Chapter 3
539 Words
I stepped back in fear, mouth agape, shocked. How did it happen? It was just a nightmare, wasn’t it?
“Raquel, are you okay?’ My mother sounded worried.
I was worried just like mother. Seeing the marks on my neck got me worried.
Just then she bumped into my room, still examining my neck.
“What is wrong with you? What is the matter?” She questioned, moving closer to me.
“It’s the dream, Mother. I had the nightmare again.
This time, he was strangling me hard and I think the marks are here” I exhaled, fear weakening my body.
My legs felt weak instantly and I was about to fall back.
“Oh come on. I have told you severally Raquel. This is just a figment of your imagination.
We tend to dream of what we think of or what we see.
The nightmare is a result of your thought or imagination.
Perhaps, you thought someone was doing that to you. The marks on your neck could be a result of the necklace you wore yesterday”.
True, I had worn a necklace the previous night that belonged to mother.
It had become smaller for her but I had to wear it for a friend's birthday since I was caught up but no, it wasn’t the necklace.
It was obviously the fingerprints of someone although it did not look like a human's grip.
“No, mother. This is not a result of the necklace! I didn’t imagine or see anything. I was thinking of anything when I went to bed last night.
Well… I did but definitely not about some monster. Why would I? “
“Raquel!” Mother gave a stern look. “it is all in your head. Apply some balm to your neck and come for breakfast.” She stared at me angrily and walked back.
I sighed and looked down. I was devastated.
It is always heartbreaking when no one understands you and everyone thinks you keep making things up. Why would I?
“Meet me in a minute!” Mother yelled.
Left with no choice, I slammed my door and again, went to the living room.
Mother was already beginning to serve breakfast.
My brothers had already begun to eat their meals. On the table was my mother, a beautiful woman whose hair had turned grey due to stress.
Ever since my father died, she was saddled with the responsibility of taking care of us.
To her right was my oldest brother, Rafael, a strong courageous strong man in his early twenties. Twenty-three to be precise.
Sitting next to him was my older brother, Rex.
He was always very calm and acted like a woman.
Well, he looked at one and acted like one. He was twenty years of age.
To Mother’s right was the youngest of the males, Ralph. My immediate elder brother.
He recently turned eighteen yet he acted like he was twenty-eight. He was very mature and also very handsome.
By Ralph's side was me. The youngest of them all, the prettiest of them all, and of course, the only daughter.
I was sixteen years of age.
I placed my hand on my neck. What was happening?
- Writer
