Chapter 1
I keep running, my legs threatening to give up, but my mind telling me to keep running. I know there is a waterfall in this part of forest and a hidden cave behind it. If I can make up to that point, I can bid some time.
I hear the river from some distance, now that means I am close to waterfall.
I propel myself charging towards the sound. There are a lot of swampy land in this part before river...I need to be careful.
My mind at alert of its whereabouts.. and the need to be at a safe point by now...
But why am I understand same spot....I was few moments back....I slow down and look at my surroundings...as it dawns on me....am I going in circles?
Suddenly the land below my feet start to become a puddle and my legs start ti get sucked inside...
My body and mind freezes .. I am not able to move. What is happening..... shit!! Is this it....my breath becomes ragged. I feel like someone is strangling me.....No, no, no....leave me.
I keep thrashing...
And with a jolt...I get up...drenched in sweat...on my bed, on my room.
I quickly take look of my room and the alarm clock besides my bed...showing 3 am.
I get up and make my way to bathroom.
Switching on the lights, a see myself in mirror. I look like a mess.
Splashing some water on my face I clear all sweat and dries myself taking a napkin from drawer.
Suddenly I notice a faint red matk on my neck...1,2 ,3 line ...
What the hell..when did I get these, I think...could it be from dream....was I strangling myself...
This is going far than normal.
My nightmares have increased recently....I will speak with mumma in morning.
She knows better. I told her earlier when all this started and she had asked me to not put so much stress in it....but this is beyond control now...I need to do something about it.
With the thought lingering in my mind a came back to bed and tried sleeping, quickly dozing of to sleep.
My alarm went off in its time at 6 am.
I put it to off and got up, cursing the person who invented alarm clock.
Although I slept after my nightmare, I don't feel fresh.
Quickly I went to bathroom and went on with my morning routine.
In no time I had taken bath and was ready to go downstairs.
As I came out of room, the smell of breakfast from kitchen hit my nose.
I made my way downstairs and saw my parents up and on breakfast table.
I dont see my brother, Ashton with them, typical of him. He has always been the lazy one in family.
"Good morning mumma, daddy!!!" I cheer from stairs.
"Good morning dear!!" My parents say in unison.
" Wow its French toast, I am starving" I say while pulling a chair and sitting. Quickly I fill my plate and start eating. Halfway to my breakfast I look at my mother and say " Mom, I need to speak to you."
"What is it dear?" She looks at me with questioning eyes.
"You remember,I told you about my nightmare around a month back. I had it yesterday too."
Now she stopped eating and looked at me with concern. My father too had put the knife and fork down.
"Yes, I had it yesterday too, and I got up drenched in sweat. But I had these faint marks on my neck as if someone strangled me..but in morning they were not there anymore!" I concluded.
"Ashley dear!" My mom said with utmost adoration.
"I think it's time that we pay a visit to the Oracle of the pack. You are going to be 18 next week and may be this is all related to it.
Whatever it is, we will figure it out. Just be careful for this one week."
"Mom, I am alpha's daughter, what harm can be done to me." With that I took last bite and grabbed my bag and kissed my parents goodbye and went to college.
