Bianca
The entire space sparkled with darkness as my eyes struggled to adjust to the overwhelming blackness. My heart longed for light in this consuming realm.
Then, like a fragile strand of hope, I saw a tiny light flashing through the thick, suffocating dark, slowly illuminating the space. A loud, painful noise filled my ears.
I blinked, letting my eyes roll, only to catch a frightening sight before me.
Scattered around were people, strange-looking and unfamiliar. Some clutched each other in painful sobs, while others stood alone, heads bowed in grief.
My stomach twisted, and my throat ran dry. The air reeked of sorrow and anguish. It settled in my chest, stirring the urge to move closer.
Maybe, just maybe, I could catch a better glimpse of what was happening, maybe spot someone or something familiar.
As I moved further, I realized the place resembled a hall. The air carried a great sense of dread, wrapping itself around me like a cloak. Marble pillars stood scattered around, with wooden doors lining the sides. The hall was vast, with chairs, but the people stood on their feet, not seated.
Where is this place?
I couldn't help but ask myself. Hot sweat pooled on my trembling body as I took another step.
The loud cries intensified. My curiosity grew, tangled with dread.
Then, halfway into the hall, I saw them, armed, strange-looking men standing around a bed placed at the center. On it lay someone, completely still.
My heart raced as my thoughts spiraled.
They looked like guards, but their bodies were built differently: broad, muscular frames, about six feet tall, their ears sharp, and their faces darkened with grim expressions.
I swallowed hard, silently battling the urge to retreat. What if they're watching me? What if they seize me?
No, I can't go further.
But as I looked around, resisting the urge, I realized no one noticed me. Everyone was lost in the somber moment, a deeper dread settling inside me.
After a long, uneasy pause, I moved a little closer, cautiously observing the guards. My chest tightened. My hand clutched my gown tightly.
Just then, I caught a clearer glimpse of the scene. Lying on the bed was a man, his eyes open, face pale, body completely still. A golden pendant on his neck. The sparks from it blinded me and I blinked.
Beside him knelt a woman, speaking words I couldn't hear. She mumbled softly, something wrapped around her hands, swirling it as she spoke.
My thoughts wandered. Who were they? Why couldn't I hear her?
I blinked, trying to make sense of it all. Everything felt unreal, like I didn't belong here.
Then, suddenly, a man nearby spoke, and to my surprise, everyone looked up. Silence swept across the hall.
"Our leader's illness isn't getting any better," he said.
The muffled cries erupted once more, echoing through the entire space.
Then, the man on the bed sneezed. I narrowed my eyes at him, dazed, as the woman held his chest, still murmuring words I couldn't decipher.
The man who had spoken earlier lowered his gaze, saddened, then lifted it again, his expression firm and resolute.
"We need to find her fast. There's no more time," he declared.
The wailing grew louder.
Something stirred inside me at his words. I stood still, scanning the hall, but no one seemed to see me.
Was I dead? A ghost, maybe?
As if my thoughts had summoned an answer, the air thickened with smoke, like a cloud gathering around me.
I struggled to remain still against the overpowering force. My eyes grew heavy, and I instinctively shut them. My arms flailed, trying to push away the thick smoke.
The silence deepened. My chest went numb. Cold chills crept over my skin like crawling goosebumps. The air was so cold, I forced my eyes open.
White clouds surrounded me, dense and endless, but slowly began to fade.
Then I saw her.
A figure stood before me, her back turned. Her skin glowed like the stars, her white robes adorned with sparkling stones that dazzled my eyes.
"Get ready," she muttered. Her voice thundered like a million whispers, soft yet commanding.
But she never turned around.
The words echoed in my heart, jolting something deep inside me. I couldn't describe the feeling, it hit hard, like an awakening.
I stood frozen, my mouth slowly parting in a daze. I was about to speak when, suddenly, my body jerked.
So forcefully that I could barely contain myself.
I looked at myself, surprised, just as I felt a touch across my skin. Familiar. Disgustingly familiar.
Alex!
I winced and looked up.
The clouds were gone. The figure had vanished into thin air.
Only the growing noise remained.
The air and atmosphere now felt natural. Though my vision was blurred, I could smell the familiar scent of the room I was shown after the wedding. That particular strawberry scent I disliked.
A wave of sadness flooded me. My chest tightened as the memory of that familiar touch clung to my aching heart.
What the heck was he touching me for?
Just as my thoughts floated in the air, I felt my body being moved quickly across a soft surface. I sank into it briefly, then the blaring sound of an ambulance filled my ears.
"Stay with us," a voice called out, but the words sounded distorted, like fragments struggling to piece themselves together.
A hot rush surged through my body.
Then everything faded into numbness.
*****
Hospital
I opened my eyes slowly, catching a glimpse of white garments hanging around me.
The scent of disinfectant and medication filled my nostrils. The rhythmic beeping of the monitor rang in my ears, loud and piercing.
I tried to see through it all, but my vision blurred. My body felt numb, paralyzed despite my efforts to move.
Then I heard footsteps approaching.
I flinched, turning slightly to catch a faint glimpse of two men and a woman walking toward me. A sweet, familiar scent reached my nose.
I couldn't make out their faces, my vision was still hazy, but they drew closer. The first man placed something gently over my chest.
"She's getting better now, but there's a need for urgency," he said.
My eyes fixed on him.
Urgency? What urgency?
"I don't…" the second man trailed off, looking away. That voice echoed in my mind.
It felt familiar. I turned to look again, but he was already gone. My weak heart ached at the sound of that voice.
"Get the room ready," the first man said with a hint of urgency.
Then, the loud sound of the machine blared like a siren.
A sharp pain struck my chest, so intense that time seemed to freeze. I longed to see that man again, that stirred that familiar sweetness in my heart.
But who was he?
And why did he leave?