Solance

Prolouge

Maldives (2005)

The soft glow of the moon filtered through the curtains, casting eerie shadows across the room as five-year-old Solance tossed and turned in her bed. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore outside provided little comfort as she struggled against the grip of her nightmare.

In her dream, she found herself trapped in a sinking hole, the earth crumbling beneath her feet as she sank deeper and deeper into the darkness below. Above her, she could see the faces of her three siblings—Jordan, Leah, and Brian—peering down at her with vacant eyes, their expressions devoid of emotion as she cried out for help.

But no matter how hard she screamed, no sound escaped her lips, and she felt herself being swallowed whole by the suffocating darkness.

Suddenly, Solance jolted awake, her heart racing as beads of sweat dotted her forehead. She sat up quickly, her chest heaving with panicked breaths, and scanned the dark room. The faint snores of her siblings drifted toward her—three soft, rhythmic sounds that did little to calm her.

Unable to shake the remnants of her nightmare, Solance slid quietly out of bed. She tiptoed through the house, her bare feet cold against the floor as she followed a strange tapping noise coming from the kitchen.

When she stepped into the dimly lit kitchen, she saw her dad, Christian Burnett. His eyes droopy and tired, hunched over his laptop. His fingers tapped softly at the keyboard as he glanced up, startled to see her.

"Hey, sweetheart, what are you doing up?" he whispered, quickly closing the laptop as if he'd been caught.

"I couldn't sleep," Solance said softly, her voice trembling.

Her dad sighed, crouching down to her level, his eyes softening as he pulled her close. He lifted her into his arms and sat her on his lap, brushing a few stray curls away from her face. "The same dream, huh?"

She nodded, her tiny hands clutching his shirt. "I can't get out, and no one helps me. It feels so real."

He kissed her forehead gently, his voice soothing as he spoke. "You're safe here, Solance. It's just a dream—dreams can't hurt you. And even when they feel real, you have to remember that you're stronger than anything you see in them."

She looked up at him, the fear in her eyes fading a little as his words washed over her. "But it feels like I'm going to disappear forever."

"I know it feels scary, but I promise, no matter how dark it gets in your dreams, I'll always be here to pull you out. You're never really alone."

Solance sighed, her small body relaxing a little in his arms. He hugged her tightly, glancing nervously toward the door. He knew his wife wouldn't be happy if she found him working again—especially after they'd nearly argued about it on the way to the Maldives. This vacation was supposed to be about family, but his work kept pulling him back in. He could still hear her voice in his head, telling him to switch off and enjoy the time with the kids.

"Listen, sweetheart, you need to try and get back to sleep before Mama wakes up, okay?" he said softly, smoothing down her pajama sleeve. "I'll be in the room soon to check on you, I promise."

Solance nodded sleepily, her eyelids drooping as she slid off his lap and stood. "Okay, Daddy," she whispered, giving him a small smile before padding back toward her bedroom.

Her father watched her go, his heart tugging a little as he closed the laptop for good this time. He exhaled softly, knowing he had to find a better balance—work could wait. His family couldn't.