Episode 3

My workday unfolded uneventfully, despite the persistent feeling of danger that continued to nag at me. I spoke with Marina, who attempted to assuage my fears, reassuring me that all was well. While I led her to believe that her words had soothed me, I lied.

I was intensely aware of the apparent risk surrounding me, and suspected that either my family or the fanatics from that damned church were to blame.

That evening, I dined alone, took a bath, and when I went to retrieve my pajamas, they were missing.

"I must be losing my mind, forgetting where I put my things. I'm sure I'll find them tomorrow," I said out loud.

"Talking to myself now, Liz, you're definitely going crazy," I added to my solitary room.

After tossing and turning in bed, I eventually fell into a deep sleep.

**I was walking down a familiar street and entered my old home where my parents were seated at the table discussing with my suitor's family. Miraculously, they did not see me as I made my way to my room, my heart pounding uncontrollably. I quietly closed the door to avoid detection and prevent anyone from coming after me.

Under my bed, my sister emerged with tears in her eyes and embraced me.

"What are you doing here? You're not real," I asked as tears streamed down and drenched my face.

"I need you to listen, there's only one way out."

"Which way? I don't want to end up like you; tell me," I pleaded in desperation.

"Keep your voice down, or someone will hear if you speak too loudly."

"Please tell me," I clasped her hands and begged.

"If you lose your virginity, they can't marry you off to anyone from the church."

"What are you saying?"

"The truth, Liz, you must give up your virtue to be free."

I was about to embrace her when the bedroom door opened, and she vanished.**

I woke up calling her name and crying, still feeling as if I had truly been with her.

I looked for her photograph and wept bitterly.

"If only you knew how much I miss you, I wish you were here. If only you had held on, you could have escaped with me and lived the life you always wanted, but you couldn't wait. Now, I'll never be able to see or hug you again; I'll never be an aunt; everything I dreamed of with you will never come to be."

The alarm sounded, prompting me to rise from bed, dry my tears, and get ready for work. I washed my eyes with cold water to alleviate the swelling and redness, but I needed a miracle more than cold water.

Arriving at work, I laughed at the irony of the situation. Working for a company that advocates for safety, I felt immensely unsafe.

I was suffocated, fearful, as though evil was lurking near, and I was clueless as to what or whom to fear. In short, I felt like I was in the lion's den.

Leaving work, Marina accompanied me again, seeing my forlorn state; at least she offered some consolation and slightly allayed my paranoia.

As we prepared to sleep, I noticed another anomaly; my perfume, the only one I own and use every day, was lying beside my bed. I had made the bed before leaving and it was unusual for it to be out of place when I usually keep it in the bathroom.

"Are you okay? You seem fixated on the perfume."

"It's odd; I've been misplacing things lately, and I always apply the perfume in the bathroom, I don't understand why it's here."

"You've been quite distracted, you'll find your belongings eventually. Remember how I put toilet paper in the oven instead of the pizza when I was stressed? It's normal to get flustered and make mistakes when you're not sleeping right."

"Maybe you're right, but it's still strange. I'm sure everything will turn up tomorrow."

"You'll see. Let's sleep; we've got a long day ahead of us."

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know, they want a report from every department, it feels like they might be planning staff cuts," the thought of being laid off sent a shiver down my spine.

"Oh no, I hope we don't lose our jobs."

"We won't, there are like ten idiots who do nothing but stare at their phones all day, they'll be the first to go. Let's sleep, or I'll look worse than you tomorrow if I don't rest."

"Good night, Mar, thanks for being here."

While Mar slept, I couldn't stop thinking about the dream, and beyond the sheer horror of a man touching me, there was a rational angle to it.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***