I know how it's gonna end!"
"Gonna? Look, Niran, I thought you were strange because you're from Greece, but you're really acting like something else."
"Paris please! Don't go out! You'll never make it-"
"PARIS! WHAT ARE YOU- WHY ARE YOU STILL TALKING TO THIS TRAITOR? THEY ARE HERE FOR HER AND OUR PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING IN CHAOS OUT THERE! BECAUSE OF HER! JUST KILL HER ALREADY!"
"What- No!"
"Niran..."
"Paris! Look! I'm not Helen! You can't!"
"I don't understand what you're saying.."
"No... Paris.."
"I'm so sorry."
"NOOOOOO!!!!"
Niran woke up, her chest heaving up and down,her breathing unsteady from the dream she had.
"Oh my god! This is for sure lethal. I thought I literally died for a second!"
She sighed, wiping the sweat on her forehead, looking at the clock.
"1.30?! How am gonna sleep after this?!"
-------------------
"Mhmuhmuh....hummhum"
Mr. Williams was flipping pancakes onto a plate, humming happily while loud thuds from behind startled him.
"Holy sheet- What's that?"
He hurried towards the stairs to see Niran, eyes puffed up and purple, her hair crazily falling around her , her night dress crumbled, walking with loud steps, absolutely looking like the ghost from Evil dead.
"Jesus Christ, Niran? Were you up all night? Those eye bags look like pillows I could sleep on!"
"Nice one, dad. But I can't laugh."
"Hey, come sit here." He motioned her to sit beside him. "What happened? Were you crying over something? Is it a boy? Should I do something about it?"
"Nah, it's fine. It's just....a dream."
"Dream? Like nightmare? Is it still recurring? Shall we visit a therapist?" Ms.Williams lowkey started panicking.
"No, no, dad. I'm fine. These are dreams about stories I read. I tried a new way of it... but ended up messing my sleep schedule."
"I see. Don't get deep into that, Mickey. You're important to me than anything else."
"It's not like I am gonna leave you, Donald."
She hugged him while he scooped her with one hand, their embrace warm and cozy.
"So...Lux called me and said you weren't taking her calls." He took a piece of Maple syrup dripping-pancake to his mouth.
"What?" Niran took her phone and was surprised to see the screen.
Lux♡- 12 missed calls
Lux♡ left you a voice mail
"Oh no." Panick spreaded across Niran's face as she gulped, "She's gonna eat me alive."
"Hahahaha...." Ms.Williams laughed while taking his bag, "Guess you have a long day ahead. Have more pancakes and take some for Lux too."
He came near Niran, pecked her head, "Love you, my queen." and went to the door
""Love ya dad. Have a safe drive!"
As Niran went into her Uni after a 15 minute ride from her home, she saw all her fears waiting for her, in human form.
Lakshmi strutted down the hallway, eyes ablaze, looking like a panther ready to pounce.
"NIRAN WILLIAMS, YOU-"
"Hehey! Lux! Nice Outfit! Where's it from? Sabyasachi?"
"Sara's fashion, ten blocks away from my place. Now, that's not the point! WHY DIDN'T YOU PICK UP YOUR CALLS?"
"I slept in, Lux."
"YOU ARE- Wait, you slept in? That's not you." Lakshmi came near Niran, eyeing here closely, "When did you sleep?"
"Uhm...I don't know...like 9 pm? But I -"
"But you woke up in the middle several times, didn't you?"
Niran eyes widened.
"And that's because you were lucid dreaming, amirite?"
"What will you do when see Trojan prince trying to stab you? I thought it was all real!"
"Nix, I advise you to stop this right now." Lakshmi looked at her, worried, "Lucid Dreaming is good but only when you create happy scenarios. Dreaming fatal situations can make your mental health deteriorate and lose your sleep too. Do you understand?"
Niran nodded, "I'll stop it, Lux. For sure."
"Great. Now about those calls. I'm going to India tomorrow."
"What? So soon?"
"It's already Winter. Our holidays begins tomorrow, did you forget it?"
Niran rubbed her hands around her body, "Just now I realize this, it's cold."
"Ok, I thought you could come but seeing you in this state, I'm sure you shouldn't travel. Let's hangout today but after that, go to home straight and get some sleep. My flight's midnight so you don't need to come."
"What? No I wanna send you off."
"Not a chance darling."
Niran and Lakshmi went in for a big hug,patting and rubbing each other to soothe and console each other's tears
"I'm already missing you, Lux."
"Me too." Lakshmi broke their hug, "Now go get me a Chocolate souffle for not answering my calls."
----------------
"Nirannnn? Close off your laptop and get to bed, sweetheart."
"On it Dad! Good nigggght!"
Niran threw her phone on the side table and flopped on the bed with a hugh sigh.
"Lux's flight would have taken off by now. Ah.....what am I gonna do without her?"
She pulled the soft black blanket over her, getting comfortable.
"I don't feel sleepy yet." She looked at the clock, which showed 12.
"Why don't we try it for one last time?" She frowned and decided to try again.
She took deep breath and stayed still, relaxing her body. After half an hour, she felt her body stiffening. She closed her eyes to think about a story she could bring to life but nothing came to her mind. Mindlessly, she slowly opened her eyes.
There, she saw small gold dust floating over her bed, glowing and twinkling.
"What is that?" she thought.
Slowly, the gold dusts started to merge, taking the form of a women, who was as glowing as the dust. She had a smile to her little lips, her eyes soft and kind.
"Who's she?" Niran felt confused, "Wait, why do I feel like I have seen her before." she thought.
As if hearing her thoughts, the lady's smile widened and she raised her hand, motioning Niran to repeat her.
"What's going on?" Niran's thoughts were really in a puzzled state.
But when the lady started to say something that's not at all understandable by a human, Niran repeated those words perfectly, as if hypnotized.
"@€*@#*$*@#*@÷*#*#"
"@€*@#*$*@#*@÷*#*#"
And when both of them ended it, a blinding light sparked thorought the entire room and it took few seconds to die down to normal....
And Niran, was gone....
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