"NO!" I exclaimed, as thrust myself up. It was over. Natalia looked at me and gently asked, "Again?" I nodded. This was the third time. I had no idea what was up with me. Those imitations of reality felt more and more real each time.

"What was it, this time?" Asked she.

"I don't remember." I replied.

"I think you need help," she said.

"I'm good." said I.

"No you're not!" said she as she calmly crossed her fingers with mine. "Three false awakenings in two days? That's too much!" She was visibly concerned by now, and honestly I can't blame her. I couldn't explain what's going on either.

"We'll see to that." I said. "Maybe, I'm just stressed out."

There was a pause. Dead of the night, with her just looking at me, worried and helpless.

"Come here." she called as she opened her arms. I fell in as her arms enclosed my neck. Honestly, it's the only thing I feel is real now. She gently kissed my forehead as she said, "Maybe, you're right. You need to relax a bit." She walked out of the bed and undid the blinds. The moon was in its full glory, and standing in front of me was a true goddess. Her face glistened in the lovely moonlight.

"Beautiful," I whispered under my breath.

"Aw, I love you too." Said she.

"Did you hear it?" I said as I blushed.

She smiled at me as she gently leaned in.I could feel the warmth of her lips, their enchanting touch,and her untainted love.

She playfully chuckled as she moved back. She was the only one who could make even such stressful moments like heaven, for some reason, it seemed to me that she was the reason that I was somehow able to survive this hell that I was constantly going through.

"So love, can I get you something to eat?" She asked.

"Okay, I'll come with you, baby." I replied.

I got out of the bed as she held my hand tightly and led me on. I could almost read her mind, she was just faking. Deep down, she was really concerned, but tried her best to not make me read that. That however, was fairly useless. We've been together for about two and a half years and it's almost impossible for us to hide anything from one another. I looked at her as she dragged me along and thought to myself, "Yes, I'm really lucky."

"Where is your mind?" Said she as she waved her hand in front of my face.

"Oh!I'm sorry, you said..."

"Hush. Stay quiet and relax. Let's just grab a bite and get some sleep. Don't worry you'll be fine." said she, smiling.

"I hope so."

She frowned, visibly upset upon hearing my comment. "You will be," said she as she landed a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Let it go, I know you'll be fine."

"Something is uncanny here," said I.

"What makes you feel that?" Asked she.

"I don't..." I tried to speak as I stuttered. Everything seemed to fade, my vision, blurred. Time seemed to slip away, my body, as if a cage, heavy, containing something sinister, something that was longing to break free. Thoughts clouded my head, a weird nothingness surrounded my vision. I thought this was the end for I had seen something that no language could express and no being would ever be smart enough to comprehend or explain. I saw 'nothing'.

My thoughts were put to end by my heavy breathing as I once again found myself thrusting myself up on my bed, exclaiming, "NO!"

Natalia was beside me. A creepily similar concerned look drawn on her face. That's when I froze, I realized and screamed out, "I remember!"

"What? what do you remember, love?"

I jumped out of the bed, distancing myself from Natalia and shouted,

"This is all the same! Nothing here is real! This is loop! This is fucking hell!"

I recalled everything, every bit, each moment. Six times, I went through the same loop six times and still do not understand what on Earth was going on.

"Again?","What was it, this time?" those words echoed in my mind. The only thing I thought was real was in fact all for nothing.

"Will I ever be able to get out? Am I doomed?" I asked myself.

Heavy lighting blinded me. I peeked out from my partly closed eyes. This was different. I took a sigh of relief, enveloping my face with my arms. I was almost in tears. I was out, I was finally out.

"Jay! Finally you're up!" I heard a voice exclaim. "Nat come in! Quick! He's up!"

I gently opened my eyes. It was Danny, my boy from college.

"What are you doing..." I started but was quickly interrupted as Natalia jumped, all over me, in tears. She hugged me tight, her arms all around me in a deadlock."It's okay," I said. "I'm fine." as I put my arms around her waist. She was sobbing uncontrollably, refusing to let me go.

"No you're not, you idiot!" She mumbled, almost out of air crying, but it wasn't her fault either. What has been happening to me over the past few days is as much of a mystery to me as it is a concern to her. I have no idea what's going on. Answers lead only to more questions. Nevertheless, I took a deep breath and told her,

"It's okay. I'm okay, babe."

She finally let go, leaned back, still in my arms and with her arms around me, she gently spoke,

"Why do you do this to me?"

"Honestly, with regards to this I have no idea either, but it's chill I'm okay, honey." I said.

"I wouldn't say so, bro." Danny interrupted. "You've been sleeping for about two days now, I don't even know what to call it. It wasn't a coma, as you mumbled and responded to slight pain and stimulation, but you just wouldn't wake up."

I looked down in silence, Natalia right in front of me as I remembered the hell that I had just been through.

"All I can call it is a suspended animation." He added. "Believe it or not, Nat is probably the one who incurred the toughest time. No ambulance would come get you in the storm and you only recently moved to UK too. I just got here as soon as possible after her call."

"I understand, Danny, but I'm fine, you don't need to go through so much trouble for my sake." said I.

"Fuck you and your formalities!" Said he. "You are not okay! Each time you put yourself to rest you enter a strange place, somewhere between a coma and general sleep. There is something wrong with that head inside, something that neuroscience or at least I, do not understand yet."

This was worrying. Danny and I studied together at college. He was what you would call a genius. By the end of our Master's Degree, he was already well known across the States for his groundbreaking research in neuroscience and clinical psychology. We had almost been like brothers at college, and I honestly never heard him use this phrase, 'I do not understand'. Not once. This was some real trouble, for if Daniel Londoño Rosado could not, I don't know who can.

"Tell me," he began. "Were there dreams?" He said, settling himself into a chair.

"I believe." I replied. "But they were strange to say the very least."

"What do you mean by that."

"I-I remember them, crystal clear and they for once made sense. When do dreams ever make sense?"

"Hmm." He paused. "So, was there someone talking to you?"

"No. It was this exact setting. Nighttime, just me and Nat. And the same dream continued in loops for like six times."

"Justin?" Nat interrupted. "I've a bad feeling about this. I'm calling Rosalia."

"What?" I responded. "What are you getting at, babe?"

"Who's Rosalia?" Asked Danny.

"She's a priestess at a local church. Nat befriended her some Sunday."

Danny took a sigh of disappointment and turned to Nat. That's what happens when someone mentions God, church, priests and anything he can't prove mathematically to him. He's a total atheist and chooses to bury the reason for the same within himself.

"Why?" Said he. "Do you not trust me?"

"I-It's not like that," said she, still in tears. "But I'm scared and worried. I can't lose him."

"Never mind," said he as he took a deep breath. "It's probably a weird case of hypnopompic sleep paralysis, although, must say it is different in many ways."

He stood up and walked out. His ever-lively face tainted with a deep frown. I tried to reach out to him. I did not want him to leave in this weather. Just then, Natalia held my hand and told me,      "Don't worry, he's staying." I nodded as a leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "It's okay. It's going to be fine." said I. "I hope it does." Said she.

I got out of the bed as Nat pulled on me, persuading me to stay put, but, nevertheless, I walked out into the living room. No electricity. Danny just sat there. His phone in his hands.

"15 minutes." He said nonchalantly. "The hurricane is coming knocking in just 15 minutes."

"It's chill," I said. "We've got nothing to worry, right? I mean, this is not a coast or something."

"Yeah," he began. "We don't have much to worry about that, however, I wouldn't be so sure about you."

"What? Why?"

"I can't figure out what's wrong with you," said he as his brows tensed. "The closest I can come is what I said, sleep paralysis, but that too is far away. I have no idea what to do now."

"I do," said I with an enthusiastic smile. "Pop a champagne!"

"Shut up! Are you nuts?" Said he in a rather amused and relaxed tone. "We have no clue how this would affect you!"

"I know, idiot!" Said I "I was just trying to calm you down. See? You chilled out in like less than a second, bro!"

"Okay," he started, his voice tensing again. He took a deep breath and began again. "I need to tell this to you. Promise me you won't..."

He hushed himself as Nat walked in and casually glanced at me, telling me to hold it, and that this was a conversation for later.

"When will you ever be serious?" Asked Nat as she came out the bedroom, still visibly concerned, although now consciously trying to hide it.

"How about... never," said I, as got her in my arms, playfully biting her ear.

"Whoa... whoa... guys!" Exclaimed Danny. "Get a room!"

"You haven't changed a bit, you caveman!" he added. "Always after the fun and the food!"

We enjoyed a hearty laugh amidst an exchange of memories as all the while I wished, thinking to myself, "I hope this is not one of the fakes."

The storm announced its presence, as the streets echoed amidst the heavens raining down. The electricity went off as we sat in the dead silence, only for a roll of thunder to tear through it.

Natalia fell back in my arms as we casually sat on the couch.

"Scared, honey?" I mocked.

She cast a seductive smile at me as she bit her lower lip. I gave in. Our lips locked in what were probably the best seconds of my life.

"So," I began.

"Hush." Said she, playfully placing her finger on my lips, reaching for my neck with the other. She pulled me in, all over her as she gently caressed my hair, firmly holding me with both her hands, she got close to me. We could hear each others' breathing, each of them screaming to the other - "Take me." I placed a mischevious kiss on her neck as I leaned all over her, smiles crossing both our faces as we continued our intimate interaction. Just then, I asked myself, "Where is Daniel?" I got back up and noticed something particularly uncanny, and rather creepy. Daniel was across the room, casually leaning against a wall. He wasn't moving at all, to a point where it was almost worrying and utterly scary. Nat had noticed this by now as well. She quickly thrust herself up and called out, "D-Daniel?" There was no response. I placed a foot out of the couch to go check what was on, as Daniel was a guy who was very alert and this just wasn't like him. I, however, was interrupted as Nat placed her hand on my chest shaking her head. He was looking in our direction, but I could say that he was too occupied to notice us.

"Maybe he's pulling a prank," I told myself as I thought of going on and check on him.

"I don't have a good feeling about this, babe." Said she. I held her hand. It was a fact that she was the one who had endured the most through this ordeal, and even though her concerns were very justified, I had to check on Daniel. I gently nodded at her as I slowly stepped towards Danny. He did not budge. This was highly disturbing. By now, I was there were less than a few inches between us.

"Danny?" Said I as I cautiously placed my arm on his shoulder.

"Huh?" Said he, shaking his head, visibly startled, as if he had suddenly been jolted back to his senses.

"What's wrong buddy?" I asked.

"It's nothing." Said he, as he displayed a brief, secretive smile.

"I haven't been sleeping well," he added. "Maybe I dozed off or something."

I could tell that he was lying, there was something that he was trying to hide, but I chose not to continue the discussion any further and tried to steer away.

"Fuck you and your formalities, that's what you said right?" Said I. "Go, get some sleep. We happen to have bedrooms." I said, mockingly.

"Yeah," said Nat. "You've really helped us a lot, Daniel. Come, I'll show you where the other bedroom is."

"No, it's chill," he began.

"Come on dude." I barged in. "You're not a visitor! Drop the formalities! "

"I'm sorry, Jay," He began. "I have to take off."

"What?" I began. "Have you see-"

"I have to go." He interrupted. "Now!"

And without a second look back, he ran out almost as if there was something chasing after him. It took him less than a few seconds to literally get his stuff and dash across the hallway, to the door. His speed was almost inhuman. I watched him as he got in his car and drove off in the direction opposite to the storm. Logical choice, but he almost hit a pole as a second car drove past him and parked in our second garage.

There was a heavy knock, loud enough to silence even the storm outside. Natalia reached out to answer and opened the door as a woman charged in. She had a neat blue shirt on along with a sober long skirt going just above her knees. Her black, silky hair was soaked wet, clearly showing that she had left in a hurry and had almost no time to prepare for the storm.

She held Nat firmly. Her hands firmly placed on her face and sleeves.

"Are you okay?" She began.

"Oh, I'm fine, Rose," Nat said. " What brings you here? You said it wasn't serious."

"I was wrong!" She screamed. "You are knee deep in trouble!"

"What do you mean?" I barged in.

"Are you Justin? Justin Saunders?" She said. Her eyes, wide with fear.

"Uh...Yes I am," said I.

"You have to come with me now!" She said as she held my hand dragging me out of the house.

"What is going on, Ros-?" Said Nat, visibly confused by now.

"I can't explain now. Come with me," she replied, as we drifted down the staircase.

"Get in! Quick" Said she, pointing towards a blue Cadillac carelessly parked less than halfway into the garage.

We got in as she commanded us both to take the back seats.

"Rosalia, tell me what's going on?" Asked Nat.

"So she's Rosalia?" I whispered to Nat.

"I was wrong." She mumbled. "I was very wrong."

"Care to clarify?" I asked, still skeptical. You know, stuff happens when you live with Danny for six years and have atheism installed into your system all day, every day. She turned to look at me and cast a look, a really nasty look.

"I don't understand riddles very well, you know." I defended.

"I believe you are under the shadow of a demon." Said she.

"What?" Said I. "I mean I ain't no Danny, but it sounds ridiculous to even me."

"You need help." She said. "It doesn't matter what you think. I've got the Arch-Bishop at the church. We have to dispel you while we still can."

"But Rosalia, you said it wasn't serious!" Nat mentioned, her voice trembling by now.

"Tricking priests like me is no feat for a demon. I doubt he could do the same for the Arch-Bishop, though." She replied.

"But why do think, that he-" Nat began.

"We've arrived. Get off, there is little time to waste!" She interrupted.

Nat looked at me. Confused.

"Get off! Now!" Screamed Rosalia. She wasn't bluffing, to say the least. The Arch-Bishop stood still as a rock amidst the storm. He eyes, however, were more steadfast, fixated at my face.

"Man, I think I might be starting to believe this shit." Said I.

"Do you think you could hold it in now?" Replied Nat.

"I mean, look at his eyes, babe. They stare right into your soul." I whispered.

"Come here, child!" Said he, in probably the most commanding voice that I ever heard. I hesitated to say the very least, and any rational being would. His eyes were almost lifeless, which prompted me to believe that he knew the outcome and it wasn't pretty.

"Come here, my child!" said he. "Let thy soul be rescued from the depths of the wicked."

"Okay," I began. " I believe you are mistaken."

"I am not possessed by any demon, gargoyle, ghoul, spirit, or anything from that side of the line." Said I.

"Feelings are an illusion, my child," he began. "What you feel is but an illusion of reality. For if the Lord gave the ultimate power of rightful feelings, evil would never befall on humanity. Our Universe would be a Utopia, and He, it's Supreme Emperor."

I stared at him for a while, completely blank, as I turned to Rosalia.

"Does everyone in England, use these fancy words?" I asked.

"Do you understand the gravity of the situation?" She said.

"Well, there is none at all!" I mocked. "Why do you want to exorcise a perfectly fine man?"

"We are not exor-" She began.

"Wait, Rosalia!" He exclaimed. "I see something within him, but, it is not sinister. There is something wrong here. Something utterly unsettling."

His brow tensed, probably the first sign of emotion I saw from him. Confusion over-shadowed all of us as we stood amidst the approaching storm. He raised his hand and looked up at me. His expression turned to that of fear in less than a second. His eyes wide open in horror. Moving his hand to his neck he started struggling to breathe. Soon enough, he began wailing, as everyone rushed towards him. He was catching on his last straws, and it was disturbing to say the very least. I froze, only to be brought back to my senses by the voice of Natalia, who screamed out, "Call an ambulance!" I rushed towards him and raised his head in my arms. He was halfway through life by now. I tried frantically, talking to him, gently slapping his cheek. I did not want him to close his eyes. I did not want to witness death once again. I was screaming by now as well. Every second, I let out a scream, "Don't give up! for God's sake, keep your eyes open!"

He took what I felt was his last breath as he gathered what was remaining of him to place his old, wrinkly hand on my face and whispered his last words, "H-He must leave!" The ambulance was nowhere to be seen.

"This bloody storm!" I screamed. "Rosalia, take him to your car!"

She nodded. I tried my best. We all did. Warming his hands and trying our best to keep his eyes open. Nat and I tried frantically as Rose drove. Those few minutes, were what revitalized my nightmares. Memories of my mother flashed before me.

"Not another one. NOT ANOTHER ONE!" I screamed.

Not another one. I could not afford to witness another death, just because I wasn't strong enough to do anything. Those feelings returned in less than a second. Overwhelmed by helplessness and an utter sense of powerlessness, I broke down. Memories flooded back to me, tearing open those wounds that had been sealed for long enough. I recalled, I relived all those dreadful moments when my mother was stabbed as we walked down the gloomy road back home and all I could do was sit and wail, helpless and pathetic.

"We're here!" Exclaimed Rosalia. "It's the city hospital!'

"Get to the reception, quick!" I ordered. "I'll carry him in!"

She nodded. I took my jacket off and placed it over his head and upper back. He was barely breathing, "Open your eyes, damn it!" I screamed. Attendants rushed out of the front door to aid me, as we got him in and on to the stretcher. He was immediately transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, as we sat outside, fingers crossed.

Time passed as our hearts refused to slow down. Natalia was sobbing, her hands covering her mouth as she did. I walked up to her, and pulled her head into my chest, gently kissing her forehead as she moved her arms around me, still sobbing.

 Rosalia was saying her prayers out loud as we waited for what felt like an eternity. Not long after the pastor walked in and immediately turned to Rosalia.

"What- What is going on, Rose?" He asked, struggling to hold back his tears as well.

She was silent. We all were. None of us could actually explain what was actually going on. The silence tore him apart, as he broke down into tears, falling to his knees, hands folded, as tears rolled down his eyes.

"Did I sw-swear to a life of celibacy, only to see this?" He mumbled. "To witness the demise of my very father, amidst such circumstances?"

"Pastor Charles was adopted by Arch-Bishop Matthew," Rosalia whispered. "He was a homeless orphan on the streets, who the Arch-Bishop took in and loved like his very own son."

"It's okay, Charlie," Rosalia told him, gently patting him on his shoulder. "Your father is no common man, the Lord, himself shall help you witness his rise out of this pit of doom."

Soon enough, a young guy about six feet tall dashed out of the Unit.

"Justin! Who is Justin?" He barked.

"I-I am," I said, totally taken aback.

"Come in," said he. "Quick!"

Those were all the words spoken, as I ran in, leaving all the remaining souls amidst a million questions, as I did.

I rushed in, the doctor ahead of me. The Arch-Bishop was right in front of me, struggling to keep his eyes open, struggling to grasp a few last breaths with what was remaining of him. I ran on to beside him, holding his hand as he clutched on to life, with a soul that was fading away.

"Remember," he began, his voice stuttering. "He must leave. He will appear in a guise, don't let The Lord deceit you. He is ..."

He was well beyond his time. He collapsed, as I held his cold, lifeless hand, trying to infer even an infinitesimal piece from the warning that he had just tried to convey to me. I closed my eyes, however, a sneaky tear running down my cheek quickly gave away my suppressed emotions. I shook myself to my senses, as I wiped off my tears. Really, there are people around in this world, that sew themselves into your lives, even by virtue of the few short-lived moments they spend with you. Tearing open those old wounds. Awakening the demons of your past, sleeping deep within you.

I walked out with a heavy heart, as the Pastor walked up to me.

"What happened?" He began. "What did father say?"

"He left behind a warning," I began. "Before he collapsed, lifeless."

There was a pause, as Pastor Charles tried to contain and recollect himself, but alas, to him, the hand that had fed him had dropped dead. He broke into tears, falling to his knees, mumbling prayers along with complaints, as he did. Grief enveloped the place as my last sentence seemed to resonate with the air surrounding us. Rosalia lowered her head uttering her prayers as Natalia, overwhelmed by grief grabbed on to me tightly. I followed, embracing her, feeling her loving warmth, trying to find some sanity, trying to make sense of all the madness that was going on in my life. She was just as stressed out and confused as I was for a day starting off with some unknown medical condition, and transitioning into death? I believe it is safe to say that most certainly is no sane person's fantasy.

We sat in deathly silence as the petrichor embraced the air. I sat motionless, pondering, trying to make whatever little sense out of the strange warning that the arch bishop had left behind.

"Okay," said Charles, as he somehow managed to get up on his feet. "No point crying over spoilt milk," said he. "What was the warning that Father left behind?"

"Rather cryptic," said I. "He will appear in a guise, do not let the Lord deceit you."

"He just collapsed, lifeless before he could complete." I continued.

His brows tensed as his grieving look turned to that of confusion. "Don't let the Lord deceit you?" he repeated. "He actually said that?"

"Yes." I replied.

"That is rather uncanny," said Rose. "Why would a man as devoted as him ask you to be wary of God?"

"I don't understand," said Charles as he murmured his prayers under his breath.

"I'm scared." Said Natalia, "Is everything going to be fine?"

"Don't worry," said Charles, "I promise, I'll finish Father's work." He said as he turned towards me. The stern look in his eyes was enough to make anyone uncomfortable.

"Is everyone here weird?" I whispered to Rosalia.

She turned to me, visibly pissed by my distasteful remark. "What?" said I, "I ain't used to this."

"Cut the small talk," Charles began. "I believe there is something gravely wrong with you. We've got lots of talking to do."