Gabe's vision blurred as he floated closer to the metallic apple heart. The stem, adorned with intricate drawings, revolved on its own, capping a deep brown hole. The lever seemed to be pulling him in, and Gabe felt an eerie sense of surrender.
As he was sucked into the heart, he was enveloped in a cloud of black dust. It covered his face, nose, and eyes, and stained his white shirt. The dust was everywhere, making it hard to breathe.
But then, he saw her. A woman, dressed in rich blue robes with golden embroidery, her brown hair disheveled. She wore an inner white robe, stained red at the bottom. Her eyes locked onto Gabe's, and she screamed.
Gabe's gaze was drawn to her stomach, where a sword was thrust deep into her flesh. Her fingers clutched at the hilt, and her eyes pleaded for help. The scene was chaotic, and Gabe felt like he was being pulled apart.
Suddenly, everything went flying. Gabe felt like he was thrown out of an airplane without a parachute. He was weightless, free-falling through the air. Time seemed to slow down, and he felt a sense of intense fear.
Then, he crashed into the rocks, and everything went black. When he opened his eyes, he was back in the conference room, surrounded by his father, Mr. Saint, and the papers detailing the solar-powered glass panel installation.
Lukose's face was red with concern, and Mr. Saint looked like he had been electrocuted. Gabe's scream still echoed in the air, and he could feel the gasps of his father and Mr. Saint.
"It was just a nightmare, Dad," Gabe said, trying to reassure himself more than anyone else. But the image of the woman and the sword still lingered in his mind, making him wonder if it was more than just a dream.
Lukose's expression softened, and he put a hand on Gabe's shoulder. "Are you okay, son?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Gabe nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. He felt shaken, like he had been pulled out of his own reality and thrust into a world that was both familiar and yet, utterly strange.
As he looked around the conference room, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The papers on the table seemed to blur together, and the faces of his father and Mr. Saint seemed to fade into the background.
Gabe's mind was reeling, trying to make sense of the nightmare and the strange feelings that lingered long after he woke up. He felt like he was trapped in a world that was both real and yet, utterly surreal.
Gabe rushed out of the conference room, his nausea escalating. He stumbled into the company bathroom, vomiting violently into the toilet. He felt haunted, as if the woman's screams still echoed in his mind. The metallic taste of blood lingered on his lips, and he could swear he smelled the bloodstained robes. His body shook, and his mind reeled, unable to escape the horrors that haunted him.
As Gabe emerged from the bathroom, he was met with worried faces. His parents, Lukose and Marylyn, exchanged a concerned glance, while his friends, Alex and Ryan, looked on with alarm.
"I had a bad dream," Gabe muttered, feeling embarrassed and shaken.
Without waiting for a response, he quickly fled the office, leaving his parents and friends behind.
As he walked away, he heard his mother's voice, "That boy is overworked. He needs a break."
Lukose nodded in agreement. "I think I have just the thing. Pack your bags, Gabe. You, Alex, and Ryan are going to spend the next few days in Hawaii, at a seaside resort."
Gabe's heart skipped a beat as he heard the news. A vacation in Hawaii sounded like just what he needed to clear his head and shake off the lingering fear from his nightmare.