Torn between Dreams and Reality

Chapter 26

"Stop, Claire." I heard the words repeated a few times.

"Claire, you need to stop."

The lights of the room lit up and I saw myself standing on top of my kitchen counter with a broken glass in my hand. I felt the pain of it as if it were real. I tilted my head to stare at the blood that dripped off my palms. I looked at the person who was trying to make me let go of the glass pieces.

The face was blurry. So blurry that I couldn't even point out the colours of the figure.

Looking back at my hand, the pain was increasing but I wasn't holding the glass anymore. In my hand were a few dried flowers, black as the night, their thorns piercing through my skin. They kept growing longer, penetrating my skin until they sliced through my hand, across to the other side.

I inhaled sharply, my eyes widening as I looked at the black thorns edged with the red of my blood.

"Let go." The voice cried out. "Claire, you need to let go!"

So, I did... and felt myself fall.

And fall.

And fall.

Breathing heavily, I sat up straight, realizing that I was where I last was. My hand ached but I saw no wounds on it.

But the pain was real.

I tried standing up with the help of the wall, leaning onto it as I focused on everything around me. The staircase was back, the lights of the attic were on again. But the box was missing.

My heartbeat fastened as I rushed to the kitchen and lounge, checking every corner to see if it was there but it wasn't.

Nor was it upstairs.

I was breathing too hard, trying to think of places it might be.

"No, no, no. This can't happen. It can't just—just disappear! It has to be here. No one could take it but..."

I trailed off.

Leo.

Slamming the door open, I didn't bother to wear a pair of shoes as I stormed out of the house. My heart was clenching hard in my chest. It was after so long that I felt like I had answers, that I had a defined path to follow but everything was messing about it.

So, I pushed myself to take me to where Leo was, heat of betrayal edging me. I crossed and turned but no matter where I went, I couldn't find his house. My mind was in such a devastating condition that I couldn't even recall the paths I had chosen to reach his place. I couldn't tell where I went wrong.

I kept running, hoping that it would come to me some way, somehow, even if it meant running in circles.

And then it was there, in front of me. I stumbled and almost fell as I tried to stop myself from running. Knocking gruffly on the door, I heaved for air.

A lady opened the door, a female counter part of Leo only a few years older. With her emerald eyes I once fascinated to have and flame-like auburn hair, Leo's mother looked at me with shock.

"Claire! By God, what are your doing here!? The last time I saw y—"

"Where is he?" I cut in.

"Leo," I repeated when I noticed her confusion. "Where is Leo!?"

It came out louder than I intended the words too but I didn't care, I was sick and tired of everything.

"H-He's gone to his match but I don't thi—"