In her dream, Ariana found herself back on the eerie, deserted street, haunted by a horde of grotesque corpses drenched in blood. They crawled and sprinted after her relentlessly, sending a shiver of terror down her spine. Ariana ran frantically, her heart pounding, but the nightmarish creatures multiplied, closing in on her until she was engulfed in their menacing presence.

“Ah!" Ariana jolted awake with a sharp scream, her body drenched in sweat and her breaths coming in rapid gasps. She remained in a daze, her heart racing from the intensity of the nightmare.

Holden's eyes flickered open as Ariana's scream pierced the silence.

Concern etched across his face, he sat up and switched on the bedside lamp. Wrapping his arms around her, he offered gentle comfort.

“What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" he asked.