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Ashley's P.O.V

After the long ass treatment of my leg, I bounced upstairs on one leg because Tristan freaking forgot to bring hand clutches for me. But I won't be mad because he did so much crap for me.

Anyways, as I reached upstairs to my room abruptly I got a thought about someone that made me rigid as I held the doorknob. I caught a glimpse of the door on my right as the memories of James hit me like a brick. 

'Oh shit, I totally forgot about James!' I face-palmed as I started hopping to James room.

I knocked on the door twice and then open it when no one answered. My eyes widened when I did so. Not because something cliche was happening but because there was a very vErY dreadful-looking creature sitting on top of James (no worries nothing dirty happening) while eating away James FACE!!!!! and when I say eating away that means really eating his face like right now it was munching on James' eyeballs while scratching James' inside with his long black nails. I stare at the creature as it now tore James' abdomen and all his guts spilt out and the creature enjoyed it like noodles. Luckily, it didn't saw me. 

Flabbergasted, I came back to my senses and spared a last glance at the monster then I dashed off to the closest room that happens to be Andy's and Jackson's (they stay in the same room because it has bunk beds I don't know why and there is no other spare room.) I opened the door but saw no one.

'What? Where are both idiots when I need them? I thought they were in their room.' I thought while furrowing my eyebrows. I looked back at James' room and then checked everyone's room but no one was found.

While running upstairs again after checking for any alive being I saw the monster coming out of James' room and looking around. I quickly crouched down to avoid being caught.

I saw it snapping its head to a sound that came from the far end of the corridor where a window resides. It walked slowly to the window with its slender legs. It looked out the window and then snapped it's head once again at something and jumped out of the window.

Once I didn't hear any noise from the monster I ran to James' room and stopped at the door while looking at the most terrible scene, that is Ashton's corpse right beside the door and beside him lied Bradley's body. Both of their body possessing gashes, deep cuts and their bones showing up from the loss of flesh and so were the other's body too, lying around the room. I stared at them with no emotions, blankly. I looked at Tristan, his hand ripped apart as black blood flowed out of his shoulder. The rest of his body having deep cuts. Then my eyes landed on Connor. His body was hanging upside down from the ceiling, blood dripping down from his dangling hands. His skull was visibly broken as his brain was slightly visible. Then there was Jackson, not quite recognisable from the burns that covered his body and his legs ripped apart. Michael was the worst from all of them as all of his body was lying on top of thousands of needles like things that stabbed through his body, his neck rotated 180 degrees. Tears burning my eyes as a huge lump formed inside my throat. Then suddenly I felt as if my heart was squeezed so harshly that it burst because there lied James body on his bed, half eaten. I ran to James' side as tears made its way down my face.

A heart-wrenching sob left my throat as my legs lost all its impetus and I fall down beside the bed clenching onto the mattress. I never felt so devastated in my whole life. Not even after seeing that my brother and Michael were also there, dead.

I felt as if my half part was taken away from me. My body refusing to move as it demanded it's another part. It hurt seeing him dead more than dying myself. I don't know why I felt this way but I didn't care right now as all it mattered to me right now is these boys and how to revive them.

As my tears kept on flowing I thought of anything that would help with the case of James and the others. 

Abruptly, I heard claws gashing against the floor a few feet behind me.

I swiftly turned around and my eyes widened as I looked at the same creature that killed James.

Spellbound, I looked out for the slightest movement of that beast and very very slowly I started standing upright as it glared at me with its jet black eyes.

"Ashley..." Someone murmured my name. I quickly look around and then back at the monster. It had its mouth closed all the time then how can it say anything when no one else is in this room.

"Ashley..." I heard it again now more clearly. I looked at James but he laid on the bed as rigidly as a tree trunk. I slowly backed away as the beast moved forward. His claws scratching the wooden flooring as it now moved on all four. A growl rumbled from its chest

"Ashley!"  Now the voice yelled as the beast jumped towards me. I closed my eyes as I screamed,

"Ahhh!!"

.

.

.

.

.

. I open my eyes to see that I was still in the living room.

'Oh, I fell asleep here.' I thought. Then I looked at the person shaking me awake.

"Ashley, wake up!" Bradley yelled as my eyes darted at him relived that he was there in front of me all alive and safe.

"What happened? You were crying and yelling all our names and screaming." He asked genuinely concerned.

Instead of answering, I wrapped my arms around him in a tight bone-crushing hug. A gasp left Brad's mouth by the sudden attack but after that, he embraced me back. Tears unknowingly left my eyes as I clenched onto Brad tighter. He rubbed soothing circles on my back and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"It's okay, you have got us. It was just a nightmare. Would you like to share it with me? You might feel good." Brad asked once my tears stopped and I pulled away from the hug. I looked at him as I wipe away my tears.

"Wait a minute, I'll come back down and tell you everything," I said as my mind never leaving the thoughts of James. Brad smiled softly and said,

"Okay, sure. Do you need any help going upstairs?"Brad asked.

"Oh no no, I'll just go by myself." I smiled rejecting his offer.

"By the way, why are you acting all kind and cheesy?" I asked tauntingly while wiggling my eyebrows and smirking. I just don't like this type of atmosphere.

"What?! Little lady, I was just trying to be a gentleman because you had a nightmare but here you are making fun of me, hump!" Brad first made a shocked face then pouted like 5 years old who didn't get their way.

I laughed as Brad glared at me.

"Okay, sorry. Now I'm going." I apologised.

I hopped upstairs and the dream rewind in my mind. I nervously knocked on James' door. A faint 'come in' was heard and I opened the door stepped in. James was busy playing with his phone. He looked up from his phone and looked up at me.

"Oh Ashley, hi," James said awkwardly while his eyes wandered everywhere. I jumped up to his bed.

"Hey there," I said softly as I stood beside his bed. James seems to suddenly notice that I am standing so he started to sit up and make some space for me to sit down.

"James, you don't have to, you'll hurt yourself. I can just stand." I said swiftly as a groan escaped James' mouth.

"But your leg will..." He trailed off when he saw that I was already sat beside him. I smirked at him as he blushed.

"Well, how are you?" I asked after a few minutes of awkward silence.

"I doing fine," James replied,

"Well, I asked about your injuries, do they hurt?" I said while making an unimpressed expression.

"They don't hurt that much but if some pressure is put then they sure hurt a lot," James said.

I thought if I should tell James about the dream.

"How is your leg?" James asked pointing at my fractured leg.

"All good, thanks to Tristan,"I replied while shaking my head and sighed. All terrifying memories of Tristan stitching my leg came back to me.

"Why did you sigh?" James asked nervously.

"Oh, it's just that it was my first time getting stitches and it was quite terrible," I explained as I shuddered at the memory. James laughed and I pouted,

"Hey, it's not funny," I complained as James pinched my cheeks. I slapped his hands away and he just laughed more.

No, I shouldn't tell James about the dream. He should be focused on his recovery, not on me.

"Is there something that's bothering you?" James asked concerned.

"No no, it's nothing... Btw thank you for saving me." I grinned widely, my eyes crinkled at the ends as a faint blush creeping up my face and neck.

"It's okay, it's my job to protect you because I love you," James said and smiled but I didn't catch the last line.

"I'm sorry but I didn't hear what you said. Can you repeat?" I asked politely.

'It's me who is speaking or someone else took over my body.' I thought not knowing how these words were leaving my mouth.

"Never mind," James said scratching his nape.

"Okay, now I'll go. You should rest." I said as I stood up and jumped to the door.

"Good Night," I said and looked at him.

"Night." James looked like he wanted to say more but hesitated. I didn't pressurize him and walked away closing the door.

◆ [ •||~●~------×------~●~||• ] ◆

I completed telling them my dream and they actually listened keenly.

"Wow, it was really scary," Connor commented stupefied.

"I didn't think that you would get this type of dream. I mean look at you, you act so bold." Brad said.

"I ACT boldly? Should I show you how bold I am?" I retorted while raising my fist. Brad joined both his hands in a pleading matter and lower my fist.

"But why did you just had to make me die?" Andy whined.

"Dude, really? Because it's my dream doesn't mean that I can make it the way I want, you got it or do I have to force it into your thick ass skull?" I said, exasperated. Andy pouted and Michael and I scoffed at Andy.

"But what can that weird creature be? How did it look? Can you describe it?" Jackson asked me.

I thought hard but the picture of monster didn't come to my mind, all I remembered was-

"It was almost 7 to 8 feet tall, had very dark skin with scale-like things and hair too. Jet black eyes, canines that should be 4-5 inches long, that's all." I described the creature.

"And that is what you call 'knowing less'?" Michael retorted sarcastically and I smiled cheekily.

"It seems like I have seen this type of creature. It's on the tip of my tongue but my mind seems to cope with me." Jackson said while scratching an imaginary beard.

While we all talked about random stuff and the dream, Tristan kept quiet all the time. I looked at him curiously but he looked lost in his thoughts.

"If anybody needs something from me I'll be upstairs. " Tristan said while standing up and walking away. I raised an eyebrow as I looked him disappearing. The others continued talking but I wondered what was he thinking.

'Does he know something?' I conceived. I shook my head and joined back in the conversation going on about fluffy socks, sigh.

◆ [ •||~~●------×------●~~||• ] ◆

James P.O.V

After Ashley left I started thinking of any possibility of me making a fool of myself in front of her. I sighed, I should take care so I wouldn't say something dumb in front of her. I opened my phone and started playing to divert my mind.

Abruptly, my door swing open and Tristan came in.

"Whuddup man?" Tristan asked trying to be all cool and shit.

"All good, what about ya?" I replied and asked.

"Great but I have got something to tell you."

"What's it?" I asked curiously.

"Okay, so listen up bro Ashley got a nightmare and it went like this...."

 ◆ [ •||~~●------×------●~~||• ] ◆

After Tristan finished his story I asked, "So what does this mean? Is someone in danger?"

"I don't know but what I know is that the mate thing is starting it's magic on Ashley too. That means she is starting to develop feelings for you too." Tristan said and smiled.

"What?! Really?!" I asked astounded. Tristan nodded and I grinned so widely that it felt like my lips reached my eyes.

"Okay so now you rest. You gotta get strong for Ashley, right?" Tristan said.

"Yup. Btw thanks for telling this to me." I smiled

"No prob, buddy," Tristan said and left the room.

I lied down and stared at the ceiling while thinking of the recent news. I smiled and thought,

'The thing that I have been waiting for is coming true, the start of the development of feelings...'