Chapter 2 - 2: Nightmare

"No!...No...Stop it!!!! Please....No please...! Don't hurt my mother...father!!!", Elle continued to cry and shout as she watched her mother and father being beaten by men whom she didn't know. Her plea was useless. No one was listening to her. She wanted to run and hug her parents but she was being held by one man.

"Sorry child, we are just following an order and doing our job. No hurts feeling kid," the leader of the group said as he continue beating the husband and wife using baseball bat.

Her mother was already unconscious while his father was hugging her mother in order to protect her. He was now very weak, his body already felt numb from the beating. Blood was already flowing from his mouth. "Please... spare my daughter." her father said.

This was a heartwrecking scene for the young mind of Elle. She didn't know why this is happening right now. Who are these people? Why are they hurting her family? Her Dad is a good man. He is a policeman. He saves a lot of people. Her mother is teacher and a loving wife and mother to her family. She also helps people. What bad things did they do to deserve this? Do good people receive punishments like this? Why God allows this to happen?These were the questions of Elle which are running in her mind right now.

She felt betrayed. She was really angry right now but she was also helpless. She couldn't do anything to protect her family. She is still a child, and a very weak person. "Please mister stop it already! I will do anything. Please stop hurting my father and mother. Please I beg you!" She continued to shout and cry, pleading them to stop.

The man stopped and looked at her direction. He signalled his men to stop beating the husband and wife. The man flashed his evil smile as he said to Elle, "Are you willing to do anything just to stop us from hurting your parents?"

"Yes mister! I'll do anything." Elle answered immediately.

"Ok, I will give you a chance. I am not that bad person.I heard you are a very good kid.",the man said as he look to Elle meaningfully.

"Ok, here's the deal. Since your father wanted to save you and you also wanted to protect them from us, I will fulfill both of your wishes", the man said as he signalled the person who was holding Elle to release her.

Her father looked at Elle's eyes, telling her to be strong.

"Thank you mister. What do you want me to do?" Elle asked full of hope that she could save her parents.

"Come here," the man ordered Elle to come. Elle tried her best to walk even though she felt weak from nervousness and fear. She stopped in front of the man.

The man walked towards the nearest table and he picked up the kitchen knife. "This is what you gonna do. I want you to stab your parent's heart using this knife in exchange you will be allowed to live just like your father's wish and your wish about not letting us hurt and torture your parents will be fulfilled.You will be the one to save them from us and stop us from torturing them by killing them with your own hands". the man explained to Elle.

The men laugh together as they heard their boss. Shock was visible in the face of Elle. Her world crumbled again. The little hope that she felt a while ago disappeared like a bubble.

Elle did not know what to say. She just stood there like a statue and her mind went blank. Elle just came back to reality again when she heard her father's voice saying "Elle, do it! Do what he say. This is the only way. We want you to live. I love you Elle. You must live no matter what happen.You must survive!"

"What a loving father.Tsk Tsk", the man said as he walked over to Elle and handed her the knife.

"No father! No! I can't do it! No don't say that. I need you and Mom to be by my side. I want to save you!", Elle said hysterically.

"Please.... daughter do it! For our sake and for your own sake. Remember....what you've promised me during my birthday. You said that someday you will fulfill one of my request.", her father said to her.

"Please father, not this!", Elle begged.

" Elle be strong, for us! We will always be here for you, guiding you.We love you our princess.This is my wish.I want you to Live. This is the only way for you to survive. Remember this is not your fault. Do it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Father no!!! I'm sorry father, mother!!!,

"Elle....Elle... wake up! wake up you are dreaming!", Charles called Elle as he tapped her shoulder to wake her up.

Elle opened her eyes and grabbed hands of Charles and she bent it. "Argh...Hey hey it's me Charles! Stop. It hurts!!! Charles complained.

"What are you doing here?", Elle asked him as she released his hand.

"I visit you to talk about your plan to your mission. I unlocked the door since you are not responding to the doorbell and my call. Then I see you here sleeping and heard you murmuring. I wake you up since I thought you are having a nightmare. And I guess I am right, you're sweating a lot," Charles explained as he massaged his hand that was hurt.

Elle stood up and got water to drink. She ignored him and didn't mind his explaination. 'As expected to the aloof girl, a woman of a few words', Charles thinks to himself.

"Is it the same nightmare again?", he added.

"Ask me again and I will really give you nightmare", Elle warned him as she doesn't want to talk about it. Charles closed his mouth and made a mental note 'never again wake up a devil from her sweetdreams and never talk about nightmares'.

Yes, it was the same nightmare, all over again.