Adina heard Dukeâs gentle voice.
She squinted and opened her eyes. She said blearily, âDuke, Iâm hungry.â Duke chuckled, âGo back and sleep for a little while more. Iâll cook for you. Itâll take around thirty minutes.â
She closed her eyes and nodded. âThirty minutes is more than enough for me.â
She had a light sleep. Her frontal cortex was active, and she started to dream. She was walking in a blurry valley. There were mountains and trees everywhere, and she did not know where to go. She would stumble at every step she took because her legs felt so weak. She knew that she was dreaming, and was desperately trying to get out of there. She finally got up and walked across the swamp. Finally, the path became smoother. She tried to open her eyes again but failed.
Suddenly, something flew past her.
It was bats. She picked up something and swung it in the air aimlessly. The bats kept flying toward her, and she kept dodging them. A door suddenly emerged in front of her. She opened it and ran out.
The landscape changed.
The bats disappeared, and a wolf emerged. It was walking on the mountain path.
The wolfâs green eyes stared at her fiercely, as if it would pound on her at any second.
It was a wild animal. If it sensed any hint of fear, she would become its meal.
By that moment, Adina had long forgotten that it was only a dream.
She walked forward with a knife in her hand. She raised it and slashed downward.
âAhhhh!!â
She then heard a child scream. âAddy, what are you doing?â She heard an angry voice.
Adina, who was dreaming, instantly opened her eyes. She noticed that she was no longer lying on her bed in the master bedroom. She looked around and found herself standing in Haroldâs room. She was standing barefoot, beside Haroldâs bed, while holding a fruit knife.
She dropped the knife on the floor loudly.
Harold cried from the shock. âMommy, is it because Iâm not a good boy? Is it because Iâm not sensible enough? Iâm sorry. I will work harder, just like how George and Alden did. I wonât be playful anymoreâ¦â
He was sobbing so hard. The rest of his siblings emerged.
Adina slowly turned her head and met the childrenâs indifferent gaze.
She took a step back in disbelief.
âWhat have I doneâ¦?â
âGeorge, look after Harold and wait here. Be good.â
Duke left him an instruction and carried Adina back into the master bedroom.
She was totally in a daze and tried to explain. âDuke, itâs not what it looks like. I was in a dream. I thought Hal was a wolf, so Iâ¦â
This dream is too terrifying.
âIf Duke hasnât stopped me in time, I might have stabbed Harold.â Whenever she thought of what could have happened, her body trembled.