in Between Realms

...The night it all started...

A ray of light shines on where I stand. The rest of my surroundings are plunged into looming darkness. The only sound is the sound of water dripping from the ceiling.

A cold gust of wind whips past me, lifting every hair off my skin and leaving goosebumps in its trail. I turn in a full circle to take in my surroundings and then I see it. Something is moving in the impending darkness and it's watching me.

"I have waited so long for this," I hear it say and the figure in the darkness swiftly moves again.

"Wh..who said that?" I stutter as I begin to turn in a circle. I try to catch a glimpse of it in the darkness and when I see it. I can't help the gasp of terror that escapes my lips. A creature standing tall like a man but with no human facial features lurking in the darkness. His red glowing eyes shining as he keeps them fixed on me.

I take a step back while staring back at it to ensure it doesn't move. I'm afraid to blink. Afraid to even think because it might get me.

"I can smell the fear radiating off you," he purs almost satisfied with my reaction.

"What do you want," I shriek and the creature finds pleasure in my fear because he lets out a dark bellow of laughter.

"I want you!" His voice now deeper more demonic and then a dark skeletal hand reaches out to me. I see the dark hand in the light as it comes towards me and I take a few hurried steps back causing me to trip over my own feet. The hand grips my arm and I start to feel a burning sensation resonating in my arm.

I try to scream but my voice refuses to appear and I sit trembling with my eyes transfixed on the hand that's gripping me. I feel helpless and then something happens. My arm starts to feel numb and I feel immense energy I have never quite felt before. It begins to pulse through me and before I can even begin to comprehend what's happening to me I hear the creature let out a shriek and watch as the hand retreats in the darkness.

"No," I blurt out and sit up straight in my bed. My hair and shirt are sleek from sweat and I run a hand lazily over my face. I think I just had a dream. A dream I can remember. Even though it was horrible I jump out of my bed excitedly so that I can go tell Klara I had a dream.

Sharp pain in my arm stops me and l look down at my arm to see it red and blistering from where the creature touched in my dream.

"No, no this can't be right. No what's happening?" I scream in panic. I check the time on my alarm clock it's five minutes to midnight.

Five more minutes for my birthday.

"Zel!" My aunt screams and comes bursting through my room door. "What, what happened? Why are you out of bed?"

"No this can't be right it was just a dream how, how is this possible," I say staring at my arm.

"Zel shhh, calm down," she tries to lull me but when her eyes lower onto my now blistering arm she lets out a gasp and holds her hand to her mouth.

This can't be right it shouldn't be hurting. It was just a dream. I repeat the words over and over in my head.

My alarm clock starts beeping from on my bedside table and I glance at it to see the time. It tells me there is one minute left. Suddenly smoke starts emitting from my right palm with a red glow emanating from it. It's a tingling sensation but it soon turns into a burning sensation. I double over in pain as I let out another scream. Klara rushes over to me and moves me back to my bed.

I stare at my palm and watch as lines start appearing on it as if someone is tattooing my open palm.

"It's going to be okay. I promise," Klara says holding onto me. I shut my eyes tightly as I let out relentless sobs.

Soon the burning stops and I open my eyes to look at my palm. I scream as I turn my hand over. Imprints of a crescent moon followed by the other phases imprinted lightly at the top of my palm.

"I'm dreaming. I'm still dreaming!"I yell sounding deranged and Klara shakes her head slowly. I break down and allow my tears to fall when I finally realize that this is not a dream.

"Happy birthday Zelenia," Klara says softly.

My entire body begins to tremble as I start to open my mouth to ask for an explanation. "What's, what's wrong me." I shudder and she rubs my back soothingly.

"Nothing, nothing at all," she whispers.