Chapter 69 Just a nightmare?
|| Author POV ||
Goosebumps filled Rosa’s body. The pure horror filled her veins like ice. The hair on her body stood violently as terror flashed infront her naive eyes.
Her vision blurred. Eyes watered uncontrollably at the nightmare before her.
A man, barely recognizable as one was chained to a wooden chair. His head slumped grotesquely. Half of his scalp missing. His throat was scattered, bloods dripping down, revealing mangled flesh.
Bloods covered his body. His face, it was melted. Burned meats. Acid? The thought alone twisted her stomach into knots.
Her face contorted in horror but no sound escaped her lips. She was silenced by the horror. Her knees trembled, her throat locked tight. No scream. No words.
Just wide, tear-glazed eyes that couldn’t look away. Rosa wanted to scream, to run, to close her eyes and pretend this wasn’t real. But her feet refused to move. She was frozen.
She took a shaky step back and her eyes fell downward..
Fingers. Human fingers were severed and scattered across the floor. Coated in thick wet blood.
“AAHHHH!” Rosa screamed. The sound ripped from her throat and tears streamed down her face.
She stumbled back. Her heart was crashing in her ribs in fear.
She needs to tell Killian! Immediately. Killian needs to know what’s happening inside his mansion!
Her breath faltered when a movement caught her eye from the far end of the room. A man was standing there. His back was facing her.
Familiar.
The man turned. The moment their eyes met, Rosa’s entire world stopped.
Those blue orbs. Cold. Unreadable. Dark and dangerous.
Her numb gaze fell to his t-shirt soaked in blood. His hands were filled with blood And in his grip... a bloodstained saw. The metal was glinting under the dim light.
Killian?
Her mind spun. No sound. No logic. Just pure terror clawing up her throat.
Killian watched her trembling frame frozen in the doorway. Then, without breaking eye contact, he threw the saw across the room.
“The hell!” he mumbled with pure frustration.
He immediately walked to her. Rosa horrifiedly stared at him. His face had blood stains. A cry escaped from her lips.
Her legs gave up first.
“No–!”
Rosa stumbled back, shaking her head. Tears poured down her cheeks like rain. Her chest rose and fell with ragged panicked breaths, like she couldn’t get the air in fast enough.
She was lacking oxygen. Panic attacked her.
Killian took fast steps toward her. She was paralyzed there. She doesn’t believe what she saw. She doesn’t. This was someone else. A monster wearing his face!
She flinched hard.
“W-who a-are you?” Rosa cried out, her voice cracked, she stumbled back.
The terror wasn’t leaving her veins open.
Killian grabbed something from the wall. A syringe which glinted faintly under the dim light. He stepped out of the room like a ghost cloaked in blood, walking toward her without a word. Silent. Calm. Terrifying.
Rosa’s breath hitched. She shook her head violently, backing away, her legs trembling. No. No, no, no!
Rosa turned, desperate to run but he was faster.
With one swift motion, Killian yanked her back into his chest, locking her in place. Her fists pounded on the air in panic.
“Don’t move!”
Killian growled against her ear dangerously.
Her scream tore out of her lungs when the sharp needle pierced the soft skin of her neck. Injected deep.
“AHH—!” Rosa clawed at the spot.
Her heart raced and mind spun.
Her mouth dropped open, hand flying to the burning spot and her knees gave out. Her vision blurred. The marble floor down started spinning. Her vision exploded with black stars.
“N-no... no...” Rosa gasped.
One last tear slid down her cheek. She could feel the cold rush of something foreign inside her veins. Her knees buckled and she collapsed against him.
Then her world turned black.
...............
Sunlight spread across the room.
Rosa whimpered wit her eyes still shut. Pain pulsed through her head. Her small fists twisted the sheets beneath her as sweat pooled at her temples. Behind her closed eyes, there wasn’t darkness.
There was blood and a horrific corpse right infront her vision.
“HAHH–!” Her eyes shot open.
Rosa stared at the ceiling, gasping for air. Her weak body jerked upright. The thin blanket fell to her lap. Her pulse thundered in her ears. The horrific scene flashed before her eyes.
What was that? She remembers she saw Killian inside that basement. What happened after that? Why is everything blurry?
“You’re awake.”
The deep voice made her flinch violently. Rosa’s eyes snapped toward it, toward him. Killian.
Killian tilted his head, watching her with eerie calm as if her terror amused him. “You know how worried I was?” he said.
“Don’t come. D-don’t come near m-me.” Rosa stammered, crawling backward in fear until her spine hit the headboard.
She tried to scramble off the bed in terror, watching him approaching but Killian was faster. Killian sat beside her in one smooth movement, gripping her arms firmly, Rosa struggled.
“No-please. Stop.” her voice trembled, hands pushing against him weakly.
Then his hand came up to her chin. He tilted her fearful face toward him. His touch was gentle. It confused her.
“Were you having a nightmare, bunny?” he asked.
Her heart stopped.
A nightmare?
Rosa blinked. Once. Twice.
Had she? Was it possible?
Was it a nightmare?
Her mind reeled. Maybe... maybe it was just a nightmare? She was sleeping beside him and then–
Yes. That’s all it was. A nightmare.
A nightmare again. They’d been creeping back ever since the cemetery visit. That had to be it. It had to be.
Rosa sniffled, breath hitching. It had to be a nightmare. That room, the blood, him soaked in blood–it couldn’t have been real. She couldn’t even remember the details clearly anymore. Yes! It wasn’t real!
Her doe eyes brimmed with tears and a hiccup escaped her throat. Killian watched her closely. Rosa reached for him without thinking. Her fingers grasped the fabric of his t-shirt.
She pulled him closer, burying her face in the curve of his neck before bursting into tears. His scent floated around her like a drug.
Her tears soaked his skin.
“Shhh. You’re fine now.” Killian whispered, caging her between his strong arms.
Rosa trembled harder. Her sobs grew louder as if releasing something she didn’t understand. Killian held her tighter without saying a word, just letting her break down into him like a little doll coming apart at the seams.
And behind those icy blue eyes... a silent smirk flashed in his eyes. He slowly pecked her earlobe.
“I was s-so scared!” Rosa sobbed, her body wracked with hiccups. “Th-that dream... it was scary. Y-you were covered in b-blood. You were...killing someone in that room. It felt s-so real.” Her voice cracked into a whisper. “I-I know you could n-never do so–”
“Breathe, bunny.” Killian murmured. His breath brushed her skin. “It was just a dream. A dream.” he kissed her soft hairs. “You had a high fever.” he said calmly. “You’ve been unconscious for two days.”
Rosa blinked. Her teary lashes clumped together. Two... days?
She pulled back, looking up at him with wide confused eyes.
She was passed out for two days? Due to fever? She doesn’t remember having a fever. How is it possible?
Something inside her churned. It felt so real. Then why does it seem like a nightmare too? She believes him but everything is confusing her.
“I need to see.” Rosa whispered.
Without waiting for him to speak, she slipped from his arms and climbed off the bed. Her knees were weak. Her steps were wobbly but her will was stronger.
She needed to know the truth!
Killian stared ahead with dead eyes. He knew. She was doubting herself. And once she doubted her own mind... He could make her believe anything. Everything.
He followed her quietly.
Rosa’s bare feet padded across the cold floor until she reached the basement. The one from her dream. The one scared her soul.
She froze. The door was locked.
Her breath caught in her throat. Slowly, Rosa turned back to him. Her hand clutched the hem of his t-shirt. She didn’t look up, just pointed with a trembling finger behind.
“P-please. Open it.” she whispered. “It felt so real. I just want to s-see.”
Killian stared at her, then nodded faintly. A soundless chuckle escaped his throat before he grabbed the key from a small hanger on the wall. Rosa watched carefully.
He said nothing and unlocked the door with a soft click. Rosalie gripped his t-shirt tighter, her nails lightly digging into the fabric. Her eyes slowly drifted toward the open door, dreading what she might see.
She peeked inside. And her eyes widened.