Chapter Text
Anxiety seeping in, beads of sweat started collecting on my forehead as I took long strides down the alley. Fear gripping my body, I felt a shadow lurking from the corner of my eye and, I swear I heard the rustling of the leaves caused by a footfall. Heartbeats thumping faster, I ran for my life, galloping down the stairs and dashing across the alley, aiming to find a ride that will help me reach home safely. In a flash, I realized that the sound of footsteps grew closer and my head started spinning as I feared for my life. I fished for my cellphone from my bag, punched in the emergency number to alert the police, and thankfully, the security personnel answered the phone. Stuttering, I called for help, informing my location details while I kept my guard if someone attempted an attack on me. Staying vigilant, determination overpowered my fear as I was prepared to knock the lights out of the person who dared to touch me. Back in my mind, I knew the officers would be arriving any minute and, that helped to keep my confidence going. A sudden honk jolted me from my senses and, the high beam of light nearly blinded me but, I was thankful the cops had arrived.
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Screening the area, they covered all grounds in the vicinity to find any possible threat that lurked. After a thorough search, the officials assured me that there was no sign of any impending danger.
Officer- ''Miss Hanji, we will ride you home. Be rest assured, you are safe.
Hanji: ''Thank You! I appreciate your swift approach. It was comforting.''
Officer- ''It's our duty, we are stationed for that. Now, Lets, go.''
After a 30 minute drive, I reached home. The officers escorted me inside and provided me with a look of reassurance that everything is fine. Bidding them goodbye, I bolted the door shut and locked the windows, drawing the curtains if in case someone was keeping an eye on me. I darted towards the kitchen and prepped myself hot soothing cocoa that will aid me to wash off all my fears. Glancing at the clock it was 1.45 am and my mind was clouded with random thoughts - ''What if someone was trying to harm me. Even worse, what if someone was trying to kill me".
Despite the officials assuring me that they didn't find someone/something suspicious, I am sure someone was definitely tailing me. That, someone, was inching closer to me when I notified the police officials. I felt it, I felt the fear seeping in while I was running for my life, I felt goosebumps all over and I am definitely sure, I heard the sound of a footfall.
Dwelling in my thoughts, exhaustion took over me and my vision blacked out as I drifted to sleep.
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Darkness engulfed me, as I stood against some cold hardened surface that hurt my back. I looked around to check where I was but the cast of darkness prevented me from seeing anything clearly. I tried to squint my eye, realizing that my glasses were nowhere to be found. I struggled to move but it suddenly hit me that I was chained as I was unable to move my hand and legs. Yelling at the top of my lungs, I cried for help but there was no response from the other side. I withered in pain due to the position I was in but nothing could be done. In a flash, I sensed someone's presence as a muscular hand out of nowhere grabbed my throat, strangulating me till my oxygen supply was cut. I struggled to breathe, writhing and squirming in suffocation. The struggle for life lasted for some seconds and my body went limp. The anonymous person towering above me seeing my motionless body and with one powerful blow I was knocked out. Blood-shot eyes and blood trickling from my nostrils, the mangled remains of my body were only left.
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I woke up with a jolt and frantically tried to breathe. My throat was parched and throbbing in pain as I realized that I am profusely sweating. It took me seconds to blur out the lines between dream and reality. Scanning and familiarizing myself with the surrounding, I was alleviated that I was still nestled in the comforts of my home and moreover to the fact that I was Alive........
Pheww! The dream felt so real that I could actually recount every minuscule detail of my dream. The struggle seemed so real in the dream that I might have twisted and writhed in real as my whole body was aching. I felt so sore as if someone had really knocked me down hard. Whacked and tormented, I tore myself off the bed and headed to the kitchen to brew a cup of hot drink. Contemplating between tea or coffee, I chose coffee as it helps in calming nerves. An interesting fact about coffee is that it contains caffeine that helps the brain release dopamine that is important for mood regulation & soothing anxiety. Enjoying the hot cup of coffee, I relished and savored the taste as the hot drink eased the pain in my throat. Whilst drinking, I was wondering that how a mortifying dream can cause so much excruciating pain and unease in the body. I guess, the intensity of certain dreams does fuck you up mentally & physically
I checked the clock & it was 3:45 am, darkness still engulfed the streets and I could hear dogs howling. I shuddered as I searched for my cellphone and retrieved it from the bedside table. ''Shit the battery has drained'', cursing under my breath I tossed it on the bed and decided to take a hot shower. I stripped off and discarded the soiled clothes. Wait, how come the clothes are stained, I thought checking inside-out to find any other splatter. I didn't ponder much as it might have occurred while I was running for my life. Tossing the thought away, I took a soothing soak in the tub to warm my nerves and shake off the chill.
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Wrapping the towel, I stepped outside and dragged myself to Almari, rummaging through shelves and found perfect nightwear. As I closed the almari, the reflection, the sight made me drop dead, my body went limp and I shuddered with panic. I tried to shout but the words got choked up, I was passing out as I saw my reflection.
My neck bore the bruises of strangulation marks. Befuddled, I collapsed.