My Dream Or My Nightmare?

Chapter 6

Leon trudged through the woods, his mind still foggy from what he had seen at the beach. The ocean was still—unnaturally still. No waves, no movement. Just an endless expanse of glassy water that made him feel as though the world had paused.

His thoughts raced as he pushed through the dense trees, his feet moving on autopilot toward the house. The more he tried to make sense of what was happening, the less it all seemed to fit together. Was it real? Was any of this real? His head throbbed, his vision blurring with each step.

The house finally appeared between the trees, standing tall and dark against the sky, like a silent witness to his unraveling mind. He paused before entering, catching his breath and steeling himself for whatever lay ahead.

Inside, the house was eerily quiet, too quiet. The walls seemed to press in around him, and the silence buzzed in his ears like a warning. He noticed Eloise in the living room, sitting on the couch, her back to him as she spoke softly into her phone. His stomach twisted. Who was she talking to?

Leon crept forward, straining to hear her conversation.

"...he believes it now," Eloise said, her voice hushed. "Yes, he thinks the kids were just a dream... No, he hasn’t realized yet. I’ll keep him in the dark."

Leon’s breath caught in his throat, a cold wave of disbelief washing over him. What is she saying? His pulse pounded in his ears, and he accidentally knocked into the table, sending a glass tumbling onto the floor with a sharp crash.

Eloise turned suddenly, her eyes widening as they met his.

“Leon?” she asked, her voice carefully calm, but there was something behind her eyes. Panic? Fear?

He didn’t wait for her to say anything else. His mind was screaming at him to get away, to escape. Without a second thought, he turned and bolted toward the front door, his heart racing. Behind him, he could hear Eloise calling his name, her footsteps quickening as she followed him.

“Leon! Wait, please!”

But he didn’t stop.