Twisted Dreams

Chapter One

The lights were shining bright as the ball had only started. Everybody was dressed in simple and yet elegant clothes, as the woman I was dancing with had her eyes locked onto mine.
Her ocean blue eyes had captured my gaze in less then seconds as soon as she had entered the large room. Wait...where am I right now? How did I get here?
"Is everything alright, my dear?"
The soft voice of the woman broke the silence, and my questions were already forgotten again, as I answer
"Of course, it couldn't be better." I smile warmly as we spin to the music over the old wooden floor, the white stonewalls were decorated with even older paintings.
The woman's light brown hair softly framed her face and her freckles on her cheeks gave her such an elegance that I had never seen before, her beauty completely shut my mind silent. She was just as tall as me, and on her soft red lips there was playing a small smile as she slightly tilt her head and looks at me.
The room was filled with other people, but I only had eyes for her, as her hand was in mine, following the music through the room. It was almost like she had me under a spell, keeping my focus only on her and nobody else.
But something was wrong.
First I didn't even notice it, but then it happens. The feeling like I am lost somewhere, falling.
I can feel my heart starting to beat faster with every passing second, and my breathing was getting quicker. The people around me started to fade more and more, as I looked up at the woman in panic. What was going on here?
But she was also starting to fade, a soft but sad smile on her face as she looked at me with her kind eyes.
"Don't worry my dear...we'll meet again."
She says with quiet voice as I could feel my heartbeat in my chest, fast as if it wants to jump out.

In shock and panic I opened my eyes and sit up on my bed, on hand pressed against my chest as I tried to take a deep breath to calm down.
It had been just a dream, again. This wasn't the first time this happened to me. Sure, I had dreamed before and some dreams were more realistic than others, but this was different. It felt different for me. Like it was actually happening and like I was actually there. Like the woman was real and she was so close to me, as I still remember every detail of her.
And that all had started three months ago when I turned 17, when I found this necklace.
I always had the habit to collect things that I consider as beautiful, so of course I picked up the necklace from the ground. Yes, I also had thought it was a bit strange that a necklace like that was in the middle of a forest on the ground, but I had tried to not think about it too much. Maybe someone had just lost it?
But now I was definitely sure, something was wrong with the necklace. It had this energy around it that I could feel, every time I am wearing the necklace. And when I take the necklace off it feels strange, like a part of me is missing then.

With my heartbeat normal again I stand up, carefully pushing myself off of the edge of the bed. The birds outside the window were chirping and in some distance I could hear the traffic, as a cold morning breeze comes in through the opened window.
This was the reality, and yet it all felt just as real as my dream did.

I walk to the bathroom, the house was quiet as always. I live with my uncle alone in this big place, but he is on business trips most of the time, so it was normal for me that I was alone in the house. I am used to it, and it doesn't bother me anymore.
The cold stone floor of the bathroom sends a shiver up my spine as I push the door open and enter, a small sigh escapes my mouth.
I had no motivation for today, and also not for tomorrow or any other day that would still come. I just wanted to do my own thing and get out of this ordinary life, but I couldn't. I still had to go to school and my uncle wouldn't let me skip this. So I just accepted it, maybe in a few years I'd be free.

So then I quickly start to get ready and brush my teeth, the water was just as cold as the stone floor under me. That was why I hate the winter so much. It is just way too cold and I am too tired to do anything to warm me up, so the perfect combination to catch a cold.
As I reach for my towel I look up in the mirror, my short blond hair was a mess i probably wouldn't be able to fix today.
I grab my towel, as I then suddenly see something.
No. Someone.
A tall, shadow figure standing right behind me, just starring.
I feel my heart drop in shock as I spin around quickly, but there was nobody. Nothing, not even a normal shadow.
My heart is beating faster as I turn back around and stare into the mirror.
Was I going crazy now?