The stories that killed their writer

Chapter 6: What's going on here?

Lana's POV

I sighed. "We have to find a way to fight it though, I'm not risking anything here."

"Lana?"

I gulped and turned around. "Melody?"

Melody frowned. "What's going on here?" She looked around a bit. "Who are you talking to?"

I looked behind me again and noticed all of them had vanished. I let out a breath before looking at Melody again. "I was practicing," I smiled a bit. "For a new story."

She kept frowning. "Shouldn't you write that down instead of saying it?"

"Yeah, but I want to hear it too, like the tone of the sentences," I nodded slowly. "It's just to get into the conversation."

Melody nodded slowly and seemed to buy my lie.

"You got back fast," I smiled at her, still trying to change the spotlight off me. "How was it?"

She sighed. "The client had already left," She took off her jacket. "He couldn't wait 5 more minutes." She then hung her jacket away.

"He's not worthy of your time then."

She looked at me and smiled a bit. "That's nice."

I nodded.

"Why don't we do something fun together?" Before I could say anything, she went on: "We could watch a movie, or we could relax in bed," She walked to me. "Let's just be lazy today," She then wrapped her arms around my waist. "What do you think?"

I opened my mouth to reply when I suddenly saw Wednesday and Christina appear behind Melody. They were giving me a look, one that suggested they clearly wanted to continue with our conversation.

"Lana?"

I looked at Melody again. "Sure." As I said that, I saw Christina and Wednesday roll their eyes before vanishing. But what could I do? I can't have a proper conversation with them without Melody barging in...

"What do you want to do: watch a movie or relax in bed?" She said that last suggestion in a different tone, a tone that indicated she preferred that option.

"Why don't we watch a movie?" But I wasn't up for that, I preferred staying away from the bedroom for now. Especially with Shax getting crazier...

"Sure." Melody released me to prepare the tv. I could see she was disappointed by my choice but it was best for us, for now.

When the movie ended, Melody wanted to spend the whole day in bed. She was so persuasive that she eventually got me in bed.

She was laying on top of me, kissing my neck and shoulders.

I was looking at the ceiling, my breath shallow as I had just come down from a high. Even though all of this was amazing, it struck me as odd. Melody wasn't like this, she hates spending time in bed, she hates missing appointments with clients, she hates sex during the day... Then it occurred to me: this wasn't my Melody.

I sat up and pushed her away. And, instantly, the Melody changed into Shax. 

And I yelled.

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"Lana?"

My breathing was hard, my heart beat fast, I was sweating like crazy, and I saw nothing but pure darkness. What had happened? What was this?

"Lana?"

I slowly looked at my right. "Melody?"

"Yes," She reached for her bedside table and switched on the light before looking back at me. "Hey," She pulled me back down with her. "Are you ok?"

I looked her in the eyes and I couldn't help but wonder: is this my Melody? Is this real? Am I really done dreaming?

"Lana?"

I turned back onto my back and looked at the ceiling. I let one of my arms rest above my head while the other was onto my belly. I felt my belly going up and down relatively fast. What had happened? Why did I dream of Shax, in that way?

"Lana?"

I kept looking a the ceiling. What was real? Was that whole day a dream? Did I ever meet up with all of them?

"Lana?" Melody came closer and eventually ended up on top of me. "Hey, are you alright?"

I gulped before I looked at her. I couldn't erase the image, of Melody changing into Shax, out of my mind. What if it happens again? What if I was still dreaming? What if this Melody changes too? Shax often came to me during my dream, it often sought contact with me but never this way. It would never change into someone I know, into a real-life person. That just wasn't Shax.

"Lana?" She caressed my face slowly. "Hey," She seemed worried. "Are you alright?" I could even hear she was worried, or maybe afraid of the way I was reacting.

I gulped once more. "What did we do today?"

Melody frowned a bit, she clearly didn't expect to hear this. And I can't blame her, it's an odd question. "What?"

"Mel, please," I gulped. "I need to know."

Melody seemed to be confused but started talking nevertheless: "We woke up, we went in a bath together, then we watched a movie together before spending the rest of the day here," She frowned again. "Don't you remember?"

I looked away then. That's what I dreamed too. Did I really relive my day, or a part of my day, in my dream? Why? Why was Shax doing this? I just don't understand. I really need to talk to Wednesday, Christina, and Estelle.

"Lana," Melody said, gaining my attention. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I forced a smile, I didn't want her to worry. "I had a nightmare," I gulped. "It seemed so real."

Melody showed me a small smile. "I understand," She went to lay back besides me. "Come," She opened her arms for me to lay in. "Let's get some sleep."

I nodded and scooted closer to her. I nuzzled into her embrace and slowly closed my eyes.