After what felt like eternity she began to calm down. Her mother ran into the room. She came and sat down on the bed beside them and gently placed a hand on Rosa’s forehead.

“You’re burning up” her mum said concerned, “You may be coming down with a fever. Have you been feeling ill lately?”.

Her father slowly released her letting Rosa face her mother. She weakly shook her head.

James rose from the bed. “I’ll call the school and tell them Rosa won’t be attending today” he stated.

Before Rosa could even try to protest her father was out the room.

“Come down in a little bit and I’ll make you some breakfast” her mother told her while gently stroking her hair. Realising she wouldn’t win this battle, Rosa nodded.

After her mother left, Rosa remained on the bed allowing her time to completely calm herself.

‘What the hell was that?’ Rosa questioned, her recent hauntings still lingering at the back of her mind, ‘What’s happening to me?’.

Rosa got up and went into the bathroom to wash up. She splashed cold water across her face and felt her forehead. She had been burning up, it felt like holding your hand against a recently used fireplace. That couldn’t be healthy, what was her body fighting off? Satan itself. Thankfully she could already feel it cooling down.

‘What do I tell them?’ Rosa wondered as she slowly wandered down the steps. She didn’t really want to speak of her nightmares, in fact she didn’t want to think of them at all. But her parents definitely knew something was wrong.

James and Mary were in the kitchen quietly conversing but quickly stopped when they saw her. Her dad shot up from his seat.

“Come on kiddo, we’ll sit in the living room” he told her, “comfier there”. He then guided her away on they sat into the couch in front of TV.

He felt her head. “Your temperature is already going down” he said slightly surprised.

“Should I head into school then?” Rosa asked.

Her dad gave her an amused look and shook his head. “No, we won’t take any chances. Just rest today and the weekend” he said.

Rosa nodded.

They sat there silently, and all she could hear was a subtle sizzling from the kitchen.

“So, do you want to talk about it?” James asked.

“About what?” Rosa asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

A small smile cracked across her father’s face. She’d clearly failed.

“Alright then. But remember whenever you’re ready, you can talk to me” her dad stated. Rosa couldn’t bring herself to respond but her father didn’t seem to mind. He picked up the remote off the coffee table and turned on the TV. It was a nice distraction.

Not long after, her mother wandered in with a plate and cup of tea. Rosa recognised that scent in an instant, bacon. Her mother placed the tea and bacon sandwich on table and took a seat beside her. They all watched TV together.

Soon after Rosa finished her breakfast, her parents rose from the couch. It was time for work. Rosa trailed behind, deciding she’d see them out.

“You’re home early today right?” Mary asked while putting on her coat.

“Yes, I’m coming home to get changed” James responded as he finished tying his shoes.

“Why what’s happening?” Rosa asked.

“A friend of the family is back in town” her father explained, “we’re grabbing a couple drinks and dinner”.

“I’m still upset I can’t make it” her mother stated, “give Louie my best will you James. Tell him I’ll see him soon”.

Her dad gave his wife a firm nod before exiting the house and heading to work.

Mary finished putting on her boots and turned to Rosa. “Take it easy today ok. I’ll see you later” she told her. Rosa nodded and then watched her mum leave the house.

Deciding that she’d take her parents advice and relax, Rosa brewed and cup of tea and watched TV. She also got changed out of her pyjamas and showered, in hopes of tricking herself into feeling like she wasn’t being completely idle.

Most of her day was spent sitting in the living room, flicking through the channels, trying to find something good to watch. It didn’t help that, no matter what she watched, there was a constant ominous feeling in the back of her mind. After going over every channel three times and finding nothing, she decided it was time to do something else. She landed on reading.

Rosa quickly grabbed her book from her room and nestled into the couch. She’d only read the first sentence when it hit her. Like someone had physically smacked the thought into her skull, she remembered this was the exact position she’d been in during her nightmare. An eery chill shot up her spine making her hairs stand on end.

She slowly put down her book and rose from the couch. Her hand began trembling. Rosa quickly smacked it.

Why was she scared? It was just a bad dream nothing more, exactly like it was the nights before. She pinned what had happened on the way home from school to nothing but a trick of her mind. She had been exhausted and was already on edge because of the nightmare.

Rosa began to feel embarrassed, about her own childishness. In a burst of annoyance and confidence she went and turned off the living room lights and slumped down into the couch. Rosa would prove once and for all that it was all in her head. It didn’t matter if her mind was playing tricks, her parents where out of the house, it couldn’t harm her.

She didn’t know how long she’d been sitting in the dark waiting for something to possibly happen but she soon started wishing she hadn’t. Not only was it unsurprisingly one of the most boring things ever but … she hated to admit but her mind may have been more powerful than she thought. That arrogant burst of confidence had before slowly decayed as soon as reality began to coincide with the nightmare. The final straw was when it seemed like shadows were darting around the room.

The living room door swung open and Rosa leapt out her skin. A large silhouette entered from the hall. The lights sprung on, revealing her father.

“What are you doing?” he questioned.

“Reading”.

His face creased. “In the dark?”.

“I was resting my eyes”.

James’s brows furrowed further but he shrugged and left back into the hall.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Fine” Rosa said following him out.

“Have you eaten?” he inquired, while heading up the stairs.

“I ate lunch but haven’t had dinner”.

“I don’t think there’s any dinner in anyway” he called down, “I’ll leave you money and you can get a takeaway”.

James came back down the stairs in a new outfit. He was dressed smartly in a nice shirt, jumper and his fancy winter coat.

“When do you leave?” Rosa asked.

“Soon” he replied enthusiastically, “We’re meeting up in the city centre”.   

“Very nice” Rosa said. She was slightly taken back by her dad’s eagerness, must be a good friend he was seeing. She wondered if she’d ever get to meet him.

“So?” her father abruptly stated.

Rosa cocked a brow.

“Are you finally ready to talk about this morning. Why were you so scared?” her father asked, “Must’ve been some dream, takes a lot to frighten you”.

“I wasn’t scared” Rosa protested.

James stared at her blankly.

Rosa gave in. “I’ve just been having some unpleasant nightmares that’s all” Rosa admitted.

“Such as” James insisted.

“Erm well the first one was some big wolf monster attacking me after walking home from school” Rosa told him, she then chuckled to herself, “Then the next day on the way home, I must have been exhausted because, I actually thought the monster had become real and was chasing me through park. In fact I even imagined some stranger killing it and saving me. It was why I was late”.

She continued to laugh at her own stupidity. She looked at her father expecting a smile and joke about her needing to get more sleep. But instead he stared with stern, dark eyes.

“What’s wrong dad?” Rosa questioned concerned.

Her father blinked and in an instant was back to his usual self. “Nothing kiddo, little caught off guard, you need to get some more sleep” he joked, “What about this morning. Same nightmare?”.

“No” Rosa said, the memories instantly souring her mood. “I can’t really explain it, but it was horrible. I just remember pain lots of pain. The house had been completely wrecked and was covered in blood. And I heard … I heard …”. Only a whimper escaped her. She couldn’t say it.

“What is it Rosa?” her dad asked gently.

Rosa breathed in. “I heard you and mum die. Brutally. It sounded and felt so real. It’s been haunting me all day” Rosa said.

Her father stared at her with calm and calculating eyes. With a soft smile he ruffled her hair. “As you said, they were only dreams Rosa. Don’t let the fear they bring control you” he said.

Rosa nodded, he was right she couldn’t be beaten by some stupid dreams, she was an Elacti.

“Attagirl. But I would recommend you take one of the blue pills in the bottom cupboard before you sleep. They’ll help get you some proper rest. You’ve been looking absolutely exhausted lately” Her father informed her.

“Thanks dad”.

“Alright I’m off. Make sure you get your food delivered. No going out … we don’t want to risk your health” James said. He opened the front door, exposing the night sky and cold air. “See you later kiddo”. He waved and then was gone. Rosa didn’t move.

‘He was worried’. She’d been his daughter long enough now to see through any façade he made, and for a glimpse at the end then, she could’ve sworn it cracked.

‘Great’ she thought. She’d ruined her dads evening, she should’ve kept it to herself.

A while later, after Rosa had got her food, Mary returned home. She found Rosa sitting in the living watching a movie.

“How have you been?” she asked taking a seat beside her.

“I’ve been fine”.

“Have you eaten?” her mom asked, running a gentle hand through Rosa’s hair, like she would when she was a child.

Rosa nodded. “Dad gave me money for a takeaway”.

“Did he leave to see Louie on time?”.

“Yes”, she hesitated, “But he looked worried”.

Mary’s face creased slightly. “What do you mean?”.

Rosa retold her conversation with her father and explained her nightmares to Mary.

“I’m sure it’s nothing” Mary said in a comforting tone, “your father just naturally worries for you. You’re his little girl after all”.

Her mother then left her to sort out her own dinner and Rosa finished watching the movie.

Suddenly the front door flew open, shaking the entire house. Rosa rushed to the hallway to see her mother was already there, a kitchen knife in hand. But they both immediately calmed themselves when they saw it was just James.

“You’re back early” Mary stated.

“We need go now” he ordered urgently.

“What?” Rosa asked puzzled. She then saw her fathers expression. An expression she’d never seen. He looked … distraught. Scared even.

Fear began to brew in the depths of her soul. What could possibly make her father like this.

“In the car now!” he commanded even more insistently.

Without a moment of hesitation, Mary grabbed Rosa’s arm and dragged her down the hall.

“What’s going on?” Rosa questioned, as she was helplessly pulled along. Her fear reverberated with every word she spoke.

“I’ll explain later. I promise.” Her father stated and pulled her towards him. “Forgot your shoes I’ll carry you”.

He went to pick her up when his head suddenly shot towards the open door. Shadows moved ominously in the black abyss. James slammed the door closed.

“We’re too late” he murmured lifelessly.