My Possessive Admirer

07. Nightmare

Bella's POV

The sudden loud ringing of my alarm clock woke me up from the dreadful dream that I was was dreaming of. I turned it off with my shaky hands and looked at the time. I remembered I had to get ready for our visit to the haunted house. Becky is probably going to come to my home anytime now.

There have been nights when I woke up, panting like this from a bad dream. A dream where everything around me is in flames and I'm stuck. Stuck in a small place from where I can't get out, no matter how many times I try. It felt impossible to get out of there with each attempt as I sensed my limbs were getting weaker and weaker. I could hear voices calling my name. They sounded frightened, worried as I layed down there unable to move. Then suddenly the dream used to end before I could even see the end of it. The same nightmare, again and again, occurred most of the nights. I used to have a hard time falling asleep. My parents took me to visit a doctor back then and I had to take stress relief and sleeping pills to deal with the problems I was having. I was young, sixteen or seventeen at that time and I never really gave any deep thought about it. Why did I even see such a dream repeatedly without even facing it in real life?

It has been almost three years since I last saw this dream. But after all this time, today I saw it again.

I washed my face with cold water trying to get over the frightening memories of the dream. I looked in my closet and rummaged for the dark black dress that I bought for last Halloween to dress as a vampire princess which I never got to wear. I can state many reasons that why I didn't wanna dress up last year but most importantly to avoid the unwanted attention and give the girls of my school fewer ideas to make a joke out of me. In the conclusion avoiding Halloween parties was my escape route so life could be less cancerous for me. But it's the last year after this I don't even care who says what about me.

I got lost in emotions looking at my black gown. It's a lovely black dress sewed with embroidered mesh net and beautiful black laces in the collar and edges. I let my silver-white hair free on my back. Did a little bit of make-up as well which I rarely do. I decided to wear my favourite black watch that dad gifted me on my birthday last year. I kept it hidden in a small box for special occasions. I heard Becky's voice coming from downstairs while I wore the watch on my wrist. I looked at the mirror for one last time before leaving my room. After a long time in life, I was feeling alive again. The unforeseen arrival of this mysterious stalker is a course of curiosity and also excitement for me at the same time. I dread if my subtle composure considering him is just a flawless facade that masks my real feelings for him. Never in my life, I have yearned to meet someone like this. He does deserve a heartfelt thank you from me too. He saved me from danger, carried me to the infirmary, called my dad. Things could get worse if he didn't appear. I smiled visualizing him, staring in the mirror. Does he really like my smile I wonder!

"Bella! Come quickly we are gonna be late!" I could hear Becky calling my name.

"Coming," I grabbed my purse and went down the stairs quickly.

"Oh my God Bella! You are looking so pretty!" Becky exclaimed.

I smiled, "Well my bestie looks gorgeous always so just trying to keep up with her!"

I hugged Becky. She always puts the cherry on top of my happiness.

"Aww! Thank you! Let's go now or we'll be late," She said looking at my watch. "Woah you are wearing your favourite watch! Something thrilling will definitely happen today then. Maybe our mysterious prince charming is intending an entry," Becky winked.

"Becky don't say it out loud! That's never gonna happen!" I whispered warning her.

"Prince charming?" My mom inquired being worried while coming to us.

"Nothing mom! Becky is daydreaming about her prince charming. Right, Becky?" I faced Becky raising an eyebrow so she agrees in front of mom.

"Yes my prince charming, ahaha," Becky let out an awkward laugh.

"Busted!" I gasped silently.

"Well, Bella has her future ahead of her right now. So she doesn't have the time to think about affairs at the moment," Mom said smiling looking at my dress, "Am I wrong dear?"

"No mom, you are right." I smiled back.

"You are looking very beautiful Bella," Mom said patting my head, "Please make sure you come back home on time ok!"

"Alright, mom don't worry. We'll be back home early," I said waving to mom.

"Bella I don't understand one thing. Your parents are pretty cool about everything. But whenever it comes to your dating they are really strict. Why is that?" Becky asked being a bit worried.

She was actually right. But the answer to her question was unknown to me as well. It's not like I ever got into any trouble or relationship with anyone. Still, my parents were always pretty careful so that I don't start dating anyone. Not like I wanted to date or anything in the first place. I've kept my world confined to my books, my parents and my best friend Becky that's it.

"I guess they are just super careful so that I don't get hurt by someone, you know." Maybe I tried to justify my parent's weird behaviour towards me about dating but she's my best friend after all. Nothing can't be hidden from her.

"I know they are worried but Bella still. You don't have to think about anyone or anything. Just go for what your heart feels like. No need to be so paranoid about following every rule out there that your parents have set for you," She said seriously.

"I know you worry Becky. Honestly, I'm good with it," I smiled assuring her that I was ok with my parent's decision. But I don't know why I felt a void feeling in my heart. Why was it so hard to say I was fine with it. Somewhere inside I felt I wasn't.

"This place is so spooky! What the hell! I would have brought my holy cross if I knew this," Becky said heaving, looking at me with eyes full of fear.

"Becky why did you even decide to come here in the first place if you're going to be a scaredy-cat about it! Besides, it's not even the real Halloween haunted house. They are just testing it out with a few people to see the impact right? Don't worry about it." I gave her a soft pat on her back after we reached the place. The place definitely looked haunted enough.

"Stay with me, Bella! Don't go too far!" Becky grabbed my hand as we entered the dark rooms through the entrance.

"Pretty dark here!" I exclaimed in surprise that it was very hard to see. I didn't even bring my glasses.

"Would you like to see your future?" An old lady who was dressed up in a witch's costume at the entrance asked us if we wanted to try it out.

"Sure," I replied hesitating a bit. The old lady seemed mysterious and weird.

"Feed the bird. It will pick a card which is meant for you and only you," She said pointing at the bird food.

I saw there was a little green parrot kept at one side of the table. It was sitting there silently like a statue without making any kind of noise.

After I fed the bird, it came down from the wooden stand where it was standing to the cards which were spread on the table in front of us. The parrot picked up a card and showed it to the witch lady.

The lady looked horrified as she looked at the card. She started chanting a few verses of the Bible very fast. I felt a bit afraid because of her weird behaviour.

"What's wrong?" Becky asked being shocked as well.

"DANGER! You are in grave danger!" The old lady screamed looking at me.

"Danger? What do you mean?" I asked being frightened at her sudden outburst.

"Hell has opened its gates of revenge for you, Isabella. A dark shadow has decided to become your companion. There are no ways to escape from it now. You will be DOOMED!" She warned me furiously shocking me to the core by saying my name which I never told her.

I stood there scared and speechless, still trying to figure out what was happening. Few security members of the haunted house dragged the old lady out from her table.

"He's never going to leave you, Isabella! He has escaped hell. He fears nothing!" She kept yelling as they forced her outside.

"Bella!" Becky said my name with a shaky voice. I saw she was looking awfully pale, probably just like me.

"Don't worry, it was probably a joke! No way she can know my name! They probably got to know my name when you booked the tickets and decided to scare us," I tried to force a smile on my face to make her less worried.

"Bella I got the ticket under my name! Your name was never even mentioned!" She said stuttering.

"What?" I couldn't believe what she just said. Her words sent a horrifying chill down my spine.