01

"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.

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