The alarm wasn’t supposed to go off yet. I had the most intense dream. I was walking alone, in the dark, when a strange woman came up to me. She wanted to warn me about something. She seemed… distressed. Whatever she needed to arm me seemed important, and urgent. The woman was just about to tell me when the BLASTED alarm went off. It was only a dream, can’t be that important, right?


I went downstairs to the kitchen. I’m up, mind as well eat something. The house seemed quiet, eerily so. I live with all eleven of my siblings, so silence is unusual. I start to wander the house, starting to feel anxious. I sensed something wasn’t right. As i checked the rooms, i notice that i was the only one here. Strange… I rushed from room to room, calling out the names of my siblings, but only silence answered back. Panic began to bubble in my chest. The dream replayed in my mind, the woman’s distressed face haunting me. It was like the air itself was thick with foreboding.


I stumbled outside, the morning sun glaring against the stillness of the street. My town was deserted. The familiar sounds of laughter and chaos were replaced by an unsettling quiet. I approached the neighbor’s house, the Johnsons, but the front door stood ajar, swaying slightly in the breeze. 


“Hello?” I called, my voice trembling. No answer. 


I turned back, looking up and down the street. Where was everyone? I felt a chill run down my spine as I noticed a piece of paper fluttering against the mailbox. I picked it up and read the words scrawled in frantic handwriting: “Leave now. They are coming.”


My heart raced. Who was coming? And why hadn’t I heard anything? The dream suddenly felt more like a warning than a figment of my imagination. I dashed back inside, grabbing my backpack and stuffing it with essentials—water, snacks, a flashlight. I needed to get out of here, but where would I go? 


As I stepped outside again, I heard it—a low rumble in the distance. My stomach dropped. It sounded like a vehicle, but not one I recognized. I sprinted down the street, adrenaline coursing through me. I needed to find my siblings; they couldn’t be far. 


I reached the edge of town, where the road twisted into the woods. My heart pounded as I followed it, glancing back occasionally to see if anyone was behind me. The sound grew louder, more menacing. 


Then, through the trees, I saw them—figures in dark uniforms, marching with purpose. My blood ran cold. They were not from our town. Who were they? I ducked behind a tree, heart racing as I tried to make sense of the chaos around me. 


Suddenly, I remembered the woman from my dream. What if she knew? I needed to find her. The woods were dense and dark, but something pulled me deeper, guiding my path. 


As I moved further in, I stumbled upon a small clearing. There, standing at the center, was the woman from my dream, her expression more intense than I had remembered. 


“You came,” she said, her voice trembling with urgency. “You’re the only one left. They took the others. I was trying to warn you.”


“Who are they?” I asked, desperate for answers.


“The ones who want to erase this place from existence. You must leave, Loretta, and don’t look back.”


Before I could respond, I heard a crash in the distance, branches snapping under heavy boots. The woman’s eyes widened in fear. “Go now! Find the old church at the edge of town. There’s a way out.”


Without another word, I turned and ran, the weight of her warning heavy on my shoulders. The figures were closing in, and I had no choice but to trust this strange woman. 


I darted through the trees, barely catching my breath as I reached the overgrown path that led to the church. My mind raced with thoughts of my siblings, wondering if I could ever find them again. The sounds of pursuit echoed behind me, urging me to move faster.


When I finally reached the church, its tall spire loomed like a guardian against the chaos. I burst through the doors, the musty air filling my lungs as I scanned the dimly lit interior. 


There, at the altar, I found an old wooden box. My heart raced as I approached it, sensing something powerful inside. I opened it, revealing an array of ancient symbols and a glowing crystal. This must be what the woman meant—something that could protect me. 


I grabbed the crystal, feeling warmth pulse through my fingertips. Just then, the doors burst open, and the dark figures flooded in, their faces hidden behind masks. 


I raised the crystal, and a blinding light erupted from it, enveloping the church. The figures hesitated, confusion spreading across their faces. In that moment, I felt a surge of power, a connection to something greater than myself. 


“Leave us!” I shouted, my voice echoing with authority I didn’t know I had. The light expanded, pushing the figures back, and with a final burst, it sent them flying from the church, their screams fading into the distance.


Breathing heavily, I looked around. The church was still, the air charged with energy. I had done it—I had protected this place, but at what cost? 


The woman’s warning replayed in my mind. I was alone now, but perhaps not for long. I needed to find my family and uncover the truth behind what happened here. The dream had been a warning, but now it felt like a new beginning.