Chapter 3: A Bad Dream

Scarlett

Rain poured endlessly from the sky as I ran barefoot through a dark forest.

The branches from different trees scratched against my skin while thunder cracked violently above me, but somehow… I wasn’t scared.

I should’ve been terrified, instead, heat flooded my body in dangerous waves and my breathing turned shaky.

Every nerve ending inside me felt alive as the rain soaked through my thin white dress, clinging tightly to my skin as I stumbled deeper into the woods.

Then suddenly… A deep masculine voice called out my name.

“Scarlett…”

My heartbeat stuttered.

I stopped moving instantly and turned around slowly, trying to see through the darkness. Nobody was there, but I could feel him close by, watching me, and it made the hairs on my skin stand.

“Who’s there?” I whispered breathlessly but no answer came, only the sound of rain crashing against the ground.

Then the heat inside me intensified so suddenly that a soft gasp escaped my lips.

What the hell…

My palms started burning like there was actual fire beneath my skin. What was happening to me??? Where was this place and why was I even here to begin with?

I cried out softly and looked down at my hands in panic. Glowing marks flickered faintly across my skin before disappearing instantly.

My breath caught.

“What the fuck…?”

The voice came again, closer this time like he was right behind me. “You’re finally awake.”

Then…

I snapped my head up and woke up with a violent gasp. My chest rose and fell rapidly as darkness greeted me.

I looked around quickly trying to understand my surroundings and that was when I realized I was still in Zara’s apartment and currently sleeping in her guest room.

What the hell…

So it was just a dream?? But what kind of stupid and terrible dream was that and why did it seem so real?? Also why exactly was my entire body drenched in sweat??

I’m not even trying to exaggerate or be funny, the sheets beneath me were soaked!!!! And my palms still burned.

I stared at them in horror while my heartbeat pounded violently inside my chest.

What the hell was happening to me?

I reached for my phone shakily and checked the time only to see it was 3:07 AM in the morning.

“Oh my God,” I whispered, breathing heavily. I kept looking around after that and I was too scared to sleep because what if the horrible dream returned??

What if the man in the dream begins to chase me this time around and maybe… kill me???

No!!

I was no longer going to sleep. I’ll just try to stay awake and wait for the day to break properly.

…………

By morning, I sat at Zara’s kitchen counter miserably while pushing cereal around my bowl.

I looked horrible because of all the things happening in my life and to top it all I didn’t get any sleep after the scary dream I had, so I woke up with dark circles under my eyes.

My hair was also messy and my brain was one more shock away from sending in its resignation.

Zara walked in holding coffee before pausing dramatically.

“Jesus Christ, you look like you fought demons overnight.” She muttered and I pointed at her tiredly.

“That’s actually funny because I think I might’ve,” I said tiredly and her eyes widened immediately.

“Don’t joke like that.”

“I’m not joking, I’m being for real right now,” I murmured and Zara immediately pulled out a chair and sat closer to me while ordering me to spill.

I sighed and decided to tell her all about my dream, I mean there was this saying “a problem shared is a problem solved”, besides I really did think that talking about it would lift the weight from my shoulders.

Five minutes later, I finished explaining the dream and telling her every single detail of all that happened without missing a point.

Zara stared at me in complete silence, then she blinked once, twice, and then dramatically placed her coffee down.

“No,” she said firmly.

“What do you mean no?”

“I reject it.” She said and I frowned.

“You reject…my dream?” I asked, looking puzzled and she nodded.

“Yes, I reject it.” She affirmed and I sighed. What was really wrong with her now?? I didn’t need anything else to stress me out more please.

“That’s not how dreams work, Zara.”

“Well, somebody has to reject whatever nonsense is happening to you because clearly your life has turned into a N*****x supernatural series.” She said and I couldn’t help but chuckle despite everything.

Funny.

Zara stood up and started pacing around the kitchen.

“Okay,” she muttered.

“First you’re a pregnant virgin, then creepy doctors start acting like they’ve seen Satan himself during your scan. Now you’re having horny forest dreams with mysterious voices?”

I nearly choked on air.

“HORNY forest dreams??”

“Girl, you literally said heat flooded your body.” She said and I stared at her in surprise.

“I was trying to explain the atmosphere!”

“Mhm.”

“Oh my God.”

She dragged both hands down her face dramatically.

“You know what? At this point, I’m ready to fight God personally because what exactly is all this??” She murmured and a laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

A real laugh, probably the first one since yesterday. But the relief faded quickly, because reality remained.

I was pregnant.

Impossible or not… a baby was growing inside me. And I had absolutely no idea how.

“How am I supposed to explain any of this to my mom?” I whispered. “She already thinks I’m lying.”

“Maybe she’ll calm down eventually.” Zara sighed and sat back down.

“She literally slapped me, kicked me out, hasn't returned any of my calls or text messages, and has not bothered to check if I’m still alive,” I argued.

“Okay true.” She replied and I dropped my face into my hands tiredly.

“I’m so confused, Zara.”

“I know.”

“No seriously… I actually feel like I’m losing my mind.” I explained and the apartment fell quiet for a moment.

“I have an idea.” Zara snapped her fingers breaking the silence and I looked up cautiously.

“That expression never leads anywhere good.”

“We should take you for deliverance.” She said and I stared at her blankly.

Wait… don’t tell me this is her grand idea?? Taking me for deliverance??? To be delivered of what exactly? The mysterious pregnancy?

“Excuse me?” I whispered in disbelief.

“You’re excused,” Zara responded and I sighed.

“No seriously, we should take you to a powerful church. One of those aggressive prayer ministries where the pastor screams and demons confess immediately.” She added.

“Zara.”

“What?”

“I’m agnostic.” I tried to remind her but she just shrugged.

“And?”

“You know I don’t even go to church, I don’t believe in all those things,” I stated and she rolled her eyes.

“Well, maybe this is exactly why spirits are using your womb as Airbnb!”

“ZARA!” I yelled and she burst into laughter while I threw a napkin at her.

“Oh my God,” I groaned. “You’re actually insane.”

“At least I’m not mysteriously pregnant.” She teased.

“Can you stop saying that?” I ordered batting my lashes like I was going to cry and she immediately raised both hands in surrender.

“Sorry, sorry.” She apologized.

“You know what? Maybe what I really need is to stop sitting around overthinking everything.” I exhaled deeply and stood up from the chair.

“What does that mean?” Zara asked, raising a brow.

“It means,” I sighed, “I need to get my ass off this couch and go get ready for my shoot.”

“Scarlett—”

“No, seriously.” I grabbed my phone from the counter. “I have work today and I’m going to act as if none of this exists for a few hours before I completely lose my sanity.”

Zara watched me carefully, then her expression shifted slightly.

“Okay, but what if pretending doesn’t work?” She asked and I paused.

“What?”

She hesitated briefly before finally saying the words that made my stomach drop.

“What if you just terminate the pregnancy?”