Chapter 3

Deceived by sleep, Minnow was back in the forest on that dreadful night.

She could hear her laboured breaths as she ran out into the small grass-covered clearing amongst the towering trees.

The air was crisp and heavy with damp moss and decomposing leaves. 

Minnow could see her parent's mansion, situated slightly above the Oakheart town. The light at the main gate shone like a searchlight in the distance.

Scattered pearls of the faraway gas giants spilt out over the navy blue sky's backdrop in beautiful patterns above the open area.

She smiled at the night's hidden beauty and admired how the moon rays basked the playground's shiny metal equipment in glistening silver.

Minnow stumbled as her high heels sunk into the moist earth, and for a split second, she thought about taking them off so she could run faster.

But being drunk lulled her into a false sense of security that there was no need since she was nearly home anyway.

Suddenly, Minnow's stomach churned, and she felt an unfamiliar rush of nerves firing through her body, making her heart skip a beat in her straining chest.

Nevertheless, she ignored these gut feelings and continued to run over the soft dew-covered grass.

She was almost past the spiral metal slide when a dark shade fell over her.

Before she could react, a pair of giant hands covered her mouth and most of her face pulling her aggressively into the tall shadows amongst the creaking tree trunks.

Her feet dragged helplessly in the wet grass.

In her dream state, her muted screams echoed through her head, and Minnow tossed violently in her bed. 

With each heavy step, she could make out the sounds of the winnowing wind slipping through the leaves and the cracking undergrowth.

The putrid scent of wet fur, bitter alcohol and urine filled her nostrils, and she gagged into the stranger's palm.

Minnow's small hands desperately pulled at the man's fingers to free her face.

She could hear two men's rough, slurred voices. They sounded excited, and their cruel laughter made her skin crawl.

The man dragging her stopped and pushed her violently to the ground. Minnow landed painfully on her knees, and the man kicked her hard in the back with his boot making her fall face-first into the dirt, gasping for air. 

She was in complete panic and scrambled on the damp, slimy forest floor. Wet rotting leaves and sludgy soil stuck to her bare legs sending shivers down her spine.

Their selected spot was isolated and sheltered from sight with dense vegetation. And Minnow's heightened senses raised the question that this might be a place they knew and had used before.

Her form-fitting dress had slid up mid-thigh, and her jeans jacket gaped open, revealing her low neckline. She franticly tried to cover up as much of her exposed body parts as possible as she turned around.

Two black silhouettes towered over her, and a red flicker lit up from a smoking cigarette.

Then, a low rumbling growl vibrated through the air, and their soul-chilling eyes glowed in the night like burning coals from the pits of hell.

"It's time to play, little human." a calm and unhurried voice spoke in the dark.

Minnow could feel nothing but blind terror, and the fear sealed her throat.

Suddenly they grabbed her legs, and she screamed out a guttural cry.

"Minnow, Please wake up! Saylor's tense voice seeped into her nightmare.

He was shaking her rigid body to awaken her from her torment, and she unknowingly fought him with every ounce of her sleeping being.

Then, slowly she left the horrifying night terrors, and her wild eyes darted around the room. 

"You are safe. I am here." Saylor repeated until her frightened mind could hear his comforting words. 

"I am sorry," Minnow sniffled, ashamed. Her heart hammered painfully in her chest, and her breaths were shallow and uneven.

"Don't be. It's ok. I am here for you." Saylor laid down on the pillow facing her flustered face.

His eyes were swollen from lack of sleep, and his hair was messy, making him look innocent and boyish.

"Do you want to talk about your dream?" he asked softly.

"Not really. But I remembered something strange?" Minnow began. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to make sense of this memory.

"What was it? Saylor wondered and covered up a yawn.

"Animal eyes and fur? But not like from a dog owner. It was different somehow?" She could hear how silly she sounded when she said it out loud. "Nevermind" she exclaimed quickly to hide her embarrassment.

"No, that's good. It doesn't matter how small or insignificant. It's still a clue." Saylor encouraged her.

He gently tucked some of her tangled bed hair behind her ear.

Minnow nodded and rolled over to her back. "You can go back to sleep. I am going to listen to some music." She grabbed the headphones from the nightstand and placed them over her ears.

Saylor curled up next to her, and soon he was asleep.

Minnow carefully let herself think about what she had remembered from the flashbacks in her nightmare. Had her mind played a trick on her or did the men indeed have yellow eyes?

Maybe she believed they did because her brain perceived them as animals for what they had done to her?

Rage quickened her blood, and the resentment grew inside her like a tumour.

Death was the only punishment good enough for these monsters.

Eventually, she huddled under the covers and gripped the sheets until her fingers hurt. She held her breath, waiting for the soft music to take her mind somewhere else. 

Minnow stayed awake until the sun's soft rays ignited across the dawn sky, basking the extensive bedroom in shimmers of rose gold. 

A few hours later, she was woken up by Ariella tidying the room. The old lady quietly and efficiently cleaned up any traces from their movie night.

"Breakfast is ready downstairs," Ariella announced before leaving the bedroom.

"Thank you." Minnow called out without opening her eyes. 

Saylor stirred under the heavy duvet. "Did she say breakfast?" He asked. His voice was hoarse and sleepy, and his stomach rumbled on cue.

"You are always hungry." She teased, shaking her head. For as long as she had known Saylor, he had loved his food. It had forever been a mystery to her how he stayed so thin, yet he ate like a horse.  

"Nothing wrong with that. So what are we having?" He uttered in a serious but muffled tone and poked his head out from under the soft bed coverings. 

"Anything you want," Minnow laughed at his bright eyes and beaming grin. 

She was glad Saylor didn't mention last night's bad dreams, and her body relaxed slightly. 

Somehow, she felt stronger this morning, possibly from her talk with Saylor. Perhaps it was better not to keep it all bottled up?

So to treat herself for being brave, she decided she felt ready enough to leave the house for the first time since the attack. 

"How do you feel about some retail therapy?" She asked with a sunny smile.

Saylor's face lit up even more. "Girl, you know me. I never say no to shopping!" He rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom.

"Great, I was hoping you would say that." Minnow hollered after him.

She rubbed her palms together and could barely wait to have a typical Minnow and Saylor fun day out. 

She so desperately needed to feel like her old self, if only just for a moment.