Aika's eyes fluttered open, and she stared at the ceiling, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of unease. She felt a sense of disorientation, as if the dream had left her with more questions than answers. She threw off the covers and got out of bed, deciding to clear her head with a morning walk. As she stood up, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and froze, her eyes widening in surprise.
Aika's gaze was drawn to a small, almost imperceptible mark on her left shoulder blade. It was a faint, crimson-red symbol that seemed to match the image of the Red Spider Lily she had seen earlier. She spun around, trying to get a better look, but the mark was already fading away, leaving behind only a faint, ghostly impression.
Aika's mind was racing with questions. What did the mark mean? And how did it get there? She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that the dream and the symbol might be more than just a coincidence. She tried to shake off the feeling of unease, telling herself it was just her imagination playing tricks on her. But the image of the man with the mask and the Red Spider Lily symbol lingered in her mind, refusing to be dismissed.
Aika's eyes widened as she felt a chill run down her spine. She had never been one to shy away from a challenge or back down from a fight, but this was different. The feeling of being trapped and helpless, of being at the mercy of someone who seemed to have complete control over her, was suffocating. She felt a wave of fear wash over her, and for the first time in her life, she felt truly scared.
She tried to shake off the feeling, telling herself it was just a dream, but the image of the man's red eyes and the sound of his voice seemed to linger in her mind. She felt a sense of vulnerability that she had never experienced before, and it was unsettling. Aika was used to being in control, to being the one who called the shots, but in this moment, she felt like she was at the mercy of someone else.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her heart was still racing. She felt like she was trapped in a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from, and she didn't know how to escape. The feeling of being trapped and helpless was suffocating, and Aika felt like she was drowning in her own fear.
Aika shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. She took a deep breath, and the feeling of unease slowly dissipated. She looked around her room, taking in the familiar surroundings. The dream was gone, but the memory of it lingered, leaving her with a faint sense of discomfort.
Aika shrugged it off, telling herself it was just a bad dream. She got out of bed and started getting ready for the day, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of unease. As she went about her morning routine, she couldn't help but wonder if the dream had been triggered by something specific. She thought back to the previous day, trying to remember if anything out of the ordinary had happened. But nothing stood out. She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the day ahead.
It was still dark outside. Aika grabbed some paint and paper she walked outside and sat down on the chair she allowed herself to paint. Her painting seemed so beautiful yet so sad it showed a girl who was trapped in a cage blindfolded even though the girl was blind she wore beautiful gown. Aika didn't even know she was drawing this.
Aika's brushstrokes were bold and expressive, as if the paint was flowing through her without any conscious thought. The colors she chose were muted, with shades of gray and blue dominating the palette. The girl in the painting was depicted in a beautiful, flowing gown, but her face was twisted in a mixture of sadness and despair. The blindfold around her eyes seemed to be a symbol of her inner turmoil, and the cage that surrounded her was a powerful metaphor for the feeling of being trapped.
As Aika painted, she felt a sense of catharsis wash over her. It was as if the emotions that had been building up inside her were finally being released onto the paper. She didn't think about what she was creating, she just let her instincts guide her. The painting seemed to be taking on a life of its own, and Aika was merely a vessel for the emotions that were flowing through her.
As the painting neared completion, Aika stepped back to admire her work. She was taken aback by the beauty and the sadness that seemed to emanate from the canvas. The girl in the painting seemed to be calling out to her, as if she was trying to convey a message that only Aika could hear. Aika felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that the painting was more than just a creation - it was a reflection of her own inner world.
"Aika that's a beautiful painting! Oh my gosh this is…Aika did you paint this?" Old Madam Cathy asked.
Aika turned to Old Madam Cathy, a hint of surprise on her face.
"Yes, I did. I don't know what came over me, but I just started painting and this is what came out." She gazed at the painting, her eyes searching for answers.
"It's like I was guided by something, but I don't know what it means."
"Are you going to sell it I will buy it from you," Old Madam Cathy said and Aika sighed.
"You can have it for free," Aika mumbled not really caring for this at all.
Old Madam Cathy's eyes widened in surprise at Aika's response.
"Oh, Aika, no, I couldn't just take it from you. It's a beautiful piece of art, and I'm sure it's worth a lot. But if you're sure you don't want to sell it to me, I'll just have to treasure it even more as a gift from you." She smiled warmly at Aika, but Aika just shrugged and looked away, still seeming distant and preoccupied.
Old Madam Cathy's eyes lingered on the painting, taking in the details and the emotions that it conveyed. She could sense that there was something deeper behind Aika's creation, something that Aika herself may not even be aware of. She made a mental note to keep a close eye on Aika, to see if she could help her uncover the secrets that seemed to be hidden beneath the surface.
Aika's eyes glazed over as she watched the movie, the sound and images washing over her without really registering. She felt numb, like she was just going through the motions of relaxation without actually feeling any sense of calm or enjoyment. The warm water of the bath seemed to be the only thing that was able to penetrate her emotional numbness, and even that was a distant comfort.
As the movie played on, Aika's thoughts began to wander, her mind drifting back to the dream she had earlier and the painting she had created. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to it all, something just out of reach that she couldn't quite grasp. But she didn't feel like trying to figure it out. She just felt... empty.
The movie ended, and Aika turned off the Zanyu device, plunging the bathroom into silence. She sat there for a moment, the only sound the gentle lapping of the water against the sides of the tub. Then, without much enthusiasm, she got out of the bath and began to get ready for bed.