To Turn Left {completed} [inkpop top 5]

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y  F I V E: Dreams

            When I awoke, it was to the soft touch of cotton. Light filtered through the glass window to my right and, groaning, I pulled the heavy blanket off me. My mouth felt thick and my tongue rubbed against my dry lips. It did little to moisten them. Rubbing my sleep filled eyes, I expanded my senses. Outside, I could hear birds twittering by my window. A pleasant way to start the morning and I felt my heart flutter at the peace, but most of all—

It was all a dream.

“Thank God for that,” I said, a cross between a yawn and exhale before stifling a giggle. I never knew I had such an imagination. Keres? Aswang? You had to be kidding me. Climbing out of bed, I leisurely walked over to my small bathroom and glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I froze. There was a movement in the corner of my eye and I clenched my jaw shut. I didn’t move. My bedroom door slowly creaked open in the reflection. A bloody hand pushed its way through the crack and reached out into the room. Too low for someone standing, the owner had to be crawling on the ground… A monster… Swallowing a cry, I spun around.

Closed.

The door remained shut and untouched.

Heart pounding, I tried to steady my breathing. What was that? I tried to remember my dream to see if I was hallucinating, but my mind had become foggy. Only the colour gold before darkness swallowed even that. My good mood deserted me.

            Taking in a shuddering breath, I clenched my right fist. My other hand rose to touch my locket, trying to take some courage from it. The morning light and warmth disappeared leaving a cold room, covered in shades of blue and grey. “I’m being silly,” I breathed to myself.

            Silence. The birds had stopped chirping as well.

Walking out of the bathroom, I glanced out my window, cautious. There was no life. No birds, insects, animals—nothing. My street may as well be deserted, abandoned.

Dead.

            The hair on the back of my neck pricked.

Someone was watching me.

Or something.

Trying not to let my pathetic fear get the better of me, I turned around. The room was bare. I was alone, and for some reason. That was worse than anything else.

            “This is stupid,” I muttered and walked over to my door. Swinging it open, I entered the hallway and looked over the railing. I expected to see my mum bustling around, getting ready for work. But she was nowhere to been seen. My brow scrunched in confusion as I walked over to the stairs. I flittered down the steps, my hand gliding over the smooth wood, before landing gentle on the bottom level.

            Silence.

“Mum?” I called. There was no response and I walked into the TV room. “Mum!”  My hands rose in loose fists.

Bang.

            Startled, I flinched as something pounded against the front door. I hesitated before walking towards the entry. Glancing out the side panels, I couldn’t see anyone. Empty. The corners of my mouth pulled into a frown. My hand moved towards the silver door knob but a crash stopped me.

            “Oh, come on!” This was getting stupid.

My shaky voice betrayed my fake confidence. Frustrated, I glanced at the kitchen entrance. Glancing around, I grabbed my mum’s black umbrella and clutched it tight in my hands. My knuckles turned white on the grip as I advanced towards the kitchen entrance.

            “Bring it on ,Buster.”

I walked towards the noise.

Nothing seemed out of place in the kitchen, yet the moment I stepped foot over the threshold, icy horror slammed into me. Stepping back, I tried to escape but it was already too late.