She walked down the deserted street, the hem of her beautiful red dress brushing softly against the cobblestones. Her fingers tightened around the handle of the pink umbrella, its fabric fluttering in the wind as she made her way towards her friends. The weather had been unpredictable that day, but the umbrella, a gift from her fiancé, was meant to protect her—just like he always did. Her heart fluttered as she neared the gathering spot, eager to join them for the afternoon.

But when she reached the small clearing, she stopped. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and her breath caught in her throat. Her friends lay sprawled across the ground, their bodies twisted unnaturally, covered in blood. The vibrant red of their clothes was now stained, the lifeblood of their bodies seeping into the earth beneath them.

She gasped, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mind couldn't process the horrific sight before her, and panic bubbled inside her. Her legs trembled, but before she could even think to flee, a figure emerged from the shadows.

He stood there, his tall figure looming over her, his once-perfect suit now stained with crimson. His hands, too, were slick with blood. His face was pale, his eyes wide and empty, and yet he smiled at her—a twisted, broken smile that chilled her to the core.

Her fiancé.

"Romeo..." She whispered his name, her voice trembling with both fear and confusion. "Romeo, what have you done?"

He took a step toward her, his eyes clouded with an emotion she couldn't quite place—sadness? Regret? Or something darker? "You always say 'Romeo, save me.' I've been feeling so alone. I kept waiting for you, but you never came."

His voice was thick with emotion, and for a moment, she thought she could see a flicker of the man she once knew. But it vanished as quickly as it came.

"No..." She shook her head, her breath quickening. "You... you're not the Romeo I knew. What is this? What’s happening?"

Before she could react, he reached for her, trying to pull her close. His touch was cold, his grip strong, as though he were trying to hold onto her for dear life. But the sight of the blood-soaked ground around them sent a wave of fear crashing over her.

"No!" She pushed him away, her hands shaking as she staggered backward, eyes wide with terror. "Stay away from me! You’re not him. You’re not the man I loved!"

She turned and ran, her heart racing as she stumbled through the darkening streets, searching for a safe place. Her feet led her to the one place she knew she could find comfort, but even as she rushed towards it, she feared what she would find.

Her father’s house was nearby, a stone’s throw away from where the chaos had unfolded. She knew that if anyone could protect her, it would be him. The man who had always stood as her shield in this cruel world.

But when she burst through the door, the scene that awaited her stopped her dead in her tracks.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, and her father lay motionless in a pool of it, his once strong and protective body now limp and lifeless. Her knees buckled as she collapsed next to him, her hands trembling as she reached for his still-warm skin, hoping—praying—that somehow, he would wake up.

But it was no use.

Her heart twisted in agony, and tears streamed down her face as she let out a strangled cry. "No! Not you too!" She screamed, her voice breaking as the world around her seemed to collapse.

Her hands gripped the handle of the axe on the floor next to her, its blade gleaming with fresh blood. She didn’t know who had done this or why, but she had to escape. She had to get out.

As her body shook, she heard a sound—footsteps, slow and deliberate, echoing from the hallway. Her heart skipped a beat, her breath caught in her throat as she turned toward the door.

And there he was.

Her fiancé.

He was holding a large knife now, its edge glinting in the dim light. His pupils were small, almost inhuman, and there was something so cold and deadly in his gaze that she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

"Romeo..." she whispered, but it was not a name of love. It was a plea, a desperate cry for him to stop.

He knelt before her, his hand reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, delicate object—a ring. It was the same one he had shown her once, a symbol of their love, a promise of forever.

"Marry me, [Her Name]," he said softly, his voice trembling. "You never have to be alone again. I love you, and that’s all I really know. I talked to your mom... she picked out a white dress. It's a love story, baby. Just say yes."

The words were wrong, twisted, but there was a part of her that wanted to believe them. But deep down, she knew what was coming. She had seen the darkness in his eyes, felt the madness growing inside him. He wasn’t the man she had fallen in love with. He was a broken shell, consumed by his trauma, his mind lost in the fog of PTSD.

He took a deep breath, his grip on the knife tightening. "See you soon, my love," he whispered.

And with one swift motion, the knife plunged into her chest.

The world around her blurred as the pain erupted in her chest. She gasped, the warmth of her own blood spilling onto the floor. Her body trembled, and her vision dimmed. In those final moments, she could hear his voice in the distance, still speaking to her, even though she could no longer respond.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, but it was too late for apologies.

As she drifted away, her last thoughts were of the love she had once shared with him—the love that had led to this moment. She had been his salvation, his light. But in the end, she was just another casualty of the darkness that had taken hold of him.

Her heart stopped beating, and all that remained was silence.

Austin woke up with a start, his heart racing. He gasped for breath, his hands trembling as they grasped at the bedsheets. The room was still dark, and the eerie silence of the night seemed to hang heavily in the air. He glanced around, trying to process the images still vivid in his mind.

He had dreamed it all.

The red dress, the pink umbrella, the blood-stained bodies of his friends scattered on the ground. He remembered the twisted smile of his fiancé, covered in blood, and the words he spoke—words that had echoed in Austin’s mind, as real as the horror he had witnessed.

"You always say 'Romeo, save me.' I’ve been feeling so alone. I keep waiting for you, but you never came."

Austin’s breath hitched. The image of his fiancé—his once loving fiancé—was burned into his mind. What had happened to him? How could someone so gentle, so full of love, turn into a monster in his dream?

His body shook with a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature of the room. He tried to calm himself, telling himself it was just a nightmare, a product of his exhausted mind. But the fear lingered in his chest, like an unshakable weight.

Still trying to shake off the dream, he walked to the window, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He stared into the dark streets below, unable to shake the feeling of dread that had settled over him.

To be continued

Austin sat up in bed, his breath still uneven. The words from his dream echoed in his mind like a ghost refusing to be forgotten.

"See you soon, my love."

A shiver ran down his spine. It was just a dream, right? It had to be.

He shook his head, running a hand through his messy hair. He couldn’t let this bother him. He had work to do.

With sluggish movements, Austin got out of bed, stepping onto the cold floor. His apartment was quiet, almost too quiet, as if the silence itself was watching him. He tried to push the unease aside as he went through his morning routine—shower, coffee, uniform.

Dressed in his black and white uniform, he grabbed his phone and keys before heading out the door. The streets were still waking up, the early morning sun casting long shadows on the pavement. But even as he walked, the dream clung to him like an unwanted presence.

The hotel where he worked wasn’t far, just a fifteen-minute walk. A grand building with gold-accented doors and a polished marble lobby, it catered to wealthy guests who expected nothing less than perfection.

Austin greeted his coworkers with a small nod as he walked in, heading straight for the staff room. The usual chatter of employees filled the air, but he barely registered it. His mind was elsewhere.

"See you soon, my love."

Why did it feel like more than just a dream?

Shaking the thought away, he clocked in, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the hotel floor. It was time to work. Whatever that nightmare was… he would deal with it later.

Or at least, that’s what he told himself.

Austin moved through the hotel lobby, forcing himself to focus on work. He greeted guests, arranged room keys, and carried out his usual tasks. But no matter how hard he tried, the lingering words from his nightmare wouldn’t leave him alone.

"See you soon, my love."

The dream had felt so real. The blood, the twisted love, the haunting proposal. And yet, Austin tried to shake it off. It was just a dream… right?

“Austin.”

A deep, rough voice cut through his thoughts. His body tensed before he even turned around.

Standing before him was Cassian, the hotel’s owner.

Cassian was a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features and dark, piercing eyes. He had an air of authority, the kind that made people either respect him or fear him. His black suit was slightly undone—tie loose, shirt unbuttoned at the top. The faint scent of cigarettes and alcohol clung to him, as usual.

Cassian wasn’t just the boss—he was a problem.

He was known for his abusive behavior, his unpredictable temper, and his inappropriate interest in some of his employees. And for some reason, Cassian seemed to like Austin.

“Y-Yes, sir?” Austin said, keeping his voice steady.

Cassian exhaled a stream of smoke from his cigarette, his lips curling into something between a smirk and a sneer. “Spacing out again, huh?” He flicked the cigarette to the ground and crushed it with his shoe. “That’s not good for business, pretty boy.”

Austin clenched his jaw. He hated when Cassian called him that, but he knew better than to argue.

Cassian leaned in slightly, his voice lower. “What’s got you so distracted today?”

Austin froze. His eyes. His voice. Something about them felt… familiar.

Then it hit him.

Cassian looked exactly like Romeo from his dream.

The same sharp jawline, the same dark hair, the same piercing gaze. But more than that—his voice was the same. The deep, smooth tone that had whispered those haunting words in his nightmare.

"Marry me, my love."

"You never have to be alone."

"See you soon, my love."

Austin’s blood ran cold.

This was just a coincidence… right?

Cassian noticed the way Austin stiffened and chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement. “What? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Austin forced a laugh, shaking his head. “No, sir. I’m fine.”

Cassian tilted his head, watching him carefully, as if he could see through the lie. Then, with a smirk, he stepped even closer.

“Good.” He lifted Austin’s chin slightly with his fingers, forcing their eyes to meet. “Because I’d hate for my favorite employee to be… distracted.”

Austin felt a chill run down his spine.

This was bad.

Very bad.

Because for the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure if his nightmare was just a dream…

Or a warning.

To be continued

After a long, exhausting shift, Austin couldn't shake the unease clinging to him. The resemblance between Cassian and the Romeo from his dream was too eerie to ignore. His voice, his face, even the way he spoke—it was identical.

He needed answers.

Instead of heading straight home, Austin made his way to a therapist’s office. He had never gone to therapy before, but if anyone could make sense of what was happening, it had to be a professional.

The small office smelled of lavender and old books. Across from him sat Dr. Evelyn Carter, a kind-looking woman in her late thirties. She adjusted her glasses and smiled gently. “Alright, Austin. What’s on your mind?”

Austin hesitated. He wasn’t sure how to explain this without sounding insane.

But he told her everything.

The dream. The blood. The haunting proposal. The words, "See you soon, my love." The way Cassian looked exactly like Romeo in the nightmare.

Dr. Carter listened patiently, nodding at the right moments. Then, after a brief silence, she spoke.

“That sounds exactly like a book I read when I was younger,” she said thoughtfully. “It’s called The Crimson Vow.”

Austin’s breath caught. “What?”

“The story is old—almost a legend at this point. In the book, Romeo is deeply in love with a woman named Seraphina. But his love becomes obsession. He kills everyone close to her, believing that only he deserves her. And in the end…” She paused, looking at Austin carefully. “He kills her, too.”

Austin felt the air leave his lungs.

“Yes,” he whispered. “That’s exactly what happened in my dream.”

Dr. Carter frowned, flipping through a notebook. “That’s strange. The Crimson Vow isn’t a well-known story. It was banned in many places because of its dark themes.” She glanced up at him. “Where did you hear about it?”

Austin’s fingers dug into his jeans. “I didn’t,” he said. “I’ve never heard of it before. But somehow… I dreamed it.”

A heavy silence settled between them.

Dr. Carter finally sighed. “Austin, I think we need to figure out why your subconscious is connecting you to this story. If Cassian truly resembles Romeo from the book, then this could be more than just a coincidence.”

Austin swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”

She folded her hands together. “I mean, if Cassian is connected to the story, then you might be playing the role of Seraphina.”

Austin’s blood ran cold.

Seraphina died in the end.

And if his dream was anything like the book…

Dr. Carter hesitated, then reached into a drawer, pulling out a worn, leather-bound book. Its pages were yellowed, the edges frayed as if touched by many hands over the years. “This is my personal copy. You can borrow it, but…” She studied him with concern. “Be careful. Stories have power, Austin. And if your dreams are mirroring this one, there may be more to this than simple coincidence.”

Austin nodded, gripping the book tightly.

He needed to know more.

That night, Austin sat in his dimly lit apartment, the only sound in the room being the faint rustling of pages as he flipped through the book.

The story began with Seraphina at a grand ball, surrounded by laughter and music.

She was with her friend Nutty, chatting and enjoying the evening when suddenly, a hallucination of Romeo appeared before her, his golden eyes gleaming, red hearts swirling within them. Her heart pounded, her breath hitching—but before she could react, Nutty snapped her back to reality.

Seraphina’s fiancé, Romeo, was at the ball as well. He was handsome, with striking yellow eyes, green hair streaked with black, and two elegant earrings in each ear. He sat beside her, and though she forced a smile, fear gripped her.

Her mother saw him and immediately stiffened. “Stay away from my daughter,” she warned him.

That angered Romeo.

Seraphina, overwhelmed, fled the ball, gripping a knife in her trembling hand. She staggered onto the stairs, her mind clouded with desperation. “I was begging on the stairs… Cass, begging you… Please don’t go…”

But before she could do anything rash, the guards found her and carried her back to the party.

Her fear turned to a chilling performance. She played the villain in her own story.

“Romeo, save me, I’ve been feeling so alone. There’s somewhere we can be alone, I’ll be waiting—all that’s left to do is run.”

Romeo’s eyes softened at her words. He reached for her hand.

“You’ll be the princess, and I’ll be the prince,” he murmured.

But there was something deeply unsettling beneath his devotion.

Romeo would sneak out at night to meet her in the garden, whispering sweet words that made her uneasy.

“Close your eyes,” he would tell her, his voice like silk.

And she would obey, trembling as darkness consumed her vision.

Then, one day, she walked down the deserted streets, the hem of her beautiful red dress brushing against the cobblestones, her pink umbrella fluttering in the wind.

The umbrella was a gift from Romeo, meant to protect her—just like he always promised.

But when she reached the meeting spot, horror awaited her.

Her friends lay sprawled on the ground, twisted unnaturally, their bodies soaked in blood.

A cold shiver ran down her spine.

She gasped. Her heart pounded as she stumbled backward—until she saw him.

Romeo.

His once-perfect suit was splattered with crimson. His hands were slick with blood. Yet, he smiled at her, a twisted, broken smile.

“Romeo…” she whispered in terror. “What have you done?”

He stepped toward her, eyes clouded with something unreadable.

"You always say 'Romeo, save me,'" he murmured. “I’ve been feeling so alone. I kept waiting for you… but you never came.”

She ran.

Heart pounding, she fled through the dark streets, desperate for sanctuary. She sprinted toward her childhood home, her father’s house—the one place she thought she’d be safe.

But when she burst through the doors—

She froze.

Her father lay lifeless, bathed in a pool of blood.

Tears blurred her vision.

“No…” she choked.

Her hands trembled as she reached for his still-warm body, praying for a miracle. But there was none.

Her fingers brushed against the axe lying beside him, its blade dripping red.

Her breath hitched.

Footsteps.

Slow, deliberate. Echoing through the dimly lit hallway.

She turned—

And there he was.

Romeo.

He stood in the doorway, gripping a large knife.

His pupils were small, inhuman, monstrous.

Her voice trembled. “Romeo…”

But it was not a name of love anymore. It was a plea. A warning. A last desperate cry.

Romeo knelt before her, reaching into his pocket.

A ring.

“Marry me, Seraphina,” he whispered. “You never have to be alone again.”

Her lips trembled. She couldn’t breathe.

"I love you, and that’s all I really know. I talked to your mom—she picked out a white dress," he murmured.

It’s a love story, baby. Just say yes.

Seraphina’s eyes widened in horror.

Romeo’s grip tightened on the knife.

He took a deep breath—

And with one swift motion, the blade plunged into her chest.

The world blurred.

Pain. Blood. Silence.

As she drifted away, she heard his voice, soft and broken.

"See you soon, my love."

And then—darkness.

To be continued