As I ran from those shadowy creatures, I slipped on a banana peel and fell hard. I thought it was the end for me, but a portal suddenly appeared nearby. Without thinking twice about the potential danger, I jumped in. Those things chasing me were far more dangerous than any portal could be.

Within seconds, I found myself falling through the portal, glimpsing multiple universes along the way. The experience was so overwhelming that I passed out. When I woke up, I was in a gigantic garden filled with tall grasses and flowers. Everything was enormous, and to my horror, the shadow creatures that had been chasing me were there too.

They started to merge into one form, and to my shock, they transformed into Deanesh. I was utterly confused. Why was this girl, a known liar and hater, after me? And now she was a minion for the devil? It was all too much.

Fortunately, she couldn't see me because I was hiding in the tall grasses, but my heart was racing like crazy. I had no idea what to do or think. As I watched her, she began to speak.

"Dena, you will never go home. Your soul is mine."

I was both furious and terrified. What did she mean my soul was hers? I wasn't even worried about the "not going home" part because, right now, home was a mess. Summoning all my courage, I stepped out of my hiding spot to confront her, even though I was shaking inside.

"What the hell do you mean my soul is yours?" I demanded.

"Exactly what it means," she sneered.

"Well, I hate to break it to you, sis, but my soul isn't going anywhere. And honestly, I don't even care if I don't go home."

She laughed cruelly. "Ha, you don't even have a home to go to anyway."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, dread creeping into my voice.

Out of nowhere, she conjured a cage in the air containing my parents, grandparents, and little brother. They were unconscious, but their faces looked upset. Furious and heartbroken, I started to cry. Why was this happening to me? Hadn't I suffered enough? And why was my little brother, Mari, caught up in this? He was such a good kid; he didn't deserve this.

I begged her to let them go, but she just laughed in my face and refused. Desperate, I shouted, "Well, put me in the cage too then!"

She smirked and offered me a deal: if I could answer her riddles correctly, she would let them go. If I failed, she would keep them forever. I suspected she chickened out when I told her to put me in the cage with them. But there I was, facing her riddles, my family's fate hanging in the balance.

"Fine," I said, wiping away my tears. "Give me the riddles."

She grinned wickedly and began.

Deanesh's words cut through the air like a sharpened blade, each syllable dripping with venom. She laid down riddles like traps, waiting for me to stumble into them.

"I smile in your face, but watch your back, I know your secrets, every crack. A shadow that lingers, a silent threat, Who am I, you haven't guessed yet?" Her challenge hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy with the promise of trouble.

I furrowed my brow, pondering her words. "I smile in your face, but watch your back," I repeated, mulling over the implications. "Interesting," I finally responded, feeling a spark of defiance. "I'll say 'frenemy'."

A smirk played across Deanesh's lips, a chilling confirmation of my suspicion. "You're right, you got two more," she taunted, her eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"Alright, bring it on," I retorted, refusing to let her intimidation tactics rattle me.

She continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "Wrapped in designer, head to toe, But inside, it's all for show. Flashy and fake, like a cheap masquerade, Who am I, the fashion charade?"

My lips curled into a smirk, unable to resist the opportunity to throw some shade of my own. "That's easy, you," I shot back, my tone laced with sarcasm. "You're such a poser I don't know who you're trying to shade here."

Deanesh's facade of composure cracked, her expression contorting into one of disbelief. "Excuse me?" she snapped, her voice sharp as a dagger.

I met her gaze head-on, refusing to back down. "But I stand by my statement," I replied firmly, my resolve unshaken.

"Take that back," she demanded, her patience wearing thin.

But I stood my ground, unyielding in the face of her threats. "Alright, the last one," she relented, her tone dripping with venom. "You're getting on my last nerve, and you better get this one right. Here it is, 'You bat your lashes, try to steal my guy, But your cheap tricks won't fly. You crave what's mine, but you'll never win, Who am I calling out for your desperate sin?'"

I felt a surge of frustration bubbling up inside me, ready to burst forth like a dam breaking. "Girl, if you don't stop," I began, my voice trembling with anger.

This demon girl, Deanesh, is a real piece of work. Adding shade to riddles? That's a new level of petty. But honestly, those riddles said more about her character than any words could. I was beyond fed up with her antics. I tried to attack her, but she used some magic trickery, pulling me down and sending me into a whirlwind of screams and tears. And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I woke up, screaming bloody murder and falling right off the bed. What kind of messed-up dream was that? I thought I was about to meet my maker, and my poor family too. Speaking of family, I don't know what I'd do without them. They may not be perfect, but I love them to bits. Especially my parents and my little brother. This whole ordeal taught me a valuable lesson - always cherish your family and let them know how much you appreciate them. You never know when it might be too late.

After that nightmare, I knew I had to do something. So, first things first, I decided to give the good ol' church a visit this Saturday. And therapy? Yeah, I might need some of that too. I know some people say it's not the best, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.

I grabbed my phone and dialed my parents right away, just to make sure they were okay. And after confirming they were alright, I made my way to check up on my little brother and grandparents. When I saw them, I couldn't help but burst into tears and wrap them in a tight hug. The thought of losing them was just too much to bear. They asked me what happened, but I couldn't bring myself to tell them about my messed-up dream. All I knew was that I had to be extremely careful around Deanesh from now on. Who knows what she's capable of?

After hugging my family and reassuring myself that they were okay, I retreated to my room to gather my thoughts. As I sat there, I couldn't help but reflect on my life and its ups and downs. Sure, things might not always be perfect, but I knew there were people out there facing far worse challenges than I was. So, I decided to suck it up and be grateful for what I had. After all, I wasn't out on the streets or facing any life-threatening situations.

Despite my attempts to shake off the lingering effects of the nightmare, sleep eluded me. I didn't want to risk encountering that terrifying dream again. Instead, I called my mom to let her know I was on my way back home. I also FaceTimed the girls to arrange a meet-up at my parent's place. However, before I could leave, I made sure to inform my grandparents about my departure, ensuring that my little brother, Mari, would be staying with them for a while.

Upon arriving at my parent's house, I noticed Karissa's car parked outside. I parked my car in front of the house and rushed over to greet them with hugs. Naturally, they bombarded me with questions about what had happened. Not wanting to entertain the nosy neighbors with the tea, I suggested we head inside where I could spill the details without any prying eyes.

Inside, the atmosphere felt strangely rejuvenating, despite the lingering tension. My mom was there, but my dad was notably absent, a consequence of the ongoing divorce proceedings. I took a moment to apologize to my mom for any harsh words I may have said earlier, even if they were based on undeniable truths. With that out of the way, I ushered the girls into my room, eager to catch up and unwind. Plus, I was looking forward to having them accompany me to church.