See You In Hell

Nightmare

Late that night, Ivanna was running.

She didn't know where she was going.

She only knew that she had to keep running.

The sky above her was pitch black, strangely empty of stars. There was no moonlight to guide her, except for one enormous blood-red moon hanging in the distance.

It made everything around her look frightening.

The trees seemed darker. The shadows seemed alive.

And something was chasing her.

She could hear it.

The heavy, uneven sound of footsteps behind her grew louder with every passing second.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Ivanna's heart hammered painfully against her chest as she ran faster.

She didn't know if it was a man, an animal, or something else entirely.

She didn't dare turn around for too long.

But curiosity and fear forced her to glance back.

Nothing.

Only darkness.

She turned forward again and pushed herself harder.

Her long dress dragged against her legs as she ran through the forest. Bare branches scratched her arms, while sharp stones and twigs stabbed into her bare feet.

Pain shot through her legs.

She didn't stop.

Something was getting closer.

She could feel it.

Her breathing became ragged as she gathered whatever strength she had left and increased her pace.

Then she heard it.

A guttural growl.

It was so deep and unnatural that a shiver ran down her spine.

Ivanna looked back again.

This time, she saw it.

A dark figure was moving between the trees.

She couldn't make out its face.

Or its body.

It was simply a mass of darkness coming toward her with terrifying speed.

"No..."

She stumbled forward, panic taking complete control of her.

The creature was getting closer.

Closer.

Closer.

Ivanna tried to run faster, but suddenly her dress tangled around her legs.

She fell hard.

A cry escaped her lips as her palms struck the rough ground.

She scrambled backward, her eyes widening as the creature emerged from the darkness.

It was enormous.

At least, it seemed that way.

She couldn't see its features clearly, but she could see one arm reaching toward her.

The creature made another horrible, guttural sound.

Ivanna screamed.

She raised her arm instinctively to shield her face.

Then—

Nothing.

Silence.

Ivanna waited.

Her heart continued pounding wildly.

She slowly opened her eyes.

The forest was gone.

She wasn't on the ground anymore.

She was standing on a mountain.

Snow fell gently from the gray sky, covering the ground in a thick white blanket.

Ivanna stared around in confusion.

The sun was barely visible behind the clouds, casting a dull, lifeless light over everything.

Then she noticed something.

A body.

A soldier lay several feet away from her.

Then another.

And another.

Her eyes widened.

Dead soldiers were scattered across the snowy ground as far as she could see.

Some lay face down.

Others lay on their backs, their lifeless eyes staring blankly toward the sky.

There were puddles of blood everywhere.

Red against the white snow.

Ivanna's breathing stopped.

"No..."

She took a step backward.

Something felt strange in her hand.

She looked down.

A sword.

Her left hand was gripping the handle tightly.

Her eyes widened in horror.

"No!"

She threw it away immediately.

The sword landed in the snow with a heavy thud.

Ivanna stared at her trembling hands.

Blood.

There was blood on them.

She shook her head frantically.

"This isn't happening."

She backed away.

"This isn't real."

Her voice trembled.

She refused to believe what she was seeing.

She couldn't.

Then she heard it.

"Ivanna..."

She froze.

Someone was calling her name.

"Ivanna..."

She spun around.

There was no one there.

"Ivanna!"

The voice became louder.

Suddenly, something grabbed her—

Ivanna's eyes flew open.

She sat upright with a terrified gasp.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly.

For several seconds, she couldn't understand where she was.

Then she felt an arm around her.

"Ivanna."

She turned sharply.

Giveon was sitting beside her, staring down at her with concern.

His brows were deeply creased.

"Ivanna, are you alright?"

She couldn't answer.

She was still trapped between the nightmare and reality.

Her skin was damp with sweat, her breathing uneven despite the cool temperature of the chamber.

Giveon immediately noticed.

Without another word, he reached out and gently held her face.

"Look at me."

His voice was low and soothing.

"You are safe."

Ivanna stared at him, still shaken.

She wanted to speak, but no words came.

Giveon pulled her into his arms.

His embrace was warm and steady.

He gently rubbed her back.

"It was only a nightmare."

Ivanna closed her eyes.

"A nightmare," he repeated softly. "Nothing more."

Slowly, her breathing began to settle.

She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

For some reason, that sound calmed her.

She didn't know how long they remained like that.

Eventually, her body relaxed completely.

Giveon felt her breathing become slow and even.

She had fallen asleep again.

He looked down at her.

A small, relieved smile touched his lips.

He carefully adjusted the blankets around her before settling back down.

But even after he closed his eyes, he didn't let go of her.

His arm remained around her waist.

Protectively.

As though he was afraid that if he released her, the nightmare might find her again.

---

The next morning, Ivanna woke before sunrise.

For a few moments, she remained still.

Then she realized something.

She wasn't alone.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Giveon was still asleep beside her.

His arm was wrapped loosely around her waist, holding her in a comfortable embrace.

Ivanna looked down.

Her own arms were wrapped around him too.

Her cheeks immediately grew warm.

She quickly remembered the nightmare.

And then she remembered him comforting her.

She hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep in his arms.

For some reason, that thought embarrassed her.

She slowly lifted her eyes to his face.

Giveon looked completely different when he slept.

There was no intimidating expression.

No coldness.

No unreadable stare.

He simply looked peaceful.

His dark hair was tousled from sleep, a few strands falling across his forehead.

Ivanna stared.

She didn't know how long she remained like that.

She simply found herself studying his features.

His sharp jaw.

His straight nose.

His lips.

Her eyes lingered there.

And before she could stop herself, a strange thought entered her mind.

What would his lips taste like?

Ivanna's cheeks burned.

She immediately tried to push the thought away.

But instead of disappearing, another thought followed.

What would it feel like if he kissed her?

She swallowed.

She had no business thinking about such things.

Especially not about Giveon.

The man she had once been terrified to even look at.

Yet here she was, lying in his arms and wondering what his lips would feel like against hers.

As though sensing her gaze, Giveon's eyelashes suddenly fluttered.

Ivanna froze.

His eyes slowly opened.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

She expected him to pull away.

Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

It was barely there.

But she noticed it.

"Good morning," Ivanna whispered.

"Good morning."

His voice was deeper from sleep.

Giveon's hand slowly lifted and his fingers brushed against her cheek.

Ivanna didn't pull away.

She simply watched him.

His thumb gently caressed her skin.

"How are you feeling?"

She hesitated.

"Better."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

Giveon studied her face for a moment before asking, "What was your nightmare about?"

Ivanna's expression changed.

She looked away.

"I don't really know."

"Try."

She took a small breath.

"I was running."

"From what?"

"I don't know."

She frowned.

"I couldn't see it properly. Something was chasing me. Then I fell and..." She paused.

"And?"

"I found myself on a mountain."

Giveon's expression became more serious.

"There was snow everywhere. And soldiers."

His jaw tightened slightly.

"They were dead."

Giveon remained silent.

"I had a sword in my hand," she continued. "There was blood everywhere. I was so frightened."

She shuddered at the memory.

Giveon's brows furrowed.

"Perhaps it is because you've been thinking about the war."

Ivanna looked at him.

"The war?"

"You heard us discussing it yesterday. You've been thinking about it ever since."

She slowly nodded.

Maybe he was right.

She had been thinking about the war.

About Giveon's brothers.

About the possibility of bloodshed.

About what could happen to the kingdom.

Maybe her mind had simply turned all those fears into a nightmare.

"Maybe you're right," she whispered.

Giveon gently brushed another strand of hair away from her face.

"Don't think about it."

"How am I supposed to?"

"You don't have to worry about things you cannot control."

His words were simple, yet they somehow comforted her.

Ivanna gave him a small nod.

Giveon then pulled away from her and sat upright.

"We have plans today."

Ivanna blinked.

"Plans?"

"We're going sightseeing."

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Today?"

"Yes."

He stood from the bed.

"So get dressed."

Ivanna watched him walk toward the wardrobe.

For the first time since arriving at the castle, she felt a strange sense of anticipation.

Perhaps today would give her something else to think about.

And perhaps, just perhaps, she would finally see another side of the mysterious man she had been forced to call her husband.