***

The shadows chased after Emily as she ran through the dangerous forest in the middle of the night.

The darkness that was covering the forest made it impossible for her to see anything. However, having no option of stopping, she kept running while slipping here and there, and getting injured.

Her bare feet were covered with dirt that had stuck on her skin. Under those thick layers of dirt that were cemented on her feet and ankles, there were several cuts, some deep while the others were shallow.

The wet ground of the forest was a little slippery after the heavy rain that showered throughout the entire day and only stopped near the evening.

Her breaths were coming in short gasps as she tried to rub her hands on her bare arms to make her body feel a little warmer.

She was tired beyond words, was starving since she had not eaten anything in the last thirty-five hours, and most importantly...she was afraid.

Her body had no more energy left but if she stopped running, there was no doubt that she would end up in the hands of those monsters who had made her life a living curse.

The blood, that had been seeping out of the cut on the left side of her forehead, had ruined her white dress which was no longer white after her marathon through the forest.

The darkness that was threatening to take over her consciousness was still lurking at the surface, waiting for the perfect moment so that it could strike.

Suddenly, Emily felt as if her legs were becoming heavier. Her head started throbbing in pain and her entire body cried out in discomfort.

She was rooted to the wet ground, no longer able to run to save her life.

Those who were chasing her were coming closer and she could almost imagine the scene when they would catch her.

A chill erupted in her body as she tried her very best to make her legs move and start running again, but all in vain.

Something was not right with her and that realization made her panic intensify.

She started flinging her arms here and there to find a way to get away from the heavy grip that was keeping her tied to the darkness.

But no matter how much she tried to get away from it, the grip on her was far much powerful.

She opened her mouth to shout out for help but here too she failed when she found that no sound was coming out of her mouth, no matter how hard she tried.

She felt the wetness on her cheeks that at first made her think that the rain had returned to increase her problems.

However, as a few seconds passed, Emily realized that rather than the rain, it was her tears that were rolling down her cheeks as they cried for her helplessness.

She was about to meet her end...

***

Emily's bedroom was filled with silence as all the six Alessandro Young Masters stood there in silence while observing Sam taking care of their little sister.

None of them made a single sound as they watched their doctor friend bandaging the cuts and scraps that were covering the previously smooth skin of their baby sis.

It was not until Sam, Domenic, Daniel, and Mark left the bedroom to discuss about her condition, that the rest of the three siblings noticed the change in her breathing.

Rather than the previously calm and steady breathing, she was now struggling to breathe. Before the brothers could call out for help, they noticed the tears that had started rolling down her cheeks, and soon all three of them were panicking as they watched Emily thrashing her arms and legs in the air as if she was trying to break out of something.

"Em! Em!"

Leo immediately shouted in panic as he ran towards the bed where his baby sis was struggling to break through the chains of some bad dreams.

He started shaking her lightly as he tried to bring her out of her terrible dream. But n matter how hard he tried, he could not succeed.

Leo's futile attempt and the whimpering sounds of pain that had started escaping Emily's lips made the three brothers panic even more.

"Go and call the others!" Simon ordered Crist and the first immediately ran towards the door after giving a quick worried glance towards his sister.

On the other hand, Simon immediately settled down on the bed beside Emily as he took her small chilled hands in his own.

He started rubbing her as he signaled Leo to rub her feet.

Leo immediately complied and started rubbing the feet of his little sister which were also freezing.

"Emy! Baby, wake up! Emy!" Simon called out to his little sister in a warm and soft voice as he moved closer to her left ear.

The small hands in his larger ones gripped his fingers and seeing her react to his voice, he started calling her out in his soft voice.

It was not until the fourth try that Emily's eyes finally flew open, but seeing the panic and terror in her little eyes made both Simon and Leo look at each other in worry.

"Simon....."

Emily's weak voice pulled Simon's attention back on the little girl who was staring at him as if she could not make herself believe that it was indeed Simon in front of her eyes.

"Yes, Emy! It's me. You are safe. You are here in your bedroom with me and the rest of your brothers. Don't worry. I won't let anyone harm you. I promise."

It was like Simon's warm words broke something inside his little sister because the very next second she was wrapped in his embrace as she sobbed.

"It's alright, I'm here," Simon whispered in her ear as he rubbed soothing circles on her back.

His eyes landed on Leo who was looking as if he's about to cry and behind him were the rest of his brothers who were looking at him and Emily with worried eyes.