Guard to the Crown

Krystal

The darkness was all-consuming, a thick, impenetrable veil that swallowed everything in its path. I couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, couldn’t even feel my own body as I stumbled forward. The only thing that grounded me was the sharp, icy cold that clung to my skin, seeping through my clothes and into my bones. I didn’t know where I was or how I had gotten here, but the overwhelming sense of dread that pulsed through my veins told me one thing: I wasn’t alone.

The sound of footsteps echoed behind me, heavy and deliberate, each one sending a shiver down my spine. I tried to run, but my legs felt like lead, every step a struggle as though the air itself had thickened, resisting my movements. The footsteps grew louder, closer, and my heart pounded in my chest, a wild, frantic rhythm that matched my growing panic.

I turned my head, desperate to catch a glimpse of my pursuer, but the darkness pressed in on me, a living thing that refused to relinquish its secrets. A low, guttural growl rumbled through the blackness, vibrating in my chest and making my breath hitch. I could feel its presence now, a suffocating weight pressing down on me, watching me with unseen eyes.

Terror gripped me, tightening its hold as I forced my legs to move faster. But no matter how hard I pushed, the darkness remained endless, my pursuer relentless. My lungs burned, my muscles screamed in protest, but still, I ran, driven by the primal instinct to survive.

Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet crumbled, giving way to nothingness. I was falling, plummeting through the abyss, the cold wind tearing at me as I screamed into the void. The growl turned into a deafening roar, surrounding me, filling my ears until I could hear nothing else.

Then, with a jolt, I landed hard on something solid. The darkness shattered, and I was back in my bed, drenched in sweat, my heart racing as if it might explode. I gasped for air, my wide eyes darting around the room, searching for any sign that it was still there, still with me.

I tried to calm my racing heart, repeating again and again that it was just a dream, a very real dream, but a dream nonetheless. It would have worked if I myself believed that it was just a nightmare but deep down I knew that it was the manifestation of my darkest fear, fear that someone will come and take me back to the place I escaped, to Fareya.

My heart raced as I knelt beside the bed, my eyes landed on the familiar, worn shape tucked against the wall, and relief flooded through me. I pulled it out quickly, the rough fabric cool under my fingers as I unzipped the main compartment. Everything was exactly as I’d left it: essential supplies, clothes, food, and the little money I’d saved. Zipping it closed, I hugged the backpack to my chest, feeling its comforting weight. This was it—my reassurance. I pushed it back under the bed, resolve hardening. Tomarrow, I will go away, away from this place which I have been calling home for last 3 years. A pang guilt tugged at me, knowing Fatima, Noah, Olivia and Sam would miss me. They had been my anchors, the ones who made this place more home. I could almost see their faces when they realized I was gone, and it hurt. But even that wasn’t enough to shake my resolve. I had to go—I can't go back to Fareya, my prison.