(previously)
Samiul's screams filled the air, echoing alongside the agonized cries of his loved ones. The monsters' own screams grew in intensity, their power melting Samiul's body with their sheer force. With each transformation, Samiul experienced excruciating pain, while his additional eyes bore witness to the suffering of those he held dear, trapped in the same nightmarish ordeal.
-----------------
(now)
He was getting killed over and over again, and there is a sand clock with blood counting behind him.
The crow had previously landed on the bloody space, spoke from the back, and said, "One hour completed, six more to go."
The torture was still going on in the same way, and time started to flow.
Six hours passed.
The sand clock of blood stopped, and the monster stopped torturing Samuil.
Samiul fell into the bloody pond and started drawing. Samiul was not responding by drawing inside the blood pond.
Samiul screams, wakes up, and finds himself lying in his room. He sits up, screaming. Gasping, he started thinking, "Where am I? It's home, right? Yes, it is. Am I back where I was? Yas, I am really home, maybe or maybe not. Was I dreaming? No, no, it was not a dream; it felt like all the pain I felt was real. I can still feel it."
Tanvir woke up because of the scream, who was sleeping beside him, and said, "Aahhm, what happened, brother? Why are you screaming?" Tanvir sat down and said, "Brother? Why are you looking at the wall like that? Brother, what happened to you?" said Tanvir to Samiul.
Samiul's body was shaking, and he fell from his bed on the ground while thinking.
Tanvir jumps from bed and says, "Hay, are you ok, mom?" Tanvir was saying, but Samiul stood up and got close to the window. While going to the window, Samiul thought, "I can't understand what's happening to me; I can't breathe, not now, not even then. What could the dream mean? The pain I suffered in that dream. No, whatever it was, it was not a dream. I can't even forget the things those creatures did to me. Samiul opened the window, and stormy air started entering the room.
"Brother, don't open the window; outside is a storm," says Tanvir. Get close to Samiul.
Samiul had tears in his eyes while thinking, "For a moment, I thought it was the death feeling. I thought I had died and was suffering in hell, but I am getting my life back. That was enough for me, and I closed the window.
Samiul turned back and saw Tanvir looking at him. Samiul's tears were visible.
"Brother, why are you crying? What happened?" said tanvir
Samiul hugged Tanvir tight and said, "Nothing, Tanvir; I just had a bad dream. Let's go to sleep," says Samiul.
Both lay on the bed.
"Did dad beat you too much, Tanvir?"" asked Samiul to Tanvir.
"I won't answer that; you didn't even come to visit me. You don't love me, brother; that's the reason you didn't come when dad was beating me," says Tanvir.
"I am so sorry, Tanvir. I guess I am a bad brother," says Samuel.
"Yah, you are. I won't talk with you anymore," says Tanvir, who starts sleeping.
Samiul closed his eyes, and his vision always shows the scene of her torture.
"No, I can't sleep. I don't want to sleep at this moment," says Samuel. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and started watching funny videos, but he was not smiling seeing this, and while watching, he fell asleep.
Samiul woke up to the gentle warmth of sunlight streaming through his window, casting a golden hue across his room. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he glanced at his phone and noted the time: 10:41 PM.
As the events of his vivid dream flooded back into his consciousness, Samiul couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped him. "When did I even fall asleep?" he muttered to himself, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Ah, why am I even thinking about that? It's just a dream," he reasoned aloud, though the memory of the pain he had experienced felt all too real.
Descending the stairs, Samiul mulled over the unsettling realism of his dream. "Even though it's just a dream, I can't shake the feeling that it was more than just my imagination," he thought to himself. "Maybe it was a lucid dream or something like that. Whatever it was, it's too realistic to dismiss. Like the way I felt all the hits can't be a dream. "
"Samiul! Finally, you showed up," Tanisa greeted him as he entered the kitchen.
"Mom, I'm sure you haven't eaten yet," Samiul remarked, concern etched into his features.
Tanisa nodded in agreement, her expression softening. "Yes, I waited for you. I can't eat alone when one of my sons hasn't eaten yet. Actually, I tried to wake you up, but Tanvir told me that you acted strange last night, so I didn't want to disturb you," she explained gently.
"Mom, are you a slave?" Samiul blurted out, his words tinged with frustration.
Taken aback by his question, Tanisa furrowed her brow. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her tone cautious.
Samiul sighed, his gaze earnest. "I don't mean to offend you, but the way Dad treats you... It's like you're just a toy to him. I've never seen him treat you with kindness or respect. It's like you're always at his beck and call," he elaborated, his voice tinged with sadness.
Tanisa's eyes welled with emotion as she absorbed Samiul's words. "Don't say something like that. As a wife, I should and must serve my husband," she replied softly, her voice tinged with resignation.
Samuil shook his head, his determination evident. "Forget it, Mom. It's pointless trying to talk to you about this. But please, have your meal now. I don't like seeing you wait for me or anyone else in the house to eat. You're not a slave; you're a queen to me and Tanvir. Remember that," he said, his tone firm yet filled with love.
With that, Samiul grabbed his brush with the intention of heading outside.
As Samiul walked outside, multitasking by brushing his teeth, he spotted Maria who was gardening. The beautiful sunlight was hitting her face creating a beautiful glow , his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her radiant beauty. "Maria, she's as beautiful as ever," he mused silently. "She's like a vision, bathed in the soft glow of the sun's rays. Her delicate hands, so captivating, make me yearn to hold them. But no, I can't allow myself to fall for her . Even though I fell in love with her when I was just 14, her beauty still holds me captive."
Lost in his thoughts, Samiul's gaze drifted momentarily to a nearby tree, where he caught sight of the crow that had caused him trouble the day before.
"Isn't that the same crow from yesterday? Or perhaps not... All crows do look alike, but wait, yes, I remember now. That crow had a distinctive white feather. It must be the same one, but..." Samiul trailed off, his curiosity piqued.
Meanwhile, the crow observed the scene with a mixture of intrigue and contemplation. "This boy harbors feelings for the girl next door, hmm?" it pondered silently. "Love truly is a complex emotion, capable of transforming both monsters and humans alike. Though we angels are devoid of such emotions, now as a crow, perhaps I can explore this concept of love if I so desire," the crow thought looking at Samiul and Maria started the conversation.
Maria greeted Samiul with her usual warmth. "Hey, Samiul! How are you today?" she asked cheerfully.
Samiul's heart raced at the sound of her voice, momentarily forgetting his inner turmoil. "Oh, uh, I'm doing alright. And you?" he replied, trying to maintain his composure.
"It looks like you've just woken up. I hope you had a good dream," Maria remarked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Samiul's smile faltered slightly as he recalled his recent nightmare. "Well, not exactly. Yesterday was actually a nightmare," he admitted, his tone tinged with unease.
"Oh, that's bad but I had a good dream today, I mean yesterday. Well the dream was in a beautiful place and I am standing in the batch with Nahid.
" Nahid huh, your boyfriend. And you had to tell me that. Sometimes i think that you know that i have a crush on you but still you want to tease me "thinks Samiul and says " That's an amazing dream."
"However i want you to know that me and my family will be going to countryside so if you can, please give water to my flowers everyday until we come back " says maria and points her finger on a tab and says "use water of that tab to give water please ".
" Ok, I will try to do it, " says Samiul.
"So, when will you come back?" he inquired, trying to sound casual.
"In about 27-28 days. We'll be back after our countryside trip," Maria answered, her tone light.
"Okay," Samiul responded, trying to push aside his doubts about Maria's request.
Later, while Samiul was eating, his mother Nadia sat opposite him, watching him with a tender gaze. Samiul, feeling uncomfortable under her scrutiny, spoke up. "Mom, I told you not to look at me while I'm eating. It's annoying," he said, trying to deflect her attention.
Nadia smiled softly. "I was just thinking about how quickly my little boy has grown," she explained, her voice filled with maternal pride.
Samiul scoffed at her comment, feeling self-conscious about his height. "Big? Me? Mom, I'm only 5'3 at 17. I'm practically the shortest 17-year-old around. Most girls are taller than me," he lamented, his insecurities bubbling to the surface.
Nadia tried to reassure him. "So what? Height doesn't define you. You're still growing," she insisted.
"In your dreams, Mom. You don't understand how insecure I feel around others. And what are the chances of growing taller after 18? Slim to none. I'm 17; a few months won't change anything," Samiul retorted, finishing his meal and excusing himself.
"Okay, but be back before lunch, alright?" Nadia called after him, her motherly concern evident in her tone.
Samiul was walking on the road. The crow was following him.
As Samiul walked along the road, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Glancing behind him, he saw nothing out of the ordinary, but the presence lingered. Unbeknownst to him, the crow was stealthily following his every move, hidden from sight behind a nearby building.
Arriving at a large field where a game of cricket was in full swing, Samiul noticed a group of boys gathered on the left side, engrossed in conversation. Among them were:
- A boy in a yellow t-shirt, sporting closely cropped hair and dark brown eyes.
- Another boy donning a blue, half-sleeved shirt with spiked hair, complemented by piercing black eyes and dark brown hair.
- A third boy wearing a blue cap and a brown t-shirt, sporting sunglasses.
- Lastly, a boy with a mid-fade hairstyle, brown hair, dark skin, and intense brown eyes.
Approaching the group, Samiul greeted them with a friendly, "Hey, guys! What's going on?"
However, his attempt to join their conversation was met with indifference as they continued discussing amongst themselves.
"The plan is set. Tomorrow, we gather our funds, and the day after, we head to Semsla Falls," declared the boy in the blue cap, outlining their itinerary.
"Alright, the plan's final. We'll budget 2000 tk and make sure to get all the necessary equipment," added the boy in the blue t-shirt, confirming their arrangements.
"Hay guys, what are you planning?" Samiul inquired as he approached the group.
All eyes turned to him, some with annoyance evident on their faces. The boy in the yellow t-shirt spoke up, his tone tinged with irritation. "Samiul, what are you doing here?"
Confusion flickered across Samiul's face. "What does that mean?" he asked, perplexed by their reaction.
"Never mind. We're planning to go to Semsla Falls," the boy in the yellow t-shirt replied curtly, attempting to dismiss Samiul's presence.
"That's great! Why didn't you tell me?" Samiul questioned, trying to join in the excitement.
The boy in the brown t-shirt sighed, exchanging glances with the others. "Look, we all know you won't go, so we didn't bother asking," he explained, his words tinged with resignation.
Realization dawned on Samiul. "Oh, I see. But I think I can go this time," he responded, a hint of determination in his voice.
The boy in the red t-shirt shook his head. "Sorry, Samiul. We've already made all the arrangements. It's too late to include you now," he stated firmly.
"Ah, I understand. I guess I'm sorry," Samiul muttered, disappointment evident in his tone.
"Alright, we've got to get going. Do you have anything else to say, Samiul?" the boy in the yellow t-shirt asked, signaling their departure.
With a heavy heart, Samiul spoke up, his voice filled with emotion. "Guys, yesterday I had a horrible dream. It felt so real, like I was being brutally killed over and over again. And I saw all the people I love getting killed in the same way. That includes you guys," he confessed, hoping they would understand the weight of his experience.
As Samiul poured his heart out, hoping for understanding and empathy, his words were met with ridicule and disdain.
"What kind of joke is that? Are you dumb?" scoffed the boy in the yellow t-shirt, his laughter echoing through the air.
"He is dumb indeed, that's why he is saying these logicless things to us, seeking attention," chimed in the boy in the red t-shirt, his tone dripping with mockery.
Samiul's heart sank as his sincerity was dismissed as a mere ploy for attention. "It's real, it really did happen to me, and I can't understand what happened to me and my entire soul yesterday. I'm still feeling the pain from inside when I think about it again. I came here only to tell you how I actually felt," he insisted, his voice tinged with desperation.
But his words fell on deaf ears as the boy in the blue shirt dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "Yeah, and you ended up being a fool. You're immature and so dumb to think we'd believe or even have time to listen to your weird dream, which you made up to grab attention," he retorted, his laughter mingling with the others'.
All of them started walking away, leaving him alone with his shattered feelings.
As they moved out of earshot, their laughter continued, mocking Samiul behind his back.
"Samiul is such a creep, thinking we consider him our friend. Seriously, he's just someone we use for our own benefit," the boy in the blue shirt remarked, his tone dripping with contempt.
"Yeah, and look how dumb he is that he couldn't even grasp such a simple concept," added the boy in the yellow t-shirt, his laughter joining the chorus of ridicule.
"Dude, he's utterly useless now. There's no reason to even pretend to be nice to him anymore," remarked the boy in the brown t-shirt, his voice laced with disdain.
"Absolutely true, he's both brainless and useless," agreed the boy in the red t-shirt, their laughter echoing around them.
Despite the distance, Samiul could hear their cruel words clearly, each one stabbing at his heart and leaving him feeling more isolated than ever before.
"Oh, I see... This is what they think about me, but they're right. I am annoying, useless," Samiul muttered dejectedly as he sat on the branch, his voice tinged with sadness.
"It's not their fault. If I were one of them, maybe I would ignore me. I am the reason. I think I should not disturb them anymore. I guess," he continued, his thoughts heavy with self-doubt.
Suddenly, a cricket ball from the field was hurtling toward his face, but before it could make contact, Samiul's arm moved instinctively and intercepted the ball, stopping it in its tracks.
The spectators on the field were stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief as they witnessed Samiul's unexpected reflexes.
Samiul, equally surprised by his own actions, quickly tossed the ball back to a fielder, his mind racing with confusion.
Just then, Samiul's phone began to ring, breaking the momentary silence. He picked up his phone, his movements slightly shaky from the adrenaline rush, and tossed the ball onto the field, trying to regain his composure.
"Samiul, where are you? It's already noon. Come home quickly; you have to pick up Tanvir from school," Tanisa's voice echoed through the phone.
"Alright, Mom, I'll be home in a few moments," Samiul replied.
------
//Character Stats//
- Joy (Yellow T-shirt boy): Age 18
- Nohi (Blue shirt boy): Age 17
- Naem (Brown T-shirt boy): Age 17
- Ontor (Red T-shirt boy): Age 18