Steven and I walked on the sidewalk as cars streamed past us on the highway.
He took slow steps forward as he carried me on his back.
As I was slightly tired, I fell asleep on his back.
I had a dream. In the dream, various scenes flashed through my mind.
There was a little boy of mixed ancestry. He looked like a Prince Charming from a fairytale.
He was carrying a little girl in a red dress and running as fast as he could.
âYouâll be alright, Stephie. Weâll be home soon.â
He comforted me as he ran, saying, âStephie, wake up. Donât fall asleep.
âStephie, wake up. Try to eat somethingâ¦â
I woke up in a startle. I took quick breaths as I observed my surroundings. I didnât even know when Iâd arrive home.
Steven was waking me up to eat something.
I looked at Steven and rubbed my eyes. âI donât feel like eating.â
âJust a tiny bit.â Steven pushed the bowl to me as he encouraged me to eat.
âI told you, I donât feel like it! Iâve no appetite!â I said frustratedly as I pushed Stevenâs hand away.
The soup in the bowl spilled all over the floor.
He sat there, staring at me silently.
I got up in frustration. With my head pounding, I walked back to my room.
I felt like a puppet to this lunatic. The feeling terrified me.
I was too tired, so I fell asleep again once I hit my bed.
The early symptoms of pregnancy were getting obvious. I was lethargic and emotionally unstableâ¦
As I fell into a deep sleep, I started to dream again.
âHe loves you, doesnât he? Thatâs why Iâm returning you to him with an appearance heâll loveâ¦.
âYouâll be like his favorite toy. Iâll make you pretty.
âHe loves you so much. Why did you lie to him? Why? You deserve your deathâ¦
âDo you know your lies nearly killed him? How dare you forget him and be with another man youâre so filthy⦠Your heart is dark, and your body is dirty.â
In the dream, t those blurry scenes began to come into focus. What happened before my death became 212 clear too.
The murderer had stood at my bedside with a surgical knife. He was slowly peeling my skin and removing my nails so that he could embed diamonds into my flesh.
He looked at me with an expression of a madman and smiled savagely. âYou look prettier now, I made you into a doll so that you can belong to him foreverâ¦â
He then put me into a glass display cabinet.
He said with the voice of a devil, âThis used to be your favorite red dress, and itâs also his favorite.
Iâve made you into what he loves. This will make him happyâ¦â
âNo, help! Help!â
My breathing hastened, and my pulse quickened. I was struggling.
But it was as if I was trapped in the dream. I could not wake up.
âHelp me⦠Steven, help me!â
I didnât know why I instinctively called Steven for help.
âStephie? Stephie!â Steven was calling my name.
But I could not wake up. I was trapped in a nightmare.
âSteven⦠Steven, help me.â
âStephie, Iâm here.â
In my panic, I felt someone hug me tightly. My tense body eventually relaxed.
It was already noon when I woke up the next day.
I opened my eyes exhaustedly. I was alone in my room.
âHello?â I reached out to pick up my ringing phone. âA class reunion?â
âNo, I canât make itâ¦â I instinctively refused.
âBut our teacher was so kind to you back then. She had surgery recently, so she wants to see usâ¦
Her cancer is terminal. A lot of our high school seniors will be there too.â My former classmateâs voice sounded hoarse on the other end of the phone.
I frowned. I should go. I could also find out if there were any clues about the victims.
âAlright, Iâll be at the hotel on time.â I agreed to go.
âWe heard you got married. Everyoneâs bringing their spouses today. You should bring your husband as well. Our teacherâs keen to meet him.â