Just a dream

Chapter – 1 | The night bus

I cursed under my breath as the icy winter wind brushed past my cheeks. Night’s darkness and the rustling sound coming from the bushes nearby were starting to scare me. For a moment, I thought about going back to the hostel and coming back tomorrow afternoon. But I knew better. My stepsister’s wedding was in fifteen days. Me being the maid of honor, I was to help with the wedding preparations, but I was already late by four days. Delay of one more day and my father will probably not talk to me for at least a year, or maybe more. He had made this point quite clear the last time I talked to him. Taking out a water bottle from my bag, I took in few gulps just when my cell phone went off.

‘Are you in the bus?’ as always straight to the point.

‘Hello to you too father.’ I said as I put the water bottle back in the bag, ‘And no, I’m not in the bus.’

‘Florence Williams’ he scolded, ‘your sister’s wedding is on the head and you are still not here. Just what do you-’his voice was cut by a new one.

‘Florence, what do you mean you are not in the bus? Where are you honey?’ my stepmother asked in a sickly sweet and worried tone, and I had to bite my tongue to keep me from a snappy remark. It really surprises me how my father could stick with this forged woman for such a long time. 

‘I'm at the bus-stop.’ I said with an irritated.

‘The bus-’ her voice was cut off by a scrambling sound and a new voice greeted me.

‘Hey pumpkin’

‘Hey granny!’ a smile stretched on my face. Finally I was talking to the only person whom I considered as true family. My grandmother was the only reason that I agreed to attend this wedding.

‘Dear, we have been waiting for you.’ She said.

‘I know grams. I'm at the bus stop right now.’ I said, as I looked down the road for any signs of the bus’s arrival. None at the moment though.

‘Weren't you supposed to be taking the afternoon bus?’

‘I was, but something came up and I missed that bus. I'm taking the night one and will be there by tomorrow morning.’ I said rubbing my arms as the icy wind pinched my skin.

‘Granny..? Are you there?’ I asked when I got no answer from her.

‘Take tomorrow’s bus.’ she said after a long pause.

‘But then I will be late by one more day.’ I said with a frown.

‘Don't worry about that. Florence, honey, do not take that night bus.’ she said and it seemed as if she was starting to panic.

‘But why grams..? You know how father is already upset.’ I said rolling my eyes at the last statement. She said something but her words did not seem to be clear, and then the line went dead. I bit my lips as I stared at my cell phone’s screen, the network bars had disappeared. Maybe she just meant that she did not want me to do night traveling.

With a sigh I shook my head, stood up from the bench and took in my surroundings with a nervous glance. As if the rustling sound, the bone chilling night and now my grandmother’s sudden break down was not enough, now the road was starting to fill with mist, making it all seem like a cliché horror story.

Just as I was about to try and call my grandmother again, I heard an odd sound; almost as if a roar of a beast, and it seemed to be coming towards me with fast pace. Breath caught in throat, I closed my eyes in fear and clutched my phone in my fists. The closer the roar came, the harder my grip became. My heart almost jumped out, when a gust of wind blew my hair and something stops right in front of me.