Bewitched by Ivory

6. Insomnia

Ivory.

I'm running through the woods at night. Something's after me, it's hunting me.
I hear it's howls and groans near, even though I try my best
to flee.
Whatever it is, it's going to kill me and it'll probably success in it's doing.
I feel like a lamb on the way to the slaughter bank.
I've never been this anxious before. My heart's hammering at an unhealthy fast pace and sweat beads keep running down my forehead.
Suddenly razor sharp claws dig into my back and an unbearable pain pulsates through my entire body.
The beast bores holes into my flesh and the pain numbs my breathing.
I'm caged under the animals enormous weight and there's no way for me to escape.
I'm going to die. 

Suddenly a monstrous howl erupts from behind and the beast does fast in stepping away from me.
I choke on my own breaths, while taking the air in greedily.
Why was I saved and what did save me?
Was it a beast as well or something else?

I immediately burry my face in the forest's ground as I perceive a desperate whining that comes after a couple of minutes to an end.
The thing that was so determined to kill me, was killed.

I try to inhale and exhale evenly in order to calm myself down, but it does show no effect.
My breath hitches up as I catch  sight of huge paws.
A menacingly growl emits above me and I break out into tears as a big, rough snout presses against my head.

And then everything goes black.

~•~•~•~•~

'Ahhh' I scream, or at least I thought I'd be screaming.
My skin's entirely covered in goosebumps and I'm bathed in my own sweat.
I want to shout, cry, disappear, anything, but I'm not even capable of making a sound.

I look hectically around me, examining my environment, while distinguishing reality from dream.

But another thought soon crosses my mind.

Why am I laying in a bed, that certainly isn't mine nor stands in my former home?
And why are the clothes I'm currently wearing not mine?
The last thing I remember for sure is that I had been wearing my wedding dress, since my wedding was held yesterday.
And now I'm dressed in a beige night gown.

Am I on drugs?
It's the only reasonable explanation that comes to my mind.

While I keep pondering about how I got into this messed up situation, I examine every inch of this strange room.
Suddenly an area in the wall which is completely tucked away by boards, catches my attention.
I immediately jump up and sprint towards the suspiciously covered surface and fumble over the rough material which was unsubtly nailed on the wall.
Giving clues that the person who most likely put me in here, must have been in hurry.

There's a tiny carve that allows me to take a glimpse through the boards and let me see what's behind.
I feel so dumb as I realise that it's a window, revealing the sight of a large courtyard.
I recognise my environment, the trees and hills.
And than it hits me like a flash of suppressed memories.

My dream, it wasn't just a dream.

Someone's been-

"Your awake" a feminine voice exclaims and my eyes immediately dart to the door.
A young woman who must be around my age, stands in the door frame.
She eyes me from head to toe and deposits a basket with laundry on a table next to her.
She plays with her gown's fabric and keeps her gaze low, before speaking up
"My name is Theresa. I'm Parker's sister" .
My eyes widen at confusion and shock, I didn't know Parker had a sister nor any other siblings.