The story contain scenes not suitable for very young readers or sensitive minds. Contains graphic sex scenes, adult language and situation intended for mature readers ...The following content may be disturbing to some readers as it may contain explicit and violent scenes. Please read at your own risk.

SYNOPSIS:

She was abused by her own father at the age of 9 and she endured it for at least 5 years. That scene would always replay in her mind which makes it harder for her to remain sane. Sometimes she'll get the idea of killing her self and dying, free from her father and free from her horrible experience, but her mother's image would always appear before her before she could do anything bad to herself. Nevertheless, life's really cruel as her strength and only hope left her as well. The only person who keeps her sane and alive was now gone. And it's also because of her scumbag of a father.

On the other hand, he was also wrecked as for the reason that he was raped when he was just 11. He was kidnapped by some hooligans who has great hatred towards his parents. He was tortured and was rescued after. He was actually on the brink of death at that time. It was a surprise that he survived and was still alive. His parents, who should suppose to be sad and guilty, still has the audacity to blame him of their sudden embarrassment he caused. That was the nightmare that he wants to run away from.

They both had their nightmares from their own families. Families that should be the one giving them a safe haven, a comfort, and an assurance that they have their families to protect them was the one who caused their life to be chaotic instead. The one who ruined them, who caused them pain. Pain and hardships which results to their own nightmares.

What will happen if they both meet each other?

Will they share the same sentiments and be each other's dreamcatchers or be each other's another nightmare?

Will they be willing to help each other cope with the situation and help each other, be their good luck charms that reflect positive energy and aid in the neutralisation of negative energy, whether awake or asleep. The one who provides a sense of tranquillity and calmness to one another as they face their bad dreams.

or....

Will they be each other's another nightmare that will keep haunting them even though they are awake. A nightmare that will broke the already broken pieces into mere fragments until they lose hope and decided to just surrender. Nightmares that may lead you to a dark abyss, surrounded by words that will result to you losing yourself and forgetting that you as a person is special too.

For those who live a nightmare reality, sleep is a black hole, lost in time, like death.

So... it's either black hole or the paradise, which one?

"No! Stop. . . . .please no!" I was awakened by a soft hand caressing my face.

My face was full of sweat as I gasp for air.

"You okay, hon?" a woman asked me using a voice laced with concern as she softly caresses my hair.

She looked at me worriedly and handed me a glass of water. "Here. Drink this."

I stretched out my hand and accepted the glass of water and sipped a mouthful of it.

I stayed silent for a while, staring at a hollow space infront of me, calming myself.

I dreamed of it again. I saw the monster's face again. Why can't I just forget it? Why can't I run away from it? Everytime I close my eyes, I can see his image in it. And when I open them again, there's nothing change, it's still the same. I can still see it.

I felt someone hugged me and showered my hair with gentle kisses. "I'm here, hon. I'm here. Is it that nightmare again?" she asked me gently, her soothing voice was like a lullaby, calming me down.

"Mom. T-The nightmare. . . Mom. . .I. I saw him again. . .Mom, what should I do? Will he come after me again? Mom, I don't want to. Please. Don't let him come and get me. I don't like him. He's a monster. A monster." I sobbed as I frantically complain to my Mom. I clenched my fist as I hold her shirt tight in my grip.

"SHHH. It's okay. I won't let him come after you, alright. Hon, don't be afraid. I'm here. I'll protect you from those monsters who have ill intention on you. I'll protect you." she assured me.

"Love? What happened? Did she dreamed of it again?" a deep husky voice was suddenly heard across the room.

It sounds lazy like he just woken up. I looked up and I saw him walking towards us with a worried expression.

"Mmm. That nightmare again." Mom answered. " Don't be afraid now, honey, alright. You see, that's dad right there. We'll accompany you, mm?"

Dad sighed and hugged us both.

"Would you mind if we sleep here, baby?" he asked me gently.

I shook my head.

"Alright! Mom and Dad will sleep beside you, hm? Now, calm down and sleep peacefully. Don't worry about those monsters, I'll guard you." he told me and joined us on the bed. Mom laid on my right and Dad was on my left and they hugged me.

Now, with them by my side, I feel safe.

Even though they're both not my biological parents, I can see and feel that they truly love and care for me. I'm only their adopted child but they treat me as their own.

They adopted me when I'm only 16 years old. I was so devastated at that time. My father killed my Mom that night. And so I tried to escape. Unfortunately, his stamina and strength is much more stronger than me so it's no shock that he got a grasped of me again.

I struggled and screamed, hoping someone to have the courage to help and save me. I guess the heavens in favored of me that night when a beautiful lady fought against my father. She was so skilled in handling my father. Although my father was a strong man holding a gun, she can effortlessly subdue him. I was so scared at that time and I was crying my heart out, feeling grateful and hopeless at the same time.

She glanced at me for a while before it landed back on my father. "What are you doing? Run! Get inside the car and close the door, okay? Run! Now!" she exclaimed and grimaced.

I immediately came back to my senses and looked around. There, I spotted a car on the other side of the road. Fortunately there's no car at the moment passing by and so I fled the scene and get inside the car. As soon as I closed the door, I heaved a deep sigh while still sobbing. I looked at the window and saw the woman kicking my father in the gut while holding both his arms which is holding a gun.

Please be safe, Ate, please. Be alive. Don't leave me.

A while later, I heard a gun shot. I immediately looked at them again and I saw how blood trickled down on Ate's clothes. Oh my god. She was shot. No! This can't be!

But she still fought against him with all the remaining strength within her. She managed to let him sleep when she tapped at my father's nape. She's having hard time to breathe and so she quickly tied my father up. The people nearby was so stunned and shocked by what they witnessed.

She looked at them and told them something. They immediately nodded their head.

And Ate walked toward where I am and pulled out her phone. She placed it near her ear and I saw her mouth open and close, probably talking with someone on the other line.

After a while, she ended the call and rushed inside the car. She ignite the engine and maneuvered the car. She gripped the steering wheel tightly and pant heavily and repeatedly like she was catching her breathe.

"Ate." I muttered.

She took a glanced at me and shut her eyes for a while. Her chest pumps up and down so my gaze landed on the part where there's a lot of blood.

"Y-You o-okay, hon?" she suddenly ask, having hard time to utter a word.

This is my fault. I cried again. If only she didn't help me, this won't happen. This is all my fault.

"H-Hey!" I cried even more after hearing that.

"Ate, I'm sorry. You won't be like that if it wasn't because of me. This is all my fault. I'm really sorry. . . Sorry. . Ate. . . Sor-"

"W-what are y-you saying? D-Don't say t-that. I-Im fine. O-Oh shit!" I was startled when she suddenly cursed. She seemed horrified so I immediately looked at the direction where her gaze landed and I felt like my face became pale as blood escape from me.

Oh my god! There's a big truck in front of us. It was moving towards our direction. Ate tried to avoid it by swirling the wheels to the other side but it's too late. The truck hit the side of the car we are in.

She rushed to me and hugged me. Her hand was on my head as she ushered me towards her chest, protecting me by her body. And then, I felt something hit the car we're in. I heard a crash and our car rolled. Ate hit her head hard on something I don't know and I saw blood. Blood. She was unconscious and there's blood all over her.

After that scene, I just found myself inside a hospital, lying on a hospital bed.

I felt a little dizzy for a while and so I shut my eyes for a minute and adjusted my sight. The first thing that came to my sight was the light above and the ceiling.

It was a very big room. I don't know what is this called but it looks pretty and comfortable.

After some moment of contemplation,. I finally remembered why I'm admitted here. It was because of that accident.

I sat up abruptly upon remembering Ate's condition. How is she? Is she okay now?

I had to make sure she's okay so I stood up from the bed and walked towards the door. However, before I could even open it, someone from the outside pushed it open and sashayed inside.

"You're the one she saved right?" I was shocked when he asked that question directly, without any inhibition, not beating around the bush.

His eyes are red and puffy from crying. He looked miserable and wretched at the moment. His gaze showed his resentment, regret, and anger. For whom? Undeniably, for me, right?

"You're the one she saved right?! W-Why can't you fvcking answer me?! Answer me!! Godamnit!! Ahhhh!!" I got scared when he suddenly burst out.

I tried to his myself in the corner of the room while hugging my knees..and pleading nonstop for the trouble I caused.

I-Im s-sorry. I didn't...... I... I d-didn't mean to...

Tears started flowing my cheeks again, sobs came out of my mouth as I uttered a word of apology repeatedly.

"I'm sorry, Kuya. I-Im s-sorry,"

"I'm sorry?! Are you kidding me, huh? We're talking about life here? Do you get me? It's all because of you. I lost her because of you!" I flinched because of how loud his voice is.

My cries became louder as well. I peeked at him and I saw him stunned. And then slowly his features softened and it's not so long when he started to alogize to me nonstop.

"I.. I'm sorry..... Please don't take it to heart. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Sweetheart, sorry, sorry." He even kneeled and cried while apologizing to me.

I was dumbfounded because of that. Why is he apologizing to me? He should not stop blaming me. He's right. I'm the reason why Ate got shot.

"Sweetheart, I didn't mean to say it, okay? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those words. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blame you. It wasn't your fault. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive me,"

"Bro," Another voice was heard.

It was a guy with a nurse outfit. He is looking at Kuya with pity in his eyes.

Kuya looked at him and he immediately shooked his head as he told him, "I didn't mean to say to words, Toni. I... I didn't. I'm sorry,"

"Alam ko, bro," He also kneeled in front and tapped Kuya's back, trying to console him before looking at me. "Pasensya ka na, bebe. Hindi niya lang kasi matanggap na... na.....," he smiled bitterly before he continued in a somewhat muffled voice. "..... na w.. wala na s.. siya," he tried to smile at me but it turned out to be a sad smile.

I'm afraid to be approached by a guy because of what my father did to me traumatized me but when the first guy approached me near the bed corner, I let him. He was still crying, shaking his head and telling me that he was sorry, that those words he uttered a while ago isn't what he truly meant and that he regretted what he had said earlier.

Actually, I know and I understand where he's coming from. Maybe Ate is someone important to him and so he reacted that way. We can't avoid that. That only natural for us to react that way because we're hurt, and shock. And to be honest, I'm flabbergasted because he even expressed his regret and ask for my forgiveness in the end.

Why is he like that? What's going on? Why is he apologizing to me? He should blame me as it was  definitely my fault. She was now gone because of me. Because she tried to save me.

I shook my head in disapproval.

"I should be the one saying sorry, Kuya. It's not your fault. It was mine. I'm sorry. If there was a chance for it to happen again, I hope for her not to come. I'm not gonna pray for someone to save me. I'm sorry, Kuya. It's all because of me. I'm sorry." I really felt bad. If in the past I'd pray for someone to come and save me, now, I really do regret it. Saving me pala would cost a life. It shouldn't be like that. I'd rather suffer there, in my father's hands than to let Ate be harmed, than to let her be gone. Forever.

He looked at me pleadingly and surprisingly he gave me a hug. I should have pushed him away but I felt safe in his arms right now. It wasn't like my father's. It felt like I should not worry because he's not gonna harm me. Instead, he'll keep me safe and sound.

"I'm sorry for my words earlier, sweetheart. I know I'm wrong and please don't blame yourself as she won't like it if ever she's hearing it right now. I'm sorry for blaming you a while ago. I was just so devastated that she left us. She's gone. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive me," he whispered gently.

I slowly tried to repriprocate his hug and told him it's okay.

And now I realized how he keeps on calling me sweetheart with doting in his voice. I felt overwhelmed and it was heartwarming. He feels like a Dad. His hug was full of warmth and his words are consoling. I never felt this for a very long time since that day.

"You should rest. We're gonna leave. I'll visit you here soon, okay? I'm hoping for you to get better soon, " he gave me a small smile before leaving with the nurse.

As the door of my room closed, my heart clenched and I started to overthink again. If Ate didn't come at that time, will she be alive now? If I didn't ask God to send someone to help me, will she still be there to rescue me?

Will it make a difference if she hadn't seen and met me? 'Cause if there is, I'd rather go back in time and choose her life over my freedom and happiness.