The Dreamwalker [ON HOLD]

Chapter Eight

Adela's eyes were glued to the figure a few metres ahead of her. She couldn't make out the figure's face. It was hidden by shadows, making its face appear small and fragile. The aroma of burnt wood hung in the air around them; a faint sound of laughter and cheers echoed through the darkness. In the distance, Adela could see a dizzying array of lights, but where they stood, it was almost too dark to see anything.

A light flickered their way, giving Adela a momentary glimpse of the figure's face.

"Mrs Finlay?"

The figure didn't respond.

"Mrs Finlay?" Adela tried again. She blinked a few times, her vision strained.

She took a step forward, Mrs Finlay a step back. Mrs Finlay then looked down at her hands and Adela saw that she held... the diary?

Adela took another step forward but froze when Mrs Finlay's head snapped up again because the figure wasn't Mrs Finlay anymore...

It was her mother.

"Mama?" Adela called uncertainly.

Her mother's eyes flickered toward Adela.

"Mama?"

Her mother didn't respond; she turned on her heels and ran.

"Mama!" Adela cried, and ran after her mother; her boots bounced off the hay-like grass beneath her. Adela struggled to keep up—her mother was unusually fast. Adela willed each foot forward with breathless, urgent gasps, until, suddenly, she found herself in a closed off alleyway—far from the cheers and the smell of burnt wood.

She looked around.

They were trapped.

Her mother had her back pressed against a wall.

A sense of familiarity washed over Adela, then: an alleyway... no, no, not another dream! Eyes wide, Adela stepped forward to approach her mother, but as she did so, a shadow formed on the filthy ground of the alleyway. No... please not you...

With steady footsteps, it drew nearer... until, without warning, it disappeared.

Then, a frightening snap echoed around them, followed by a loud thud.

Adela's mother fell onto the ground—

"No!" Adela screamed.

She ran toward her mother's now limp body and fell to her knees all the while a voice—a voice she knew all too well—echoed in the darkness, "Tick-tock, my love."

And then, he was gone.

Time is running out! Will Adela remember what she needs to remember for him?

And was it her mother she saw?

Also! Thank you so much for reading Chapter Eight! I really hoped you enjoyed it. Please show your support by voting, commenting, and adding the story to your reading list!

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Enjoy Chapter Nine! xx