POV: Ayami

“It must be because I am in another house” I told myself as I twitched and turned in the big bed. It was comfortable beyond expectations, felt like I was laying on top of cottons, but because it’s an unfamiliar place, I found it hard to sleep.

Thud.

‘Good, now I am hearing sounds.’ I thought to myself as I refused to open my eyes

Thud

I involuntarily opened my eyes to the sound which was now louder.

I looked around

Wha..t?

This isn’t the room I slept in.

Did dad carry me to another room while I was asleep?

I got down from the bed to look around a bit more.

It was a fancy room for a mansion. I guess the people of the house have taste for luxurious items but still this looks odd.

 The room was lit by the floating fireball like thing on the wall, it seems like it is created by magic.

 A heavy white cushioned chair with gold painted handrests sat in front of the large window beside the bed, the bed’s frame was different from the room I slept in, its headboard and footboard covered in heavy designs were painted gold similar to that of the chair.

Or is it actual gold?

I noticed a dressing mirror attached to a table in the corner of the room. It too had gold designs. I took a look at the mirror only to be shocked.

When did my hair get this long? And is this silk sleepwear that I am wearing? I wore 2-piece pyjamas to bed and I don’t have a silk sleepwear.

I looked down to inspect the table to see a small photo in a fancy gold frame. Me, Reo, Mom and Dad all smiling in the photo. But the odd part was we were all dressed like we were nobles or something. Reo and dad both wore long green and white coats while mom and me wore green and white gowns. 

Thud.

My thoughts disrupted by another loud thud. It sounds like someone falling down.

Is it that kind of dream again?

I opened the door to peak out at the hallway.

Oh …

This isn’t grandma’s house.

The moonlight that got in through the big arched windows lit up the long hallways, red carpets covering its floor.

I gulped.

It must be a dream, yeah, it’s definitely a dream how else will I be in a place I don’t recogonize in a dress that I don’t even have. I thought to myself, hands on my chest in attempts to calm the racing heart.

I took a deep breath and stepped out of my room. The room looked like it was in the middle of the eerie hallway lit by nothing else but moonlight.

 I chose to go to the right side of the hallways as it felt safer, lit by the moonlight.

I have never thanked the moon as much as I do now.

I noticed a knight costume close to the wall. I walked as if I didn’t see it. Dare I open its helmet and saw eyes I would just drop dead here.

I approached the end of the hallway to see stairs that lead to floors both up and down.

Thud.

This time the sound louder and accompanied by clashing noise of metals. The sound and whatever the reason for it, was coming from the floor above.

So, we gotta go down the stairs and move away from the sound, I don’t want to risk investigating some place I don’t know. Even if its dream.

I turned to go down stairs but my body said otherwise.

Why can’t my dreams be controlled by me? I thought to myself tired at the constant discomfort it brings me.

I climbed up the stairs to the next floor, which had a similar hallway like the floor down below.

I moved a bit into the hallway and started hearing more noise.

Heavy panting, sound from objects falling, clash of metals …. or swords?

I heard muffled voice of a woman

“Forgive me my daughter”said the weak and low voice of a man was close enough to me

I paused before I moved a bit more to see that the door to the room was open. I peeked through the door to see a woman kneeled down at the floor, supporting the man on the floor with her arms.

Around them were dead bodies of guards, and two swords soaked in blood, one beside the wounded man the other near the woman.

Her long brown hair soaked in blood from the floor.

The man is severely wounded

 My mind frantically tried to call someone for help but my body refused, as it froze to where it stood.

He moved the hair that fell in front of her face.

The light of the fire beside flickered as I tried to make out her face.

Huh?

Any futile attempts of my mind to try and call out for help stopped, as I looked in horror. My mind now sharing the state of shock that my body was in.

Kayda?

She was crying uncontrollably as she now held the lifeless body.

My ears were pierced by her screams as something bright from them blinded my eyes.