Return to the Meadow

Chapter Ten: Scared to death

Liza woke up with a start, her heart racing in her chest. Gasping for air, she found herself disoriented. Due to the inconsistency of her dream and the shifting surroundings, she wanted to ensure she was fully awake before making a move. Beads of sweat clung to her forehead as she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. The voice was gone. The room was heavy with silence, the only sound Liza heard was a faint ringing in her ears.

Her mind was still plagued by the remnants of the dream. She couldn't shake the lingering sense of dread that had followed her from that darkness. Was it just a figment of her imagination, or something more sinister? Liza's thoughts swirled like a thunderstorm, filled with new questions and uncertainties. It had felt like it was more than just a creation of her subconsciousness. To her, it had felt real, in a way she had never experienced before.

With a shaky hand, Liza reached to her neck, in search of a reassuring presence. It was there, like it had been for the past 9 years. The silver necklace Nate had given her on their third date, as a token of his affections for her. Clutching it tightly, she felt a sense of comfort wash over her. Though just a simple trinket, it acted as a talisman against the terrors woven in her dreams.

As she carefully swung her legs over the edge of the bed, she felt the cool wooden floor beneath her feet. With each step, the eery stillness of the house whispered in her ears, heightening her senses. Moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting faint shadows that danced across the walls. Every creak in the floorboards seemed to echo through the house. To prevent waking Damian, she moved slowly until her bare feet touched the carpet of the hallway as she made her way towards the bathroom down the hallway.

The bathroom was covered in darkness, aside from a sliver of moonlight that peeked through the small window. Liza reached for the switch to turn on the light. She longed for some water, knowing it would soothe her unsettled mind. Once at the sink, she twisted the faucet handle, allowing the cool, refreshing liquid to flow into her cupped hands. The water cascaded over her trembling fingers, instantly soothing her nerves. Instinctively she splashed the water over her face. As each drop collided with her skin, she imagined it purging the darkness that haunted her subconscious, a silent battle fought between her fearful imagination and the reassuring power of reality.

Leaning forward, Liza stared at her reflection in the mirror. Dark circles had formed under her eyes, which were no surprise to her as she was feeling rather exhausted. The ancient lights in the bathroom weren’t doing her any favors either, casting unflattering shadows on her delicate face. Liza splashed another handful of water over her face, then cupped her hands, so she could take a few sips. Another look in the mirror revealed that no amount of water was going to clear the exhausted look from her face, so Liza twisted the faucet off and turned to make her way back to her room.

A gut-wrenching scream escaped her lips, echoing through the darkness, as she suddenly found herself face to face with a scrubby-looking man who'd emerged from the dark hallway. It took her a few seconds to realize it was Damian. With her heart still pounding in her chest, the initial shock subsided. Instinctively, her hand angrily pushed against his chest, a physical gesture driven by the burst of emotions coursing through her.

"You almost scared me to death." Her voice was filled with a mixture of fear and annoyance.

Caught off guard by her sudden assertiveness, Damian took a step back. He narrowed his eyes as he observed her.

"What are you doing?" His voice was low and raspy.

Her anger lingered, mingling with the adrenaline still surging through her veins. The dim light flickered softly, casting an eery glow on Damian's disheveled appearance.

“I woke up thirsty, so I came here to drink some water,” she explained, and her voice echoed through the tension-filled room. Was he feeling alright, she wondered, noticing the state he was in. He looked pale and weary. "Are you feeling alright?" Liza asked softly, her voice filled with genuine worry. The words hung between them, as she awaited his response. Damian lifted his hand to his face, stroking the stubbles on his unshaved skin, his eyes seemed glazed in a way Liza had never seen before. “Damian?”

Unable to suppress her concern, she took a few steps closer, her footsteps barely audible against the cold stone floor. As she approached, she saw the small lines of weariness etched on his face. Why hadn’t she noticed this before? The way he looked now, it was a huge contrast with how he’d looked the day before, and Liza wondered what had happened to him. She reached out to his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin radiating under her palm before she touched him.

Her gently touch seemed to have snapped him out of his trance. His bewilderment was evident as he seemed to regain consciousness of his whereabouts. "What are you doing?" he repeated, his voice filled with concern, unaware that she’d already answered him the first time he asked. Confused by Damian's odd behavior, Liza cautiously watched him as she attempted to navigate through this strange encounter. Her voice carried a hint of unease as she explained, "I drank some water."

“Alright,” Damian sighed, rubbing his forehead as if he was also trying to make sense of the situation, “alright, let’s get back to bed.”

He turned on the spot without saying another word, and headed back to his room. Liza found herself standing in the doorway of the bathroom, unsure of what to do next. She watched how he closed the door behind him, contemplating whether she should follow him to ensure he was alright. Confusion clouded Liza's mind as she wandered to the entrance of her room. The bed beckoned her to get in, yet her thoughts remained fixated on Damian's unusual behavior. Silently, she debated whether she should go after him or respect his privacy. Liza had always been a woman of reason and practicality, preferring not to meddle in the affairs of others. Besides, it’s not as if they knew each other that well. Liza felt that it wasn’t her place to interfere, especially because she had no idea what he had going on. How much did she know about him anyway?

I will ask him in the morning, she decided as she stepped into the bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin. She had caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror when she'd crossed the room and for a split-second she was extremely grateful that Damian had failed to register what she’d been wearing. A rush of self-consciousness washed over her. If she was going to stay here for a longer period of time, she’d better get her hands on more modest nightwear. The last thing she needed was to invite misconceptions of any sort.