From Light to Darkness

1 - Strength and Virtue

Never before had I felt such overwhelming fear. My heart was pounding against my chest. I could feel the adrenalin pumping through my veins. Despite the never-ending darkness, I carried on sprinting through the dark night. I felt completely lost. Alone.  

My foot got caught underneath a tree root and I found myself sprawling to the floor. I wouldn't be able to escape. There was no hope for me.  

Even though I heard no words, voices echoed in my head. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure whiz straight past me with unnatural speed. Within seconds, I felt surrounded; I felt like I had been shoved into a corner with a million faces watching me.  

Fear was building up and, before long, it was all I felt. Somehow, it felt like the whole forest was built with fear, terrorizing anybody who crossed its border. A small voice within me told me that, as soon as I edit the dense group of trees, the anxiety and fear will face. And then, when I get past the fear, everything will be okay.

The voices carried on whispering louder and louder. I still didn't understand what they were saying but, somehow, it still made me feel vulnerable. My hands were now clasped to my ears, trying to block everything out. 

All of a sudden, a twig snapped. I turned to find a tall figure staring down at me. I couldn't see his face but I could sense the viciousness and cruelty which he held. My enemy had found me. My life would soon cease to exist... 

***** 

Silently screaming, my eyes opened wide and I lurched upwards in my bed. Reality came flooding back.  

Recently, the nightmares had seemed to be taking over my life. Not only did I suffer the torment every night, the horrific scenes were also glued to my brain and thoughts every single conscious moment.  

Beads of sweat dotted my forehead, my breathing was in-controllable and erratic and my hands were trembling like a volcano about to erupt. What was wrong with me? How could I let such a pathetic matter - a dream - get to my head?  

"It may not seem so today, but in the future you will be known by your strength and virtue. Remember this, Briana. Remember..."  

These were the last words my mother ever spoke and I can still remember them, word for word, four years later. She had always seen the best in me, something nobody else ever saw. My name meant strong, virtuous and honourable. Strong. Unless being kept awake by mysterious nightmares and loosing my grip on perceptibility were ideal acts of strength, my parents had given me the wrong name.  

As my breathing began to steady and my heart had stopped thumping heavily against my chest, I heard a small voice whisper my name.  

Quickly looking to my left, I saw that my younger sister was also sat up in her bed. She was staring at me with concern in her deep brown eyes. All of a sudden, I had realized how loud I must have been whilst I was waking. I had no doubt that I had been screaming erratically. Concerned that I'd caused a massive disturbance, I quickly scanned the room to check that my other siblings had not been aroused. I saw three beds lined in a row, each with a small bundle curled up underneath. Well at least I'd not woken up the whole village - not that that would be anything new.  

I looked back to my sister, giving her an unconvincing smile.  

"It's okay. I'm fine, Eloise. Go back to sleep."  

"Was it another nightmare?" 

Everyone was now used to my horrific dreams and my midnight anxiety attacks, but Eloise was the one who empathized with me the most. Being the only two girls in the family, we had a strong connection and felt like we had to look after one another.  

"Yes it was but I'm okay now."  

Instantly, she knew I was lying. I wasn't okay. I could still here the silent whispers of the anonymous voices echoing in my head. They continued like they never wanted to stop.

Eloise climbed out of her bed and came to mine. Pulling the thin cover over herself, she gave me a short, reassuring smile. And, after a long silence, we both drifted back to the world where your worst nightmares become your reality...