The man from the dream

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

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