He says"Hi."

5

I was surrounded by a field of grass, the sky had a beautiful blue colour and in the far distance there was a single tree.

I felt uncharacteristically calm but still cautious to my current whereabouts. Against my better judgement however, I decided to enjoy this peaceful setting.

Falling backwards into the soft grass, I inhaled deeply, my eyes soaking in the sky's radiance. A small smile crept on my face as I felt the warm sun against my skin.

Unfortunately for me, the moment of peace didn't last long as I began hearing strange inaudible whispers.

Play Music Now

I immediately sat up, my eyes darting anywhere and everywhere, looking for the source. This went on for quite a while until one whisper became two, then three. Until different voices were hitting me from every angle. I instinctively closed my eyes as they filled my head.

"Ana-Lia."

I looked over my shoulder. But I couldn't see anyone.

"Ana-Lia."

There it was again.

"Who's there, who are you?" I asked, looking for anyone, anything.

As the voices continued, the once bright and calm field had become dark. The trees around me wilted and withered, the sky turned a harrowing shade of grey and black. And the ground cracked open beneath my feet.

"Ana-Lia."

"What do you want from me?" I screamed at the air, my voice hoarse with desperation.

But they didn't answer. Of course they didn't. They just kept whispering my name, they kept growing louder and more insistent with every passing moment.

I felt a cold sweat break out across my body as I watched the world around me crumble into dust. All around me, the world was falling apart, and it was all because of me.

Tears streamed down my face as I begged the voices to stop, but they wouldn't listen. They just kept calling my name, rising to an ear shattering pitch as the world around me collapsed into chaos.

"Please," I begged.

"Please make it stop!"

But it was no use. It was like something had taken hold of me, and there was nothing I could do to break free from their grasp.

A mix of frustration, anger and fear just washed over me and all I did was yell at the sky like I was insane. I hated hearing the sound of my own name.

"Ana-Lia!"

Why is this happening to me?

Gasp

What do they want from me?

A strange darkness started to surround me as the voices became louder.

"ANA-LIA!"

I covered my ears in hopes that all the voices could just go away.

Make it stop!

"ANA-LIA!"

They kept going, there was nothing I could do to make it go away. Staring off into the distance, I dropped my arms in defeat.

***

I gave up on searching for the source of these voices and sank onto my knees. I watched the field continue to die around me. I couldn't do anything except cry. I was hoping and praying for this to end.

"ANA-LIA!"

I was unable to speak above a whisper. Everything was too much for me. And I couldn't take it anymore.

"Please stop," I meekly whispered.

The darkness started creeping towards me. I was ready for this to be over, for everything to just go away.

"ANA-LIA!"

"ANA-LIA!"

Everything started to fade away, and me along with it.

Out of fear, I wrapped my arms around my waist and lowered my head with tears running down my cheeks, waiting for my entire body to disappear.

But then, just as suddenly as it had all begun, the voices stopped. The darkness dissipated, and I was left alone, trembling and gasping for air.

"Ana-Lia..."

The voices... they came back as quickly as they left. But somehow they sounded different.

"Ana-Lia..."

"No more... hic. Please, no more."

My whole body was shaking uncontrollably, and I felt like I was losing my mind. It was like my worst fears and anxieties had all come to life, and there was nothing I could do except let it happen.

"Ana-Lia, please..."

Pant
Pant
Pant

"Wake up."

"What?" I croaked.

"Wake up!"

Marc?

"Marcus...?"

My legs shook as I tried to stand. I managed to get my footing and began hobbling across the dark terrain. Looking everywhere I could to find my brother.

"Marcus!" I yelled.

And it all went dark...