Silhouette

Part 1

My alarm buzzed sharply at 6:30 AM, jolting me from an uneasy sleep. I had the same dreams but different sceneries every night for the past week. Rubbing my eyes, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face, I tried to shake off the lingering fear from the dream.

As I stared at myself in the mirror, I recalled the dream I had today. This time I was in the woods. The dream begins with me alone in a dense, shadowy forest. The air is cool, and the silence is broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. Suddenly, I hear it—a low, menacing growl. My heart races as I turn around and see the big black wolf, its eyes glowing with hunger. Hunger for only one person. 'Me' I shuddered recalling his eyes. Next, I knew I was running. I can hear the wolf behind me, its growls growing louder and more aggressive. The wolf is getting angrier as I keep running, distancing myself from him. My breath comes in ragged gasps as I push myself to run faster, adrenaline surging through my veins. Each step feels heavier than the last, but I can't stop.

But I came to a stop as I heard the same whistling sound. The wolf behind me also stops a few steps away but his growling continues. I felt a sudden prickling sensation on the back of my neck. As I was watching the wolf, I felt the presence of 'him' a few inches away from me. I can hear my own heartbeat. I feel him bending his head near my ear and he starts whistling, I can feel his body heat, his breaths into my ear, sending a chill down my spine. After this, I woke up my body drenched in sweat.

I can still see the fear in my eyes as I stare at myself in the mirror. Every night, the same terrifying story unfolds: the same person coming near me, always in a different place. I don't understand why this is happening, but now a wolf has started appearing in my dreams. Initially, it was just him, but recently, the wolf has been the first to appear, chasing me with its piercing black cobalt eyes and sometimes leaping out from nowhere to block my path. In some dreams, both he and the wolf join forces to pursue me. This recurring nightmare has left a deep fear in my heart, and I am constantly on edge, haunted by the relentless chase in my dreams.

Even if every dream is different the whistling sound and him never changes. These dreams left me with a deep fear in my heart. I know the time has come to an end but I'm hoping that somehow, he has forgotten about me. Desperately, I cling to the hope that perhaps, in the labyrinth of his memory, I have become a forgotten soul. I hope to God that this dreams I'm having is because of my fears. I hope my subconscious mind is making these dreams because of my fears and I don't wish them to become real.

Trying to push the nightmare out of my mind, I focused on getting ready for work. Today I chose, a navy blue skirt and blouse, and made myself a strong cup of coffee. The familiar routine provided some comfort, but the anxiety from the dream still lingered. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. 'No, Serena. Stop it! It's just a dream. Forgot about it, forget about him' With this in my mind I started making myself breakfast.

As I stood in my empty apartment, I couldn't help but feel a wave of loneliness wash over me, prompting a heavy sigh. These quiet moments always seem to magnify how much I miss my family. I came to this new country with a simple hope: that if something bad ever happened to me as the time came near, I could provide some peace of mind for my loved ones back home. Back in my own country, I had a good job at a nice company. The pay was decent, enough to cover my expenses and even save a bit. But when the opportunity arose to work in New York, I jumped at the chance. It's been three months since I moved here, and it's been surprisingly good. The job I landed pays way more than I ever imagined, and the company seems great. Plus, the apartment I found is pretty nice too. It almost feels like living in a dream sometimes.

After finishing my breakfast, I stepped out of my apartment. The morning air is crisp, a stark contrast to the warmth of my apartment, comforting. I started my car and started the journey to the office. As I merged onto the bustling highways of New York, the rhythmic thrum of traffic provided a comforting backdrop to my musings. Entering my office building, I forced a smile for my colleagues, hoping they wouldn't notice my anxiety. I settled at my desk and tried to immerse myself in work.

"Serena, Yo"

Louisa, the first friend I made here. Her head pooped into my office door. She is a very energetic with shoulder-length black hair and green eyes.

"Hey Lou, you look beautiful today"

Louisa always had this talent for pulling off unique styles effortlessly. Today, she rocked polka-dot pants with a bright orange shirt. It might sound strange, but somehow, she made it work like a fashion icon. yeah, I know 'weird' but she pulled it off this look. If I were to wear this attire, then I'd be a walking clown. Even if her sense of clothing is different then us normal people she is nice person to get along with.

She rolled her eyes and said "Yeah yeah, you don't have to pretend, but Thanks" She winked at me.

I snickered "No but seriously, it looks good on you."

"Anyway, are you coming tomorrow?" she asked.

Tomorrow is my coworker's birthday, and the plan is to celebrate by hitting the club. Lou has been persistently trying to convince me to join them for the past week. Judging by the look on my face, she can tell I'm hesitant. "Oh, come on, it'll be fun," she urges.

"Uh, I don't know, Lou. I'll think about it," I reply, trying to buy myself some time.

It's not that I dislike going out with them or that I hate clubbing. It's just that these recurring dreams have been plaguing me every other night. They leave my mind on edge, filled with an unshakable sense of fear. The mere thought of stepping out of my house sends shivers down my spine. Moreover, clubbing was always not a thing to do on his list.

"No, you are coming!"

"Lou, let me think abo-"

"And guess who else will be there? Justine," she interjected with a mischievous smirk.

My cheeks instantly flushed crimson. Lou knew all too well how much Justine affected me. It wasn't anything serious, just a casual crush. But Justine had a way of making me feel special, especially with his occasional flirtatious remarks.

"And you have to mingle, get to know other people, make some friends," she added, piling on the pressure.

I sighed in resignation. "Oh, come on, pretty please!" Lou pleaded, giving me those irresistible puppy eyes. As much as I doubted it would change my mind, I relented. After all, I couldn't let my fears hold me back forever.

"Fine, I'll come," I conceded, hoping against hope that everything would turn out fine and all my worries would prove to be baseless.