my riddle to solve (tom riddle)

thirty-three

Flames licked at my ankles as hot wind rushed around my hair. Ravens littered the ground, blood seeping from their rotting bodies. Amongst the birds, an occasional pile of bones could be spotted. They were human remains; I was sure of it. The dirt floor seemed to be made of magnets, because every step I took was strenuous and difficult.

I wandered through the tunnels, desperately searching for a way back to the surface. A hollowed out room suddenly appeared on my path. Red cloaked figures formed a circle, chanting in a language that was foreign to me. My gut sank; I had witnessed this once before.

"Ophelia! You're here to save me!" Sage sat in a lavish throne, although her hands were bound with thick metal cuffs. She wore an obsidian spiked crown that dripped with blood-red jewels. The men continued to march, my sister being the center point of their circle.

"Help me! Ophelia, you are the only one who can fix this!" A new voice called out to me, and I spun around to see my brother in a similar scenario. His crown was carved from diamond and he was tied down by ropes. Aspen's eyes were the milky shade of opals. The figures circling him wore silver masks. I reached for my wand, but it had vanished. Screams pierced the air, although they were not coming from my siblings. The shrieks were inside my head, and they were spilling outwards. Sage pleaded for help, but my feet suddenly became too heavy to lift. Blood poured from Aspen's eyes as a large raven swooped down upon him. The bird perched upon his shoulder and opened its mouth to caw. An explosion of green light came tumbling from its beak, blinding me completely.

I woke suddenly, screams tumbling from my lips before I had the chance to stop them. Tom was roused from his sleep and he immediately reached for the wand on his nightstand. I quickly pushed the layers of his bed off of me and tried to make a dash for the bathroom. Riddle's tight grip on my arm prevented me from completing the second motion. His eyes flashed with worry and confusion at my sudden outburst.

"Ophelia, what happened?" I ignored him, choosing to yank free of his hold and run to the bathroom. Tom followed suit, springing out of bed and chasing after me. I slammed the door shut behind me and twisted the lock. Tears were streaming down my face and mixing with strands of hair. My hands shook as I slumped over the sink, turning the faucet on to drown out the sounds of my sobs.

"Do not play this game with me. Tell me why you are acting irrationally," Tom insisted. He sounded angry, most likely annoyed that I had woken him up. I was really not in the mood to be yelled at or lectured.

"Leave me alone," I snapped back at him. Although I tried to hide the fact that I was crying, my voice cracked and trembled enough to give it away. I lowered my face to the faucet, letting the cold water rush over my tear-stained face. Riddle debated his next move carefully for a moment before speaking to me in a soft tone.

"I apologize for raising my voice. Open the door, darling. Let me fix whatever problem is upsetting you." With reluctance, I switched off the faucet and slowly pulled the door open. It seemed as if Riddle was truly just concerned about my well-being, and I ought to not shut him out. I glanced up at him through puffy eyes and wet lashes. Tom studied me for a moment, wanting to analyze my current state to the best of his ability. He stepped forwards while simultaneously pulling me closer, one hand on my lower back and the other at my hip.

"Are you in any physical pain?" I shook my head, which earned a sigh of relief from Tom. "Then why are you crying, my love?" The room was dimly lit by the green light of the Black Lake, a faint smell of old books and cigarettes hovering off the shelves and furniture.

"You wouldn't understand. It's nothing, really. I suppose I just overreacted." My voice was a whisper, much like his caress on my hip bone. Riddle raised his brow slightly, clearly not believing me. He was smart enough to realize this was all because of a night terror, but he seemed to want me to admit it.