It was raining and Savvy was sitting in the balcony watching the rain lash at the few trees way below her feet.The grey clouds were moving rumbling like a tiger on prowl and then there would be freak bolts of lightning marking the sky leaving behind flashes which would take time to fade out of the eye’s vision.It was pouring now and almost growing dark.Savvy liked the rain and she would sit for hours watching the water pour down from the sky.She loved the light spray of rainwater on her cheeks when it hit the slant of the balcony and she would enjoy the weather.It was a very subtle outline at first but then she could see her clearly the littel girl was on the other side of her balcony just floating in the air.She was holding out her hands and looking at Savvy as if she was trying to read her mind.Savvy jerked back when she saw the apparition she wanted to scream run away….but she could not she felt rooted to the spot held by the girls stare.She felt her eyes burning and her body being pulled by and invisible force.She felt paralysed as her body was sucked as if in a vaccum and she was thrown from the 14th floor of her flat.

The police had made a case of suicide but they could find no suicide note.Savvy’s Dad went into depression after her untimely death.He would not accept that his only daughter would take her life and he searched for clues in her room.It had been six days since he had gone out.He had searched every inch of her room but he could not find anything.It was quite by chance that he was going through a worn register when he saw the three nightmares written down in her neat handwriting and the common reference to the lake.He decided to burn the papers as he could do nothing more he thought he would burn away the evil in them.He had struck the match when the lights went out.He hesitated for a moment then tore the papers from the copy and walked to his bathroom.He turned on the tap for the bath and waited till the water filled up.Then he took the papers and put them under the water……..The water poured out of the bath and was filling the bathroom now.He didn’t try to turn off the tap he knew had turned it off.He waited a sign but he got none….the pages just floated in the water and the tub overflowed.He lay down on his bed and closed his eyes.

After 3 days the neighbours complained of the smell coming from the apartment and the police was called to break down the door.Savvy’s dad was found on his bed as if in deep sleep.The only sign of death was the look of extreme horror on his face and his hand clutching his heart.

Annie had told her mother about the nightmare and she realized now that it was a mistake………whatever thing had afflicted them claimed its next victim through the first and the horror should be kept to oneself………it was unspeakable and should remain so……

(The End)

Since that day Annie found it hard to sleep everytime she tried she would feel the hands on her delicate neck choking her.She had not seen who it was who choked her and she could not believe it was the beautiful man with the shackles.She decided to speak to Savvy and find out if she was still getting her dream.

So she called up Savvy and they decided to meet up.Annie got her cellphone and her money bag and ran the flight of stairs to Savvy’s and rung her bell. Savvy opened the door immedialtly and when she saw Annie with her bag asked her where they were going.Annie she said she’ll feel better if she went out.So they went to the cafe nearby.After ordering for icecream sodas they decided to sit outside and enjoy the weather.

When there orders had come Annie thought she would come to the point and told Savvy everything about her dream.Savvy was very suprised that both of them had seen such horrible nightmares and both of them had experienced such true to life horrors.Savvy asked her if she had ever seen the man when she was awake and Annie shook her head in the negative.

They were both worried and Annie was beyond herself with terror because she now half expected to see the man in reality and she was not looking forward to the sure to be horrific experience.

But weeks passed and neither Savvy nor Annie saw either the small girl or the beautiful man again.They were ready to forget the whole incident when something happened that jolted them back to the same feeling of helplessness.

Savvy’s Dad had a nightmare too. Savvy knew the moment she saw him in the morning.He look haggard and his face was drawn.She kept asking him what was wrong but he would not tell her.But when she started crying in frustration he yeilded and told her what he had witnessed in his nightmare.

He saw that he was in a old mountain village. All people in this village were extremely beautiful.He saw himself walking towards the village pond where a few women were washing clothes and bathing.He was thirsty and he wanted a drink.He walked towards a small child of maybe 10 or 12 years and asked if he could get some water. The child pointed towards a talk woman also extremly beautiful who was cleaning her face in the water.he had walked towards the woman when he saw her feet were bound by chains leading into the pond.He wanted to help the woman but just as he bent down to free her he felt a terrible pain and he had collapsed.When he came through he was lying on his bed drenched with sweat.

What did all mean? He did not know but he wondered how every person who had heard about a nightmare had had one too…was there a link?

(More in last chapter)

When she came through there was a friendly face looking down at her and she tried to remember where she was. The store attendant asked her if she wanted some water, Savvy just nodded mutely and gulped down the water a young boy was holding for her. She got up after a while and paid for the things and went home.

Once she got home she tried to remember what had happend her mind was whirring with a buzzing noise and she could not concentrate. She tried to lie down but every time she closed her eyes she could feel the slimy hands of that women on her face and she would snap out of it.She forced herself to stay awake. Then she decided to go to her friends place who lived a floor above hers.

Annie was an only child too and both her parents were working that left her the run of her flat most of the times and she took full advantage of it.Today she had called her boyfriend over and she had spent most of the afternoon making out on the drawing room couch.She was quite bored with him now and was looking for a reason to shove him out and maybe get on the net to chat with her friends but she couldn’t ask him to leave. So when the bell rang she ran to open the door.She found a haggard looking Savvy standing with her finger still on the buzzer.Annie ushered her in and motio ned for her boyfriend to scoot.

Annie was a good friend and although she was not a part of Savvy’s regular gang of intelligent geeks she really cared for her little friend.She closed the door once her boyfriend had left discreetly pulling the door behind him.She took Savvy to her room and asked her what was wrong.Savvy told her about the dream she had had a few weeks back and the incident at the mall today.After listening to the whole story Annie got up to get some coffee for both of them and when she returned with the steaming cups Savvy was curled up on the bed and tears were glistening on her cheeks.

Annie let Savvy sleep and did not disturb her till it got really dark and she got up to switch on the lights.With the lights on Savvy stirred from her sleep and seeing the face of her friend she gave her weak smile and got up.Annie told her that she had called her Dad from her cellphone and he would be coming directly to their flat to pick her up.

Savvy was feeling much better after the short reprieve and realised that she was ravenous having skipped lunch following the horror of the afternoon.

Savvy’s dad got home early that day and after he picked her up from Annie’s place he ordered for Chinese and after dinner made hot cocoa for Savvy. He was a gentle and sensitive man and he knew his daughter was disturbed.He had been noticing the change in Savvy for the past two weeks but had said nothing hoping she would come to him and tell him what was bothering her and why she kept mumbling in her sleep.Today after getting the call from Annie her knew he would have to ask her about her dreams.

Savvy held the cup in her hands and took a sip.She felt like a child again her dad was there beside her and was looking at her intently.She wanted to cry but she also wanted to show him that she was brave.She finished the drink and prayed that he wouldnt ask her to tell him whats wrong.But ofcourse he had to know and he took the cup away and came back to sit next to her and gathered her in his arms, he kissed her brow and asked her what was bothering his sweet lollipop his childhood petname for her. She broke down and sobbed in his chest.

” I am scared daddy” she said in a small girl’s voice and then recounted the whole tale again.

After hearing the story he asked her questions and told her that there was nothing to worry about as it could be that she was only hallucinating about the dream she had had 2 weeks back and would soon get over it.He also told her that he was taking Monday and Tuesday off and they were going to take a vacation.That cheered Savvy up as the last vacation she had taken was 4 years ago when dad had taken her along on a business trip to Goa but she was mostly left alone during the day and only saw her dad in the evening.Next day they left early in the morning and Savvy was euphoric with having all his Dad’s attention and kept hugging herself with delight.

Annie couldn’t sleep after Savvy left she kept getting disjointed images of the girl from Savvy’s dream and wondered how Savvy could take all that horror and tell anyone!!

The entrance to the cave was dark and eerie and she could smell the moisture in the air.Annie went inside and she could see the ceiling of the cave arching upwards when suddenly she found herself in a clearing .A thin stream of light was illuminating  a bed of rock which was slightly raised from the floor.She could now see the pool of water shimmering in the middle of the cave floor and she moved towards it.The man was sitting with his back to her and was therefore was not visible in the dim light from where she had entered.Now he slowly turned towards her and she could see his face.He was completely nude and his dark skin was glistening with water. It seemed like he had just emerged from the pool and was waiting for her.

She watched fascinated as he got up and moved towards her his mucsles rippling like the water behind him.She heard the clunk of the chain and then her eyes moved to his feet.His left foot was tied to a chain and the other end of it  she could see went into the water. He was almost next to her now as she watched in horror.She could now see that his lips were sealed together and he was blindfolded.He was now pulling at the chain which would not yield and he kept tugging at it with all his might.Annie wanted to help him she bent down to try and free his feet when the cold hand wrapped around her neck choking her and she jerked up on her bed panting and gasping for breath………

( more later…….)