In a classroom full of students, Alex sat on the last bench by the window. The teacher had just ended the class, and the students were talking among themselves. Alex gazed outside at the sky, lost in thought, wondering why it was blue and not another color.
Three students approached his bench, but Alex did not notice them. Suddenly, one of them grabbed him by the collar and forced him to the ground. He groaned as he hit the floor and looked up at the figures. He couldn't see their faces; he only saw that they wore the same uniforms as him and all had black hair.
He tried to stand up, but one of them pressed a leg onto his shoulder, pinning him down. Alex glared at them and tried to remove the leg, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move it.
They snickered and laughed loudly. Alex began to feel uncomfortable. He looked to the other students for help, but all he saw were mocking faces, eyes full of ridicule and disgust. Everything about them seemed dark, just like bullies; their faces were blurred and darkened.
Alex was gripped by fear as his instincts screamed danger. He tried to back away, but he bumped into a wall. There was nowhere to run, desks blocked his left and right, and the wall was behind him.
He screamed loudly, hoping someone would help or that a teacher would appear. He shouted, "Help me! Help! Please, someone, help me!"
The bullies only laughed even more. One of them bent to his eye level, and only then did he see the figure's eyes; they were filled with hate, jealousy, and disgust toward him; everything else was dark to him.
The figure tightened his grip on Alex's shirt and lifted him up. Alex's feet left the floor, and his back slammed against the wall.
Alex looked towards class, they were mocking him, no one stepped to help him, he punched the hand with all his force, but the figure only smirked and put his other hand over his neck, making him unable to breathe, he was grasping for breath.
He tried to make himself free, his feet trying to kick the figure, but he was unable to free himself; his breath became shallow and ragged, and his body was all filled with sweat.
Suddenly, the figures began to lose their color, the world distorted, and before he could think, he found his mother standing before him.
His mother had woken him. Alex looked around and realized he was in his new bedroom. He glanced out the window and saw that the sun had just risen.
He was drenched in sweat, his hair disheveled, his face full of fear. He looked at his mother, who stood before him with a worried expression, and, behind her, the old butler, looking apologetic.
His mother immediately hugged him and gently calmed him down. Only then did he notice his breaths were still shallow, and when he touched his neck, he could still feel as if someone was grabbing it tight.
Only after a while did he manage to calm down; his mother slowly ran her hand down his back.
Only after he had fully calmed did Sera let go of her son and sit beside him on the bed. She asked, "What happened? You were screaming so loudly, shouting for help. I was so afraid—if the butler hadn't come to wake you up and inform me, I wouldn't have believed it. You always sleep so peacefully. What did you dream about to make you sweat this much?" She wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief.
Alex slowly took long breaths to fill up his lungs. He glanced toward his mother and told her all about the dream and how the bullies were trying to kill him.
Sera tried to keep a neutral face, but her brows furrowed, and she was so tense while listening to his dream that he felt in between whether to continue or not. Seeing that his mother wanted to hear the full story, he kept going. At the end, he again touched his neck to see if there were any marks; even now, he felt someone had indeed grabbed his neck.
Sera looked towards her son with a worried face. She did not want this dream dismissed, because what if it was a bad premonition of the future? She wanted to stop him from taking the entrance, but could not bring herself to make a decision based on a mere dream.
She slowly stood up from her bed and bent her body to meet Alex's gaze. She slowly said, "Don't worry, son. It's just a dream. No need to think too much. Hurry up and freshen up, today we have to go to the academy for your entrance exam."
Alex had forgotten about it, having been so focused on his dream. He looked out the window and thanked God that it was still early in the morning, then immediately jumped out of bed.
Sera smiled at her son's enthusiasm and excitement, but somehow she was unable to shake off the dream from her mind. She exited the room, and behind the door, the butler stood; he had left earlier to give them privacy.
Sera told him to arrange Alex's bath and a change of clothes, then disappeared into the hallway.
Old Butler glanced at the disappearing Grand Duchess and sighed. He was the first to see Alex screaming and shouting in the dream. He immediately informed her, thinking it best for him to let them handle it. He was so feared back then when he first saw Alex moving across the bed, his eyes were tight shut, his mouth making a weird expression that he felt he was seeing someone who was fighting for life and death.
Old Butler slowly entered the door, prepared the bath, and put the clothes on the bed before exiting. He was a butler meant to serve, and he would serve without delving into their private affairs. He put this memory into the back of his mind; he would not tell anyone, and he would forget from this onward. He too disappeared into the hallway to carry out his other duties.
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