Nightmares

Thunderous claps shook the earth under me. Footsteps could be heard all around me. My heart beats so fast like the beat of a drum. My feet moved on their own, I jumped up the tree, climbing the branches, reaching the top. My chest ached, every time I inhaled and exhaled.

'Why! Why did it have to come to this?'

My thoughts ran wild in my head. Everything was unclear to me, but one thing I was certain of. I had to get away from them. I stood on top of the highest branch on top of the highest tree. There was no escape. I had to find a way out of here. I looked back at the forest behind me that ran for miles. From where I stood, I could make out shadowy silhouettes.

Staring at them, made fear grip my soul. Glancing ahead of the forest, the red moon shined brightly in the sky, tinting the land in a red hue. But the heavy clouds were moving so fast in the sky that every second there was light and then there was darkness. I glanced back at the dark shadowy creatures behind me.

My eyes widened as I watched them, they climbed the tree with so much force, making every climb they took scare me further and further into despair. I stumbled a few steps back, trying to balance myself at the rough edge of the branch.

The sky roared, making its cry be heard all throughout the land. The wind picked up, making me to shield my eyes. I waited for it to slow down. Seconds went by and then silence. It was too quite. So I slowly opened my eyes. What stood before me, made me scream. Those creatures had caught up to me.

'No, this can't be happening'

Each one of them jumped to catch me, but the moment I took a step back, I began to crumble down to the ground.

I woke up screaming. My breathing was uneven. I was panting and covered in sweat. I laid my head back on my pillow and covered my eyes with my arm while silent tears evaded my eyes. It had been so long since I had a dream and a nightmare at that. But I felt like I wasn't alone. There was someone or something that still caged me in reality. And this feeling would never go away for as long as I live.

•°•°•

It's my dreams at night that haunt me the most. The weird thing about dreams is that the best and worst dreams have the same people in them. It's the start of a new day but it feels as though everything is ending. My nightmares have somehow entered reality. I've been losing sleep and I wondered what would happen to me if I didn't go to sleep.

It's been two weeks since I've had that pain in my chest, two weeks since I went to the ocean. Two weeks since I felt the seal breaking. The first week the nightmares began and the second week is when I lost my sleep. I've been awake ever since.

"You look like a zombie."

"I feel like one." I replied to Devan as we made our way to his house. He came all the way to my house just to pick me up. I wasn't sure if it was him being sweet or just stupid.

"When was the last time you slept?" He questioned as I stepped out of his car.

"It doesn't matter." I said with a yawn grabbing my hand bag. I was about to close the door to the car when it was slammed shut, almost jamming my fingers. I glared at him as he gave me looks that I couldn't quiet comprehend.

"What's happening to you Serah? Why can't you tell me? Why don't you let me in?" He held my hands in his and my glare softened. He was trying to break my walls. But the walls around my heart have been shielded and nothing could break it down.

"Devan-"

"Don't say anything." He shook his head silencing me. I couldn't be what he wanted us to be. Even though he never told me how he felt, I always knew but I could never reciprocate the feeling. Ever since last year, he's been trying to get closer to me.

Devan closed the distance between us and before he could bring his face closer to mine. I pushed him away. I stepped back. I felt horrified… I felt scared to let him in. He was a human and I was a caelestian. Its forbidden for caelestians to mate with humans or take a human has a mate.

"I can't..." I whispered.

"You can't or you won't Serah, why do you push us away?!"

How did it end up like this?

I was getting too close to them and I had to stop it. Whenever I got too close, they ended up finding me. But I cared for them. These past seven years have been the best years of my life, I had my freedom.

"Because I'm the kind of person that pushes people away, so drop it. I'm not telling you anything."

It was a summer hot day and yet I shivered from a cold that was surrounding only me. I walked away towards the door. I was about to open it when it flung opened. I miss-stepped my footing and fell forward. I expected to crash on the ground not crash into someone's arms. I looked up at the person. His face was cloaked by the hoody on his jacket. But the only thing that intrigued me was his eyes- silver white eyes.

He released my hands and I quickly stepped back. His touch burned my arms. And that only happened if a caelestian touched another being that was in a disguise on Terrae.

"Ryan! Are you okay?" Claire's voice rang out inside the house. Devan ran passed me, shoving me and the mystery person aside. I was left standing there. I felt my chest tighten. It felt like I couldn't breathe. It was too soon... Is this another nightmare... if it was I wish I could wake up from it now but it wasn't a nightmare... it was reality… a reality that I had to get away from.

"So you're going to run away again?" I looked to the stranger.

"Y-you... How?" I could barely speak any words. My mind was still reeling.

"You're a pathetic little caelestian, always running and hiding." His words stung me. He was right.

"Why can't anyone just leave me alone? ALL I WANTED WAS TO BE FREE!"

The words escaped me before I could stop myself. Glancing back at the silver eyed stranger, he remained silent. And the next thing I did, I ran away from there. I ran to my home.

•°•°•

The light breeze blew through the room. The cool air made the room a bit chilly. I sat at the edge of the bed, contemplating what to do. I packed a bag of necessities, ready to leave. But that caelestian's words haunted me. I then went by my window and leaned against it. A heavy sigh escaped me. I stared at the starry night. The sky was filled in a bed of stars. I was always running and hiding. That part was true. If I returned, I could face all of them and end it once and for all... or I could run away...

'There's nowhere left for you to go. You are alone, you have no home.'

I froze, as the voice in my mind spoke.

'Did you really think you could trap me?'

Warm flames burst within me as I turned to face the mirror. Once again I'm facing my inner demon. Shadows formed around the mirror.

"How did you break the seal!?" I sealed my dark side for a reason. I never wanted her to harm anyone. If she was released, she would have caused a catastrophe.

'What's this Serah? Didn't think you'd see me again? Didn't you like my gifts?'

I stared at the mirror. My inner demon had taken my form. But it wasn't her true form. She said gifts. That means the nightmares was her doing. I took a few steps forward; my fist was ready to smash that mirror into a million pieces.

'Hold it right there, I didn't come here to fight with you,' my dark side smirked.

"What do you want?" I said seething in rage.

"Why are you out of your cage?"

'So you haven't felt it? Can't you feel me stirring inside you? You've been in this realm far too long. You've forgotten who you truly are.'

"We're done here." I take a jacket from my closet. And put my shoes on.

'He'll find you, there's no escaping them...' I grabbed my bags and stood by the door.

"Your mind is in chaos, darkness has seeped into your heart, fair warning Serah. No one can stop what's to come. You can't stop the prophecy."

"I know I can't stop the prophecy. But this, this is my destiny. I control it, not some damn prophecy." I held onto the door handle.

'The moment your heart is succumbed in darkness, I will take over your body. You cannot hide your dark side for too long. Even you know that you're fighting a losing battle.'

I had no reply to what my demon said. What she said was the truth. So I walked out the door, and into the night, bearing the burden of the truth. Little did I know that tonight would be my last night on Terrae and my worst nightmares would soon become a reality...

•°•°•