Chapter 20. The Nightmare

Emma lay down on her bed, pulling the blanket up as she tried to push away the anxious thoughts swirling in her mind. Even though Jackson had done everything to make her feel comfortable, the pressure and worries continued to haunt her. The late-night silence was broken only by the soft sound of the wind blowing through the window, making the space feel eerily still. She closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would bring her some temporary relief from all the tension.

But instead of drifting into a peaceful slumber, Emma found herself falling into a nightmare. In the dream, she saw her family, but not in the beautiful memories she cherished—instead, it was a scene of pure devastation. The images before her were dark and full of destruction. The once warm home was now in ruins, with cracked walls and broken furniture scattered everywhere. Emma felt as though everything around her was collapsing.

Her father appeared in the nightmare, his face pale and full of sorrow. He was fa