Nightmare

I quickly get changed and run outside my room.

I look down the hallway and see many doors left open but there’s no one inside the rooms. I start making my way to the common room when I begin to see claw marks and blood on the walls.

(I don’t like where this is going.)

I turn the corner and as I do I see a goblin up ahead. Not someone of goblin kin, but an actual slumberwalker. He is hitting his head on the wall and as soon as he sees me he lets out a scream and begins running towards me.

I use a light blessing to blind him, and while he swings his arms around, I use monster strength. My body glows purple and in rush behind him, grabbing him in a choke hold.

He tries to struggle, but with one swift motion I snap his neck. His body turns limp, and I gently place him on the floor.

I start to hear more distant sounds. What seems to be explosion and screaming.

I want to say the prayer, but I don’t have time to waste right now.

(I’m sorry, I’ll come back for you later.)

Running as fast as I can I reach the common room. There I find many guildmember tending to other injured.

“What the hell is happening?!” I ask.

“We are under attack from a slumberwalker raid! We don’t know how they got here so fast without anyone noticing but there are lots of injured who were attacked while sleeping. We need all the help we can get. Please go out there!”

“Got it.”

I make my way out of the dorms. The more I walk out, the more destruction and bloodshed I see. The hallways are filled with slumberwalker corpses and members of the guild run left and right trying to put them to rest as quickly as possible.

It is absolute chaos.

During all this one thing comes to mind.

Olivia.

She doesn’t know how to fight, I have to make sure she’s okay. The rest of our group should be fine. Right now, I need to focus on helping those who can’t defend themselves. I run towards the infirmary. She usually sleeps there in case of an emergency.

I head there as quickly as I can. On the way I can see flying slumberwalkers coming through the windows and members fighting back with dawn flame. The entire base is a warzone right now.

(Please be okay Olivia!)

I slam the doors open. The lights are out but there’s no sign of fighting or blood.

“OLIVIA!! ARE YOU HERE!!!” I scream.

Theres no response.

I start looking around the beds, but they are all empty. I hear a sound coming from the shelves. I look and see glass bottles rolling around the floor.

“Where are you, Olivia?”

Suddenly, something jumps at my back and starts attacking me. Its claws are sharp and are easily cutting me. I scream in pain as I slam my back into the wall and feel it’s grip on me weakening. I reach for it and throw it over my shoulder.

I see this small reptile creature that reminds me of a dragon, but it has no wings. Its body is full of deep red crimson scales; its sharp claws scratch the floor. It screeches at me showing it’s fangs. It’s also wearing an orange dress. It looks like a kobold.

(Wait.)

The dress this slumberwalker is wearing. It’s really similar to the one Olivia wears. It is identical actually.

(No.)

It jumps to attack me but I don’t even try to dodge it.

(No, no, no)

I raise my left arm, and it bites down on it hard. I fall to the ground, and it begins to trash around. The pain is immense, but I barely react to it. Is like my brain couldn’t process it.

(Please no.)

As the kobold is close to me something catches my attention. Around its neck it has a necklace of a crimson start shard. Similar to the one me and the rest of our group have.

“NOOOOOO!!!” I scream.

I can’t feel my left arm anymore it is completely numb from pain, so I reach with my right arm and hug the kobold tight to me.

“IT’S ME OLIVIA! IT’S AKIHIKO! PLEASE WAKE UP.” I begin to cry.

The kobold is not letting go of me. My arm is mangled and its claws are scratching me everywhere trying to break free.

“Holy Dream Blessing: Curse Cleanse.” I try to use a blessing to help others who are losing control over their protection to return to normal.

This blessing doesn’t work on slumberwalkers.

My body glows orange and I hug to kobold as tight as I can.

But it has not stopped trying to attack me.

“SONALA! HELP ME PLEASE! FORGET MY DEAL, JUST HELP HER PLEASE!” I beg, but nothing happens.

I then look at the kobold once again. Its bite on my jaw isn’t weaking at all, but I see something that makes my heart drop. The kobold is crying, from its white pupilless eyes, tears run down its face.

“Olivia…?”

The infirmary door is suddenly kicked open and three guild members come rushing inside.

They hit her with a light blessing, making her let go of my arm and cover her eyes. They follow up with a strong kick that that slams her on the wall behind.

“Wait…”

One of them comes to my aid and starts using a healing blessing while the other two keep up attacking the kobold.

“NO! STOP, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND…” I scream.

“We do.” One of them says with tears on their eyes.

“I’m sorry.” The other says.

One of them pins her to the wall, while the other goes for her neck.

“NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO. STOP. DON’T KILL HER!”

I hear the sickening sound of bones cracking Her body goes limp as she falls to the floor.

(This can’t be real. This has to be a nightmare!)

But no matter how much I wish for it, I’m not waking up.