“Julian!” she cried but muffled words were the only response she received from him.

“Julian, what’s happening?” she said, sobbing. Laughter sounded behind her, she turned quickly and saw a stranger leaning against the doorframe.

“Ncooh! That is so sweet. A girl crying for the man she loves, a helpless, useless man trying to reach her,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“Please don’t hurt him, I’ll do anything you want me to do,” she pleaded with tears rolling down her rosy cheeks.

“You had the chance long ago. Now I’m gonna kill your boyfriend as you watch,” he said, coming closer to where Julian sat strapped in a chair with duct tape on his mouth.

“Why are you doing this, what did I ever do to you?” she said trying to keep him talking while praying for someone help them.

“You don’t remember? Well I shall enlighten you, very soon you’ll be dead anyway,” he threatened.

“Well, I was a young man and I happened to fall for a beautiful woman and she rejected me for a hollow-minded jerk who only thought with his fists and cared for nobody but himself,” he said pinching his face in anger.

“And that young woman happened to be me?” she asked, shocked.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” he said searching her face.

She kept quiet and he continued.

“Mickael Churchill, that’s my name,” he said and waited for her reaction.

She gasped and said, “You’re lying, Mickael died.”

He laughed and pulled back his hood. She took a quick breath through the mouth and Julian wiggled in his chair.

“No, it can’t be,” she backed against the wall trying to get away from the person in front of her. It was Mickael, but he was an older version of himself. Gone was the cute but handsome nerd she remembered, now in his place stood a crazed man thirsty for blood.

“Not what you expected, huh, princess?” he said coming close to her and stroking her cheek, he winced when she jerked her face away.

Julian wiggled fiercely in his chair and tried to yank the rope that strapped him to the chair. She ran to his side and put her hand on top of his.

“You two are nice to watch, but I have to end this now,” he said as he crossed the room and picked up a sharp knife.

She sobbed as he crossed the room and came to them. He took her and shoved her against the wall. She hit with a thump and slumped to the floor.

“Please don’t,” she pleaded as he removed the duct tape from Julian’s mouth. He sneered at her.

“Any last words Julian?” he said.

“I love y…” Julian said but he didn’t finish as the knife plunged in his chest and straight to the heart. She watched, her eyes spreading widely and she screamed. She scrambled to get to him but couldn’t get up. His eyes went wide and the chair fell to the floor with his lifeless body still strapped to it.

“Now it’s your turn,” the crazy man said, his eyes glinting with wild fire. She tried to get her body to move but it didn’t obey. She watched as the killer came close and raised the knife. She watched as he swung it and screamed as she felt it cut through her skin.

“Hey, Hey! Wake up, it’s just a dream!” Julian shouted as he tried to wake her up.

“No, please stop, please don’t!” she cried as she flailed her arms around.

“Babe you’re dreaming, wake up!” Julian tried again and shook her, dodging her flailing arms. She bolted up in the bed and frantically looked around.

“What? Where? What happened? Where is he?” she asked breathing heavily.

“Who? It was just a dream you don’t have to worry, it was just a nightmare,” he said in a soothing voice.

“You died! I saw you die Julian, he had a knife and, and…” she said in between sobs.

“Shhh! I’m right here. Don’t worry we’re safe,” he assured and took her in his arms.

“Will you stay with me?” She dived into his shoulder

“Yes I will,” he said as he got comfortable on the bed and let her sleep on his chest.

“Always,” he whispered and put his arms around her.

They slept unaware of the hooded figure watching them from the shadows.

“We’ll meet soon and I’ll make sure you never touch each other again,” the figure said as it chuckled dangerously.

Tell us: Do you have any nightmares that you can’t forget about?