AAAHHHH! Panting and sweating, I got up again with that dreadful nightmare. It is the one thing that has never left me. It is just as if it is never tired of me. That darkness, pain and shiver has the same effect even after 10 years. All my thought came to a halt when my granny charged in...

Granny impatiently questioned me "What happened Scarlett? Are you okay? Are you hurt? God, should I call the ambulance?"

"Na, I'm fine Gran", I said "Just the usual thing"

"You had the same dream again?" She asked worriedly.

"Yes I did" was my reply.

She walked towards me, made me lay on the bed and patted my head with her tender hands. Instantly my vision became very hazy.

"I wish I could remove that night of yours" she said and continued "I wish I was there at that time for you. But now you will soon find someone beside you, a saviour, a friend and most importantly a partner by your side who would protect you from anything and everything forever.

I closed my eyes and drifted off.

Next Day, Morning

I am late for school again. Well nothing was unusual when I say it. With half a toast stuffed in my mouth and hopping around the house with a single sock on my leg and the other lost was just a part of my daily routine. I went up to Gran who hopefully help me in my mission to find the other sock.

"Gran, have you seen my sock?"

"Ah, that white one?"

"Yes"

"With the strip and flowers?"

"Yes yes!"

"Ahh, nope. I didn't."

"Grr... not again Gran"

Even though my Granny was old, she looked quite young for her age with a 24/7 smile on her face, pale tan complexion and curly short brown hair. She looked pretty attractive and her eyes stole all complements of her beauty. 'Like mother like daughter.' is what she says as I had got my mom's eyes. Gran rarely mentioned about dad though. And that reminds me of that night, which caused me my phobia of nightmares.

"Ah hon (honey), sorry to disturb your beautiful dream but the bus has arrived" Gran said.

"What! Shit no, tell the driver to wait", I replied.

And in the next 20s I made my way towards the bus and soon we reached school.

ST. MARIE'S ALL GIRLS SCHOOL

I met my friend Alice and Rose. Alice was the most beautiful among all the girls. In another words a total girl. Blond with blue eyes which always sparkled when she smiled. Her pink lipstick suited her ever blushing cheeks.

Rose on the other hand was quite different, a total boy. Her dark eyeliner, spiked band and necklace with a skull jacket over her uniform made it sure that she was one tomboy of the place.

I soon reached the school entrance of our every own school. For the first time in many years, I feel something different like something is going to happen.

"Hey girl Snap out!" said Alice.

"You look lost lately"... Something up?" questioned Rose.

"Nope... just... ahem... nothing" I said.

"Okay then let's roll in" was Rose's reply.

We entered.

Our school was the most beautiful Girl's school in our town. It looked like a newly built palace. It reminds me of the Barbie's dream school, total girly. Outside, the place was filled with the most beautiful flowers and trees baring fruits covered the entrance. The hall way was filled with pink and purple metal lockers. The classroom had all digital and latest technologically updated gadgets. The cafeteria was the best of all. It looked like a coffee shop where all princesses had their lunch and hangouts. For a rich princess type school, I was pretty much average. But in years most of them had come in good terms with me and when I say most of them I meant by just 2 of them.

We had our regular classes where mast was the 1st lesson followed by science, math, recess and then physical education. It then went on.

After I my last lesson got over we pared away and decided to meet at the café. I ran to my classroom and found myself the only one there. I started packing my bag fast. Just then the windows banged open and suddenly cold air rushed in. I freaked out, but somehow had a sudden urge to go towards it.

I walked towards it and stretched my hands out on reaching there. I felt a presence for a moment. A cold presence, like someone is around me. I so wanted to turn around and ran but my legs just froze and I could feel the presence getting closer and closer. So cold that I could even feel the person breathing. And before its hand could touch my back, bang! The door opened and both Rose and Alice came in.

"What's up girl and what's with that position?" Rose asked me.

Ah, I could move ones again.

"Nothing much. You know how much I love could air" was my reply.

"Nope we didn't and definitely not in a winter day." was what Alice said.

"Ah! Yes...oh! Look at the time. We are late! Let's, roll out." I said.

I always try to avoid their questions, especially the ones that make me an obvious wiredo. But no matter how much weird I am, they never leave my back. I guess that's true friendship.

After we met at the Café of Uncle John we parted ways back home. My house was bit far away from the place and I had to walk all the way back. After a 15 to 20 minutes' walk, the road suddenly felt creepy and cold vibes were in the atmosphere. I took a while to realise that it was the same feeling that I felt in the classroom today. I ignored it and continued walking. Seconds later, I heard footsteps following me. This wasn't possible as the road I had taken didn't even have a single organism living around so it had to be dead silent. I started running so as to run from them. I took swift turns while running, jumped over the fences and reached my house gate. I turned back to see if they were still following me. And to my relief they weren't. I reached my house door and noticed that it was already open. It looked as if someone broke in. I felt the same cold vibe on my body all over again. Fear consumed me. My hands shook just the same way it were like that night.

"No... no, not again Scarlett Snap out. I will not let history repeat itself."

With my cold, sweaty and shaking hands I further opened the door. I froze.

Tables, sofa were in a mess as if there was a fight. The curtains were in shreds. The windows were broken so was the television and photos on the walls. I took as step in and another.

I called out "Gr... gr.... gran?," I murmured " Gra... Gran!"

There wasn't any response. I walked slowly towards the kitchen. All the utensils were down. The glass plates, Gran's favourite cup with a pick of mine and her imparted were in a thousand pieces. Hot tears rolled down my eyes.

"It's just like that night," I told myself " Just like th-that Nig-night! No," I screamed "Not again, no"

I caught the handle open, wet with bloody finger prints. I flung open.

PRECAP: WHAT EXCATLY HAPPEND OVER THERE.

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WITH LOVE, GAYATHRI & THRISHA