THE HEIR OF BLACKTHORN

CHAPTER 5

5. AFTERNOONMARE

It started to retreat slowly, just like it did yesterday. But this time, I wasn't just watching it from my window. It was just a few feet away from me. I could feel the chills in my spine.

But I did what I didn't think I would. I followed it. I didn't know how I could with the chills I was feeling, but my leg wasn't stopping. I kept walking, following it. I couldn't see a body, only a shadow cast on the ground.

It felt like the shadow knew someone was right behind it. It stopped for a while......

"Buh why did it stop? Can a shadow see?? How can a shadow move without a body present?" I contemplated within me.

I suddenly froze, 'cause it was like the shadow turned towards me, but then I felt like it was my imagination or out of fear as the shadow continued moving.

Why was this shadow on our neighbor's property? What did it want? Where was it going? I've heard silly rumors of why the old neighbors moved, but it couldn't be true. It was what children used to scare people.

Now it seemed like the shadow was going through a path a little familiar. Yesss, the way I came through. I don't think there was ever a road on that side, so why did I come through there? It looked like the woods, or it was. The shadow went into it, what seemed like a forest.

And then, in a quick action, I was pushed back by a force, an all-too-strong force. It was like there was a barrier that couldn't let me follow the shadow into the forest.

I stood up as I tried to go into the woods again, but I fell backwards, this time so hard that I hit my back too.

I wasn't quick to recover as I felt it again, the presence. This time, I couldn't call it a figure 'cause I saw no one. I felt a heavy chill run down my spine as it was like something or someone I couldn't see was breathing on my face.

I was toooo scared and panicked.

And panicked into reality, I jolted up from my bed as sweat covered my body. I tried breathing slowly as I wondered what just happened.

I've never felt anything like it before. The fear, even when I'm intimidated in school, wasn't this scary.

I tried relaxing, prayed, and then rushed down to get a glass of water.

As I entered the kitchen, I saw Mum sitting at the kitchen dining on her laptop. She looked at me and stared at me for what seemed like the longest time.

I looked at the clock hanging on the wall facing the refrigerator.

"Evening, Mum," I greeted before she could say anything, heading to the fridge. I poured out a glass of water. I must be looking like hell after I jolted up from sleep.

"Ixyy, what happened?" Mum asked, a look of concern on her face...again. I sighed.

"Nothing, Mum......" She gave me a 'better spill it out' look before I could finish.

".......just an 'afternoonmare'," I said, making an air quote with both hands.

"What kind of nightmare? What happened?? And you've been sleeping for hours," she added, already worrying for the both of us.

"It's nothing, Mum. Please don't start to worry about me and focus on your work," I said, drawing out a seat to sit opposite her.

"Ooh, please, Ixy, don't tell me what to do. You're sweating so much, and you've been sleeping for hours," she said, closing her laptop. Then she drew her chair closer to mine.

"Hmm, tell me what happened in the nightmare," she asked again, taking my left hand to massage it.

Yh, I won't lie, I slept for the longest time. I didn't know when exactly I fell asleep, but I do know it was 12:42 when I checked the time before going upstairs, and now it's 3:57, almost 4 hours.

I stared at her, furrowed my brow at the look of worry on her face. Then I started to narrate the story, from the beginning to when I panicked awake.

From Mum's face, I could see she wasn't taking this dream lightly. She must be trying to interpret the dream to her own understanding or whatever.

I just stared at her with my right palm under my jaw, while against the table.