CHAPTER : 16 Nightmare or Truth

The days pass in a blur. Veronica could hardly tell if she was dreaming or not. With each shut of her eyes, she felt Elizabeth's hug around her. Sometimes it was comforting, and sometimes it was suffocating.

One evening, Veronica sat alone in her room, the doll in her lap. She was brushing the doll's tangled hair with her fingers.

“Eliz…” she whispered. “Why does it feel like I’m losing everything?”

Then the air in the room shifted colder, heavier. When she looked up, Elizabeth was there, standing in the corner, her green eyes glinting in the dark.

“You’re not losing,” Elizabeth said softly. “You’re mine. Isn’t that enough?”

Veronica’s throat tightened. She wanted to speak to ask about her parents, about the blood that still haunted her memory… but the words died on her tongue. Instead, she looked down at the doll, told her tightly.

Elizabeth stepped closer, kneeling in front of her. She placed a hand beneath Veronica’s chin, lifting her face until their eyes met.

“Don’t hide your face, Veronica… you’re mine.”

Veronica's eyes filled with tears. Her lips quivered as she said, "Even in my dreams, my heart is looking for you."

Elizabeth's smile was frail and monstrous. "Then don't resist it. Don't flee from what we are."

Veronica weakly shook her head. "But… but you murdered them. You murdered my parents."

Elizabeth's hand stroked from chin to cheek, warm against it. "No, darling. They were already gone. You don't want to accept it. I protected you from the truth.

Her words were honeyed poison. Veronica ached to scream, to push her away, but she was drawn to Elizabeth's touch, starving for the warmth instead.

"Please," Veronica whispered, breaking. " Then don't leave me."

Elizabeth settled in, her lips tracing the curve of Veronica's ear. "Never," she said. "I'll never leave you. But you have to promise me you'll never betray me."

"I… I promise."

Elizabeth kissed her gently, almost possessively. Veronica's world around her receded. For the first time, she did not struggle.

She dreamed again that night. She was in a room of mirrors, all different she's—laughing, crying, screaming, bleeding. Elizabeth stood in the middle of them, the doll clutched in her hand.

"Choose," Elizabeth whispered. "Who among you will live?"

Veronica spread out on the floor, shaking, but when she opened her mouth to speak, the glass around her shattered.

She awoke with a gasp, her body soaked with sweat. Elizabeth slept beside her, peaceful and serene, as if nothing had occurred.

"Bad dream?" Elizabeth said, touching Veronica's hair.

Veronica nodded, too frightened to talk.

Elizabeth just smiled. "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, you'll never wake up alone."

Veronica's chest constricted, and then she screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Her mother rushed into the room. "What's wrong?"

Veronica stood rigid. She looked at her—"But… you… You died a long time ago."

Her mother went as white as a ghost. "What? No, honey. It was just a dream."

"No," Veronica kept on crying. "You were murdered… the mirror shattered… Mama, pinch me, please!"

Her mother was disturbed, then pinched her gently on the arm. Veronica gasped in relief and hid herself in her arms, hugging her tightly.

"You're not dead, you are not, you are my Mama?

Yes, baby," her mother whispered, kissing her hair. "Just a dream. Mama's here."

Veronica clung to her with desperation. "Will you. Will you stay with me tonight?"

She nodded quietly. "Of course. I'll stay."

Her mother slept beside her that evening, hugging her in her arms until her breathing rate was normal. When she closed her eyes, her mother said, "My cousin will come tomorrow."

Veronica opened one eye. "Mama. Is he cute?

Her mother smiled softly. "Yes, honey. He is."

Morning arrived, and she was still scared that her mom had died.

Veronica woke up after having heard a soft voice.

"Sweetie… wake up."

"I'm awake," Veronica groggily responded, rubbing her eyes with her hand.

Her mother smiled. "Good."

Veronica then takes a deep breath.

Veronica stood up to dress when, in the mirror's background, she spotted Elizabeth.

Her blood froze.

"You… you lied to me," Veronica softly whispered.

Elizabeth moved closer, her eyes blazing with a possessive fire. She kissed Veronica wildly, so hard, so long, Veronica could only sense her.

"Eliz… stop… " Veronica struggled.

"Eliz.., please."

Finally, Elizabeth let her go, her mouth twisting into a wicked grin. "Wanna see something?"

"What…?" Veronica stuttered.

Elizabeth said nothing. She pulled Veronica along.

A heavy smell of blood filled the air. Bodies were hanging from the ceiling, red drops splattering on the floor. Veronica gagged, her hand pressed over her eyes.

"Elizabeth, please!" she wailed. "I want to go home!"

Elizabeth's hold was firm. "All right, my love. As you wanted."

The world adjusted, and they found themselves in Veronica's house once more. Veronica staggered down only to stop.

He was waiting downstairs.

Veronica was surprised to see him.