Inside a small cottage, dimly lit with a single candle, Ashlyn stood at the center while looking around. Her body trembled as she sighted the stains of blood everywhere in the room.
'Where am I? What is this?' She asked herself as she felt weak in the knees. Summoning courage to move, she walked towards the only door and opened it but then what she saw left her in shock.
They were pile of bodies laying lifeless on the ground but when she lifted her head up, looking forward, she saw a mysterious man standing on his feet. His upper clothes were torn and his body bruised and wounded then she heard sounds, to be precise... Battle sounds.
Seeing the settings of the battle, it was a man against an army of thousands but yet he didn't feel weak.
'What is going on? Where really am I?' Before she could think of asking her self those questions, she saw the man turn his head to her and she heard his voice.
"Selena, go back inside. This is not your fight anymore."
Because of the sun reflecting it light, she couldn't see the man's face clearly and only his lips was clear enough but from the way he said it, she could tell he was talking to her.
Confusion struck her hard as she stood dazzled by what she heard. 'Selena? Who was it? Why did he call her Selena or is he talking to someone else?'
Turning to her right and left she saw no one else so who was this mysterious man talking to. Opening her mouth to speak but no words came out, she felt numb and she heard the man's voice again.
"Selena, please listen to me."
Still confused by his words, her mind was running in chaos and before she knew what was going on, She saw something, no, someone holding a dagger and moving with high speed towards her and she could already detect what was going to happen. She was being attacked.
Trying to move her legs to run but she couldn't, they was no hope for her, her body was failing her and the only thing she could do was close her eyes and expect the attack but instead she heard a loud thud and she opened her eyes.
'What just happened?' She screamed in her head as she saw the person attacking her on the ground with his head separated from his body. Who saved her? How is she not dead? she wanted to know and she finally got her answer, the mysterious man.
She saw him standing with his back facing her and as she looked to the ground, she could see blood dropping down. Using her eyes to search for the dagger but didn't see it, that was when she realized, he took the hit for her.
"I told you to go back inside... This is no longer your fight, Selena. You've done enough... Just trust me and go back inside."
Ashlyn heard his shaking voice. It was filled with pain and regret and concern but yet she just didn't understand why? Why was he calling her Selena? Who was he? His voice didn't sound familiar and What fight was he talking about? She couldn't remember starting any fight and even if she wanted to start a fight, there's no way she would start this hellish battle. This was obviously a war but how did it happen?
Still trying to understand the situation, she heard his plea again. "I can't protect you if you're here so please go inside." But before she could find the strength to take a step she noticed someone aiming an arrow at the man and she screamed.
"No..." Ashlyn woke up screaming as she immediately sat up on her bed. The volume of her voice also woke Kait who was sleeping peacefully by her side.
"Ash, What happened?" Kait asked in concern as she saw Ashlyn sweating profusely.
Hitting her chest lightly, she tried to calm her racing heart and steady her breathing. It was all a nightmare, every single thing was not real but yet it felt real.
"He was about to die... They almost shot him because of me... He was trying to protect me." Ashlyn stammered.
"What are you saying, Ash? Who was about to die? Who was getting shot because of you? I don't understand a single word you're saying."
"I don't know him. I didn't see his face, but his voice... I've never heard it before. Kait, they were many against him and he was fighting just to protect me."
Kait looked at Ashlyn with worry written all over her face. If she hadn't known Ashlyn since her childhood, she would have concluded that Ashlyn was crazy but right now. Knowing her friend never behaves this way, she just couldn't help but wonder what is really going on.
Sitting up and folding her legs on the bed she took Ashlyn hands and closed it in hers. "Ash, talk to me slowly and calmly. What is it?" Kait asked with voice filled with concern and care.
Hearing Kait words, Ashlyn looked at her. Speaking slowly, "I had a nightmare and it felt real. It felt like it happened or it was going to happen." she said
"What's the nightmare about?" Kait asked and waited patiently for an answer.
"It was a war... One man against thousands of men but he kept on fighting just to protect me."
"Protect you?"
"Well, I don't know if it's me he wants to protect or I looked like someone he wanted to protect but he was definitely talking to me and he took a stab because of me."
"If he took a stab because of you then you're the one he wants to protect."
"I don't know, I'm confused... He called me Selena..."
Cutting her off, "Wait, did you just say Selena?" Kait asked with furrowed brows.
"Yes. He said I've already done enough and it's no longer my fight."
"Selena? A war?"
Surprised by Kait expression, "Is something wrong?" Ashlyn asked.
Putting on a fake smile, "No." Kait answered and Ashlyn sighed before looking at the ceiling.
"Selena? It's impossible, you can't be her." Kait said in her head silently while looking at Ashlyn.