{Hello, here is another chapter. Enjoy and leave your feedback. :-) }

You are disoriented. Blackness swims toward you like a school of eels who have just seen something that eels like a lot. - Douglas Adams

Chapter - 11

Cool wind brushed my face blowing my hair backward. The moon was shining bright in the sky. I was standing in the middle of a meadow surrounded by the woods. The night was cool and silent. Sounds from night creatures came from a distance. The total environment looked calm and pleasant. There was a mild fragrance in the air that could easily calm your breathing. It smelled the fragrance that fills the earth when the first drops of rain falls on ground after the burning summer. The place looked abandoned as if it belonged to the other world far from the human world.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath feeling my lungs with the aroma of the woods.

I glanced down at myself.

I was wearing a white flowing gown which touched the floor. It had a sweetheart neckline. The a-line gown fitted perfectly at waist and bust which was embedded with beads gorgeously as well the hem of the skirt. The material felt smooth against my skin. I whirled around giggling. I stretched my hands in the air which was white gloved till the elbow. I smiled as I saw the pale skin visible above the elbow glowed under moon light.

Suddenly I heard some sound coming from the woods. It was a whispered sound, as if someone was calling me. Without any back thought, I started towards the woods.

I entered into the woods. My bare feet crushed the leaves beneath it. While my long skirt trailed on the ground. I was now surrounded by the big trunk trees. I followed the direction of whispers. I didn't know whatever I was doing was risky or not. It felt like there was an invisible power which was pulling me towards it. I wanted to turn away and run but my mind urged to move the step forward. I was acting on an instinct.

There was no any other movement. The only sound coming was the rustling of leaves under my bare feet and the sound of whispers which was getting louder and louder as I closed the distance between us. But I could hardly make any sense of what those whispers meant. It was in unknown language but still I felt like it was calling me. My heart had become cold now. This overwhelmed fear caused my throat and lips to dry. I licked my dry lips still moving. In between I turned around the path to see any suspicious movement.

I halted when I found I cannot move any further. It was all pitch black now. The moon had gone behind the clouds. I gazed around. I was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by darkness and only darkness. My heart started stammering hard behind the cold chest. The whispers were still echoing in the darkness. I turned in my right and followed my instinct. Within few steps I was facing a cave. I noticed that the whisperings were coming within it. It was partially hidden behind the trees. No one would able to see it in the first glance.

I reached at the entrance of the cave. It was dark inside. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. The cave emanated a power. Power that I cannot describe. Suddenly, a bright light formed inside the cave blinding me for a moment. I blocked my eyes by my hand, took a step back in an utter shock. Slowly the bright light faded into a dim light. A sudden urge shot through me to enter the cave. I felt the same power attracting me in. Before I could decide anything I found myself stepping inside the cave. As soon as I entered, a gust of wind brushed me stumbling me backward in the process. I took another step ahead towards the light. Counting each step, I followed the light. Besides the sound of my footing, I could hear the sound of hooting and hissing of other creatures in there. It was very cold in. I wrapped my arms around my body.

I kept on walking for how many hours, minutes or may be seconds I don't know. But it felt like forever. The whispering slowly started to fade when I reached an open cell like compartment. The room was bright and so took me a minute to adjust my vision to the new light. There was a stone table or at least it looked like one in the middle. Then I noticed why the room was so bright. There was a substance on the table which emanated that light and a sort of power. I dragged my feet near it to take a close look. My face furrowed when I saw a dagger. It wasn't any ordinary dagger though. It was a beautiful dagger precariously floating vertically, hardly touching the stone table surface. I stood there admiring it. It had a highly detailed scabbard and handle. Pommel of the dagger conjured a symbol which I recognized as a pentagram with a blood red color stone embedded in the centre. The handle also conjured some weird symbols. The double sided blade looked sharp and shined in such a way that could blind any one.

I raised my hands to touch it but held myself back flailing my arms on side. Something inside me wanted to scream, telling me to move away and run, telling me that it is a danger. But still I couldn't move. Since I heard the whispers, all the actions I made were against my will.

But again then, a powerful urge shot through me to touch the dagger. I raised my hands slowly moving towards it. I traced my hands lightly over the handle with my fingertips. Reluctantly, I gripped the handle and removed it. As soon as I removed it, a wind gushed through me. I felt power invade my body slowly absorbing into my veins. I didn't know what happened. Each and every sense in me got heightened. I felt being stronger and powerful. I frowned looking at the dagger.

I stood there gazing at the dagger raptly. All the fear vanished and a power surged through me. A power of being stronger, confidence to win over anything.

"Ashline..." I heard someone call me softly. I turned abruptly in the direction.

"Who is it?" I asked sharply when found no one. Slowly two figures came out of the shadows, revealing their foot first following the rest of the body and lastly their face.

When the light revealed their faces, a gasp let out my mouth. My eyes widened in shock. I blinked my eyes that had become foggy with tears now. I.....I couldn't believe it.

"M...mom" I whispered in a trembling voice. She nodded with her beautiful smile that I had seen in the photo.

"D..dad" I turned to my dad. He had his gentle smile stretched on his lips.

The fear which had vanished a second ago, invaded me again. My heart threatened to jump out of my mouth. There was no reason for me to fear, but it was too much for me to digest in. I couldn't believe my eyes. I feared for them to vanish in a puff of smoke. I wouldn't be able to bare the pain that would cause me when I'll find them gone. I opened my mouth to say something but the words betrayed me. After staring them for several minutes glued to the ground, I made a move.

They were looking at me with admiration and love I wanted to see my entire life till today. They looked as beautiful as they looked in the photo. Tears sprung into my eyes. I walked to them and stood in front of them maintaining a cautious distance. I held myself back to touch them.

"I..is this r...real? Or a..am I dreaming?" I asked almost inaudibly, even difficult for me to hear. My mom smiled and placed her palm on my cheek. I tilted my face on her palm feeling the comfort. So much I had missed her. So much I had wanted to feel this touch. More tears started rolling down my cheek. I didn't hold them back as I always did. I let them fall freely. She wiped my tears and smiled sadly.

"Of course this is a dream love. But that doesn't mean that this isn't real." She had a soft and lovely voice like a wind chime tinkling with a wind.

"B-but how's that possible? If it is a dream then how can it be real?" I frowned.

"It depends on what you think and what you believe, love." She replied softly.

"I didn't understand. If this is a dream then how am I feeling your touch, it's warmth?" my frown got deeper almost touching the two brows.

"Ashline," she held my palm in her hands and sighed. "Dream is a state where your subconscious mind is active and your conscious mind is abstracted and released from the reality. It is a point at the doorway between the world of the reality and the world of the illusion. This is a world where the people from the other world can contact you. But then, it depends totally on the person what to believe and not." She explained.

It didn't make any sense. I didn't understand how one can contact other in dreams. And I can't deny also that right now I was seeing my parents. But then, there is the thing she said that it depends on us what to believe. And I had to decide now, should I believe that this is really happening?

"I know love, it's difficult for you to understand it. But you need to listen to your heart, what you must believe."

"Why am I dreaming this?" I had many questions in my mind but this question slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.

She didn't answer it directly. She gazed into my eyes for few minutes and then gently gripped my shoulder before replying. "We need you to know that you are a strong girl Ashline. And we both love you. No matter what happens, we are with you. Don't think you are alone ever. There will come a time when you will need all your strength to hold on you. You will have to face lots of things......lots of. And for that you need to remain stronger." She held my face with both her hands and kissed my fore head. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"No matter what truths and lies you face, never lose yourself, Ashline. The only thing that is true is that you are what you are. Never change yourself. Never lose yourself. Never let yourself die. You are a nice person, Ashline. Believe that." I didn't understand what she was saying and why, but deep down I knew I would get my answer at right time. I turned to my dad. He had his arms snaked around my mom's waist.

"Dad....." I called him filling his face into my eyes.

"Your mom is right, Ashline. Never forget that we both love you. You are our brave child. You are a strong girl. Be yourself always. Be selfless and selfish. You have to survive my child." Dad said with his gentle voice.

"Mom, Dad....please hold me into your secure arms. Please hug me?" More tears sprung into my eyes. They both nodded smiling and hugged me. I hugged them both tightly with my one arm around mom's waist and other around my dad's. I didn't want to let them go. I wanted them to hold this way forever. I wished time would freeze. Whatever this world was reality or an imagination, I didn't want to let them go.

My mom caressed my back while my dad patted. I was now sobbing burying my face into their neck.

"We are running out of time Ashline, we need to go." My mom tried to hold me back but I tightened my grip around their neck and shook my head no. But then I sensed my dad jerk back and second later heard a muffled scream from my mom. I abruptly pushed them holding onto their arms. Horror filled my eyes when I saw blood dripping from their stomach. I looked at mom. Her face was pained but still she gave me a sad smile and dropped to the ground. My dad collapsed too. I screamed when I noticed my glove had become red which was white earlier and I still had the dagger in my hands. But it was now stained with blood. Reality hit me like gunfire what I had done. I had stabbed my parents. I had stabbed my own parents and I didn't know I had done. Instantly, I dropped the dagger down. I glanced at my parents who were now lying in the puddle of blood. I screamed again. More tears started falling and I was crying now. I was crying loudly. I dropped myself on the floor cradling my mom in my lap.

"No, no, no, no, no....no mom no. please mom, don't die. No mom. Please....." I was rocking back and forth now. "Dad, please open your eyes dad. Please don't leave me again. Please dad no dad, please...." I was now sitting in the puddle of my parent's blood. I killed them, I killed them. The thoughts went on repeating in my head. My mom inhaled a restrained breath. She was still breathing.

"Mom..." my voice trembled.

"D....don't worry love. It's not your f.....ault. This was m....eant to happen. B-but you promise us, promise us that....... you will never lose hope. You......you will remain stronger. Promise us." Her voice was breaking. She was straining hard to complete her words. She was in pain because of me.

"Promise.....Ash...."

"I ....I promise you..." I replied her in a quivering voice. I then saw her smile vanish and her eyes close. She was dead.

"No........" I screamed loudly holding her to my chest rocking back and forth. My chest tightened. I noticed I had stopped breathing now. I tried to inhale but I couldn't. I couldn't breathe. My chest was paining. My throat was burning. My white gown was now stained with my parent's blood. But I couldn't care more. I killed my parents. I killed them. My vision started blacking out. I knew I was falling into darkness again. I didn't want to leave my parents. I tried to keep focusing but failed. I screamed again when I felt myself passing out.

Ron's POV :

I saw her writhing on her bed, as if she was in pain. I guess I knew the reason. Perhaps she was having the same nightmare. It was strange that a particular dream can haunt someone so much for almost every night. I couldn't see her in pain.

I ran to her side and sat on the bed. I brushed my hand on her forehead into her hair to caress her. I needed to comfort her. I would do anything to take her pain away. But I didn't know how to do, what to do.

She started screaming suddenly. I gripped her shoulder from hurting herself.

"Ash, realx.......it's a night mare...open your eyes..." I tried to wake her up. That would at least lessen her pain.

"No mom......don't die......dad.........no......please........" she kept on murmuring. It was hard to take in the words she was saying.

"I killed them.......mom....dad.....I killed them......." I realized what the dream was about.

"Ash, no one is been killed, it's a nightmare...........wake up Ash please." I shook her and she woke up with a scream.

Her face was streaked with tears and more were spilling down. She clutched her chest. She was breathing heavily. When she saw me, she gripped the front of my t-shirt and started crying.

"Ron.....Ron I....I... Killed them, I killed my mom and dad........I kill-"

"Sssshhhhh........" I held her tiny face in my hand forcing her to look at me. "Look at me Ash, you didn't kill anyone. It was just a nightmare." I tried to comfort her.

"No, I killed them Ron....I killed them. With these hands, my own hands...."

"Gosh, Ashline!!!! Look around yourself; you are still in your bed." I yelled at her frustrated and immediately regret it. "Ash, you were sleeping. You had a dream. It's not real." I said softly making her calm down.

She eyed the room and her contorted face relaxed. She was now breathing normally. But then she gripped her head in her hands. She had a hit on the back of her head. It must have pained her. I immediately picked up the glass of water and gave it to her but she denied. Her expression was changed, as if she was trying to remember something. She traced her hand over the wound feeling the bandage.

"What happened?" She asked me confused. I didn't know what to say to that. Didn't she really remember what happened last night? Her eyes were seeking for answer.

How could I explain what happened when I myself unaware of most of the part?

I took a deep breath.

**FLASHBACK**

We searched her everywhere we thought possibility of finding her. But we didn't succeed.

"I think I know where she is." Mitzy had said suddenly when we were in some argument. I turned to her fully confused.

"What do you mean?" Rendal exchanged confused look with me.

"Come on. Let's go" she said sitting back into the car.

"But where?" we asked in unison.

"Graveyard." She replied grimly.

I drove the car to the front of the gate that opened to the graveyard. The night was partly dark for the moon was half hidden behind the clouds.

I stepped out of the car. Rendal & Mitzy did the same.

"You both stay here. I'll go and find her." I said in an authorized voice.

"Dude, we haven't come here to simply stay behind. She is our friend too. So I am coming with you to search her." Rendal protested.

"Okay, come on then." I started turning.

"Where do you think you are coming?" I turned back again to see Rendal was glaring at Mitzy.

"I am coming too." she said placing her hands on her hips.

"You are not coming Mitzy. You will stay inside the car locked until we come back." I said each and every word clearly.

"No way are you doing that to me. If you both are ignoring it then let me remind you, she is my friend too and I care her as much as you do. I am not leaving behind." She glared with the fuming anger.

I sighed. Girls can be so stupidly stubborn at times. This was not a time to deal with this. Rendal was trying to convince her when I stopped him.

"Let her come. We will be simply wasting time. And I guess she will be safer with us rather in a car alone."

Rendal slapped his hands in air and nodded.

I pushed the old rusted gate of the graveyard which opened in an ear piercing noise. The graveyard was at a distance from its main gate. We slowly made our way up to the graveyard. Mitzy kept on stumbling in her track followed by the cursing. But she was really a pretty girl. I was glad that they both cared for Ash and now were here with me in search of her.

Suddenly I heard a heart stabbing scream.

"It's Ash" I gasped.

We ran towards her. She was screaming. My heart started pounding hard. I ran faster and saw her coming down the slope in our direction. She stumbled on me. I caught her shoulder in time preventing her falling down. But without looking at me she screamed and fell unconscious in my arms. I tried to wake her up. I took a look around to find the source of her fear but found nothing. Everything was still.

Panic raised in me when I felt liquid dripping from the back of her head. It was blood. She was hurt. Her face was streaked with blood too. She was all mess. I lifted her in a bridal style and came back running to the car. I threw the car keys at Rendal to let him drive it. I laid her in the back seat and shuffled myself in too. I cradled her head in my lap. She was still bleeding. I pressed my palm against her wound. I removed my t-shirt and wiped her face.

"To the doctor, fast." I screamed. I felt exasperated beyond endurance.

****End of Flashback****

"I...I don't remember what happened." Ash was frowning. "The last thing I remember is that I was driving home and my car..........my car, Ron where is my car?" her frown grew bigger.

"Erm.......Ash, we didn't find your car." She looked at me. Tears were threatening to come out. She dropped her face in her open hands. "But we have reported to the police. They will inform us when they track it down." I continued. "And I found your phone there in the graveyard." I said taking out her phone from my pocket.

"Thanks..." she smiled taking it.

"Thanks to that weird radium tattoo you have put on the back of your phone cover. It was lavishly glowing there in the dark because of which I found it there. Erm......forgot to mention in the flashback." I rubbed the back of my neck nervously.

In reply she smacked my shoulder and laughed. I loved the way she laughed. I would go to any extent to get it back on her lips. Even that meant to strip myself. I chuckled at the thought.

"What?" she scowled.

"Nothing. Just, if you want to give me cardiac attack then inform me few days early so that I can insure my life." That earned me another smack. Oh god! I love her so much.

I wanted to ask her about her dream. But I didn't dare to ask. She was smiling and laughing. I did not want to spoil the moment for her. She snuggled her head in my chest and wrapped her arms around me. I pulled her closer and hugged back.

"Where is Gran?" Her warm breathing was brushing my bare chest.

"She is down. She is all worried. I assured her that you are safe and took her down. I made her coffee to relax her."

"You did what?" she jumped back as if I had said I had a laid that night. Very bad comparison, I know but bear with me. I can't come out with better than this. And I really didn't have any laid till now.

"I made a coffee for her.....come on now Ash, don't give me that look." She was smirking. Though I loved her when she does but that also meant that I had a trouble storming towards me.

"When should I plan?" She said wiggling her brows.

"No way, I am no-"

"Ron, dear it's too late now. You need to go home now." Ms. Laura entered in and sat besides Ash.

"How are you feeling my love?" She caressed her hair. She was on the verge of crying.

"I am fine Gran." Ash gave her a gentle smile and hugged her.

"I'll take your leave now." I said getting up. "Good night Ms. Laura, good night Ash, take care."

"Oh wait dear, I have dry cleaned your t-shirt." She got up, placed a kiss on Ash's forehead and followed me down.

I had known Ms. Laura from the day I had known Ash. She had come to drop Ash to the kindergarten and I had approached to her to talk. She was a nice, caring woman who knew only to love and care.

I put on my t-shirt and stepped out after paying my gratitude.

"The one to thank is me, dear. If you had not been there......thank you for keeping her safe." She pat on my cheek and smiled.

I gave her a nervous smile and left in my car. If she had known what Ash means to me.............

{AN : hey don't throw tomatoes on me if you find it bit slow and boring. I promise it will get interesting later. Till then please bear with me ;-)

Love you all guys, do let me know you view with votes and comments.}