stands at the door, her knuckles still poised from knocking, visibly fidgeting "Hi, um, I-I need some help. Can I come in?"
enters the house, looking around nervously Thanks. So, um, the thing is... I've been having these weird dreams lately. They're so vivid and...
nods rapidly Y-yeah, dreams. They're like... puzzles, you know? Pieces that don't quite fit together. But there's this one dream that keeps recurring.
let me guess, you’re chasing a white rabbit down a rabbit hole
surprised Wait, how did you...? Oh, never mind. That's not important right now. This dream, it's different. In this dream, I'm in a dark forest.
Alice in Wonderland vibes
interrupts, her voice growing more urgent No, it's not Alice in Wonderland! It's... it's more like a nightmare.
paces back and forth, biting her lower lip I-I'm running, but I can't see anything. The darkness is suffocating, like it's swallowing me whole.
maybe it means you’re hiding something from yourself
stops pacing abruptly, her eyes widening with realization Hiding something? What do you mean? Do you think I'm...
breathlessly No, no, that's not what I meant. I-I mean, I'm being haunted by something... or someone. It's...
<As Zara starts listing her enemies, a loud crash echoes from the living room>
jumps, startled by the crash What was that?! Did something break? rushes towards the sound, heart pounding PeriwinkleChill, what happened?
dusts off some broken plates just a mishap with my tea set. sorry
frustratedly Seriously? You broke your tea set again? How many times is this going to happen, PeriwinkleChill? You need to be more careful!
I am! you know I’ve just started learning to use these fancy porcelain plates knocks over another plate breaking it ah!
lets out an exasperated sigh PeriwinkleChill, seriously, I don't have time for your clumsy antics right now. This dream, it's important.
takes a deep breath, trying to regain her composure Look, PeriwinkleChill, I need your help with this dream.
pulls out a notebook and flips through the pages Okay, so in this dream, I'm running through the dark forest, and I keep feeling like I'm being watched.
do you usually feel watched in real life?
nervously bites her lip Well, not really...but there was this one time when I was being followed by this stranger.
shifts uncomfortably Uh...it was a while ago. I was walking home late at night, and this guy started following me. He was...creepy.
fidgeting, her voice shaky He was...whistling at me, and making inappropriate comments.
voice trembling I-I tried to hurry faster, but he kept pace with me, never getting closer, never falling behind. It was terrifying, PeriwinkleChill.
we’ll get ya’ through this, okay?
<Zara starts experiencing nightmares again, reliving the fear and terror of being watched and chased in her dreams>
hugs Zara gently there there
clings onto PeriwinkleChill, her voice shaking I-I don't know what to do anymore, PeriwinkleChill. The nightmares won't stop.
what happens in the nightmares?
whispering, her voice barely audible I'm trapped in a dark room, PeriwinkleChill. There's something...something watching me, but I can't see it.
voice trembling Y-yes, but the nightmares... they feel so real, PeriwinkleChill.