Few hours later.
The room was quiet.
Machines hummed softly.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Nia stirred.
Slowly—
Her eyes opened.
She blinked at the ceiling.
A breath left her.
“…Finally,” she murmured weakly. “Just a bad dream…”
Her body felt heavy.
But calm.
For a second—
Everything felt normal.
Then—
She turned her head.
And saw them.
The woman.
The man.
Standing there.
Watching her.
Her breath caught instantly.
No.
No, no, no—
She pushed herself up too quickly.
“No,” she whispered. “No, this isn’t real—”
Her heartbeat spiked.
“This is a dream,” she said, shaking her head. “This is just a dream—”
“Nia—” the woman started softly.
“DON’T.”
Her voice snapped through the room.
“Don’t say my name,” Nia said, her breathing uneven now. “Don’t—don’t talk t
