This chapter is dedicated to LisaHiggins3 for being such a motivator and great friend. She's literally one of my idols.

If you haven't read her book: The Shipping Heiress then you are missing a ride of your lives.

With one look at the beautiful park in front of me, I knew this had to be a dream.

The trimmed grasses looked even more beautiful, glistening under the sunlight with countless flowers scattered across the vast space. There were children everywhere. Their young voices loud, as they played without any worry in their hearts.

Within the small mob of children, my eyes caught a particular little girl who was being chased by a woman. The sun blazed directly on my face. Stinging my eyes and I struggled to see them properly. But their voices were as clear as day.

"You won't be able to catch me, Mummy," the girl teased in her soft, little voice, dashing across the park with tiny feet.

The woman laughed, joining in on the chase. "Oh I will, my Angel."

They looked so happy, so at peace. And I wanted to reach out, to move towards them but my feet were stuck and immobile.

I didn't know how or when it happened but suddenly, all the other children disappeared. Only that woman and her child were left now, running through the vast area of plants.

"Love you, Mummy." The little girl was in the woman's arms now, their foreheads touching as the woman spoke.

"Love you more, my Angel. And I promise to never leave you. Not now, not ever. It's always going to be You and I forever."

"You and I forever," they repeated in unison.

I tried once again to get a clearer picture of their faces, but a sharp pain pierced my eyes, forcing me to shut them tight.

"You and I forever." Their voices were growing unbearably louder. A sharp ache began to spread throughout my ears.

"You and I forever."

The need to protect my ears was very strong, but my arms were glued to my side. I couldn't move them.

"You and I forever."

The excruciating pain reached an unbearable level as I started to feel blood, trickling down the sides of my face.

"Please, stop..." I tried saying but the pain had choked my voice.

"You and I forever." The voices had become endless, ringing these same words over and over, and over again.

"You and I forever."

I awoke with those words spilling from my mouth and a sudden dread surrounding my heart.

Slowly, trembling fingers brushed my cheeks and I realised they were wet. Wet from...tears?

I searched my mind for a valid reason-a reason for the wetness in my eyes-but got nothing. The heaviness in my heart was unexplainable. Just like my other emotions, it wasn't meant to be understood-only expressed.

So I pressed my face into my pillow and let the tears flow. I released the sadness clouding my heart while making sure my sobs were muffled so my parents wouldn't hear.

This was just like other times. Other times when I would wake up feeling my chest drop heavy with dejection and pain. I would do nothing but cry.

Cry until my tears dried up. Until I began to feel dehydrated from the loss of water.

Nightmares have always been a major part of my life. Even when I was younger.

During those times, before Lilly was born, Mum would let me sleep in her room with Papa James when I was too scared to sleep alone.

For a while it seemed like the dreams had stopped. A week passed without me having any of these nightmares.

That was until one fateful morning, I was jerked out of sleep by another nightmare. Only this time, accompanied by a panic attack.

I woke up-dying.

The pain which had gathered in my chest was excruciating and only seemed to heighten the second I regained consciousness. It felt like my lungs were bleeding from lack of oxygen and my heart was going to explode at such a fast pace.

I woke up thinking that was my last day on Earth.

But luck had taken a stance in my favour. My parents were with me and immediately came to the rescue.

I was rushed to the hospital where the doctor prescribed two solutions to my problem-medications and therapy.

I hated both with every cell in my body, so I became stubborn- deliberately being uncooperative during the therapy and flushing the pills before anyone noticed.

I had employed a mask so convincing that no one suspected a thing. My parents went on with their lives thinking the nightmares were a thing of the past.

But now, with the nightmares worsening every day, it was starting to seem like I was paying for my sins.

If this really was my punishment for lying and fooling everyone, then I would bear it-anything just, so they don't have to worry about my health.

Sitting up with renewed effort, I wiped away any trace of liquid on my face.

My parents already had Lilly to take care of and the last thing I wanted was to become a burden. Besides, I was going to be seventeen in a few months. It was time to start taking care of myself.

With this thought in mind, I motioned to rise from the bed when a sudden reminder hit my brain, evaporating every form of sadness from my heart.

Today was MONDAY; the first day of the week and my first day in school!

Yes! Finally! The day I've been waiting for my whole life!

Dancing over to my balcony, I veered over at the compound to find my parents' Honda parked right in the driveway.

When did they get back?

There wasn't any time for me to ponder on that question as more relevant thoughts filled my head.

I inhaled deeply, letting the fresh morning air into my lungs. Then exhaled through parted lips, wearing a smile from exhilaration.

Nothing could go wrong today, I just knew it. It felt great, finally having a reason to be so happy in the morning. Most especially after everything that happened last ni-

Wait!

What happened last night?

I could feel the wires in my head twisting in different directions. I knew I was forgetting something important but what could it be?

"Oh, God..." I trailed off, as memories of the night before flooded my brain. "Mr. Creepy!"

One second later, I was sprinting down the stairs and out of the house. Now standing in front of my workshop, it felt like I had teleported and not ran all the way here. But my paced breathing and harsher heart beat were enough proof that I was still human, not some freak with superpowers.

I took a deep breath in anticipation. It was time to meet Mr. Creepy, a sober one this time at least.

Pushing the door open, I thought I was ready. But nothing in this world could prepare me for the sight that welcomed me the minute I stepped through the treshold.

My hands flew to my mouth, stifling a loud gasp that threatened to explode from my lungs.

The couch where I put Mr. Creepy last night was...empty.

Instantly my brain went into a chaotic spiral, dancing in tunes that flooded my veins with worry.

Where is he?! Did something bad happen?

This is all your fault, Rachel! You should have just stayed until he was feeling better.

I rushed in, searching every part of my little workshop but found nothing.
He was gone. How could he be gone?!

Calm down Rachel, I told myself. Nothing could have happened to him. Just don't panic!

My body dropped to the couch in exhaustion. My mind raced with a million thoughts, none of them providing an explanation as to where Mr. Creepy could have disappeared to.

Slowly but surely, my palms began to feel traces of warmth from the furniture. It wasn't much but it was significant. This meant Mr. Creepy had left not too long ago.

Was it possible I missed him on my way here?

My eyes drifted to the now empty stool beside the couch, where his phone and wallet should have been. Even his clothes were missing.

Why did he leave?

This unanswered question beat against my mind like the rain but without end, without answers. And I could feel my insides twisting with nervousness and worry as negative thoughts gathered in my head.

What if something really happened to him?

Then my eyes caught the blanket which I used to cover him last night, folded neatly at the head of the couch.
I froze, knowing that this could only mean one thing.

Nothing bad happened to Mr. Creepy.

He left... He simply left.

I nearly erupted. But this time not with worry, but with anger. Hot boiling anger.

That bastard!

My fists curled tightly around the blanket as rage nearly consumed me.

I took a big risk, letting him spend a night in my workshop even after everything he did. I undressed him and covered him with a warm blanket like the caring person I was. But still, he woke up and left without leaving something as little as a thank-you note!

With nostrils flaring, my eyes caught a black object under the couch. I bent to retrieve it and was shocked to find myself staring at a wallet.

I didn't need a genius to tell me who it belonged to. He was in too much of a hurry that he forgot his wallet but remembered to fold the blanket.

Ha! The irony of life.

Now I knew, Mr. Creepy was nothing but an ungrateful asshole.

I repeat, he was a stupid, ungrateful asshole with a beautiful face and a perfect no-

No, idiot! What are you saying?!

Closing my eyes in concentration, I shook my head vigorously to get rid of those unusual thoughts.

He's nothing but an ungrateful asshole, I said to myself. An alcoholic who was crazy enough to engage in a fist fight with a light po-

"Rachel, are you okay?" I raised my head in shock to find Papa James by the entrance, his blue-green irises flashing with a familiar look of concern.

When did he get here?

Not long enough to have witnessed my inner turmoil, I hoped.

"You're not answering my question, Princess. Is everything alright?"

"Ye--Yes. I'm fine." Heat creeped to my cheeks as I subtly tucked the wallet into the couch.

He didn't have to know about what took place last night.

"Why do you look so flustered? Is it because today's your first day at school?" He took more steps towards where I stood and my eyes widened.

Wait a minute... I had school today?

Of course, you nitwit! Today's supposed to be the most important day of your life! How can you forget?!

It wasn't my fault though. Due to my discovery upon entering into the workshop this morning, I completely forgot that I should be preparing for school. Not wasting my energy pondering over a drunk man who would be suffering from a massive hangover by now.

"Oh...Princess, you don't need to be nervous in any way." Papa James, who thought that my lack of response was due to nervousness, wrapped his arms around me in a comforting manner. "I'm very sure you'll love school. Soon you're gonna have lots of girlfriends to do all those girly stuff with. No one would be able to resist your charm."

I had begun to relax in his embrace when he made a statement that made me stiffen.

"Just don't bring any of those bad boys home. I want you dating a handsome boy, with good grades and values."

I unwrapped my arms from his body, looking up at him, eyebrows raised. "You should know by now that having a boyfriend is the least of my priorities. It's not even on my bucket list."

"What about next year?" His voice was laced with so much hope that I was tempted to actually give in. But that wouldn't make me the sweetest step-daughter in the world, now would it?

"Next year too," I lied. Of course! I wanted to have a boyfriend. It was part of the high school experience.

"You have a bucket list for next year already? What the hell, Princess?!" Papa James flayed his arms, and I was tempted to laugh at the amount of frustration distorting his features.

"I'm still advising you to try dating before your senior year ends. This is your last chance to experience high school love."

Even a blind person could see that he earnestly wished that I would find my soulmate in high school, just like he did with Mum.

Their love was the strongest I knew. After going through so many obstacles-me being one of them- they've still been striving together for nearly a decade.

Papa James had told me their love story an uncountable number of times-high school sweethearts, both teenagers who fell in love during their senior year. But Mum's wealthy parents did not approve of her middle class boyfriend, forcing them to separate after their final exams.

Mum went to study Medicine and surgery overseas in Russia, while Papa James also studied the same course on scholarship at the University of New York. They were able to reconnect when he started working in Russia. But, I was already in the picture.

Nevertheless, my sweet Papa James didn't let a one-night stand-without protection-destroy their relationship. He showed me more love than my biological father ever could.

"Have you forgotten, Papa James? Mum would skin alive any boy who tries to come close to me. Remember what happened to the last one?"

I snickered at the memory of how Mum humiliated our next door neighbour at our previous home, when he tried to ask me out.

At first, we all thought she liked him, but when he told her about his college in Italy and plans to take me with him if ever we started dating, things took a total turn-around.

She basically drenched the poor guy and his beautiful bouquet with a bucket of water before he could say anything else. Not only that, she also dragged him by his ear back to his house after delivering a warning that he shouldn't be seen near me or our home ever again.

"Yeah, about that." Papa James started, but hesitated as if looking for words to say. "Don't you think she would also skin you alive if you're late to school on your first day?"

I took a step back in shock.

"Wait... I'm gonna be late?"

"According to my watch here---" he paused, taking an unhurried look at his wristwatch. "---you have less than fifteen minutes to get ready."

"Oh, no!" I sped past Papa James and raced into the house.

Lilly was already dressed and ready to eat while Mum was serving breakfast. I prepared myself to listen to the scolding of my life.

"Good morning." My dearest sister gave me her usual, radiating smile.

On hearing her greeting, Mum turned to face me. And I received the shock of my life when I found her warm honey irises blazing with worry, not anger.

"Oh, Rachel! Where were you?" My body was stiff with surprise as she wrapped me in her arms. "Do you know how scared I was when I opened your door this morning and you weren't there?"

"It's no big deal, Mum... I was in the backyard." I gave an unbothered chuckle. "Why're you looking so scared? It's not like I was kidnapped, or something bad ha-"

Before I could finish, my words were seized by a choking embrace. One that seemed to rob my lungs of air.

"Don't ever say things like that, okay? Nothing is ever going to happen to you, nothing!" she proclaimed, an alarming volume of fear overflowing from her voice.

"Mum..." My voice turned serious as she released me, so I could look into her eyes. "Of course! Nothing's gonna happen to me. Why do you look so scared? Or Is there anything we need to be scared of?"

I watched terror sucked the very breath from her mouth as fear washed over her, raising the fine hairs on her neck.

At that moment, I didn't think I had ever seen my mother so...scared.

What was she so afraid of?

She blinked and every trace of fear vanished from her face. Mum was doing it again. She was trying to regain her stoic mask of annoyance before I would recognise the dread in her eyes.

"What kind of question is that? Of course! There's nothing to be scared of." Her gaze narrowed in on my nightwear. "But I think you should be very scared of what will happen next, Rachel... If you're not ready in the next ten minutes!"

I stayed mute. My mind raced back to the terror I saw on her face before she managed to conceal it.

Was this fear recent, or have I always failed to recognise it until now?

"Rachel!" I jumped at the sound of my name. "If you are not ready in the next ten minutes, I won't allow you to attend a normal school ever again. Your home school was already good enough."

"No, Mum! I'll be ready in 5 mins. I promise!"

I pushed those rattling thoughts to the back of my mind and scurried to my room. I would ponder about it later but right now, it was time to prepare for school.

I was dressed in exactly seven minutes. While making sure to collect my necklace from the drawer, I grabbed my backpack and hopped downstairs.

Mum and Liliana were already in the car, awaiting my arrival. Before going to meet them, I caught some toast from a grumpy Papa James' breakfast. He had always hated sharing his food and I enjoyed it.

All the while we were on the road to school, my excitement couldn't be contained. My fingers wouldn't leave my pendant and my heart wouldn't stop thrashing in my chest. They played like drum notes in my head-not ceasing, not relenting.

I couldn't help but wonder what different adventures high school would hold for me. Soon, I'd have more girlfriends than I could count. We would gossip about the hottest boy in class, and the most boring teachers.

I might even find my soulmate, just like Papa James wanted.

Who knew what would happen?

I didn't...

And I couldn't wait to find out!

***

Seems like Mr. Creepy's really gone. Really an ungrateful asshole, isn't he?

What are your thoughts on that nightmare she had? Buckle up because there's more coming.

Next chapter is gonna be exciting!

Can't wait!