A leaf fell of a tree. On its way down touched her shoulder, making her turn around in fear. All around this young little girl were trees, surrounding her with branches like long bony hands, making her heart pound faster by every second passed. A feel of confusion and fear like a blend which grows in her, grew faster than the river flowing in the distance. Yes, she wasn’t mistaken. There is a river nearby.

…I am the Collector of the souls…

A voice, deep and shallow, whispered and loud, traveled through the woods. She knew it wasn´t in her head. It is out there, coming from the darkness of the woods. Cold earth beneath her feet frightened her. There are no shoes on her bare feet.

…I am coming for your father, Jennifer….

The voice sounded for real this time, echoing through the woods. She doesn´t want to know who or what it is. The sound of the river made her run for it as fast as she can. All what she wants is to reach and see the river that she is hearing. While running, a picture of her father came to her mind. More than ever she needs him, his dad, who always protects her from the monsters. Tears were rolling with every step on the way. A pain in her chest. She misses her father more than anything. What she would give just to have him next to her. Where is that river, she thought. No matter how much she runs, river is nowhere to be seen. A branch in the way made her fall down straight, but Jennifer felt no pain. She lifted her head, looked around her, seeing the road going through the middle of the woods. Her legs couldn´t move. No matter how much she tries to move, she can´t.

Something made her look down the road, looking at the mist. A human like creature, only wider and taller came through the mist, making her whole body tremble. Not a single movement she could make, like she was chained to the road pavement. A creature, dressed in black habit was coming closer and closer with its hands crossed in front, although its hands were nowhere to be seen under the habit. There was nothing she could do. Feeling her tears on her cheeks, she could only think of her dad. All of the sudden she realized it was all just a dream. She felt encouraged, ready to confront this creature, this monster in front of her. With defiance in her eyes, she felt ready to confront it. Whatever it wants, it can´t hurt her in the dream.

…It is not a dream, Jennifer. I am the One who comes to take your father´s soul….

Her scream out of fear for her beloved dad, woke her and her parents up. Lights were turned up as soon her dad came running into her bedroom. She was shivering out of fear, holding tight as much as she could her dad.

“Calm down pumpkin. You had a bad dream that is all.” Dad was holding her tight, trying to laugh, just to calm her down. Nothing helped. Mom sat next to her, stroking her hair, the way she likes it. It didn´t help either. She never let go of him.

“It is coming to take you away! I won´t let it! I won´t let you go!”

“Who is coming, pumpkin? I am here, look!” He tried to separate them for a brief moment. He looked at her red eyes, full of tears. Looking at her made him realize how his daughter, his five years old precious had a terrible nightmare. “You had a nightmare, honey. It happens sometimes. It happens to all of us. I used to have them at your age, too.”

“It said it will take away your soul. It said it was not a dream. It is coming daddy, it will take you away, I don´t want it to take you away from me.” In an instant she started to cry again. “What did you dream sweetheart?” Her mother tried to calm her down, looking her straight in the eyes while stroking her hair.

“I saw it. It said it wants to take daddy´s soul. I don´t want it to hurt him.” Her eyes filled with tears again while remembering the dream.

Her mom sat next to her, holding her tight. Somehow, she managed to calm her daughter. While she was comforting her down, Clive got up and went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. He brought one with him when he got back to his daughter´s room.  In her mother´s lap she finally found some peace and fell asleep again.

“She had a really tough nightmare.” Almost whispering to her husband, she laid her down to bed and both of them together left her room, quietly closing the door. He didn´t seem worried that much. In a way it bothered her. “Don´t you feel worried about what just had happened?”

“It is a nightmare. Don´t make a big deal out of it. Probably she saw something on the TV which triggered her mind.”

“She didn´t even tell us what she was dreaming.”

“We haven´t asked the details either. Have you seen how it made her upset again? Leave it as it is, she will forget about it by tomorrow.” He took off his slippers and entered the bed, watching his beautiful wife doing the same on the other side of the bed.  He wanted to cuddle, as she did too, kissing each other with kisses full of love and passion. Both of them knew where it could lead them and maybe they would go to the next step if there wasn´t a horrible scream tearing their ears off.

“LEAVE MY DAD ALONE!”