STAND BY ME!!

Into the woods

Ambily's POV

## 'It's very dark, where am I ??'
"Ambily, you need to run. You don't want this."
A dark shadow in the room spoke.
I couldn't see the face due to the darkness
but the shadow resembled that of a woman.
"Who are you? And how do you know my name?" I questioned her.
"There's no time for that. You need to run." She answered.
"What are you talking about??"
I asked her again.
"Ambily go!" She shouted and pushed me.
Next second... I was running in a forest.
I ran as fast as I could, While running I looked at my feet.
I wasn't wearing any footwear and the forest floor had pebbles like the ones at the river.
'How am I running on these pebbles?
It would be so difficult to even walk on them.'
I felt dark shadow following me... But I didn't dare to turn and look behind.
I just kept on running.
Suddenly I collided with a hard wall...
'Wait, why is it moving?'
Before I could figure out anything I felt someone catching my wrist and pulling me away from the wall...
"NO! I DON'T WANT TO GO WITH YOU!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
I kicked and punched in the air.
My hands started hurting.
I saw my palms, there was blood. If It was not mine then whose blood was that?
Tears rolled down my cheeks and I started crying loudly.##
"Ambily.... Ambily" I heard Rhea's voice but I couldn't see her.
"Rhea, I dont want to go with them." I spoke between my swabs.
"Ambily.." She shouted again and I jerked up from my sleep.
I was sweating and panting.
Rhea made me sit and gave a glass of water.
I gulped down all the water at once, soothening my dry throat.
"You had a nightmare.. What was it about?
You were saying that you don't want to go with them." She asked rubbing my back lightly.
"It's nothing."I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
I squinted my eyes to see the time on the clock.
It was still 4 in the morning.
"You should probably go to sleep now,
it's still very early." I told Rhea before she could question me further.
"You're okay...right?"
"Yes, I am."
Rhea slept as soon as she lay back.
I tried to sleep but the nightmare played in mind again and again.
I couldn't forget it.
***
For the last 2 hours, I couldn't get myself to sleep.
It was six in the morning and still very dark.
Instead of simply lying, I thought of taking a walk in the woods.
I brushed my teeth and wore a grey sweater over my nightclothes and walked out slowly, being careful not to disturb anyone.
"Good morning, ma'am."
Someone spoke from behind. "Where are you going ma'am??" I turned to see Ben standing infront of me.
"Ben... You're awake,
Good morning.
I just thought of taking an early morning walk." I explained.
"But it's still dark outside ,ma'am."
"Don't worry Ben, I'll manage."
"Okay ma'am, take care. And return soon." He said.
"Hmm... "
I walked out of the cottage.
And went straight towards the forest...
It was very cold and the whole area was coverd in a thick fog.
Suddenly flashes of my dream came to my mind.
I shook my head erasing away the bad memories and walked deeper in the woods.
The weather was so chilly and peaceful.
I could hear the cuckoo bird sing and many other birds filling my ears with their sweet voice.
'Are they playing a band...' The thought brought a smile on my face.
I walked further.... The cool breeze brushed my cheeks and my ears instantly turned cold.
I rubbed my hands and kept them on my ears for some warmth.
'I forgot to get a cap... Nevermind.'
I could hear the sound of water gushing. I went towards where the sound came.
After walking for a few minutes I spotted a clear area. It had small bushes, not the big trees as those in the forest.
I saw a river flowing there and ran towards it.
The sun was coming up, the rays made the water shine drawing me towards the river.
The river bed had many pebbles... It was becoming difficult to walk on them.
I reached closer to the water. It was so clear, one could even see the ground beneath.
I bent down on my knees and dipped my hand in the cool water.
It was so refreshing. Suddenly I heard the sound of rustling of bushes .. as if, someone just passed behind me.
I turned to see no one.
I faced back to the water and started playing with it.
'It's so late the sun is already up, I should head back to the cottage.'
I stood up and was just about to turn when I felt a heavy object hit me on my head ... I shrieked in pain.
I pressed my head near the temples with both my hands trying to relive the pain but all it became was more intense.
I fully turned to see two men infront of me but before I could recognize who they were..everything became blur. I stumbled and fell on the pebbled floor, my face started hurting.
I couldn't take it anymore...darkness consumed me and I passed out.
**************
I don't know for how long I've been uncousious.
I felt a stinging pain in my head. Everything was blurry. I tried to bring my hand to my face but couldn't...
After blinking for several times, my vision was clear and I found myself lying on a wooden floor.
My hands were tied behind my back. My legs were also tied.
'What is happening with me?'
I screamed loudly, hoping that someone would come to my rescue.
The door opened and two men wearing black suit came in. They looked at me for few seconds and before I could ask them anything they left.
I realized they were the same men who hit me near the river.
'Am I kidnapped?? No... No... God why??' My eyes filled with tears and I stared crying.
I tried to free my hands but nothing happened. The rope was tied very tightly.
I tried to sit with the support of a wall and looked around for some way out.
The room in which I was had a king size bed at the center, the curtains were pulled on restricting all the sunlight... It gave the room a dark and scary appearance.
'Ahh.... My head hurts.'
Tears were rolling down my cheeks.
'Dad, mom.... Rhea... Please someone get me out of here.' I whimpered and cried closing my eyes tightly.
"I hope all this is just a dream.... Another of my bad dreams... Nothing is real..when I open my eyes all will be back to normal..." I tried to convince myself.
‎I heard footsteps coming towards the room, I opened my eyes ....the door knob turned and someone entered.
‎ ‎"This is not a dream...sweetheart." he said.
‎"You...!!"
******
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