The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains as Janet opened her eyes, her mind still lingering on the vivid dream she had. In it, she saw a man battling a massive serpent. The serpent's emerald-green eyes gleamed with a sinister light as it coiled menacingly around him. Janet felt an inexplicable urge to intervene. She grabbed a stick and struck the serpent with all her strength, finally defeating it as it disintegrated into ashes.
Now awake, she sat on the edge of her bed, her palms damp with sweat. The dream had felt so real—she could still recall the glint of the serpent's scales reflecting the sunlight. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but an unshakable sense of foreboding settled in her chest.
An Unexpected Call
As Janet tried to make sense of the dream, her phone rang suddenly. She glanced at the screen and saw a familiar name—Lina, her close friend from China.
"Lina? It's early for you to call. Is everything okay?" Janet asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Janet…" Lina's voice sounded hoarse and exhausted. "I don't know who else to talk to. Lately, everything in my life has been going wrong. This morning, my car was hit—it wasn't even my fault—but I'm still so upset. Work is a mess; an important project was suddenly put on hold, and my team is completely demotivated. And…" She paused, her sigh heavy with emotion. "I broke up with my boyfriend yesterday."
Janet listened quietly, her brow furrowing deeper with each word. "Lina, that's so much to handle all at once. Are you okay?"
"I don't even know how to describe it," Lina said. "I feel like I'm falling apart. I haven't been able to sleep well lately, and I keep having these weird nightmares…"
"What kind of nightmares?" Janet asked gently.
There was a brief silence on the other end, as if Lina was hesitating to share.
"I keep dreaming of this dark, eerie place," Lina finally said. "There's a massive snake watching me… Its eyes are green, and it's terrifying. I try to run, but no matter how fast I go, I can't get away. I always wake up in a panic."
Janet's heart skipped a beat. The scene Lina described was almost identical to her own dream. Gripping the phone tighter, she felt a growing sense of unease.
"Lina," Janet said, her tone serious now, "have you experienced anything strange lately? Besides the things you mentioned, has anything felt… off?"
After a moment's hesitation, Lina replied, "Actually, yes. Sometimes I feel like someone's watching me when I'm alone in my room, but I know that's impossible. And occasionally, I hear these faint whispers, but when I listen closely, there's nothing there."
Unanswered Questions
A chill ran down Janet's spine as she recalled the vivid imagery of her dream—the serpent, the man, the battle. Could this be more than just coincidence? Was there a connection between her dream and Lina's experiences?
"Lina, listen to me," Janet said, trying to keep her voice calm. "Be extra careful over the next few days. Avoid dark or secluded places if you can. Try lighting some candles or using calming scents like lavender to help you relax."
"Do you think these dreams and everything happening are connected?" Lina asked, a trace of fear creeping into her voice.
Janet didn't answer directly. Instead, she said, "It might be a sign—something trying to warn us. Just take care of yourself and call me if anything else happens."
After hanging up, Janet stared at her phone, unable to shake the unease that gripped her. Her instincts told her that this was no ordinary situation. The dream she had might be more than just a dream—it could be a warning, or perhaps a message she was yet to understand.
For now, Janet decided not to share the details of her dream with Lina. But she resolved to dig deeper, to uncover whatever truth lay hidden in the shadows of their shared experiences.
Was this intersection of dreams and reality mere coincidence, or a twist of fate? Janet knew this was just the beginning.