Unshaken Bond

My eyes snapped open, my heart racing like a wild beast. The darkness of my room seemed to suffocate me and for a moment I was back in the dream.

***

Trapped in a raging fire, my skin burned and I was screaming. I gasped for air until the familiar outlines of my bedroom came into view.

It was just a dream. Again.

I dream of a man screaming, the woman's face twisted in agony. The flames consuming everything.

Her tragedy is a nightmare that haunts me.

It's always the same dream. The same experience. No matter where I went, the nightmare followed me as it has always been since I started having them after the bloody accident that took my parents away from me, sparing only my worthless life.

My hands shook, and my eyes become heavy with tears as the memories of the accidents came to me. It's been 10 years, but it feels like it happened just yesterday.

I tossed off the sheets and jumped out of bed. Reality. I needed to anchor myself in reality.

Just then, my door creaked open, and my grandmother walked in, trying to hide her worry with a gentle smile, but I could see through her smile... she had probably heard my shouting from my sleep.

I tried to hide my now tears filled face from her, but it was too late.

"Carina..." her voice broke as she mentioned my name, I heard not my name but the heaviness in the words. "Another nightmare?"

I nodded.

Grandma Fiona sat beside me, stroking my back. We'll get through this. I will find a way to Make it stop.

But I knew better. The nightmares had haunted me since childhood, and no one knew their cause or how to end them.

Grandma Fiona's expression changed to a serious one. "Carina we need to talk. We are moving to a new town".

My eyes widened in shock. "What? Why?"

"It's for the best," she said firmly. A fresh start might help you.

I was feeling different emotions at a time. "I can't leave everything behind, my friends, my boyfriend,my school, my parent's house". No

"I can't accept it". I said, a spark of anger igniting within me.

Grandma Fiona's eyes softened. I know it's hard, but trust me, Carina. This is for the best.

My anger simmered, but I knew better than to argue with my grandmother. Her decision is final.

My frustration grew as I packed my belongings, my thoughts churned with a mix of sadness and resentment. Leaving my hometown, my friends and everything familiar was unbearable.

As I zipped my suitcase, my gaze lingered on the photo of my parents on my nightstand. Why did we have to move? Why does my life have to be this miserable? Many thoughts came rushing to me at once.

Downstairs, Grandma Fiona supervised the movers, her expression firm. I joined her, still musing.

"Grandma, can't we just stay?" I pleaded, one last time.

Her expression softened, but her voice remained firm. "No dear, this is for your own good".

The seven hours drive to the new town, Willow Creek, felt like an eternity. I stared out the window watching the urban landscape fading into distance, giving way to rolling hills and dense forests, their canopies a vibrant green.

As we entered Willow Creek, my uneasiness grew. A creeping mist swirled around me, shrouding everything in an eerie veil. Its residents casting curious glances on me, their piercing gazes seemed to bore into my soul. Towering ancient trees loomed over the streets, their branches like skeletal fingers.

My new home, a mini mansion, Rose before me. I felt a shiver run down my spine, it was beautiful, but exuded an aura of secrets and unease.

That night as I lay in my new bedroom, the shadow seemed to scrawl across the wall like the mad ramblings of a troubled mind.

I felt watched, the woman from my nightmares lingered in my mind, her eyes burning with sinister intensity.

__

I woke up on my bed, I was still dressed in last night's clothes, that shows how exhausted I was. My head aches but I don't remember taking any alcoholic drink the previous night. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

I got up and shuffled to the window, pulling back the curtain to reveal a radiant sunrise. The sun was shining so brightly, forcing me to squint until my eyes adjusted. At least the forest and my house were a good distance away so some animals won't come eating me up.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for my second day in Willow Creek. It was time to start exploring this new chapter of my life.

"How are you feeling?" It was my grandmother.

"I'm good".

"Breakfast is ready" she said

"Give me some minutes to freshen up" I said while hurrying into the bathroom.

Once I stepped out of my room, the smell of fresh bacon, waffles and pancakes filled my nostrils and my stomach was really grumbling.

Grandma Fiona's eyes widened in surprise as I devoured my breakfast. I was just as astonished by my own appetite.

"Carina, slow down! You are going to get choked up," Grandma laughed, her concern tinged with amusement.

I pushed back from the table, plate nearly clean, and let out a contented sigh. "I don't know what's gotten into me, Grandma. Thanks for the breakfast".

Grandma Fiona smiled knowingly. "Must be the country air agreeing with you".

I went upstairs to get ready for school. I was already enrolled in my new school before moving to Willow Creek.

Grandma Fiona honked at the car and I knew it was time to go. I study my look for the day in the mirror. "Carina, you got this. You are a brave and nice girl, this is just another school. You can do this". I encourage myself as much as I can.

My grandmother was not the patient type. She honked again and again until I came running out of the house.

Now the place is not dark like yesterday, I could see better now. Willow Creek was not that bad at all, just that the creeping feelings were still there. The school was not even 15 minutes away from my place.

"Ready?" I heard my grandma say, I turned to look at her and nodded. She stepped out of the car and I did the same.

As I entered the school, eyes flew towards me, I shrugged their stares away and made my way to the academic block.

"That's okay. It's normal" Grandma Fiona whispered to my ears.

" That's why I hate being the new girl". I scoffed.

After my grandmother left, Carla, the girl assigned to tour me around, took me to my history class.

Carla was just as adorable and talkative like my best friend back at my old home.

That reminds me, I haven't called Amy, my best friend since I got here. Jeez! I didn't even tell her I was relocating.

I immediately brought out my phone to call her. Just then, my phone buzzed, a text from an unknown number.

"Welcome to Willow Creek, Carina. You're exactly where you are meant to be".

Goosebumps spread across my skin. Who was this? How did they get my contact?