Whisper of the Mark

Actually chapter 1

"wake up..."

"Wake up...Khai.."

"Khai!"

The sound of my alarm clock ringing jolted me awake. I shot up from my bed, drenched in sweat, with my heart racing like I had just run a marathon. What the heck was that dream?!

I tried to piece together what I just experienced. It was terrifying - a nightmare that left a lingering chill down my spine.

"Oh gosh..." I mumbled, burying my face in the pillow as I tried to calm my breathing. "Thank goodness... it was just a dream."

But the headache that followed felt real. I pinched my forehead, feeling a throbbing pain. My entire body felt like it had crashed into the ground, just like in my dream.

I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. It was already 7 o'clock. What was I supposed to be doing at this hour again?

Suddenly, it hit me. Tuesday!

I leapt up from the bed in panic, only to trip over the sheets and crash face-first into the floor. Pain shot through my nose as I groaned.

"Khai? Are you still in your room?" My mom's voice echoed from downstairs, sounding concerned.

I slowly pushed myself up, rubbing my sore nose. "Coming, Mom!" I called out, trying not to sound too pathetic.

Just as I was about to open my bedroom door, Mom barged in, looking at me with a serious expression. "What was that noise earlier?"

I scratched my head sheepishly. "Uh... I tripped and fell..."

Mom sighed, shaking her head. "You're going to be late for school. Hurry up."

I nodded and rushed towards the stairs. But as I took a step, a sharp pain hit my head again. I felt dizzy, like the world around me was tilting. Did I get sick overnight?

The headache worsened with every step I took. I wanted to tell Mom that I needed to stay home and rest, but she was already heading downstairs. I forced myself to follow her despite my pounding head.

As I reached the third step from the bottom, my vision blurred completely. I felt my foot slip, and before I knew it, I was tumbling down the stairs.

A loud thud echoed through the house. I lay there, dazed and disoriented, as my family rushed over. Blood trickled down my forehead, and my vision became fuzzy. The sounds around me were muffled, like I was underwater.

Just before my eyes closed, I caught sight of a shadowy figure from my nightmare standing at the foot of the stairs. It was next to my little brother, grinning widely, its face twisted in a grotesque smile.

Then everything went dark.