I'm going to die.
The thought came quietly.
I had no strength left. Too tired to see where I was, it seemed my life was ending, but I had more to unleash. I could not die yet.
The ocean pressed in from all sides, heavy and cold. I tried to breathe, but this body had already given up. It was too chill for my human body.
I could feel my body shutting down; not painful, just quiet. My legs were gone, and warmth faded.
So this is it. Soon, I wouldn't exist. Not as Mira. Not as anything but dust.
ugh…..
My eyes fluttered shut.
And somehow, the only thing I could think of… was that dream.
It always started the same way.
The night was dark and cold, and I lay comfortably on my bed. This was the night I turned 18. Never did I know it would be the beginning of a story, but I was troubled by something. It was this dream I had before
My eyes felt heavy, and I started dreaming. I wasn't even trying to sleep, but could not help it.
I dreamt of this ancient palace burning in fire, and I,
I stood still, watching the blade in my hand sink into his chest. I pushed the blade deeper; it was almost like I wanted him gone. It was hatred. I hated him, but his face said something else. His eyes were full of love, but the more I looked at him, the more I wanted to hurt him
He gasped. Blood spread beneath him he looked very miserable. His eyes didn't leave mine. Not anger. Not fear. The look of just love.
"Why are you doing this?" he whispered. "Was my love… not enough?" His beautiful face was all smeared in tears. I stared at him. At his shaking hands. The way he still looked at me like I was something worth saving.
The woman holding the blade—she had my face. Same straight black hair. Same brown eyes. It was me, but also not me….
But there was nothing in my eyes.
"Your biggest mistake," I said softly, "was meeting me."
He let out a weak, broken laugh. "Never… in a thousand years…" His breath faltered. "Will I regret loving you?"
Something inside me twisted. I wondered why a dying man would confess his love to a killer; it was beyond reasoning.
Like something inside me had already decided. The blade drove deeper.
"I loved you," he whispered.
I woke with a gasp, my hand flying to my chest. Oh, it was nothing. Just sweat.
The alarm screamed beside me. I shut it off, breathing hard, my heart ached a little, but I soon calmed down.
Again. Same dream. Same man. Same… me..
"Why does this keep happening?"
"You're having that dream again, aren't you?"
I looked it was Akira, my friend, whose voice came from across the room. She was sprawled on my bed, scrolling through her phone like nothing in the world could bother her.
Her curls were a mess, falling everywhere, and somehow she still looked put together. I was still gathering myself from the heck of a dream I just had.
I exhaled, sinking back into my pillow. "At first, it was just weird. Now it feels… wrong. Like it means something."
Akira didn't even look up. "Or your brain just likes drama."
I shot her a look. "These started after my 18th birthday. And they feel real, like too real."
"Mm." She tied her curls into a loose bun. "Or you're overthinking it. Which you do A lot."
I groaned. "You're just impossible."
"And you're dramatic. We balance each other out, hmm...."
I turned away, staring at the ceiling.
Maybe she was right. But it didn't feel like just a dream. It felt like something was waiting. But I could not think of that anymore.
Today was a special day, I would be going to college. I was in a mess, but I needed to get myself together,
"Are you done packing?" she asked.
"Almost."
I shoved the last few clothes into my suitcase. My reflection caught in the mirror for a second. Same as always. Straight black hair, brown eyes, nothing that stood out, nothing special, but I did look a little pretty, but I had an ominous feeling, I let out a sigh.
"You look pretty fine to me. Why do you look so off?" Akira asked.
I yet hesitated, I don't know why. I just can't shake this feeling off.
That dream… it felt like a warning or something from the past like i hv lived it.
But I shook it off. "Nothing. Let's go."
My heart wasn't racing from fear. Something else sat there instead. A quiet, heavy anticipation.
I would be leaving for Artemis today. And I would finally be in the same college as my friend.
Akira, on the other hand, stepped out looking like she'd put in effort without trying. Her curls framed her face perfectly, and she carried herself like she already belonged somewhere bigger.
"Mira, let's go," she said. "If you make me miss the train, I'm leaving you."
I smirked. "You'd cry in five minutes."
"Rude. I'd last 10 at least."
We laughed, and for a moment, everything felt normal again.
"Bye, Mom!" I called, grabbing my bag.
She rushed over, pushing a plastic bag into my hands.
"Take these sandwiches for the trip."
"Mom, I'm not going to war."
"You're going far, you should eat properly, take these, and have fun. Don't forget to text me when you reach, alright."
Her voice wavered just slightly.
I softened. "I'll be fine, really, you need not worry about me all the time."
She nodded, but her eyes said she didn't believe me.
Akira grabbed my wrist. "We're going to be late, bye auntie, I shall take it from here."
I took one last look at home… then turned away.
The cab sped through the city, and everything blurring past it was fast, and my heart was racing too.
Akira sat beside me, completely relaxed, scrolling through her phone like this was just another day, while I was trying to be cool, but excitement got me at last.
I nudged her. "Tell me more about Artemis, you've been there almost every time." My face told the story of an overly excited kid, but I just could not help it.
She handed me her phone instead.
"What now?" I said
I frowned at the headline
. Artemis Academy: The Most Mysterious School in the World.
I skimmed through it.
Not much is known. Influential graduates and secrets.
Always secrets.
I looked at akira its always this, even if I asked now she would not say a word sying its confedential but I still asked.
"What kind of secrets?"
Akira took her phone back, a small grin forming. "That's the fun part. We find out."
I wasn't sure, but I liked the sound of that.
Because deep down, something didn't feel right.
It felt like something was already in motion.
As something had already begun, and I was just now catching up.