Chapter 14: Chapter 14
By the time Clara and her friend reached home, the sun had already disappeared below the horizon.
They slumped down on the sofa, tired. All they wanted was to have a nice bath and then climb into their warm beds and drift off to Dreamland.
But that wish was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Startled by the knock, Clara craned her neck only to see her two friends already dozing off on the sofa.
Groaning tiredly, Clara walked to the door, peeked from the tiny hole before turning the door knob and opening the door to see a delivery guy standing at the door holding flowers, lilies to be precise.
Clara narrowed her eyes to look at the man who was standing in front of her.
"Delivery for you, ma'am… please sign here" he said.
Clara did as she was told before collecting the lilies and shutting the door.
She held a confused expression," who the hell even sends flowers in the evening?" She muttered but then she noticed a note attached to the flowers. peeling away the small note she read.
"The lilies remind me of you, I thought you would love them. X".
Seeing the letter ''X" Clara could already guess the sender.
She sighed, too tired for her brain to process anything at the moment. She placed the lilies in the vase before walking to the sofa,where her friends were dozing off calmly. She woke them and all three went back to their rooms.
Clara had a quick bath before climbing in bed and cuddling her pillow.
She soon fell asleep but found herself in the woods.
Running and giggling like a child, her black hair swimming in the air, the yellow Flora dress complimented her emerald eyes as she chased after a butterfly.
The smell of fresh air and the feel of wind on her body brightened the smile on her face, everything looked perfect and she was happy.
She continued to chase after the butterfly, more determined to get a hold of it.
The multi-colored butterfly flapped its wings to go higher but then it stopped, taking its rest on one of the flowers.
Clara hastened her footsteps to where it was, she reached out her hand to Touch its wings when the corner of her eyes caught something. She snapped her head to have a proper look. Clara frowned when she saw a Raven, lying down on the ground weakly.
She walked slowly to where the black bird was, pausing just in front of it. She contemplated whether to touch it or not. But curiosity got the better part. She crouched down to see the bird, when another raven dropped beside the first one, followed by another and then many more ravens began to drop on the ground like rain, frightening her. Clara slowly retreated.
Her eyes widened when the birds turned from being a raven into a figure cloaked in all Black,
"Run," someone screamed.
Clara didn't need to be told twice.
She turned around and ran in the opposite direction, running as far as her legs could carry her. But then She heard distant voices urging her to wake up. Giving in to the voice, she let herself be pulled back to reality
Her eyelids fluttered for a few seconds before they opened. Her friends were staring at her with worried expressions on their faces.
"Thank God, she's awake," Gina sighed.
"You scared us," Raya commented.
Clara kept staring at them in silence, her heart still pounding in her chest.
Clara closed her eyes and let her heart be calm by the light strokes Gina made on her back.
"I'm sorry to disturb you guys" she finally uttered.
"It's okay, we heard you screaming and we rushed here,"
"Thanks," Clara whispers softly.
"You don't need to thank us Clara, we are friends, and I'm pretty sure you'd do the same for any of us'' Raya said with a smile and Clara nodded.
"You should go back to bed, I will be fine," Clara said. Feeling guilty for making her Friends worry.
"Are you sure?".
"We can accompany you, if you want," Raya said.
"It's okay, I'm fine really" Clara gave a reassuring smile and they nodded.
"See you in the morning" they said, glancing back at her before stepping out of the room.
Clara inhaled deeply before resting her on the bed and rapping herself up with the blanket.
Fear sipped into her bones as she recalled her dreams. She might have been frightened by the silver eyed man in her dreams but the dream about the raven turning into black cloak fgures that resemble humans was more terrifying.
Clara shivered, her eyes darting around at the slightest sound. She stayed motionless on the bed unable to fall asleep.
Clara was surprised to wake up at noon, more surprised that she could even fall asleep after the terrifying nightmare.
She climbed out of bed and went to stand in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. She removed the strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ears.
She let out a sigh before walking to the closet, she picked out a black jogger and a white Tee. slipping them on and walking out of her room.
Her friends were seated in the living room watching tv, their head Snapped to look at Clara as she walked into the living room.
Gina adjusted her sitting position and then she patted at the space, signaling Clara to come sit between her and Raya.
Clara strides forward, folding her arms around her chest, pouting as she takes her seat between the two girls.
"Can't believe you guys let me sleep that long"
"You needed the rest, it's vacation after all," Raya said. taking a handful of popcorn into her mouth and sipping the orange juice.
"Let me have some popcorn,"said Clara, reaching out her hands to Raya's bowl of popcorn.
No!
"Yours is in the fridge" said Raya, quickly moving her bowl of popcorn away from Clara's reach.
"Really?" Ask Clara." Yeah, go get yours from the fridge". Raya replied.
"Raya's a glutton, better go get the popcorn before she decides to eat that, too" commented Gina and Raya responded with a short gasp.
"I thought we were friends,Gina?" She asks, faking a sad face.
"Sure, we are, and stop making that face, it makes me want to throw my fist across your face" Gina replied.
"Hehehehe, no please don't" Clara said, laughing her way to the kitchen to get a bowl of popcorn for herself and coming back to sit between her friends when she caught sight of the flowers that were resting on the vase.