THE LAST DREAMER

The days were becoming a blur. As much as Ethan wanted to believe that the nightmare had been just a figment of his exhausted mind, a part of him knew better. The nightmares were no longer just dreams; they had bled into reality, gnawing at the edges of his sanity. The figure in his dreams—dark, unrelenting, and merciless—hadn't just been a manifestation of his fears. It was something else, something more.

And now, it was getting closer.

Maya's concern for him had deepened. She was constantly checking on him, asking him how he was feeling, if he had any more nightmares. But the truth was, every waking moment felt like he was drowning. Ethan didn't know if he could keep pretending everything was okay. The figure in his nightmares wasn't just haunting him. It was affecting Maya too. He could see it in her eyes—the same shadow that lingered in his own heart. The same doubt. The same fear.

But there was something else in her gaze—a wariness, as if she was keeping something from him. Ethan had noticed it more and more, that slight hesitation when she looked at him. As if she was holding back a secret.

It was on the third night after his latest encounter with the figure that he decided to confront her.The house was eerily silent as he walked down the hallway, his steps muffled by the old wooden floorboards beneath his feet. The air was thick with unease, and it only grew heavier as he approached Maya's room. He hesitated outside her door, his hand resting on the doorknob. There was an unspoken tension between them that he couldn't ignore any longer.

He opened the door quietly, stepping inside.

Maya was sitting on her bed, her back to him as she stared out of the window. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on her pale skin. For a moment, Ethan just stood there, watching her, the words he had prepared slipping away into the quiet of the room.

"Maya?" His voice was soft, but it cut through the stillness like a blade.

She turned slowly, her eyes flicking up to meet his. There was something in them—something he hadn't seen before. A flicker of fear, a shadow of guilt.

"Ethan," she said, her voice low, almost strained. "What's wrong?"

"I need to know what's going on," he said, his voice firmer now, no longer hiding the tension that had been building inside him. "What's happening to us, Maya? Why do I feel like I'm losing my mind?"

Maya's gaze dropped to the floor, her fingers curling tightly around the edges of her blanket. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out at first. Then, finally, she whispered, "I didn't want to tell you this."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. "Tell me what?"

"I—" Maya hesitated, then met his gaze with a look of raw vulnerability. "I've been keeping something from you. Something I should have told you sooner."

Ethan's stomach dropped. *What was she hiding?*

Before he could ask her to elaborate, there was a sudden, sharp knock at the door.

Both of them jumped at the sound.

"Maya?" came a voice from the other side of the door. Ethan's blood ran cold.

It was Henry.

Maya's face immediately tightened, her body going rigid at the sound of his voice. She stood up quickly, stepping toward the door.

"I'll handle this," she said quietly, her expression now guarded. "You should go back to your room."

Ethan didn't move. "No, Maya. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on. What's with the secrecy? What aren't you telling me?"

Maya's eyes darted to the door again, and then back to him, her face pale with fear. "Ethan, please… just trust me."

But before she could say more, Henry's voice called again, more insistent now. "Maya, open the door."With a resigned sigh, Maya turned away from Ethan, walking toward the door. "I'll be right back. Please, just—wait here."

Ethan stood frozen, watching her open the door. But as soon as the door swung open, a chill ran through him. Henry stood in the doorway, his tall frame casting a long shadow down the hallway. He wasn't alone.

Behind him, there was another figure. A woman, draped in dark clothing, her face hidden by a thick veil. Her presence sent a wave of unease crashing over Ethan. There was something about her—something ancient in the way she carried herself. She felt *wrong*, like she didn't belong in this world.

Maya stiffened as she saw the woman, her eyes flicking back to Ethan, guilt clouding her face.

"What's going on?" Ethan asked, his voice rising despite his attempts to keep his calm. "Who is she?"

The woman didn't speak, but she stepped forward into the room. Henry followed her in, his eyes dark with worry. "Ethan," he said, his voice tight. "We need to talk."

Ethan stepped back, his heart pounding in his chest. "About what?"The woman raised her veil, revealing a face that was both eerily beautiful and unsettling. Her eyes were dark, nearly black, and they glinted with a knowledge Ethan couldn't quite grasp. But there was something else in those eyes—something dangerous.

"I am Seraphine," she said, her voice like a low, hypnotic hum. "And I know what's happening to you."

Ethan's blood ran cold. "What do you mean? Who are you?"

Seraphine gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I am the one who can help you, Ethan. But first, you must understand the truth."

Maya stepped forward, her face pale. "Ethan, I… I didn't want to involve you in this. But it's too late now."

Henry looked at Ethan with a heavy expression, as if the weight of this moment had been building for far too long. "Maya wasn't the only one who was cursed. I was, too. And now, the curse is being passed down. The nightmare isn't just in your head. It's real."

Ethan's pulse quickened as he pieced the words together. *Cursed?*

Maya turned away from him, her hands trembling. "I'm so sorry, Ethan. I didn't know how to tell you. But Henry and I… we're both part of something much darker than either of us realized. And now, the creature—it—has set its sights on you."Ethan's mind was spinning. His thoughts raced, but one question stood out, rising to the surface like a scream: *What did they mean by cursed?*

"You have to understand," Henry said, his voice strained. "The nightmares aren't just a warning. They're a manifestation of the curse. And the only way to break it… is to face the monster head-on. Once and for all."

Seraphine stepped forward, her gaze locking with Ethan's. "And I can help you. But only if you accept the truth. Only if you're willing to face what's coming."

Ethan stood still, his mind spinning with the weight of their words. Every instinct screamed for him to run, to escape, but he couldn't. Not now. Not after everything that had happened. He had to face it.

He had to face the truth.

"Tell me what to do," Ethan said, his voice heavy with determination.

Seraphine's lips curled into a dark smile. "Then, the real battle begins."