Chapter 35 – Parents Embrace

Madelyn’s eyes shot open, and a raw scream tore from her throat, piercing the silence of the night. Her body shook uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face, her breathing ragged and uneven. The images from her dream clung to her mind, vivid and inescapable. The sterile room, the tank filling with that unnatural yellow liquid, the woman’s terrified yet resigned expression—it all felt too real, too immediate.

Her thoughts raced, spiraling into chaos. Who was that man? Why was he doing this to her? His words echoed in her head, each one twisting her stomach into tighter knots. I don’t care about playing god. I only want to save my little girl.

Madelyn buried her face in her hands, trying to suppress the sobs that wracked her body. The man had looked desperate, broken even, as though he truly believed he had no other choice. But how could he? How could anyone justify trapping the woman, sedating her, draining her life for their own purposes? The mix of emotions—disgust, anger, sorrow, and confusion—was too much to bear.

What is happening? Her mind screamed. Why do I keep seeing her? Why does it feel like I’m supposed to do something?

Her fox ears flattened against her head, twitching as her own cries filled the room, each one more gut-wrenching than the last. Her tail curled tightly against her belly, a futile attempt to comfort herself as her body trembled. She felt utterly lost, drowning in the weight of everything she had seen and felt.

The sheer helplessness of it all made her chest tighten, her breath catching in her throat. She clenched her blanket with shaking hands, trying to ground herself, but the images wouldn’t fade. The woman’s pleading eyes, the man’s quiet desperation, the cold, suffocating room—it all replayed in an endless loop, leaving her gasping for air.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. The door to her room burst open, and both her parents rushed in, their faces etched with fear and concern.

“Madelyn, what happened?” her mom asked, her voice trembling as she rushed to Madelyn’s side. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around her daughter, pulling her close.

Madelyn clung to her mom tightly, burying her face against her shoulder as the tears continued to pour. Her body shook with each sob, the weight of the vision pressing down on her like a boulder she couldn’t lift. She couldn’t speak yet—couldn’t find the words to describe the horrible, twisted dream.

Her mom gently rocked her, running a hand soothingly through Madelyn’s fiery red hair, brushing over her sensitive fox ears in a way that usually calmed her. But tonight, it only made her cry harder. The warmth of her mom’s embrace was a sharp contrast to the cold, sterile world she had just escaped in her sleep, and it brought her emotions crashing down even harder.

Her dad stood nearby, his expression grim, his fists clenched as though ready to fight whatever had caused his daughter this much pain. “Maddy, you’re safe now,” he said softly, his usual steady voice cracking slightly. “Whatever it was, it’s over. We’re here.”

But for Madelyn, it wasn’t over. The images of the woman in the tank, her lifeless expression as the yellow liquid consumed her, and the man’s desperate, haunted words echoed endlessly in her mind.

Her mom pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her tear-streaked face. “Sweetheart, you’re scaring me. Was it another dream? The woman again?”

Madelyn nodded shakily, her breath hitching as she tried to steady herself. Her mom wiped a tear from her cheek, her eyes full of concern. “It’s okay, Maddy. You don’t have to say anything until you’re ready. Just breathe.”

Madelyn took a few deep, shuddering breaths, trying to slow the racing of her heart. The warmth of her mom’s touch, the steady presence of her dad—it all helped, little by little, to pull her back from the edge of panic.

Finally, she managed to croak out, “It was her… in the tank again.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, shaky and strained. “And… there was a man. He was doing something to her, filling the tank with that… that liquid. He kept saying he had no choice.”

Her mom’s arms tightened around her. “What do you mean, no choice?” she asked softly.

Madelyn shook her head, the fresh wave of tears threatening to spill. “He said… he needed her to save someone. His daughter. But… but it felt so wrong, Mom. He looked desperate, but she—she was terrified. And I just stood there, watching, like I couldn’t do anything…”

Her dad knelt beside her, his hand resting gently on her back. “Madelyn,” he said, his tone steady and calm, “we’ll figure this out. Whatever’s happening, you’re not alone. We’re going to help you through this.”

Madelyn nodded again, though the confusion and pain still lingered. The comfort of her parents was a small light in the overwhelming darkness, and she tried clinging to it.

Madelyn sniffled, her breath still shaky as the memory resurfaced. She clutched her mom tightly, her mind scrambling to piece together the fragments of the dream. Her dad’s steady presence next to her gave her just enough courage to speak again.

“There’s… there’s more,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. She pulled back slightly from her mom’s embrace, her amber eyes glistening with lingering tears. “The man… he said something else.”

Her parents exchanged a concerned glance, their attention fully on her now. “What did he say, sweetheart?” her mom asked gently, brushing a strand of Madelyn’s hair out of her face.

Madelyn’s ears twitched as she tried to recall the exact words. “He said… his superiors. They want to ‘play gods.’ But he didn’t care about that. He only cared about saving his daughter.”

Her dad’s brows furrowed, and he leaned forward slightly, his expression darkening. “Playing gods?” he repeated, his voice low. “That sounds… ominous.”

Madelyn nodded slowly. “Yeah. It was like… he was desperate. Like he’d do anything to help his daughter, even if it meant hurting her.” Her voice cracked at the last word, and she hugged herself tightly, her tail wrapping around her waist for comfort. “The woman… she looked so scared, so trapped. But he didn’t seem to care. Or maybe… he just didn’t want to see it.”

Her mom’s hand rested gently on her shoulder. “It sounds like he was torn, Maddy,” she said softly. “He believed what he was doing was right, but it doesn’t make it any less terrible for her.”

Her dad stood up, pacing a few steps before turning back. “If this man has superiors, it means he’s part of something bigger. And if they’re trying to ‘play gods,’ that could explain why everything feels so… unnatural.” His voice carried a weight of concern, his thoughts clearly racing.

Madelyn hugged her knees to her chest, her mind swirling with questions. “But why her?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Why does she have to suffer for them? And why do I keep seeing her? Why do I feel like… like I’m connected to her?”

Her mom gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Like I said before, maybe the dreams are trying to tell you something,” she suggested. “To help you understand your connection to her, or to guide you toward something important.”

Her dad nodded in agreement. “Whatever it is, it’s not a coincidence. The dreams, your transformation, everything that happened in Astralyth Online—it’s all tied together somehow.”

Madelyn felt a small spark of determination flicker within her. Despite the fear and confusion, she knew one thing for certain: the woman in the tank needed help. And if she truly was connected to her, then Madelyn couldn’t just stand by.

“I really need to find her,” she said quietly, her voice growing steadier. “I don’t know how yet, but I have to try. She’s trapped, and no one else is going to save her.”

Her parents nodded, their expressions filled with both pride and worry. “We’ll help you, Maddy,” her mom said firmly. “Whatever it takes.”

Her dad glanced at the clock on the wall, then back at Madelyn. “Well, that can wait until tomorrow,” he said gently, his voice firm but caring. “We’ve all had a rough night, especially you, Maddy. Let’s try to get some rest.”

Madelyn nodded, though her mind was still a whirlwind of thoughts. She murmured a quiet goodnight. The soft glow of the moon filtered through her window, casting faint patterns across her bed. She pulled the covers up to her chin, willing herself to relax.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

Her mind kept replaying the vision, the man’s desperate words, the woman’s haunting gaze. No matter how tightly she shut her eyes, the images lingered, sharp and vivid. Her chest tightened, and a strange mix of anxiety and embarrassment welled up inside her.

Why can’t I just fall asleep? she thought, frustrated. She tossed and turned, her fox ears twitching at every little sound, her tail wrapping and unwrapping around her legs.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. Swallowing her pride, she slipped out of bed and padded softly down the hall. Her heart pounded as she stood outside her parents’ room, the faint sound of their quiet conversation confirming they were still awake. She raised her hand, hesitating for a moment, then knocked softly.

“Come in,” her mom’s gentle voice called.

Madelyn pushed the door open, peeking inside. Her parents were sitting up in bed, their faces filled with concern. “Maddy? Can’t sleep?” her dad asked, his voice low and understanding.

She nodded, her cheeks flushing as she fiddled nervously with the hem of her nightgown. “I… I know this is silly,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “but… can I stay with you? Just for tonight? I can’t stop thinking about everything, and…” She trailed off, feeling her face burn with embarrassment. “I know I’m sixteen, and I shouldn’t need this, but…”

Her mom smiled softly, patting the empty space on the bed beside her. “It’s not silly, sweetheart. You’ve had a really tough night. Come here.”

Her dad gave her an encouraging nod. “We’re here for you, Maddy. Always.”

Relieved, Madelyn climbed into the bed, settling between her parents. The warmth and safety of their presence immediately began to ease the tension in her body. Her mom pulled the blanket over her, brushing a hand gently through her hair, while her dad rested a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Madelyn let out a content sigh, her body relaxing for the first time since she’d woken from the nightmare. The steady rhythm of her parents’ breathing surrounded her like a lullaby, and almost as soon as she found a comfortable position, sleep finally claimed her.

Her last conscious thought was a quiet, grateful whisper in her mind: I’m not alone.

Madelyn stirred as the bed shifted beneath her, faint sounds of movement pulling her from the edges of sleep. She mumbled something incoherent, her voice thick with drowsiness. “Five more minutes…” she murmured, snuggling deeper into the warm covers.

A soft chuckle reached her ears, familiar and comforting. “Alright, sleepyhead,” her mom’s voice said gently. “Rest a bit more if you need to.”

Madelyn sighed in contentment, and the room fell quiet again. Time seemed to drift by in a haze of warmth and half-dreams. Eventually, though, her body decided it had had enough rest. She blinked her eyes open, stretching her arms lazily above her head. The bed was empty, the morning light streaming through the curtains.

She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and flicking her fox ears as she yawned. The events of the night before lingered at the edges of her mind, but the warmth of her parents’ embrace had left her feeling surprisingly well-rested.

Madelyn swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, smoothing down her nightgown before making her way downstairs. The smell of fresh coffee greeted her as she entered the kitchen, and her mom turned from the counter with a warm smile.

“Good morning, Maddy. Did you sleep better after your nightmare?” her mom asked, handing her a steaming cup of tea.

Madelyn accepted the cup gratefully, the heat seeping into her hands. “Yeah,” she admitted, her cheeks tinged pink. “I did… I mean, it was nice. Sleeping between you two. I guess I needed that.”

Her mom chuckled softly, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. “You’ve had a lot on your mind, sweetie. It’s okay to lean on us.”

Madelyn nodded, sipping her tea thoughtfully. The soothing warmth spread through her, easing the lingering tension from the previous night. “Where’s Dad?” she asked, noticing the absence of his usual spot at the table.

“Already off to work,” her mom said, turning back to the stove where she was preparing breakfast. “He left early. He said he wanted to follow up on something important.”

Madelyn’s ears perked slightly at that, curiosity flickering in her eyes. But she decided not to press the issue for now. Her dad’s work was a whole other puzzle she wasn’t ready to tackle this early in the morning.

Instead, she focused on the day ahead. “I think I’ll log back into Astralyth Online today,” she said after a moment. “There’s so much I still need to figure out.”

Her mom glanced over her shoulder, a hint of concern in her gaze. “Are you sure you’re ready? After everything that’s happened, I wouldn’t blame you if you needed a break.”

Madelyn gave a small, determined nod. “I’m ready. I need to know more. About her, about everything.”

Her mom smiled, her eyes filled with quiet pride. “Alright then, just don’t push yourself too hard. And remember, we’re always here if you need us.”

Madelyn smiled back, feeling a renewed sense of resolve. Today, she would dive back into the world of Astralyth Online and continue her journey.