𝖉𝖎𝖘𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖉 [ON HOLD]

𝔱𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔶 𝔰𝔦𝔵

Annika leaned against the railing of the balcony, staring at the gardens which sprawled below. Rubbing her temple with an irritated frown, she drooped her head low, her mind reeling from the nightmare she'd just had a few hours prior.

꧁꧂

"Didi! Didi!" Chutki screamed, as her head was pushed underwater, her eyes wide and her voice garbled. "Save me!" Her baby sister begged her, "Save me, please!"

Despite the fact that Chutki seemed to be underwater, her red eyes were enough to indicate that she'd been crying simultaneously.

꧁꧂

Annika breathed in deeply through gritted teeth, as she bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she attempted to regulate her breathing as a soft whimper escaped her lips.

꧁꧂

No matter how hard she tried, Annika couldn't wade through the waters.

And the longer she struggled to move, bound by invisible restraints, the worse it got for Chutki, until finally—— in the blink of an eye—— Chutki's dead body lay at her feet.

Annika screamed, as she dropped to her knees and cradled her sister's body in her arms, Chutki's head in her lap.

"Didi?"

A soft whisper made her look up and she reeled back, scrambling away as the pale blue dead body and matted skin of her baby sister stared back at her.

No.

No.

No.

No.

With wide eyes, sunken cheeks and a bone-chilling smile, the corpse that looked like her Chutki, began to speak. "Why didn't you save me, Niku Didi?" The ghost of her sister began to walk towards her, as she stood rooted to her place. "You promised to always protect me." Her voice began to echo all around, "YOU PROMISED!"

Her voice screeched as Annika clamped her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut.

When utter silence greeted her, she opened her eyes and saw herself surrounded completely by darkness.

Panic seized her chest and she drew her knees to her chest, murmuring under her breath. "I'm sorry, Chutki. I'm so so sorry."

꧁꧂

Annika swallowed.

That was how her husband had found her, after returning from an overseas conference call, in the dead of the night.

Annika's body trembled as she recalled the gaunt look on her sister's face—— corpse, she corrected herself—— and had to bite her lower lip harder, letting the sting of pain distract her.

"Annika?" She stiffened, hearing the familiar voice of her husband. As he walked nearer, she straightened her back and blinked rapidly, to ensure her eyes weren't teary enough to give away the fact that she'd been crying. "Hey," a hand was placed on her shoulder, as it squeezed gently. "Are you alright?" His other palm rested on her cheek and he tilted her head up. Shivaay's soft smile slipped off as his eyebrows furrowed in worry, "Annika, what's wrong, baby?"