Dakota

Chapter 10: The curve in the memory

“You’re very lunatic.”

All I see is red.

And then it’s black.

And then it’s red again, like blood.

I tried to run, but the hallway is just getting longer.

I tried to scream, but my voice is hoarse, I couldn’t even mutter a coherent word.

The lost bride is standing in front of me, her faded torn roses in hand, crying.

“Lunatic.”

She said.

No! I tried to scream.

But her rose are maddeningly growing longer and longer, like vines, blood red vines;

They’re crawling towards me, trying to grab me, forcing me to die.

“Die Silvia, you deserve to die.”

“NO!”

I woke up feeling groggy. Sweat covering my head, sprinkling my forehead, my neck, my nape, even my eyelashes.

It was all a dream, and a rare one. I might just call it a nightmare. All my life I’ve been called Lunatic, Crazy, harebrained, absurd, and so many synonyms of it by my sister, Elle. And it hurts me deeply. I guess all of the things that happened just jumbled in and created very horrifying scene in my wild dreams. So I’ll just shrugged it off, and forget about it.

I’ll also forget about that Lost Bride painting, Silvia and Alexander, and that creepy clown I saw from a glass piece in the gallery last night.

               I swear they are all creepy. But the Lost Bride is one masterpiece.

I just don’t know where I got Silvia and Alexander. And but why do I keep on thinking about them, like they’re someone famous.

The room’s still dark, but the shaft of light that peeks from the curtain sealed windows indicates that it’s already morning.

I slowly got up from the bed and stretch my arms up high, and then I shrieked.

On the window seat on the far left corner of the room, a guy with a messy jet-black hair is sleeping soundly, apparently, it’s Alec.

Surprising, and tempting.

Curiosity and a little desire pushed me, to walk to him, and I don’t know, watch him, maybe.

But that is inappropriate, even if I really wanted to.

“Dakota,”

He croaked even before I could even move a muscle.

“Alec.” I nodded to him.

“Good morning,” He said, getting up, and he stretched his arms as well.

“I’m sorry I’ve stayed, you said you can’t sleep, so I just stayed, and then you started screaming last night, nightmares, so I decided to just stay here.” He said. And I ponder, did I really did that last night? I can’t remember.

“That’s okay and thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

There is a sudden hint of sorrow in his usually glinting eyes, and I hope it’s just because of his awakening.

   “You want to grab some breakfast? And Mrs. Aurelia slept in the guest room, just so you know.”

“Thank you so much, and I’m sorry for all the trouble.”

I said truthfully, of course I feel a little guilty for causing a scene like this. Like last night.

“I’m sorry my dear, but we need to get home immediately!” The door burst open and Aurelia rushed in.

“Why- why, what happened?”

“There is an emergency, your brother!”