That night, I had a dream. I found myself lost in a dark forest on a night without stars.
Fear washed over me, and I broke into a cold sweat, feeling scared and uncertain about why I was in the middle of the woods. I took hesitant steps forward, but then I heard footsteps approaching from behind.
"Run, Alanora. Run!" A frightened voice echoed in the darkness, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
I turned my head to see where the footsteps were coming from, and they seemed to be growing louder and closer. My heart raced as I saw a dark creature with glowing red eyes that burned like black fire. It was terrifying, hungry, and filled with rage, chasing after me with the intention of killing me.
I stood frozen, my legs rooted to the ground in shock.
"Alanora, run...!" That was all I needed to snap out of my stupor.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, without caring about the direction. I could sense it drawing nearer, relentless in its pursuit, determined to catch me.
There was a deep pit, as black as coal, just a few steps away in the forest. If I could reach that pit, maybe the creature would stop chasing me.
"Alanora... Don't!" the same panicked voice shouted, but it was too late. I fell into the pit, closing my eyes tightly.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw a horrifying sight. No, it wasn't just an image; it was the creature itself. It had fallen into the pit with me, and now its long arms reached out, trying to strangle me.
"No. No. Noo..." I woke up abruptly in complete darkness, feeling suffocated and struggling for breath after a vivid and terrifying nightmare. Fear gripped me, and I trembled, my face drenched in cold sweat. Reality hit me like a heavy blow, leaving me scared and confused.
Where am I?
I tried to move, but I realized I was bound and unable to free myself. Panic set in as I looked around, my eyes darting in the darkness. Tall and menacing trees loomed against the black sky. I was indeed in the woods, and I found myself tied to a tree.
How did I end up here? The last thing I remember was walking down the hallway with my husband when a maid suddenly appeared. She mentioned some kind of ritual, telling me I had to be initiated. Initiated into what? I refused to go with her, but she said something chilling and ominous. Before I could protest, she grabbed my neck.
"What are you doing? How dare you touch a princess?" I shouted at her, but she ignored my words. Whispering some words, she locked her eyes with mine, trapping me in her gaze. I couldn't look away, as if bewitched by her.
"Follow me," she commanded, and without hesitation, I did as she said. That was the last thing I remember before falling into a deep sleep. A sleep that erased the memories that followed, leaving me only with a really scary nightmare.
Suddenly, seven tall figures came out from the shadows, surprising me. They moved slowly, dragging their feet as they surrounded me, each one holding a sword. They wore masks and black cloaks that covered their heads and reached the ground. They were the same people from the wedding hall.
Before I could understand what was going on, a loud sound echoed through the woods. It was like the voice of a siren, piercing the air, starting low and getting louder, shaking the whole forest. The trees swayed, and dry leaves fell to the ground.
The masked men began to move, swaying and dancing with quick and graceful movements, their swords twirling in their hands. I watched with rapt attention, fascinated by the drama unfolding before me.
They continued their dance, their bodies bending and spinning as if performing some moon ritual. They threw their swords into the air, catching them skillfully. One of them lay down on the ground, facing upward, while the others circled him, lowering the sharp tips of their swords towards him. The voice abruptly stopped, and the men ceased their movements as well.
Curiosity gripped me as I turned my head to see what had captured their attention. My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open as I focused on a flying dagger hurtling directly towards my heart. Fear should have overwhelmed me, but instead, I felt a strange acceptance. I closed my eyes, eagerly waiting for the pain, ready for death to release me from this terrible nightmare, to make me vanish and never have anything to do with life again.
I waited and waited, but nothing happened. I felt disappointed and angry, so I slowly opened my eyes.
They all disappeared from the woods without leaving any signs, as if nobody had been there. However, there was one person still lying on the ground, not moving.
I looked closely and saw that he had been stabbed. The dagger was stuck in his lower stomach, and blood was coming out from under his clothes. That dagger... the same one that was supposed to end my life had somehow ended up hurting him, and he suffered the fate that was meant for me.
Why? Whoever did this must have been sent to bring more bad luck to me.
A shiver went down my spine as a chilling coldness surrounded me, even though it was hot outside. It was a cold feeling that I had felt before.
Soon, a shadow came out of the darkness, blending in perfectly as if it were made from the darkness itself, untouched by light.
It was both surprising and fascinating, making me want to break free from my bindings and run towards it, but also urging me to escape as fast as possible because it was dangerous.
"Sleep," the shadow softly whispered. The voice... it sounded strangely familiar. It was the same voice from my nightmare!
I wanted to see the face behind the voice, but I couldn't. His command hung in the air, like a predator patiently waiting to devour its prey.
My eyelids became heavy and wet, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't keep them open. Soon, the darkness appeared, and I surrendered to it without resisting
"Take her away."