Nightmare | San

14

My eyes shoot open and I gasp for breath. 

I dart my attention around the room to try and figure out where I am. I relax when I find myself in my own bed and I notice it's early in the morning, the sun outside rising slowly.

I turn and panic when I don't see Seonghwa lying beside me. I turn to the other side to call him with my phone but stop after finding him slumped on a chair, head hung while he sleeps. I smile. Has he been trying to take care of me?

I force myself to sit up with my one available hand and flinch at the roaring agony in my leg and arm. I start to examine my body and feel around my neck in particular, checking for any new injuries. Surprisingly everything seems fine.

I let out a sigh of relief and return to watching Seonghwa. I worry for his neck and by stretching out one hand, I hold his head up. He doesn't wake up, proving how tired he must be. I feel incredibly guilty for causing him so much trouble. I don't deserve an angel like him.

He snuggles into my hand and my heart flutters.

I didn't accidentally put him in danger, right?

I turn my head to peek through the crack of the curtains and see that it is bright outside, meaning it's either late into the afternoon on the same day or early morning of the next day.

My head whips back when I hear Seonghwa groaning in his sleep. His eyes slowly open and he blinks dreamily a few times. They suddenly fly open and he grabs my hand. "You're awake! How are you feeling?" he frantically asks.

I smile and open my mouth to tell him I'm fine. My heart beats faster.

Why isn't any sound coming out?

I continue to struggle to make any noise but nothing comes out. "Did you lose your voice?" he asks softly. I nod up and down rapidly. My throat doesn't even hurt so where did my voice go?

My mind travels back to my "dream" last night. San must have taken my voice away by choking me.

I hurriedly grab my phone from the bedside table. I notice that it's nearly midday, but ignore that and open the notes app and begin to type furiously, and show Seonghwa.

He starts to read the note out loud. "'San came in my dream again last night and I think that's why my voice is gone. It doesn't hurt though.' Oh no..." he stresses. I shoot him a puzzled look.

He notices and starts to explain. "The other injuries San gave you will heal but if your throat doesn't hurt, it might be a spell instead of an injury. I don't think this will ever heal unless we get rid of San."

My heart plummets and I lean back onto the headboard of the bed. I begin typing again and show my boyfriend.

"'When will the exorcist get here?' Let me check," Seonghwa announces, reaching for his phone.

As if on cue, the door bell rings. Seonghwa instantly jumps up and I hear his quick footsteps running to the door.

I listen carefully once the door is opened. There's another man here and Seonghwa lets him inside. I pick at my fingernails anxiously. I hope it's not another puppet of San's.

The two men converse in the living room for a few minutes before they walk in. Behind Seonghwa is a man with light brown hair and a serious face.

"Hello, my name is Choi Jongho and I've been told you're being tormented by San?" he asks kindly. I lower my gaze sadly and nod silently.

"I'm an exorcist and I'm here to get rid of him, so don't worry. Everything will be okay again soon," he smiles. I return a tight smile, not feeling hopeful in the slightest.

Another man begins to walk into the room behind Jongho. I look up and sigh when I see San walking in slowly. I'm not even surprised anymore, but my heart does begin to race.

He crosses his arms and stares at me with an angry glare. 

Jongho notices me staring and turns around. He turns back and gives me a sympathetic look. "Is San standing there?" he asks. I offer a stiff nod, my eyes not leaving the demon for a second.

"I'll begin straight away," Jongho declares. He immediately takes out a book and starts to chant. As soon as he begins, San starts to take steady steps towards my bed.

"I warned you to not try to get rid of me," he growls in a deep voice, walking closer. I gulp and sit still, trying to concentrate on Jongho's voice instead. "You think I can't hurt you because it's not night? You're right, I can't hurt you normally but I can kill you."

"I should have killed you last night but I got greedy, but now I know that I'm done playing with you. Die!" San shrieks, leaping forward. I flinch but can't move, my arm and leg holding me back.

Just like how he did with my arm, San's hands reach out to my skull and enter. I gasp as they sink further and further into my head. A few seconds later, it hits.

Pain spreads around my whole head and it feels like my brain has exploded. I can't scream and can't hold back my tears either. My available hand flies to clutch my head and I sob harder as the agony gets more intense.

San's face holds satisfaction as he works through my head. I try to push him away, but he stays firmly planted in place. There's nothing I can do anymore, this will be the day I die.

It feels like my brain is being wrenched and my eyes are being stabbed from the inside.

But suddenly it stops.

I feel a clarity bloom in my mind. It feels fresh and the pain is gone. I move my head up and blink the tears away.

Only now I notice that Seonghwa was hugging me tightly this whole time. Jongho is now panting for breath on a chair with a smile. San is nowhere to be seen.

"Is he gone?" I croak out. My eyes widen at the sound of my own voice. Seonghwa's face lights up and he starts laughing loudly. "You're speaking again!"

"Yes, he's finally gone," Jongho replies, still trying to catch his breath. "I'll exorcise you whenever he comes back, but at least he's gone for the next few years anyway," he sighs.

I laugh with Seonghwa and hug him back. "I'm really finally free," I giggle, feeling a new breath of relief.

"Let's get out of here as soon as we can," he utters, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

A/N
One chapter left :')