My Boss Keeps Dying In My Dream

Chapter 4 Circle of Life

Rose’s PoV

On my way to work, I couldn’t help but think about my dream last night. It felt real, and the chaotic and horrible plot still haunts me. Is it because Sharon took the position as the general manager? Is that why I dream of such awful things? I should have congratulated Sharon, but I was too proud to do so.

Well, I wouldn’t feel this way if Sharon competed fair and square. It’s a known fact that she is close to the CEO. Who knows what kind of things they did together? The only way for me to show my worth is by doing my work perfectly to get the higher-ups' attention.

As I was about to enter the office building, I came across my ex-girlfriend, Christina, with her new boyfriend. Even though we used to date one another, that doesn’t stop her from looking down on me and calling me poor every chance she gets.

Cathy, my assistant, entered my office as soon as I arrived. She informed me that Sharon wants me to go on a business trip with her to City B. Seeing the familiar scenario, I was wondering if I could decline my boss’s orders.

What if the dream I had were some kind of an omen? What if the reason why I had that dream was a way for me not to go to City B? Of course, life wouldn’t be that simple.

As expected, I couldn’t say no to my new boss, and just like what happened before, I couldn’t help but question myself. What is going on? Everything on this trip happened in my dream, and now it’s become a reality.

My mom called asking me if I would be home for the new year, meeting Gary, visiting the branch office in City B, and I even got my wallet stolen! This is all too unreal for me to endure. Then I realized something that would happen to Sharon.

“Are you alright, Rose? That man didn’t even apologize to you after hitting your head!”

I didn’t even feel that my head was in pain. Hell, I didn’t even notice that I got on the train home.

“I’m alright.”

I succumbed to my headache just like in my dream, and once again, Sharon asked me if I was alright. She even goes as far as offering me a bottle of water. I thank her as she returns to work by looking through her laptop- just like in my dream! Is this what it feels to experience deja vu?

I didn’t expect Sharon to have the consciousness to care for people older than herself. Even though she didn’t make great efforts to become someone of a high position, she is kind and sincere regarding her work. I thank Sharon for caring.

I leaned back in my chair as I felt a little better than before. I tried to close my eyes, and just when I was about to fall asleep, the train suddenly shook violently- my heart started racing because this is what happened in dream! Instinctively, I grabbed Sharon’s hand when I felt like the train was thrown off a cliff.

“What is happening?!”

The pregnant woman in front of me asked with a horrified expression. I was too speechless to say anything because I knew this was how it all started in the dream. Seeing how the woman is worried for her unborn child, I said,

“It’s probably nothing. It must be the brake system experiencing failure. It should be fine now.”

What is happening? Why is everything happened just like in the dream? Am I dreaming? If so, when did I fall asleep?

“Rose, don’t you think it’s strange? Don’t you feel like this happened before?”

I- wait- what did Sharon just said?!

“It seems like I’ve gone through this before. It’s just I don’t know how to explain it. Isn’t it weird?”

Before I could say anything, the train’s door suddenly opened and we were all staying still, didn’t know what was happening. It was when a group of passengers screamed bloody murder that brought me back to reality. I covered my ears when I heard rapid gunfire sweep into the carriage.

I went pale as Sharon pushed my head down. My seat shook as the other passenger tried to save themselves. Since we both got our heads down, we couldn’t see what was happening, but we could hear everything.

“What is happening?!” I shouted.

“Shut up! Just keep your mouth shut for a moment!”

Sharon, who has been warm and courteous, suddenly shouted at me while her hand pushing my head down, preventing me from looking up. I closed my eyes the whole time, but when I decided to open them, I saw one of the college students lying face down on the floor, covered in blood. I wanted to scream as the blood flowed through our compartment, but I knew better than those terrorist’s attention towards us.

I turned to Sharon, who placed a finger on her lips. She tried to take a peek at the situation, and she couldn’t see the shooter anywhere.

“We should try to leave.”

What?! But what if the shooter came back?!

“We have to try.”

Sharon stood up from her seat before looking around. Before she could leave the compartment, another college student who sat behind us accidentally hit Sharon and didn’t even look back!

“Are you alright?”

Sharon nodded, but before she could get back up, the student from earlier fell on his bottom while shaking his head.

“No! I don’t want to die! No, please, no!”

My eyes widened when the student was shot in the head before he slumped on the floor, drowning in his blood. As I saw how the student died, I didn’t know what possessed me as I grabbed Sharon’s body and pulled her back to her seat. My hands are trembling in fear, but I know I should do something to prevent Sharon’s demise.

“Thank you.”

Suddenly, five men in black jackets and leather boots entered the carriage. They have such twisted smiles as they cover their eyes with a white mask. They laughed as they stepped and kicked over the bodies that they had killed as they walked through the aisle while carrying their machine gun in their hands.

One of the masked men stopped in front of us as he heard the pregnant woman's voice.

“Please let me go. I have a baby in my belly. Please-“

The woman begged as she cried while protecting her belly with her hands. Both Sharon and I pretended that we were both dead. Thanks to the splattered blood from earlier, it’s hard for the terrorist to know if we’re alive or dead. The masked man turned his head before kicking the corpse away.

“You may leave.”

The man said as he grabbed hold of the pregnant woman’s arm.

“Thank you! Thank you-“

The masked man grabbed the pregnant woman's arm when she tried to leave.

“Did you think I would let you leave?”

The masked man smiled as he pointed the tip of his gun at the woman’s side. The pregnant woman’s expression turned grim.

“No! Please spare me! Please-“

The pregnant woman didn’t get to finish her sentences when the masked man started shooting. Sharon and I continued to hug each other until the gunshot was over.

I could hear the man laughing hysterically as he shot the pregnant woman. I close my eyes and wish everything would end soon. Once we made sure the masked man had left, we pulled away from each other.

I used both hands to cover my mouth when I saw the pregnant woman’s cold body on the floor.

“Don’t look at the bodies. Just focus on escaping.”

Sharon said as she held my hand. We looked around and noticed the masked men were now at the second carriage. Our eyes are set on the exit near us as we approach the door. We saw how body after body is stacked weirdly. What are these terrorists planning to do?

And do they need to kill a pregnant woman without any sense of remorse?

“Well, well, well, look at what we have here. And here I thought everyone was dead. But it seems rats are running around.”

I held my breath as I felt something metal-like poking my shoulder. Sharon clicked her tongue in annoyance before pushing the masked man away from me.

“Go! Now!”

I couldn’t move my legs even if I wanted them to.

“What are you waiting for?! Go!”

Sharon shouted before she was shot right in front of my eyes. Even after getting injured, she never let go of the masked man’s arms.

“Go! Run! Rose, you have to run!”

I tried to find the use of my legs and ran towards the exit. I can’t believe Sharon would sacrifice herself for me. I could see the door, but before I could even step out from the train, I felt a sudden pain in my chest.

That’s when I realized that I had been shot by another masked men. Is this the end? Is this what my life sums up to? There are a lot of things I would like to do, but I guess this is the end.

“I want to live!”

I shouted when I bounced back from my slumber. Sharon was startled by the loud cry, and so did the pregnant woman in front of me as she seemed to be giving me a look.

I apologized for what happened before wiping off the saliva from the corner of my mouth. Wait, was it all a dream? I keep touching my chest to see if there’s any wound or something. Once again, everything seems so natural, and I remember the pain much too well.

“Were you having a nightmare? What sort of dream did you have? Did you get chased by a ghost or something?”

Sharon asked while she giggling at my sight. I was sweating profusely, and I didn’t know if I should tell her about my dream. I look around the train and notice nothing seems to be out of the ordinary.

“Hey! What’s wrong? You seem nervous.”

Sharon asked again, as she seemed concerned about my well-being. I smiled at Sharon before turning my attention to the water bottle she offered me.

“Thank you. I didn’t realize that I’m parched.”

As I drank, my eyes landed on the pregnant woman beside me. I smiled at her before apologizing once again for startling her. The pregnant woman smiled back.

“Are you tired from the trip? Why don’t you take the day off tomorrow? That way, you can have a day to yourself. I will allow you to leave, so don’t worry about work. I understand that you work hard for the general manager spot.”

I am amazed that Sharon would give me a day off. I was sure she would use whatever means she had to force me to work. But perhaps her being the general manager gave a new meaning to her ways of judging others. I didn’t reply to Sharon’s suggestion as I drink more water.

After what it feels like forever, we finally arrived at the first station. As I was waiting for the passengers to leave the train, something or someone seemed to be calling me to look out through the windows. I look around to see if there’s anything that I should be wary about. But nothing seems to peak my interest.

That’s when I realized a sign that was in my dream. Hold on- I know I never came to this station before. This is my first time riding a train. So it’s impossible for to know the sign but- this place was in my dream!

If my memory serves me correctly, after we left this station, Sharon would bring out her laptop and start doing her work. As we left the station, I watched in horror as Sharon pulled her laptop from her bag and began doing her job. What is going on? My head is in pain just from thinking about what will happen next.

It’s just a dream. How can it happen in real life? It must just be a coincidence. Why am I so nervous? It’s just a-

“Rose, are you alright?”

I jumped when Sharon suddenly placed her hand on mine.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

Sharon waved her hands in front of me.

“Rose?”

As I fear, the carriage shook violently. I- I can’t take this anymore! Just what is God doing to me? And how many times do I have to go through this frightful experience?! I-

I closed my ears when I heard people screaming around us. It was when I heard the gunshot that I felt something resting on my side. When I turned to where Sharon was, she was shot right in the forehead.  

My eyes widened when I felt someone grab a handful of my hair before stabbing me in my chest. Is this it? Is this the end for me? Is this real? I don’t even know what is right and what is wrong anymore.

It seems I’m a tuck in some cycle where I have to witness the death of my boss, Sharon.