𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙 𝕺𝖋 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖊𝖆

THE AWAKENING VOICE

[Swimming through the water, Layla hears the familiar, hauntingly beautiful voice that’s been echoing through her dreams for over a year. Tonight, however, it feels unusually vivid, drawing her deeper into the shimmering depths. She follows the sound, her heart pounding in both fear and excitement, as it seems so close she could reach out and touch it. But just as she draws near, the voice fades, replaced by an eerie silence.That's when she notices a dark shadow lurking nearby, weaving through the water Just out of reach. She calls out to it, hoping for a response, but the shadow slips further away. She pushes herself forward, straining to keep up—Then, out of nowhere, something grabs her from behind. She screams as it pulls her back, the water around her churning wildly— ]

[ Layla bolts upright in bed, gasping for breath, her heart racing as she shakes off the remnants of the nightmare. ]

Layla: [sighing] This dream… again! It’s been haunting me for a year now, and nothing helps. Even the medicine isn’t working anymore.

[ She runs a hand through her tangled hair, glancing around her bedroom to reassure herself that she’s safe. Frustrated but resigned, she heads to the washroom to freshen up and get ready for school. ]

[ Layla arrives at school, trying to shake off the strange feelings lingering from her dream. As she walks down the hallway, her friend Emma bounds up to her with a grin. ]

Emma: Hey, Layla! How was your vacation? Did anything exciting happen?

Layla: [rolling her eyes] Exciting? Not even close. I begged my parents to take me to Hawaii, but they refused. So, I ended up stuck at home, finishing all my school assignments.

Emma: [laughing] Well, at least now I have someone’s homework to copy from. [winking] C’mon, let’s head to class before the bell rings.

Layla: [smiling] Sure, why not? I mean, I did get to relax a bit.

Emma: That’s the least you could do on vacation!

[ They enter the classroom, and Layla’s mind drifts back to her dream, that elusive voice echoing faintly in her thoughts. She can’t shake the feeling that it’s calling to her, almost like it’s trying to tell her something important. ]

Layla: (thinking) Why does that voice keep haunting me? Whose voice is it? And why does it feel so familiar… and so real?

[ Emma waves her hand in front of Layla’s face, snapping her back to reality. ]

Emma: Earth to Layla! I’ve been calling you, but you seemed totally lost in thought.

Layla: [quickly covering] Oh, it’s nothing important. Just… imagining myself in Hawaii, dancing on the beach and swimming in the ocean. That would’ve been fun.

Emma: [playfully teasing] Sure, you were thinking about Hawaii and not about Chris?

Layla: [blushing and nudging her] Shut up!

Emma: Oh, by the way, I almost forgot! Our Marine Biology teacher Mrs. Thompson mentioned you the other day.

Layla: Really? What did she say?

Emma: She said you’re doing exceptionally well in her class. If you keep this up, there’s a good chance you could study abroad and continue your studies in marine biology and she was also talking about some Marine exibition going to held in New York.

Layla: [eyes lighting up] No way! That would be amazing!

[ Later, at lunch, Layla spots Chris across the cafeteria. She takes a deep breath, gathering the courage to approach him. But before she can make her move, Kate, the school’s queen bee and head cheerleader, strides up to him, her entourage in tow. With a charismatic smile, Kate invites Chris to her party, and Layla watches from a distance, feeling a pang of jealousy. She knows she’s been crushing on Chris for ages, but he’s the school’s most popular guy, and she doubts he even knows she exists. ]

Layla: [whispering to Emma] I could never compete with Kate. She’s beautiful, popular, and a cheerleader. Who wouldn’t want to date her?

Emma: Oh, come on! Stop selling yourself short. Did you even notice? Chris didn’t seem interested in her invitation at all.

Layla: [grinning slightly] Yeah… it was kind of satisfying to see her get ignored for once.

Emma: [laughing] She deserves it. She’s always so mean to everyone. Totally a bitch

Layla: Ugh, I know. She’s just a spoiled brat craving attention. By the way theirs something where I always win from her.

Emma: And what's that thing ??

Layla: Height.... Haha I'm taller then her haha....

Emma: Haha... That's true you always win in height haha...

[They laugh together, finding some relief in each other’s company.]

[Later that night, Layla is sitting at her desk, engrossed in her homework, when her mother calls her down for dinner.]

Mother: Sweetie, dinner’s ready! Come eat before it gets cold.

Layla: Coming, Mom! Just give me a minute to finish this last question.

[ At the dinner table, her father starts telling stories of his childhood, recounting old adventures that bring a spark of wonder to Layla’s eyes. ]

Father: Layla, tomorrow I’m taking you to Avaloria Lake. It’s a beautiful place, and there are some pretty interesting myths about it.

Layla: [perking up] Really? Isn’t that the lake connected to the beach near our house?

Father: That’s the one! Some say there’s magic hidden there, beneath its surface.

Layla: [excitedly] What kind of magic? Can you tell me?

Father: Ah, you’ll find out tomorrow. For now, finish your dinner and get some rest.

Layla: [to herself] It’ll be so exciting… swimming in that lake, finding out what lies beneath. Maybe… maybe I’ll find the source of that voice.

[ Later, lying in bed with a soft smile on her face, Layla lets herself sink into the warmth of her bed, her mind swirling with thoughts of Avaloria Lake. The idea of swimming through its mysterious waters, of possibly uncovering something magical hidden beneath, makes her heart race with excitement. She wonders if the lake might somehow be connected to the voice in her dreams, to the shadow she’s always chasing but can never quite reach. As her eyelids grow heavy, her imagination takes over, filling her mind with images of shimmering depths, forgotten secrets, and the thrill of discovery. Unaware of what the next day holds, she drifts off into sleep, already half-lost in a world of wonder. ]