Lilith Aurelia,
"Lilith... Lilith... Lilith Aurelia... My friend... My darling... Don't go. Please, please, my dear. I'm scared. I don't want to die. Please, save me."
The echoes of Amaya's desperate cries reverberated through the darkness, tearing at the fabric of my being. I struggled to break free, yearning for escape from the suffocating grip of that nightmarish realm. But Amaya, her tear-stained face etched with anguish, clung to my leg, her voice filled with despair and fear.
Tears cascaded down my face as her pleas tugged at my heartstrings. The intensity of her emotions, the raw vulnerability in her voice, struck a chord deep within me. How could I turn away from someone I once called a friend? The weight of guilt settled upon me, a crushing burden that threatened to consume my soul.
With every ounce of strength, I tried to pry myself from her desperate grasp. But the more I struggled, the tighter her grip became. Her cries pierced through the darkness, seeping into the depths of my consciousness, awakening a sense of responsibility that I had long neglected.
Finally, as if my spirit could no longer bear the weight of her pleas, I jolted awake. My chest heaved, and sweat soaked my brow. I touched my face, still wet with tears, and found myself trembling. The remnants of the dream clung to my thoughts, haunting me with its raw emotions.
As I sat up in bed, my heart raced, and I glanced around the room, seeking solace in the familiarity of my surroundings. The dream had felt so real, the pain and desperation etched into every fiber of my being. It left me with a profound sense of unease and a newfound determination to confront the shadows that lurked within me.
Gently touching my face, I could still feel the remnants of Amaya's grip, as if her plea had left an indelible mark upon my soul. The dream had shaken me to my core, forcing me to confront the consequences of my actions and the power I held over the lives of those around me.
And it was a Saturday and it was the scheduled day for us to prepare for the party. And I was damn late.
***
"Hey Lili... You're late. Anyway, did you have your breakfast?" Keitaro asked, concern etched on his face.
"No, I just woke up a little while ago. That's why I'm running late," I replied, my voice tinged with fatigue.
"I knew it. I asked my mom to prepare something for you. Let me go and get it while you wait in my room. Oh, and by the way, Lilith, Nikolai is already there," Keitaro informed me, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"What about Tiffany?" I asked from him.
"She mentioned she had something to do, but I am expecting her to at least inform us or join us later." he said, already heading towards the kitchen.
A mix of anticipation and apprehension washed over me at the mention of Nikolai's presence. The tension between us still lingered, unresolved and simmering beneath the surface. However, Keitaro's gesture of bringing us together sparked a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, we could find common ground once again.
As I entered Keitaro's room, the air felt heavy with unspoken words. Nikolai stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the world outside. His presence seemed both comforting and distant, a reflection of the complexities that had strained our friendship.
"Hey, Nikolai," I greeted softly, the name lingering on my lips like a fragile melody.
He turned toward me, a mixture of surprise and hesitation in his eyes. "Lilith," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of wariness.
We stood there, enveloped in an uncomfortable silence, our gazes locked in a subtle dance of emotions. The weight of our unspoken conversation hung in the air, the words we longed to say yet dared not utter.
But before the silence could grow suffocating, Keitaro burst into the room, a tray of breakfast in his hands, breaking the tension that had settled between us.
"I brought breakfast for both of you!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with cheerfulness.
Grateful for the distraction, I followed Keitaro's lead and joined them at the small table. As we ate in companionable silence, the atmosphere shifted, slowly thawing the icy divide that had separated us.
As I finished my meal, I excused myself to explore the house, needing a moment of solitude to gather my thoughts, and I caught sight of a painting hanging on the wall. The image depicted a haunting scene—a girl gripping another's leg, her face contorted with anguish and despair, while the other struggled to break free, tears streaming down their face.
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the familiarity of the painting. It mirrored the vivid dream that had plagued me the night before, the dream where Amaya had clung to me, pleading for salvation from the darkness that consumed her.
A shiver ran down my spine as I stood there, mesmerized by the painting's haunting beauty. It was as if the artwork had captured the essence of the turmoil that had plagued my thoughts, bridging the gap between the dream realm and reality.
In that moment, I couldn't help but wonder—was it a mere coincidence or a sign.
When my gaze became fixated on the painting, lost in its familiarity and the haunting emotions it stirred within me, I felt a sudden touch on my shoulder. Startled, I turned to see Nikolai standing beside me, his concerned eyes searching mine.
"Lilith, are you alright?" he asked softly, his voice filled with genuine worry.
A mixture of surprise and relief washed over me as I realized that he had noticed my sudden stillness, my captivation by the painting. I nodded slowly, unable to find the right words to express the turmoil brewing within me.
Nikolai's touch lingered on my shoulder, a gentle reassurance that I was not alone in this strange moment. His presence offered a glimmer of solace amidst the uncertainties that swirled around us.
"I'm... I'm fine," I finally managed to respond, my voice trembling slightly. "Just... taken aback by the painting. It feels so... familiar, like a glimpse into a dream."
Nikolai's gaze followed mine, his eyes locked onto the artwork hanging on the wall. It depicted a gripping scene—an intricate dance of emotions between two figures. One was caught in a desperate grasp, their face contorted with anguish, while the other struggled to break free, tears streaming down their cheeks.
"It's a captivating piece," Nikolai murmured, his voice filled with quiet introspection. "The artist has captured the intensity of their emotions, the pain and the longing."
I nodded in agreement, my eyes never leaving the painting. The image held a mirror to the turmoil that had plagued my dreams, the haunting cries for salvation from the darkness that engulfed Amaya. It felt as though the artist had tapped into the very essence of our struggles, weaving their pain into strokes of paint.
"Do you think... it's a coincidence?" I whispered, my voice barely audible above the silence that enveloped us.
Nikolai's brow furrowed, his gaze thoughtful. "Perhaps... or perhaps it's something more. Sometimes, art can speak to our souls, unveiling truths we may not yet understand."
With a start, I realized the passing of time and the need to continue our day. Reluctantly tearing my gaze away from the painting, I turned to Nikolai. He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, offering solace in his touch.
"You may be treading into unknown territories, Lilith," he said, his words seeping into my heart like bitter ink. That's why I despised him, he would never dare risk his life for the sake of others.