Chapter 4

Maya's POV 

I was in a house.

At first, I couldn't recognize it. But as I looked around, everything slowly began to look familiar.

The familiar cream-colored walls surrounded me, their paint slightly faded with age. The wooden floors creaked beneath my feet as warm lights cast a comforting glow through the hallway. The modest house felt just as cozy as I remembered, the faint scent of vanilla lingering in the air.

I was back at my childhood home.

What was I doing here?!

But still, I walked further inside, my bare feet making no sound.

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

My voice echoed through the empty hallway.

Silence.

I frowned and continued moving forward, my heart beating fast for reasons I have no explanation to.

Then I heard it.

A laugh. Soft. Far too familiar.

No, it can't be. It just can't.

There she was, standing in the living room with her shoulder-length, curly brown hair and that warm smile on her face. She looked years younger, exactly as I remembered her.

“Mum,” I whispered, feeling my body shake.

And beside her was my father.

My chest tightened.

“Dad.” 

They both looked at me, smiling. 

They both looked happy and most of all…

They looked alive.

“Hey, la mia bambina,” Mum said, still smiling.

Translation: My little girl.

I couldn't move, my legs were rooted to the floor.

“Won't you give papa a hug, stellina?”  Dad said, grinning at me, his honey-brown eyes glowing with happiness.

Translation: Little star.

I ran to them, hugging them tightly, as if they could disappear at any moment.

“I thought you guys were gone. I've missed you both so much. Please, never leave me again.”

They both wrapped their arms around me, warm and familiar.

“We’re right here, amore,” Mum whispered, stroking my hair.

I buried my head in her shoulder, breathing in her calming vanilla scent.

Everything felt fine. Safe, even. Like I had everything in the world figured out.

Then, the lights began to flicker.

Mum's smile disappeared, and dad's hands completely went still.

I heard a strange voice, low and distorted, almost inhuman.

“You killed us, we're dead because of you.”

It was coming from my Mum.

No.

I slowly pulled away from her, my arms loosening around her as I stared into her eyes.

This was no longer my mum. Gone was her warm and inviting smile. Her beautiful olive skin was now an unnatural shade of grey. She just stared at me, her eyes empty and unfamiliar.

No.

I turned my head to look at my dad. His expression and skin had changed just like Mum's.

“You killed us, you fucking bitch.” 

“Mum? Dad?”

I took a step back.

“I swear I wanted to, but I just didn't know what to do. Please don't talk to me like that.” 

“Why did you kill us, Maya? You should have been the one who died in there, not us.”

“Please,” I pleaded.

Voices started to echo, growing louder and harsher.

“You killed us.”

“You left us behind.” 

“You should have saved us.” 

“It was all your fault.” 

“No. Stop it! Please, I'm begging you!” I cried out, covering my ears with my hands, but the voices didn't stop. They only grew louder.

Suddenly, smoke began to fill the room, curling around me until I could barely see their faces, swallowing the familiar walls of my childhood. I stumbled back, trying to escape the voices, while desperately searching for my parents.

“Mum!”

“Dad!”

I was walking, still trying to locate them.

“Where are you? Don't leave me, please.” 

By then, I was already in tears. I wiped them away, but more followed.

The smoke got even thicker, making it hard for me to see. I was already coughing.

“Mum?” 

I coughed.

Nothing.

“Dad.”

Another cough.

And then I heard my mum's voice somewhere in the distance.

“Maya…”

I froze.

“Mum!”

I followed the sound of the voice and sprinted forward.

“Mum!”

“Stellina…” Dad's voice echoed after hers.

“Where are you?”

I ran towards the direction of their voices, but with every breath I took, their voices seemed to grow even more distant.

“Please! Wait for me!”

I suddenly found it hard to breathe, the smoke becoming too thick.

“Mum! Dad!”

I jolted awake, gasping for air, sweat and tears covering my face. My heart racing, my bed damp with sweat.

It was only a nightmare.

Fuck.

It had been four years since my parents died in a home invasion that led to a fire, and ever since then, I've been having nightmares.

Ah…

Different days, same dreams.

Yippee.

Just what I needed this morning.

I wiped the tears away from my face and dragged myself out of bed. 

I glanced at the clock.

Two-thirty.

Just great.

Thank God I had a day off today, because I really needed it.

I quickly showered, threw on some sweats and sneakers to match, tied my hair into a messy bun, and packed my gym bag with basic necessities. I grabbed my trusty headphones and a granola bar before heading out.

Twenty minutes later, I arrived at the local boxing gym.

As soon as I entered, I was greeted by the familiar smell of sweat and the sound of punches landing in the ring.

Now this is what I'm talking about.

Why dwell on a nightmare when you can punch it out of your system? And that's exactly what I needed right now.

I placed my bag at the designated area and stepped into the ring.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

I rolled my eyes, fighting back a grin.

“Hi, Bryan.” 

“You little shit, come over here and give this old man a hug.”

And I did.

“How are Michelle and the twins?”

At that, his eyes sparkled. “They're wonderful, Madison and Mason recently turned ten and have been a pain in my ass, but I wouldn't have it any other way.”

“Awwww, I think I love them even more now.”

“Of course you would, you unhinged little shit.”

I cackled.

Bryan, with short blond hair, may be all buff and built like a hulk, but he was a big softie. A big family man at that. His wife, Michelle, was an absolute darling. Bryan was the owner of this gym and my everyday sparring partner.

Then suddenly, my mind wandered off to a particular grumpy, blue-eyed hunk. I think he's even bigger than Bryan.

Why the fuck am I thinking about him? Snap out of it woman.

“Okay, forget about that. Less talking, more fighting.”

“I couldn't have said it better myself.”

We took our stances and my body began to feel alive, completely forgetting about my nightmare.