Her Purpose

Chapter Twenty-Three

I jolted awake, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. Sweat drenched my pyjamas, plastering them to my skin. The nightmare clung to me like a second skin, its tendrils still wrapped around my mind.

It had started like so many others - darkness all around, impenetrable and suffocating. But this time, a voice had cut through the blackness, harsh and demanding.

"Pick a door," it had commanded.

I'd spun around, disoriented and confused. "What door? There's nothing here!"

The voice grew angrier, its volume increasing until it felt like it was inside my head. "PICK A DOOR!"

Panic rising, I'd simply run forward, arms outstretched. My fingers had brushed against something solid, and I'd grasped a doorknob, twisting it desperately.

Light had flooded in as the door swung open, momentarily blinding me. As my vision cleared, I'd found myself in our living room. Mum, Dad, and Meri were there, along with Nathan. Relief had washed over me.

"Guys! Thank goodness, I-"

But they couldn't hear me. It was as if I wasn't even there. I'd waved my arms, tried to touch them, but nothing worked. And then...

A girl I'd never seen before had walked in. She'd gone straight to Nathan, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. I'd felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

"What the- Nathan! What are you doing?" I'd screamed, but of course, he couldn't hear me either.

Mum had beamed at the couple. "Oh, I'm so happy for you two!"

Dad had clapped Nathan on the shoulder. "Welcome to the family, son. It's about time!"

Meri had hugged the strange girl. "I always wanted a sister!"

I'd stood there, frozen in disbelief. "Guys! I'm right here! What the bloody hell is happening?"

But they'd continued chatting, laughing, completely oblivious to my presence. And then I'd heard it - the words that had torn my heart to shreds.

Mum had sighed contentedly. "I'm just so glad Beth is gone. We can finally be happy now."

Dad had nodded in agreement. "It's like a weight has been lifted."

And Nathan... Nathan had smiled at the girl in his arms. "I can finally have that family I've always wanted."

I'd screamed then, a sound of pure anguish and betrayal. And that's when I'd woken up.

But the nightmare wasn't over.

As consciousness slammed into me, I tried to gasp for air, but something was wrong. My lungs felt like they were on fire, and I couldn't seem to draw a proper breath. I tried to call out for Mum, but all that came out was a strangled wheeze.