“Sis,” Tashia called out, noticing her sister staring blankly into the distance again.

Sharlene blinked, startled. “Sorry, Tashia,” she said, snapping out of her daze.

Tashia just nodded and gently guided her back toward the house. Their grandmother Felicia’s wake had been going on for almost two days now, and exhaustion was beginning to show in everyone’s eyes.

“I’ll come back tonight,” Tashia said softly, bidding farewell to her half-sister.

Sharlene nodded silently.

“Ashley, go get dressed now. Don’t give your mom a hard time today,” Tashia said kindly to the child, who only smiled and nodded back.

Before she could turn away, Sharlene handed her an envelope.

“I know you don’t have any allowance right now—and this is also a little something for helping me.”

Tashia hesitated, staring at it.

“I know it’s not much,” Sharlene added with a tired smile. “But when I have more, I’ll give you the rest.”

Without thinking, Tashia stepped forward and hugged her. It was brief but sincere. Sharlene blinked in surprise.

“That’s for you, sis. I’ll contribute this to Grandma’s burial,” Tashia said quietly, returning the envelope.

But Sharlene opened it, pulled out a smaller portion, and pressed it into her hand.

“Here—take this, at least for your travel expenses. Let me be your older sister this time.”

Tashia knew how stubborn Sharlene could be. She accepted the money, already knowing she would use it for something important—most likely for the wake itself.

Both of them had been left behind by their parents, abandoned without explanation. Yet despite everything, they had found strength in each other.

“I’ll go ahead now, sis,” Tashia said gently.

Sharlene waved as she watched her leave. Outside, a few neighbors lingered at the wake. Tashia waited by the roadside for a jeep, preparing to return to the small place she shared with her stepsister, Vivianne.

As she stood there, her eyes caught a familiar figure—Sharlene’s husband, Martin—walking toward the house with his best friend, Sheila. To her shock, she saw them kiss before stepping inside.

Her eyebrow arched. Seriously? At a wake?

Just as she was boarding the jeep, a woman in mourning attire caught her attention. She followed closely behind Sheila. Tashia tried to get a better look, but the vehicle pulled away, blurring the scene.

She glanced at her watch. Nearly 5 PM. Thankfully, her shift had ended early, and she’d picked up Ashley from school before heading home.

When she arrived, she paid the fare and unlocked the door. Inside, Vivianne was just setting her bag down, freshly home from work.

“Got off early today, sis?” Tashia greeted.

Vivianne nodded. “Yeah, thankfully.”

Tashia headed straight to the bedroom to change into her home clothes. Once dressed, she joined Vivianne in the kitchen to help prepare dinner.

“How’s she doing?” Vivianne asked after a while.

Tashia turned, puzzled. “Who?”

Vivianne didn’t answer right away. She exhaled deeply, her gaze distant.

“I had a dream the other night,” she said finally.

Tashia stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue. It wasn’t unusual for them to have long talks—it was just the two of them in that small, rented house.

“I saw Grandma,” Vivianne said slowly. “She was asking me for help.”

Tashia tried to smile, keeping things light. “You probably just need rest, sis. Are you coming with me tonight?”

Vivianne shook her head. “Not yet. I’m still unsettled by the dream.”

Tashia frowned. “What kind of dream?”

“I’m not superstitious, and I don’t believe in ghosts... but lately, something feels off. Each dream leaves me more uneasy than the last.”

She paused before continuing. “In this one, I saw a woman in mourning. I couldn’t see her face. Grandma was with a couple, and their hands were tied to something I couldn’t make out.”

Tashia’s pulse quickened. A woman in mourning? She’d seen someone just like that earlier.

“And then... I saw Ashley.”

“What? Why would Ashley be in your dream?” she asked sharply.

“I don’t know,” Vivianne whispered. “But something tells me... something bad might happen to her.”

Tashia could hear the tremor in her sister’s voice, could see the fear reflected in her eyes.

“Sis, take a break. Maybe you just need a good sleep,” she said softly.

Vivianne sighed. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I’ll lie down. Let me know when dinner’s ready.”

She disappeared into the bedroom, leaving Tashia alone in the kitchen. Tashia stood there for a long moment, gripping the edge of the table. Vivianne’s just tired, she told herself. She just needs rest.

After cooking and eating, Tashia lay down on the couch. Her sister’s words echoed in her mind, but she tried to shake them off.

I’ll just nap for a bit.

The house fell silent.

Then—softly at first—she heard it. A faint sobbing.

She sat up, scanning the room. The crying grew louder, coming from the corner.

Her heart thudded. The door was locked. No one should be inside.

She rose carefully. “Child?” she called out, her voice trembling.

No answer—just the sound of quiet, broken sobs.

She took a cautious step closer. “What’s wrong?”

The child slowly lifted her head.

Tashia froze.

“A—Ashley?”

It was unmistakable—Ashley’s face. But her eyes… her eyes were bleeding.

Tears of blood streamed down her pale cheeks.

“Help… help, Sister Tashia…”

That voice. That scream.

Tashia jolted awake, gasping for air.

A dream.

Her shirt was soaked in sweat.

Ashley—

Without thinking, she jumped to her feet and got dressed, ready to run to Sharlene’s house.

Vivianne stirred in the other room. “Are you leaving?” she asked groggily.

Tashia nodded wordlessly.

Vivianne glanced at the clock. “It’s almost nine.”

Still half-asleep, she went to the kitchen to warm some food.

“I’m heading out,” Tashia said, passing by.

Vivianne just nodded, watching her go.

Outside, the night air was heavy, pressing down like a warning.

Tashia stood by the roadside, waiting for a ride, her thoughts spinning.

No matter how she tried to convince herself it was only a nightmare...
she couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t.

It was a warning.