Maize POV:

Late at night, she had been sleeping peacefully, until the silence became overwhelming. She tossed and turned in her bed, struggling to get comfortable in the unfamiliar beach house, seeking that familiarity and comfort but was trapped in her dreams.

/Dream Sequence:

The air felt heavy and cold as she wandered through dark hallways, there wasn't much visible to her, but she could make out the flowing metal seeping across the walls, as if it was alive, pulsing and slithering like liquid. Visible gaps gave way to faint teal light to illuminate her path enough to see. A quiet, yet familiar singing could be heard ringing in her ears, and no matter how much she tried to talk, nothing would come out.

She turned trying to find her way through this labyrinth, but the more she went on, something felt off. She didn't feel fully planted on the floor, and when she took the time to look, she realised that she was taller, much taller than usual...

The walls felt like they closed in with each hesitant step, reflecting her growing unease, before deciding to tap into her strange powers. She blinked down the hallways in attempts to escape the oppressive atmosphere she was trapped in. Everywhere she went, she saw hands and faceless bodies reaching out from the walls, made of the same flowing metal.

Fear set in as she paused to try to look at herself, going to look down at her hand. Horror struck her as she saw the steel she had come to know all too well now consuming her entire arm, jagged spikes erupting from its length like the figures around her.

She rushed through the dark halls, her feet barely touching the ground as she continuously blinked without pause. Eventually, she stumbled across a shattered mirror, blinking to its front to look at herself. Her chest was pounding as she stared at its broken surface, each shard reflecting back the figure that she was, but it wasn't her.

The sight of her was unrecognisable, the metal that formed those figures she saw in this place was the same that now consumed her entire body. Horns jutted from her head, with a giant steel pincer replacing her left hand, and the only familiar thing left was her scarf, which had been torn and hung limply around her neck. She could feel her emotions spiral out of control the longer she stared at the horrifying sight of herself, and before anything continued, an ear-piercing shriek erupted from her figure. It didn't sound like her voice. It was the cry of something... other. Something alien.

/End Dream

Her eyes shot open, the oppressive darkness of the dream replaced by the moonlight filtering through the window. She clutched her chest, the memory of the dream lingering like a ghost in her mind. A cold sweat soaked her skin, and her heart pounded violently in her chest. She glanced down at her right hand and saw its glow pulsing brighter than usual, its hum louder with the two syncing with her erratic heartbeat. She looked at the window to see the darkened beach on the other side, confirming she was out of the dream.

Maize: A nightmare... just a nightmare...

She laid herself back down in an attempt to go back to sleep, but the vision haunted her. The glowing digits of the clock on her bedside table read 3:07AM. She felt she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, Quietly, she slipped out of bed and left her room, going down the hallway to Marie's room.

Marie POV:

Marie's was sleeping soundly, the day activities having tuckered her out. Her ears perked from hearing a light knock on her door. She ignored it for a few moments before groaning and rolled over to face the door, her eyes barely open.

Marie: Mrmg... who is it...?

She watched the door creak open before seeing the figure of her daughter standing there and hugging herself, her fear evident in her trembling frame. What caught her attention was Maize's hand glowing brighter than usual, and the faint singing from it being audible from across the room.

Marie: Are you alright, Maize...?

Maize: I-I had a nightmare... c-can I come in...?

Marie: Aww, sweetheart... come here.

Her heart ached at the vulnerability in her daughter's voice, raising herself up from her bed before holding her arms out, beckoning Maize to come closer. Hearing her take quiet steps towards her before crawling into the bed with her. She wrapped Maize into her arms to soothe her, holding her close.

Marie: Shhh... it's okay, you want to tell Mum about it...?

Maize: It was scary... I-I was trapped in darkness... I didn't like it, especially the shadows on the walls...

Marie: Mmm...? What shadows?

She felt her daughter's hand be taken away from her and held it up to her, watching its glow pulse immensely, and it's singing louder.

Maize: Th-they... they looked, like my hand... reaching out from the floor and walls... like they were trying to grab me...

She felt shivers run down her spine as Maize's words put vivid images in her mind. She always felt uneasy when she learnt about Maize's hand because she loves her more than anything. Hating more the thought of it bringing her pain, whether physical or mental.

Marie: Are you okay telling me more?

Maize: They... didn't have faces... like the hollow gaps in my hand... like that... I didn't feel like myself...

Marie: What do you mean...?

Maize: I-I found a broken mirror... in my dream. When I looked into it... I-I was like them... metal everywhere, with horns... and my scarf was torn...-

She didn't hear Maize continue talking, instead hearing her voice break and start crying before burying her face into Marie's chest, seeking comfort. Her heart broke for her daughter, she held Maize tightly, rubbing her back in soothing circles.

Marie: Shhh... let the tears out, you're alright, mommas got you...

Maize's emotions surged, as she saw her vanishing in and out of sight, her distress making her powers uncontrollable. Marie knew last night that Maize wasn't comfortable in the beach house, so this made sense to her. She thought to herself quietly for a solution, before speaking up softly.

Marie: Here, why don't you sleep with me tonight, alright? That way, you can feel closer to home, hmm...?

She felt her daughter nod her head against her chest, tears staining her shirt while she continued to soothe her, stroking her hair before slowly drifting back to sleep with her daughter held in her arms.

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