READER'S POV

Dreamworld...

I opened my eyes to see that I'm floating and I could feel someone or something's eyes on me. I looked around and I swore this feels strangely familiar. Just then, I saw something float in front of me and it was a small box with symbols on them. I squinted my eyes as it shined a little and I realised what it was, it's the Astrial Prisim from the video game Baldur's Gate 3!

"Become..." I heard a voice speak.

"Who's there?!" I called out as I looked around.

"Become one of us... become..."

Suddenly, the prisim fell down and then I saw several tentacles rise from below me. I watched as they circled around me and I tried to escape but my body had froze on the spot. I couldn't scream or call for help as the tentacles wrapped around me before darkness consumed me followed by the sound of an alarm going off.

Dream ends...

"Ah!" I shouted before I fell out of bed and landed on the floor. I groaned in pain before I sat up and turned off the alarm on my phone. I looked around to see that I'm in my room.

"Just a dream..." I mumbled.

I didn't know what that dream was about but, I shook it off and decided to go for a jog around campus to take my mind off it. I got changed into my jogging outfit which consists of a sports bra, a (F/c) vest top, (f/c) knee length jogging pants and (f/c) trainers. I strapped my armband onto my right arm and placed my phone into it before leaving the apartment.

I got outside and did some stretches. I set my jogging timer on my phone before I put my wireless buds into my ears and played my music and got started with my jog. I liked jogging around campus early in the mornings because it's quiet and there's no one else around that you might accidentally run into. I got back to the apartment building before I turned off my music and finished the timer on my phone. I took off my ear buds and went inside the building.

I headed into my apartment and went for a quick shower to get rid of the stink of sweat from my run. After I cleaned myself, I stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around my hair and my body before I left the bathroom and got changed for today. I'm wearing a (f/c) top, a (f/c) hoodie, my locket, my smart watch on my left wrist, (f/c) skinny jeans and brown combat boots. I blow dried my hair and tied it back into a ponytail. I checked my appearance in the mirror before I looked at the snacks that Mia and I were eating during our gaming session last night and sighed.

"I seriously need to stop munching on those cheesy snacks. Mum always said they gave me nightmares and she was right," I told myself before I left my room and started to make breakfast.

I made two omelettes with a side of bacon and toast and some coffee. I heard footsteps emerging from Mia's room and then the sleeping beauty came out of her room and sat at the dining table before resting her head on her folded arms. I chuckled at this sight and placed her dish next to her.

"Here you go Mia, tuck in."

Mia raised her head and then she tucked into her meal.

"Thanks, mate. Hey, I heard a thudding sound, was that you?"

"Yeah, I fell out of bed after having a strange dream. You know that scene in moonrise towers where you stick your hand in the wall and you hear the Absoulte's voice?"

"Yeah?"

"It was like that except I was there and she told me 'become one of us'," I mimicked the voice which made Mia chuckled. "After hearing that and seeing the Astrial Prisim float around me, tentacles appeared out of nowhere and wrapped around me before my alarm woke me up and I fell out of the bed."

"Crazy dream, must've been those cheesy snacks you had last night. Your mum warned you they gave you nightmares."

"Pot calling kettle black. After you get yourself into a drunken state, you talk in your sleep and you dream about your 'darling' Gale of Waterdeep," I teased her and she blushed.

"One time! buddy! one time!"

I giggled when she reacted like this before we finished with our meals and got ready for classes. I grabbed my thigh bag and strapped it to my waist and adjusted the strap around my thigh before I grabbed my bag that has my art supplies and laptop.

"Nice bag, where'd you get it?" Mia asked as we left the apartment.

"Oh, gift from Derek. He said its a handy thing to have when you're shopping and keep your personal items. Less likely to get your bag robbed as well."

"Huh, I'll need to see if I can get one of those myself," Mia smiled before we made our way to the campus building where our classes are taking place.

***

After art class was over, I packed away my stuff before my lecturer called for me, "(Y/n), can you stay behind for a moment."

"Uh oh, what did I do?" I asked her with a worried look before I approached her desk.

"Hehe, nothing to worry about. It's good news."

"Oh?" I asked before she showed me the project that I handed in a few weeks ago. The project was a children's book which contained a book cover, spine cover and a double page spread including some promotional item designs. It's about a little boy that had been diagnosed with diabetes but he doesn't understand why he needs to take insulin and go on a certain diets. A story based on Owen's life.

"I had a look at your children's book project and I was impressed."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you've got a passing grade for it. Not only that, I've spoken to a few publishers who specialise in these things and they're interested if you wanted to make it a proper book."

"Are you serious?!" I asked with a shocked expression and she giggled at my reaction.

"Of course, here's their contact details if you want to give them a call. I believe it's got potential. Think about it," My lecturer told me and I smiled as I took the contact information of the publishers.

"Thank you so much. I'll tell my mother and Derek the good news," I smiled before I left the classroom.

I left the building and I was talking to Mia on the phone after classes were over.

"No way! that's brilliant news buddy! I told you all that hard work would pay off!"

"Well, I have a little boy back home who gave me the inspiration," I smiled.

"So are you going to contact them?"

"Not yet, but, I am going to talk to Derek about it over the weekend. I'm going to pay a visit to them anyway. I feel a lot better having a lawyer at my side in case things there's a contact they're offering me."

"I guess that's understandable. You never know what some companies are trying to pull nowadays."

"You're not wrong there sister. Anyway, I'm going to get some Chinese for dinner, what do you want?"

"Ooh, sorry buddy. You're on your own tonight. Jason and I are having a study session so I'm having dinner at his place tonight."

"You having a 'sleepover' too?" I asked with a teasing smirk.

"Maybe...hehehe!" Mia giggled while I shook my head.

"Can't compete with that. All right, say hi to him and don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Yes mother~" Mia teased before we hung up the phone. I chuckled and headed for the chinese takeaway shop. I ordered spring rolls, chicken curry, rice and chips. I took the bag from the counter and left the shop before heading home. I arrived back at the building and headed back to my home.

I just stepped into the apartment before I heard a whisper in my ear, "Come..."

I looked around and turned on the light but, I didn't see any intruders. I shrugged my shoulders and told myself it was my imagination. I grabbed a plate and sat it on the table before I dished out my dinner. I looked through my social medias and watched a few reels of my sassy vampire while eating my dinner. I giggled and liked a few of them including the one where Astarion has a tantrum after we 'accidentally' lanced him. I couldn't stop laughing at each of his reactions especially at the part where he yells 'Somewhere between a nice summer's day, and the full concentrated power of the sun!!'

After I finished my meal, I cleaned the plate and fork. I went into my room and decided to play another Baldur's Gate 3 gaming session. Right in the middle of a gaming session, the game start glitching and then it froze. My eyes widen and then I shouted, "Oh come on! are you being serious?!"

I got up from my gaming chair and I put down my headphones and controller before I checked the console and my TV. I tried turning them both on and off but, it was not working. 

"Ugh, don't tell me Derek bought this thing from a pawn shop and has dodgy wiring," I grumbled before I heard the voice again. 

"Come...become one of us..."

I looked around before the lights started flickering and then the room went dark. I had a bad feeling something is about to happen. 

"Is that you Mia? because if it is, it's not funny!" I shouted before my TV screen started to glow.

I slowly turned to look at the screen before several tentacles emerged from the screen. I tried to make a run for it but, one of the tentacles wrapped around me and then I was pulled towards the screen. I screamed and called for help but, it was no good. I was pulled into the screen and then everything went dark.