"It's him! It's the Shadow walker! Everyone, run!"
" Sage is here! It's the end for us!"
The entire place was filled with mist, filled with the rampant cries of ordinary humans as they ran for their lives.
Fire burned and danced against the walls, humans began to act intoxicated and drugged. The turbulent surrounding felt like the beginning of an apocalypse.
Mothers feeding on their children's remains and children devouring their mother's corpses.
The children's wails fell on their mother's deaf ears, lost to madness.
That's just who he is_ Sage!
He's Hades of the underworld, the demon of death. The Shadow walker who walks the night.
It's him! Shadow walker! My husband in my dreams! The husband I never knew existed! My doom!
***
It was a sunny morning but that wasn't the case for me. Everywhere was bright and warm but here I am– on my bed, freezing!
"Human girl, wait!" That voice kept echoing in my head. The more I heard it, the colder I got.
My body sank into the bed, my sweat soaking the blankets, it felt like I was in a terrifyingly cold mountain.
I grabbed my duvet and used it to cover my body, 'Let me escape! Please, let me escape!'
I knew I was in my room, on my bed but at the same time, it felt like I'm somewhere else.
Something was chasing_ I was sure of it! It didn't allow me to open my eyes and escape the hell behind me.
What's chasing me– Is my doom! I have to escape it or else, I won't be able to open my eyes for eternity.
"Human girl! Wait!" I heard it again and ice shards clouded my body. Why? Just why?
My doom was chasing me! It was right behind me! The devil is after my life! How am I going to survive?
I ran through the maze, trying to find my way out of this place. Goodness Lord! How did I end up here? Wasn't I in the sea of labyrinths?
"Human girl, wait up. Running away from me doesn't mean you can escape from me. With a mere snap of my finger, you'll be back at my feet!"
I heard those in my ear and a pang of fear struck me hard.
Who am I? I don't know. How did I end up here? I don't know. I don't even know how I ended up in the sea of labyrinths in the first place.
"Wait up! Human girl! Don't go!"
Those words echoed repeatedly in my ears and fear ran over my skin as I felt a strong, cold and detached hand on my shoulder– right from behind.
I froze, my eyes widened. I trembled like it's my last moment on Earth. Who just touched my shoulder? Has it caught up to me? Has the devil caught up to me?
"Where do you think you're going?" came its voice, right behind my ears.
" Dreamwalker, where's the pearl of light?" it asked.
I quivered, cold sweat clouded my forehead. What's the pearl of light? Who's the dreamwalker anyways?
"I don't know…I don't know…please spare me! Spare my life!" I broke down in tears.
Fear gripped me, goosebumps built houses on my skin. I couldn't hold on any longer.
I fell to my knees, my head lowered as my eyes watered.
Who am I in front of my doom?
"The Shadow walker has the pearl of darkness and you, the dreamwalker,owns this pearl of light. Give it to me and I'll spare your life!" It whispered to my ear.
" Go to the Shadow walker_ perhaps he holds both pearls. I am just a human, I don't have anything like the pearl of light!" I cried out.
" My darling human, give it!"
" I don't have it!"
" Give it!"
" I really don't have it!"
" Give it!"
" Give it!"
Those were the last words I heard from it as I shot my eyes open and jolted awake.
My entire body was covered with sweat, a pang of fear struck me as I breathed heavily.
I breathed in and out! My widened eyes scanning my room.
"You're awake!" My roommate, Meadow, smiled at me.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked as I looked at her. My eyes were glued on her.
"What? You were sweating profusely, repeating the words, 'please spare me' . I know you're having that dream again so I don't want to disturb you" Meadow walked toward me.
" You could have woke me up. I felt like I might die just now" I got down from the bed and walked toward Meadow.
" Is that monster still trying to get the pearl?" Meadow looked at me, sympathy in her eyes.
" How I wish I knew where the pearl is, trust me, I'll give it to him. I've been having this same dream since I was five but it get more worse as the day goes by"
"By the way, have you tried reaching out to the Shadow walker?" Meadow looked at me and I trembled.
Shadow walker! The Shadow walker… How can I…
"He's a demon, I know but I kept getting this feeling that he might be the one to help you escape this dream" Meadow held my hands.
"Do you even know what you're saying! Stop mentioning his name to me! Shadow walker, I've only met him once in my life but it's a very terrible experience…" I yanked my hand away from Meadow.
" But he saved your life! You could have been killed by that monster chasing you. However, Shadow walker came to you that day and saved your life. Do you want to die? Don't you know what's at stake now? Your life is at stake! Yours, not mine!" Meadow yelled at me.
"I also wish I could see him so I can get away from the demon after my life but…do you think I can see him anytime I want? He's like a god, so far away from my reach!" I sighed as I sat back on the bed.
"You'll sort it out, don't think too much, okay?" Meadow smiled at me as she walked out of the room.
"Are you heading to work already?" My voice trailed behind her.
"Yeah!" She replied loudly.
"Shadow walker, where have you been? It's been twenty years since I last saw you. You saved the first I had that dream, you saved the five year old me from having a traumatic childhood" I muttered.
Raising my head up, I stared at the beautiful chandelier in the room. "Shadow walker, can you save me again? Even at 25?"
Bang! Boom! A sharp whoosh of air!
I heard different loud sounds in the room, my eyes widened. I immediately stood up, my weary eyes wandering around, fear gripped me hard.
" Who's there? Who…who's there?" I stammered, blinking rapidly.
"Human girl, you called for me!" Came a voice I couldn't fathom.
It sounds low yet high, it sounds calming but also raging. I looked around but couldn't see anyone.
"It's the Shadow walker, how are you, My dear Runa"
I froze! Did he hear my wish? Shadow walker is here? The demon of death, prince of darkness…is here in my room?
Is this doom or salvation? Death or survival?