Elizabeth lay strapped to a bed that looked like a cross between a hospital cot and a torture device. The restraints pinned her arms and legs in place so she could not move an inch, and when an itch appeared on her nose, she could only sigh helplessly.
"I told you to call the moment the symptoms showed up, but no, you just do not listen to me."
Her brother's voice echoed in her mind. The imaginary version of him stood at her bedside with an annoyed look on his face.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Oh please. I was planning to head to the nearest police station, after training of course. I am not about to ruin my routine just because I got infected."
Her brother flicked her forehead. Or tried to. His finger passed through her skin without actually touching her.
"Your carelessness could have gotten other people killed if a nightmare creature appeared."
Elizabeth frowned. "Are you suggesting I am going to die in my first nightmare?"
His expression shifted, a hint of panic breaking his otherwise calm face. "No, I am not saying you will die, I think. I am just saying you need to be careful. Reckless thinking gets people killed."
She knew he was right. She also knew she was not about to admit that out loud. What kind of sibling would she be if she did not argue back?
"Nuh uh," she said confidently.
"Ye uh," he shot back.
Their bickering continued until the metallic door to the room slid open. The sound made her imaginary brother flicker and fade out of existence.
Tessie stepped inside with an unfamiliar man. He had an aloof expression, hollow cheekbones, and a scar running across his face that seemed to have been placed there recently. One glance told Elizabeth he was awakened. She sometimes found it funny how easily she could tell them apart from normal people. It was not just their appearance, either, something about them always stood out. Maybe it was the presence they carried, or the way they always seemed one step removed from everyone else.
She frowned a bit, remembering something. Now that she thought about it, awakened people and attractive mundane soldiers were hard to tell apart, it must be related to the lingering aura of death that always followed them, and she was about to become one of them.
The man cleared his throat. "Your name is Elizabeth Hale, correct?"
She nodded. "Yes sir."
For a moment, a small change flickered across his stern expression before it returned to its emotionless state.
"I have contacted your family."
Elizabeth frowned and looked toward Tessie, who lifted her hands helplessly.
"Do not look at me like that. I thought they might want to know their daughter is facing the Nightmare Spell soon."
Traitor, Elizabeth thought silently.
The man ignored her expression and continued. "I am sure you already know the basics of the Nightmare Spell and its trials."
She nodded.
"Remember this. Nightmare creatures are not the only threats. You will encounter people as well, illusions created by the spell. Do not trust them. They can kill you, and you may have to kill them. Do not hesitate."
Elizabeth stared at him for a few seconds, then nodded again.
"Remember to check your attribute and aspect once you enter. The sooner you familiarize yourself with it, the better."
"Yes, yes, I will," she muttered.
The awakened cleared his throat again. "Now, with the formalities aside, it is nice meeting you, Elizabeth Hale, I have always wanted to meet you."
She frowned and glanced at Tessie. Tessie looked just as confused as she was.
"I knew your brother," the man continued. "I admired him. It is a shame he died so young."
For some reason, his tone and the way he said it made it sound like he meant the opposite. Elizabeth had the strange feeling that this man did not like her brother at all.
"I wanted to repay the favour and give him a scar as well. It still hurts a bit, you know, despite all these years." He ran a finger across the scar.
Suddenly a pressure descended in the room and Elizabeth found it hard to breathe for a second. The man nonchalantly looked at Tessie, the source of it.
"Watch your words. Do not make them your last."
The man sighed and fixed his necktie.
Elizabeth blinked at the exchange before letting out a small laugh. "One of his haters, I suppose?"
He did not answer, but his silence told her everything.
"Oh, do you hate that scar? I think it looks good on you. Fits very well. Gives some character to an otherwise boring face. My brother was generous like that."
The man frowned and clenched his fist, but he threw another quick glance at Tessie before he turned toward the door.
"I wish you luck in the trial ahead."
He walked out without looking back. From his tone, she could tell he did not mean the words he just said.
"I wonder if his flaw has something to do with him being an asshole," Tessie said as she took a seat next to the bed.
Elizabeth nodded. "Right? Hopefully I do not end up with a flaw like that. I do not want to be an insufferable jerk."
Tessie chuckled. A brief silence settled in the room before Elizabeth asked the question that had been weighing on her.
"Do you think they will come?"
Tessie's expression fell. She knew exactly who Elizabeth meant, her parents. "They better. If they do not, I will have a nice talk with them afterward."
Elizabeth laughed. "Please do it when I am there, so I can see their reaction."
Tessie only gave her a sad smile.
"How are you feeling?" she asked softly. "Your life is about to change."
Elizabeth grew quiet. She honestly had no idea how she felt. Part of her was excited to awaken and follow her brother's path, another part felt numb. Like nothing felt real.
"Uhh, okay I guess?"
"Okay as in 'okay my life is changing,' or okay as in 'too stressed to care'?"
"Both options, I suppose."
Tessie nodded. "If you say so."
They talked for what felt like hours before the pull began. The pressure in Elizabeth's eyelids grew heavier and heavier until it became almost unbearable.
"I do not think I have long," Elizabeth said while yawning.
Tessie's expression hardened.
"Are you worried about me?"
Tessie looked at her before she ruffled her silky golden hair.
"I would be lying if I said I am not."
Elizabeth smiled before she let out a soft breath. "At least you are. I do not know about Jennifer and Mael."
Those were her parents' names. She had stopped calling them mom and dad a long time ago. It felt wrong to use titles they never earned. They noticed as well, although they did not seem to care, or were too busy pretending they cared.
Tessie's jaw clenched. "That talk is definitely happening."
Elizabeth's eyes grew heavy. Tessie immediately looked more emotional.
"Do not die, okay?"
The sadness in her voice hit Elizabeth harder than she expected. If she died, Tessie would not recover, at least not for a long while. She had barely held herself together when Elizabeth's brother died, only finding comfort with her. Heck, that applied to Elizabeth as well. She knew she had become somewhat of a lifeline to normalcy for Tessie. If she vanished, Tessie would break, most likely ending up like the other awakened who seemed so detached from humanity.
She felt some guilt leaving her alone. Is this how her brother felt?
Suddenly she remembered that day and forced a smile. "Aw, how sweet. Do not worry. I will be A-OK."
Tessie stared at her smile, stunned for a few seconds. Moisture gathered in her eyes. Was she really going to make a saint cry? That would be an achievement, not that she wanted it.
"Truly, you are Cain's sister."
Elizabeth used the last of her strength to roll her eyes. "I am nothing like him."
"I am nothing like her," the voice in her head agreed.
The darkness crept into her vision. Her body relaxed into the restraints.
"I… will see you later, okay?" she managed to say before she sank into the darkness.
In the void, a warm voice echoed.
[Aspirant, welcome to the Nightmare Spell. Prepare for your first trial...]