tears of mercury | beastars

chapter 5. HEY, IT'S JUST A DREAM

𖤣𖥧.𖤣𖥧𓆏𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
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(Name) ran blindly through the shadows, her breaths ragged and her chest aching with every step. The cold air bit at her skin, but she barely noticed it over the pounding of her heart.

The darkness seemed alive, shifting and swallowing the ground beneath her feet. Behind her, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed, growing louder and closer. She didn't dare look back—she didn't need to. Whatever was chasing her, it was relentless.

Sweat dripped down her temples, mingling with the tears she didn't realize were falling. Her legs burned, her muscles screaming for her to stop, but fear propelled her forward. The weight of the unknown being behind her pressed down on her, suffocating her.

Her mind was screaming one word: run.

But no matter how fast she ran, the distance between her and the creature never grew. Her foot caught on something unseen, and the ground rushed up to meet her. She hit the cold, hard earth with a thud, the impact knocking the wind from her lungs. She tried to scramble to her feet, but before she could, the shadow enveloped her.

The faceless being pinned her down, its weight crushing and immovable. It had no eyes and no mouth, just a form that she could define, but its presence was all-encompassing. (Name) stared at it, wide-eyed and frozen. Her throat constricted, her voice lost to the fear gripping her.

She wanted to scream, to cry, to fight, but her body wouldn't obey. The beast loomed closer, its darkness consuming everything, until all she could see was black.

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A sharp, grating beeping shattered the silence. (Name) gasped, bolting upright in her bed. Her alarm clock blared from the dresser, its flashing red numbers piercing through the remnants of the nightmare.

Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, her body slick with cold sweat. Her pajamas clung uncomfortably to her skin, and she pushed her damp hair back from her face. For a moment, she just sat there, staring at the wall as her mind tried to process where she was.

"Just a dream." she whispered, though the words felt hollow. Her heart was still racing, and the weight of the nightmare lingered, pressing on her chest like a phantom memory.

Groaning, (Name) reached over and slammed her hand down on the alarm clock, silencing it with more force than necessary. The room fell quiet, save for her uneven breathing. She wiped her face with her sleeve, trying to shake off the lingering fear.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a nightmare like that. It had been years, at least—or so she thought. This one felt different, more vivid and oppressive.

As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her gaze fell on the picture frame hanging on the wall across the room. It was an old photo, slightly faded but still clear enough to see the smiling faces within it. Her expression softened, sadness flickering across her features.

She stared at the photo for a long moment, the echoes of the nightmare fading into the background of her thoughts. The weight of the dream still clung to her, but now it was mixed with something else—an ache she couldn't quite put into words.

Finally, she stood, stretching her stiff limbs and letting out another groan. "Time to start the day." she muttered, though her voice lacked enthusiasm. As she shuffled toward the bathroom to wash up, she couldn't help but glance at the picture frame one last time.

The day loomed ahead, full of routine and responsibilities, but the shadows of her dream still lingered, a quiet disturbance in the back of her mind. (Name) shook her head, determined not to let it get to her.

After all, it was just a dream. . . wasn't it?

✅ EDITED