I was dreaming.
I found myself in a dense forest, the trees towering above me, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with mist, curling around my ankles and making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead.
Shadows moved just beyond my sight, elusive and fleeting. The soft rustling of leaves accompanied by the distant call of an owl filled the air, creating an eerie symphony that sent chills down my spine.
As I walked deeper into the woods, a strange feeling washed over me. It was as if I was being watched, a presence both comforting and unsettling, like an old friend you hadn’t seen in years. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of fear and curiosity driving me forward.
Suddenly, the trees parted, and I was face to face with a beast. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, and its body seemed to be made of shadows and mist, shifting and swirling as if it were barely contained.
It stood on four legs, each one ending in claws that dug into the earth, yet it made no sound. The beast’s gaze was intense, piercing through me, and I felt a strange connection to it, as if it were trying to communicate something important.
It didn’t move, just stared at me, as if waiting for something. I wanted to ask so many questions, like why there was a connection between us, and what we were doing here, but my voice wouldn’t come. My throat felt tight, and my mouth refused to form words. The beast tilted its head slightly, its eyes never leaving mine. Then, with a grace that belied its size, it began to circle me, its movements fluid and silent.
As it circled, I noticed more details. Its fur, or rather the shadows that made up its form, shifted and changed, creating patterns that were almost hypnotic. Despite its fearsome appearance, there was something calming about its presence. The aura it exuded didn’t seem dangerous to me, more like a guardian than a predator. I watched in awe, feeling a strange sense of peace wash over me.
After what felt like an eternity, the beast stopped and looked at me one last time. Its eyes held a message, something I couldn’t quite grasp but felt deep within my soul. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving me alone in the misty forest.
I woke up with a start, the dream still vivid in my mind. The room was quiet, and the first light of dawn was creeping through the window, casting long shadows on the walls. I lay there for a moment, trying to make sense of the dream.
Was it a warning? A message? Or just my imagination running wild after such an eventful day yesterday? The encounter with the beast had felt so real, so significant, that I couldn’t just brush it off.
Should I tell Laura and Peter about this?
I shook my head. They will relegate it to a dream that had been borne out of my thoughts last night. After all, I had asked them about the Queen’s beasts.
The Queen’s beasts.
Was the beast one of them? And if so, why had it come to meet in the dream? What was the connection? Why did I feel so calm around it? Why had it bowed?
I swung my legs from the bed to the floor, recounting mentally of the slight tilt of the beast’s head as if it had been according to me some respect.
Should I do some research? But where? Levina had mentioned that they haven’t been seen by anyone. This would mean that they haven’t been written about. Because obviously, the author would have to see the beast, have some experience with it, before getting the narration down.
The smell of breakfast wafted through the air, pulling me out of my thoughts and dreams, back to reality.
Laura was already up, which meant time was getting closer to school’s time. I needed to hurry up. I thought, taking the other door in my room which led to the compound.
**
As I got ready for school, I couldn’t shake the feeling that today would bring more interesting events. But I was ready of course. With Levina’s support and the strength of my family behind me, I felt like I could face anything. Well, you can add the principal’s too.
Laura was bustling around the kitchen, preparing breakfast when I entered the center hut. She smiled when she saw me, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Good morning, Maya. Ready for another day?”
I nodded, grabbing a piece of toast from one of the plates on the table. “More than ready.”
Laura chuckled, a warm sound that made me feel at home. “That’s the spirit. Just remember to stay out of trouble, okay?”
I grinned, taking a bite of the toast. “No promises.”
“Where is Diana?”
But I already knew the answer to that.
Not waiting for an answer, I grabbed another toast, and headed out the door.
Peter was talking with Levina right outside the fence. She was sitting on the bike with a helmet on her hand, whilst Peter had his arms across his chest.
What were they talking about?
I hurried my steps.
**
The ride to school was filled with light conversation. We talked about everything and nothing, the comfortable chatter of good friends. But in the back of my mind, the dream lingered, its significance gnawing at me.
When we arrived at school, I was immediately the center of attention. Whispers followed me as I walked through the halls, eyes lingering a little too long. It was as if everyone wanted to know my story, the new girl who had dared to stand up to Professor Bulock and had gotten detention on her first day. The girl who had poured juice on the Queen’s daughter.
Great, just what I needed-more scrutiny.
“I will see you in class, Dora. I have to see my father about something.”
I nodded, watching Levina walk with shoulders high among the students. I was proud.
As I made my way to the class alone, I saw Sinclair standing by the wall, some feet away from me, his eyes fixed on me. Seeing that I had seen him, he approached me with a determined look.
My heart rate quickened, and I knew I didn’t want to deal with him right now. I felt tired all of a sudden. And so, without thinking, I took another bend, disappearing into the crowd before he could catch up.
I found a quiet corner near the library and took a moment to breathe. The day had barely started, and already it felt overwhelming.