"Excuse me!" the messenger said. "You can't throw Laura in that dark, filthy pool!" he protested.

"What's wrong, messenger? Why are you complaining? She's my bride! I have all the right to do whatever I want with her. Now, SCRAMMMMMM!" the voice said menacingly. ​​

The messenger gritted his teeth in anger. "I didn't save her just to be thrown in that dark pool!" he insisted.

Suddenly...a whirlpool took place in the dark liquid in the pool...then a figure covered in black tar emerged from the surface of the pool. "Obey the King! Or you shall die!" the figure covered in black tar told the messenger.

The messenger turned around and going back to the room where the bed was located.

He stared at Laura's face for a few seconds. "I'm sorry, this is your destiny," he said sadly.

He picked up Laura's body and carried her in his arms going back to the hidden room.

He moved forward, approaching the black pool, staring at the black figure that was waiting for his bride.

He was now on the edge of the black pool.

"Give me my bride and get lost!" the king demanded.

The messenger closed his eyes for a few seconds and threw Laura's sleeping form straight into the king's waiting arms.

The king catches his beautiful bride in his arms, still dripping with the black tar. He's laughing hard due to happiness, staring at his pretty bride. He looked at the two men. "Leave the room at once!" he commanded.

The old man and the messenger exited the hidden room.

Back in the dark pool.

Laura finally opened her eyes. She locked eyes with the most terrifying creature she had ever seen in her entire life.

"Hello, Laura, my beloved!" the king said.

Laura was frozen, too terrified to move. Then suddenly, her strength comes back to her body in full force. She struggled to flee herself from the horrifying creature's grasp. Then he released her...she fell into the dark liquid screaming in horror. "HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!"

Laura goes silent. She can no longer scream because the dark liquid entered her nostrils, her eyes, and mouth.

She can feel the light of life fading away.

She's dying...

...

She was in that estate in her dream when she finally woke up, gasping for breath. She sat upright in the bed, her heart was beating like drums in her rib cage. She put her hand on her chest trying to calm herself.

She inhales and exhales air into her lungs for a few minutes, trying to stabilize her chaotic breathing. Her mind is in a state of disarray and bewilderment. Too many things going in her head at once.

Her nightmare feels so real!

She can still feel her body shaking. The most terrifying part of her nightmare was when she locked eyes with that horrifying creature that looks like a demon from hell. Then she fell into the dark liquid that looks like tar. It was sticky, like slime, so black and foul-smelling. She can still feel the thick black liquid entering her eyes, nose, and mouth...ewww... she can't breathe...she was suffocated!

That was the end of her horrific dream.

She looked around the room. Thank God, that was just a dream!

A terrifying dream!

Her gaze landed on the clock hanging on the wall. The time was already 8:30 in the morning.

Oh, my! She woke up late!

She was about to get up from the bed when she heard gentle knocking on the door. "Who is it?" she said.

"Miss Laura, breakfast is ready!" Neeza's voice rang in the air.

"Okay, I just wake up. I will come down in a few minutes," she replied.

"I have good news for you, Miss Laura. Sir Cooper finally arrived! He will be joining you and your father for breakfast in the dining room," Neeza said.

Oh, no! Cooper has finally arrived!

Her face paled.

"Alright, thanks for telling me. I'll get down in a few minutes," Laura said.

"Okay. Would you like me to help you dress?" Neeza offered.

"No thanks, no need! I can dress on my own," Laura answered.

"Okay, I'll take my leave now," Neeza finally said.

Laura released a deep sigh. She slid her feet into her slippers and rushed towards the bathroom to clean herself.

Ten minutes later.

She exited the bathroom and rummaged through the clothes in her luggage. Damn! she can't find what she was looking for!

She wasn't able to arrange her clothes in the closet last night due to tiredness!

Panicking, she emptied the luggage in the bed, her clothes were scattered all over the bed in a chaotic state. She picked a floral flowing dress reaching the floor and changed into it in a hurry.

She starts combing her hair, letting it cascade in a sea of waves behind her back.

She was dying to use the big mirror but she won't dare take the cover away fearing that Luke's doppelganger will appear in the middle of the room and gives her a heart attack.

Not now, not when she was about to face her future husband!

She took out the small mirror from the pocket of her luggage bag and looked at her face. She looks the same.

She took the bottle of perfume from the bag and sprayed herself with it. She likes it because it doesn't have a strong odor, rather, it has a sweet fresh fragrance that she loves, that's why it's her favorite perfume of all time.

She sat down on the bed and closed her eyes, putting herself in a relaxed state of mind. She wants to face her future husband with a calm and serene face.

She breathed in and breathed out and count from 1 up to 100.

A few minutes later, she was done counting.

Time to face the world.

She's ready to exit the room and face her future husband!

She stood up and looked around her messy bed. She shook her head in annoyance watching her dress scattered all over the bed. Damn! She has no more time left!

Let it be!

She walked towards the door and opened it, she exited the room and closed the door behind her.

She walked in the hallway in a relaxed way, going to the stairway.

She saw Neeza sitting on the sofa, waiting for her. "Miss Laura, you look beautiful in your dress!" she enthused.

Laura smiled. "Thank you, Neeza!" she said. "Is Cooper already in the dining room?" she asked.

Neeza nodded her head. "Yes, he is!"

Laura walked towards the stairway and descended, Neeza followed from behind.

The women's feet landed on the floor, they step forward going to the dining room.

Laura paused at the entrance of the dining room.

"Enjoy your breakfast, Miss! I'll just wait here outside," Neeza said.

Laura nods her head, breathing deeply. 'This is it!' she told herself.

She entered the dining room, sporting a pleasant smile on her face.