NightHare

Intro & Prologue

The sky is falling.

Everything is crashing.

The world is ending.

...

At least...

...

That's what everyone thinks...

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There are many people in the world. People who lead peaceful lives. They live and die without deep regrets or needing to face adverse dangers. Others chase lives full of excitement. They fight each day, giving it their all to live without regrets.

But all of them, every single one, share one thing in common. Dreams.

Not hopes and inspirations but the dreams people experience during slumber. There are many varieties, ranging from peaceful to terrifying. The worst dreams are Nightmares, scenes where your worst fears come to life.

Nightmares are strange, horrifying, and twisted. They feel like life as you sleep yet become distant illusions when you awake. They ruin lives. Shatter perspectives. Distort emotions. All in a moment's time.

But at least we know their illusions. Moments that will never come.

...

Right?

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Her first memory was burning. Just burning.

The heavy billows of smoke that rolled over, consuming the bright blue sky. Flames as they whipped around, lashing at everything and anything in their paths. Embers which sparked and flickered. When they landed, the small sparks combusted into more eruptions. They devoured buildings, homes, people, friends, families. Everything.

With it all came another surge of smoke. It suffocated her, strangling her nose and lungs with a murky scent. The scent of burning... burning wood? burning hair? burning feathers? burning FLESH? She didn't know anymore. But it was—everything was drowning her. She was drowning in a sea of flames.

Then. Another wave of screeches pierced her ears. The screams for help. Sobs of horror and terror. And a single voice yelling at her, telling her to run—at least that's what she thought it was saying. It was muffled by everything else that was happening.

Despite the burning, she stood there. She stood there, paralyzed by the tragedy. It was as if her feet turned to stone and her wings clipped. She stood there until someone pushed her away.

The fall felt instant, like the blink of an eye compared to everything else. The only things on her mind were the ground beneath her and the fire. Rocks dug into her back. Fire lashed at her arm. Stones scraped knees. Heat scorched her eyes. Branches scratched her legs. Embers singed her feathers.

The next thing she knew, she was lying on the muddy forest floor. Rain trickled down leaves, lightly kissing her skin. The cool ground and cold rain felt comforting and lulled her consciousness away. She lay there. On the ground. Covered in dirt and ashes. for a while... a few hours? some days? Only the forest knew.

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For Fauna, the day started as normal. She woke up at dawn, got dressed, and prayed. Afterward, she and the other nuns prepared a simple breakfast. They woke the children up and ate together. Fauna then completed her daily chores by sweeping the halls, dusting the paintings, and teaching the children. Around noon, she began preparing for lunch with the children.

Since it stopped raining last night, the nuns decided to search for mushrooms in the woods. They quickly gathered their baskets and knives. Fauna wandered northeast, following a trail of mushrooms. As she approached a small clearing, she noticed a body lying among the leaves.