In the Shadow Of Memory

Chapter 34

Mia wrapped her arms tightly around Tanya, who was hurriedly grabbing her suitcase. "You better send me pictures from your trip!" Mia said, her voice muffled by the hug.

Tanya laughed, a bit breathless. "I will! Don't worry. I'll be back before you know it."

Daisy stepped forward, pulling Tanya in for her own embrace. "Have fun, but not too much fun, okay?" she teased, though there was a trace of sadness in her voice.

Tanya smiled and waved as she rushed out the door, heading for the airport. Mia and Daisy lingered in the entryway for a moment, the warmth of the goodbye still hanging in the air. Then, yawning in unison, they both headed toward their rooms.

"Goodnight, Mia," Daisy said, her voice fading down the hallway.

"Goodnight," Mia called back before collapsing into bed. Within minutes, she drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Deep in the night, something disturbed Mia's sleep. She stirred, her mind sluggish and hazy, struggling to understand why she couldn't breathe.

A weight—heavy and crushing—pressed down on her chest. Her eyes shot open, panic flooding her senses. She couldn't see anything in the darkness, but whatever it was, it was pressing harder and harder, forcing the air out of her lungs.

Mia gasped, her throat tightening as she tried to suck in air, but it was like her body wouldn't respond. She clawed at the air around her, trying to grab whatever was pinning her down, her fingers brushing against rough fabric. Her heart hammered in her chest as she writhed, her legs kicking uselessly beneath the covers.

Her vision blurred, her lungs burning as she fought for breath. Her mind raced, disoriented and terrified. Who was this? Why were they doing this to her?

Mia's hands frantically grasped at the figure on top of her, nails digging into skin, desperate to throw them off. Her body screamed for oxygen, and her throat let out weak, rasping noises, the only sound she could make.

With one last surge of adrenaline, she twisted her body sharply, throwing the weight off her chest. The sudden release of pressure allowed her to suck in a jagged breath, her lungs filling painfully with air. Mia coughed violently, gasping, her hands trembling as she pushed herself up.

But it wasn't over. The figure lunged at her again, and in the pitch-black darkness, Mia swung wildly, her fists connecting with something solid. She could hear the sound of their breathing, harsh and angry, as they came at her again.

"No!" Mia screamed, her voice raw and frantic. She scrambled backward, feeling the edge of the bed beneath her as she kicked out, her foot catching them square in the chest. "Daisy!" she yelled, her voice breaking with desperation. "Daisy, help!"

She felt the figure retreat, but only for a moment, as they regrouped and came at her once more. Mia was on her feet now, stumbling toward the door, her limbs shaking uncontrollably. She screamed Daisy's name again, louder this time, the sound echoing through the room as she fought for her life, her heart pounding in her ears.

Her hands flailed, searching for anything she could use to defend herself. Her fingers brushed against the bedside lamp, and in a desperate attempt, she slapped at the switch. The light flickered on, blinding her for a moment.

Pain seared through her eyes as they adjusted to the sudden brightness. Her vision swam, but as the room came into focus, her heart nearly stopped.

Standing in front of her, knife in hand, was Daisy.

Mia's breath hitched. Her mind raced to catch up with what she was seeing. Daisy's usually warm eyes were cold, her expression unreadable as she stood there, gripping the blade tightly.

"Daisy?" Mia choked out, disbelief paralyzing her.

Daisy took a step forward, the knife gleaming under the harsh light, and Mia's world spun in confusion and terror. This couldn't be real... could it?

Mia's heart raced as Daisy lunged at her with the knife, her face twisted into something unrecognizable. Instinct took over as Mia rolled off the bed just in time, the blade slicing through the air where she'd been moments before. She hit the floor hard, scrambling to her feet, her mind desperately trying to make sense of the situation.

"Daisy, stop!" she pleaded, her voice shaking, but there was no sign of hesitation in Daisy's cold eyes.

Mia backed up, knocking into the nightstand, her hands frantically searching for anything to defend herself. Daisy swung the knife again, and Mia barely dodged, the blade grazing her arm. Pain shot through her, but she forced herself to stay focused. She had to think fast, had to survive.

With no time to waste, Mia grabbed a nearby lamp and swung it wildly at Daisy. The impact knocked her off balance for a moment, giving Mia a chance to run toward the door. But before she could reach it, Daisy recovered, slamming her into the wall with surprising force.

Dazed, Mia tried to fight back, her fists weakly hitting Daisy's side, but Daisy was too strong. The knife glinted again as Daisy raised it high, her movements swift and brutal. Mia's head spun, vision blurring as she struggled for breath. Daisy lifted a chair and threw it at Mia's head...

Mia's fingers scraped against the rough wall as she tried to pull herself up, her breath coming in short gasps. A sharp sting shot through her neck, and she froze in confusion. The world around her blurred, her vision swaying as if underwater. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears, deafening yet distant. She reached up to her neck, where Daisy had stabbed the syringe, but her limbs felt heavy, sluggish, as though her body no longer obeyed her.

A wave of dizziness washed over her, and her knees buckled beneath her. The once-vivid colors of the room dulled into shadows, her thoughts slipping away like sand between her fingers. The wall she had been clinging to seemed miles away now, and her head spun as her eyelids grew impossibly heavy. Darkness crept in at the edges of her vision, narrowing everything down to a single point until, with a final shuddering breath, the world vanished entirely.