In a small room, in a quiet city where even the night seemed to hold its breath, a beautiful young woman slept peacefully on a narrow bed.
The faint glow of moonlight slipped through the curtains, brushing softly against her face.
She turned gently in her sleep, rolling onto her right side. Her breathing was slow, even.
As though lost in a pleasant dream, the corners of her lips curved upward, forming a faint, unconscious smile.
Then, in the blink of an eye—everything changed.
Her brow furrowed. Sweat began to bead along her temple. Her body shifted restlessly, rolling from side to side as if trying to escape something unseen.
'Stop fidgeting,' her mother said, a soft laugh catching in her throat, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. 'You'll wrinkle the dress before we even arrive.'
Camil smiled despite herself. The fabric of her dress shimmered faintly beneath her hands—delicate, ceremonial, custom-made.
A dress meant for photographs, applause, and a future carefully mapped out by those who raised her.
Tonight was supposed to change everything.
Her father's voice cut gently through the moment, steady as the road beneath them. 'She's allowed to be nervous,' he said. 'Big nights deserve it.'
Camil leaned back, letting the lights slide past the window like falling stars.
For the first time in weeks, she let herself believe it could be real—that happiness could last.
The sound came suddenly—a deep, metallic roar tearing through the night.
Headlights exploded at the edge of her vision.
'What--' her father began, but before he could complete the sentence, impact shattered the world.
Metal screamed.
The car jolted violently as something massive slammed into them from the side.
Glass shattered outward, sharp and blinding, scattering through the air like knives.
Camil was thrown hard against the door. Pain bloomed white behind her eyes, her head snapping back violently.
'Camil!' her mother screamed, voice raw and frantic. Even in danger, she cared more about her daughter than herself.
The car spun. The bridge disappeared. The sky flipped. Gravity lost meaning.
Before Camil could breathe, heat swallowed the air.
It surged fast—racing beneath the hood, crawling through the engine, bursting into the cabin.
Smoke poured in thick and choking, clawing at her throat, burning her lungs with every desperate gasp.
'Get out!' her father shouted, voice hoarse with panic, all thought of himself consumed by his daughter. 'Now!'
Camil fumbled for her seatbelt. Her fingers slipped. The clasp wouldn't release.
'Let me try,' her mother gasped, straining at her door, but it wouldn't budge.
'Daddy!!!' Camalina screamed in panic.
And the truck was quick to hit them again,deliberate this time.
And this time the car caught fire.
The force shoved the burning car backward.
Tires screeched uselessly against concrete as the edge of the bridge rushed toward them.
Her stomach dropped.
The car tipped.
Weightlessness.
For a single suspended moment, everything went silent.Then the ocean rushed up to meet them.
The impact was brutal.Water exploded through shattered windows, slamming into her chest, ripping the breath from her lungs. The cold was instant,crushing.
Fire hissed and died in a violent scream as the car sank, dragged down by its own burning weight, As darkness swallowed everything.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Camalina screamed. As she jolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat, gasping violently for air.
Her body shook as she scrambled backward, crawling until her back hit the wall.
She drew her knees to her chest, arms wrapping around them tightly as if holding herself together.
"Camalina, are you alright?" a woman's voice called urgently As The door flew open, and light flooded the room as the switch clicked on.
Mrs. Alex.An average woman with tired eyes and gentle hands,rushed inside.
She crossed the room in quick strides, climbed onto the bed, and pulled Camalina into her arms, holding her tightly.
Her hands moved soothingly along Camalina's back and shoulders.
"It's okay," she whispered softly into her ear. "Calm down. Everything is alright now. You're safe, love. Calm down."She said as Camalina trembled violently in her embrace.
"Ah… aha…" a muffled sound escaped her throat as she buried her face against the woman's chest. Her arms circled tightly around Mrs. Alex's waist.
Tears streamed freely down her face as the nightmare replayed itself over and over in her mind, how they were pushed off the bridge with her parents.
She squeezed her eyes shut, tightening her grip. "Please… please, stop it," she begged, her voice cracking apart.
"Shhh… it's okay," Mrs. Alex murmured, rocking her gently.
For four years now, ever since she had taken Camalina into her home, this had been the same.
Like a routine in every night.
Night after night, the girl was hunted by nightmares without knowing that they weren't dreams at all, but fragments of a life shattered years ago alongside her parents.
Ten long minutes passed before Camalina's breathing finally slowed, her trembling easing as she returned fully to herself.
Still holding onto Mrs. Alex's waist, Camalina lifted her head and offered a faint, fragile smile.
She looked up into the woman's face eyes filled with worry and quiet love.
"Are you alright now, Camalina?" Mrs. Alex asked softly.
Camalina nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry I woke you up," she apologized, her voice small. "I know you were sleeping."
Mrs. Alex smiled gently. "That's nothing. This is the most important thing I do." Her eyes softened. "You remind me of my late daughter. I see you as my own, so you never have to apologize."
She paused, then asked carefully, "What was the dream about today?"
Camalina hesitated, just for a heartbeat.
"It was a frightening dream," she said slowly. "There was a lion chasing me. I was running so fast… I didn't even know I could run that fast." She swallowed.
"I kept turning to see if it was still behind me, and then something jumped in front of me and scared the life out of me."
She continued quietly, "I tripped… and then I realized it was a tiger. Both the lion and the tiger came running at me together, trying to attack me. That's why I screamed." She lied,Just like always.
She never spoke the name she had been born with.Some names carried death with them.
Because Camalina believed no one was meant to know who she truly was.
She feared that the truth wouldn't just destroy her...
but everyone she loved.