Chapter 2: Delusional

Cassandra was running in the darkness. She's calling for help because she saw a man wearing a black raincoat with a Freddy mask on his face. His right hand was holding a sharp knife and ready to slash her throat once he catches her.

"Help! Help! Someone wanted to kill me!", Her throat cracks and almost dry from a never-ending marathon from the killer.

***

She looked back but the unknown man wasn't there anymore. Droplets of sweat rolled down her face and her tension subsided when the guy vanished. She feels relieved and slows down her speed.

" Where is he?", she said while checking her behind.

The empty road was quiet and only the barking of dogs can be heard in the empty lot she was at right now. Her eyes roamed around and she saw no traces of her abductor but she's wrong.

***

A sharp thing hit on my neck. Blood started to drop endlessly. My eyes widened when he took off his mask and I know her. Yes, she's someone I know.

"Ahhhhh!", I screamed when I felt someone is shaking my shoulders.

***

" Cassandra, wake up! You're having a nightmare!", she slowly opened her eyes and she saw Lucy.

She quickly got up and she felt the dryness in her throat. She's still shaking and her dreams seem so real. She quickly wrapped her arms around her friend's body.

"I'm scared, Lucy. He's here! He's going to kill me!", Cassandra looks paranoid.

Her eyes won't stop blinking like she saws a ghost.

" Hey, no one will hurt you. I'm here beside me. He's not real, okay! It's just a bad dream. Calm down." She is trying her best to comfort her friend.

It's been three days when Cassandra always dreaming of a guy wearing a black raincoat. She can't explain why this kind of dream always visiting her every night.

Her eyes were glaring while Lucy caressed her back.

"You're the killer to my dream." She said to herself.

Lucy left when she finally came back to her senses. She ambled to the kitchen to drink one glass of water. She's trying to erase all the memories she had left when her parents were alive. They are only part of her past and she promised herself that they won't haunt her forever.

***

Cassandra POV

When my daughter died, my whole world falls into pieces. She was five years older than Austin if she was still alive. I still long for Tanya because she never experienced having a mother since she went to prison when Tanya was only five years old.

I thought I can be reunited with my daughter after I was discharged from prison but she got sick and I came late. She died without my presence. The most painful part is she keeps calling my name while catching her breath. I wasn't there for only ten seconds I step inside her room, she said goodbye to the world.

"Why it still hurts? I should be smiling because I have Austin with me but why this feeling of emptiness still haunting me?", I said to myself while drying my tears from my face with the tissue I have in my hands.

I went back to my room. I was like this when I am alone in the mansion. Lucy and Kent brought Austin with them to the Museum. They were invited to attend the auction for Eloisa's painting collections.

I decided to wear something beautiful today. Let me guess, what if I will be a doctor so I can save everyone's lives especially those in need.

I have my secret cabinet inside my room. Lucy wasn't aware of it, since, I covered it with curtains.

I have different costumes since I wanted to be a cosplayer when I was in high school.

I took one pair of white blouses and a skirt for my doctor's thing. I wear them and check myself in front of the mirror. The dress looks perfect on me. A wide smile was painted on my face.

" Tanya, do I look great? Mommy is going to treat your malady!", I said to my daughter.

I know Tanya will be okay soon and we will be together. I just need some time to prepare our home and her things before I decided to take her with me.

I turned around to see the full view of my outfit when someone rings the bell downstairs. I immediately take off my doctor's uniform and ran downstairs. I thought it was them but my excitement faded when it was Eloisa.

"What is she doing here?", I whispered to myself.

I don't like her attitude. She's so spoiled and antagonistic.

I set a fake smile on my face.

" Hi, everyone is not here. Do you have an appointment with them?", I asked her while trying to be modest in front of her.

She raised her brows and set a half-smile on her face.

"I came here for you. I want to ask you something." She uttered and I look puzzled.

"She came because of me? Did I do something wrong to her?", these are the questions inside my mind.

" Can I come in, first? I think I have the rights since I am part of the family." She said and rolled her eyes towards me.

I wanted to slap her but I hold my breath and calm myself. This isn't me anymore. I have control over my emotions especially when I am mad.

"Yeah, I know that. Come and I'll make you a tea", I said and let her in.

I was about to go to the kitchen when she called me by another name.

" Carmen, right? I know it's you even you changed your name a million times but the murder you did was---", Eloisa stop and was surprised when her right palm hit her face.

"I'm not a murderer! I am not Carmen! I am not a --", I was surprised again when I saw Eloisa shaking my shoulders.

" Hey, are you okay? I thought you saw a ghost since you look pale!", she said.

What just happened? Am I delusional again?

"Did you said anything? Did something happen?", I wanted to clarify if what I heard and witnessed are true or just my daydreaming again.

Eloisa looks puzzled.

" I told you, I will wait for your tea but you froze like a statue without responding to me." She replied and I feel relieved.

I thought, she said that I am a murderer and Carmen was my name. I just went to the kitchen and offered Eloisa a tea while waiting for them.

***

As I am stirring the tea, the tea itself started to turn red like blood. I screamed and I saw Eloisa rushing towards me.

"Cassandra, what's happening to you? You seem not right!", She sympathized with me and I hate that. I pushed her away from me.

" I'm okay so can you just stay there and wait. Maybe I am just tired. Can you please excuse me?", I told her, and I went back to my room to rest.

Eloisa just left and told me that she just came to tell Lucy that she's inviting them to a family dinner tonight.

I can't explain this feeling inside me but this is not normal. I am trying to live as Cassandra and nothing else.

I have Austin and a loving family of Lucy. What else I ask for?