Treasure pushed her way through the thick bushes, her heart pounding with fear. Wet leaves slapped her face, and sticky cobwebs clung to her skin, but she didn't stop. Her legs burned as she ran as fast as she could, trying to escape the danger chasing her.
"You can run, but you'll never escape your shadow! HA HA HA!" a terrible voice called out, sounding closer and louder with each second.
Treasure's fear grew, and tears rolled down her cheeks as she whispered desperate prayers. "Lord, help me. Please save me," she pleaded, her voice shaky.
In the distance, she saw two girls standing, but before she could reach them, her legs buckled and she fell hard to the ground and the impact left her in severe pains. She wanted to stay there and rest, but she knew that will be suicidal.
Suddenly, a cold, bony hand grabbed her shoulder, making her freeze in terror.
"Treasure…" a soft, chilling voice whispered as the grip on her shoulder tightened.
"JESUS! JESUS! JEEEESUS! Leave me! Let me go, please!" Treasure screamed as she tried to pull away.
The voice grew louder, almost roaring, "TREASURE!"
Treasure screamed louder, hoping her cries would break the grip. "JESUUUUUSSS!"
Then, a sharp slap on her back pulled her out of the nightmare. She gasped and opened her eyes to see her sister, Thelma, standing by her bed with a worried look.
"Treasure, what's wrong? You were screaming in your sleep," Thelma said softly.
Treasure wiped her face, still shaking. "It was just a bad dream," she said, her voice low.
Thelma frowned. "You keep having these crazy dreams and screaming like someone possessed. What's going on?"
Treasure glared at her. "My dreams are not crazy! And even if they were, it's none of your business!"
Thelma folded her arms. "You're always distracted and distant. You don't talk to me or Mom about what's going on in your life anymore."
Treasure looked down and muttered, "Thelma, drop it. I'm fine. It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal? Pfft," Thelma scoffed. "You better start talking"
"Leave me alone!" Treasure shouted, cutting her off. "I've already been through enough in my dream, and now you added physical torture by slapping me awake!"
"Physical torture? You're the one stressing me out with all your laziness!" Thelma shot back. "Look at the time! If you weren't so lazy, maybe you wouldn't have these weird dreams."
Before the argument could go further, their mother, Mrs. Naomi, walked into the room. Her stern gaze silenced both sisters.
"What's going on here?" she asked firmly.
Thelma pointed at Treasure. "She was screaming in her sleep again, and when I tried to wake her, she started yelling at me."
Treasure glared at Thelma. "She slapped me and insulted me!"
Their mother sighed. "Thelma, why would you slap your sister? And Treasure, why are you still in bed at this time of the day?"
Thelma shrugged. "She was being lazy, as usual."
Treasure protested, "I wasn't lazy! I was having a nightmare, and Thelma overreacted!"
Their mother raised her hand to stop the bickering. "Enough. Thelma, apologize to your sister for slapping her. And Treasure, get out of bed and come to my room. We need to talk."
Thelma muttered a half-hearted apology, while Treasure reluctantly got up, feeling annoyed and confused.
"Treasure," her mother called from her room, her voice calmer but still firm.
Treasure sighed, her stomach sinking. She followed her mother, already dreading what will happen next because she just wasn't ready for a serious conversation with her mother.