Shadow of Fear: Traces of Accident

Chapter 1: Deep Trauma

Sarah sat alone in the silent living room, contemplating in painful silence. In his hand, he held a family photo that used to be full of happiness. Highlight the happy eyes of Luke, his cheerful son, seen in the picture. However, the smile on his face now only lingered with sad memories.

The sound of birds chirping outside the window was just an inaudible noise in Sarah's ears. After a tragic incident at a playground a few months ago, their world collapses in an instant. Luke, his youngest five-year-old son, was seriously injured and eventually died.

Sarah still remembers clearly at the time. They were in the playground, and Luke was playing cheerfully on a spinning ride. He saw Luke laughing and shouting happily, as if there were no burdens in this world. Then, all of a sudden, there was the sound of a loud explosion that struck his heart. He saw the spinning vehicle malfunction and people were screaming in panic.

A mother's instincts immediately pushed her to run closer to Luke. David, her husband, also ran towards a spinning vehicle that became a field of chaos. The two of them looked at each other, a look of panic on their faces.

"David!" he exclaimed, trying to cut through the hustle and bustle of the crowd running out of the playground area. However, his voice was drowning in chaos.

When he finally arrived beside the spinning vehicle, the sight he saw made his heart stop beating. The ship was badly damaged, and in the middle of it, he saw David trying hard to protect Luke from the ruins. Tears welled up in Sarah's eyes, but she could not move. Fear fenced his body like a strong shackle.

The sound of the second explosion came so quickly, and in an instant, the world turned into chaos. He felt the ground tremble under his feet and a huge crack appeared on the ground. He grabs Luke's hand and tries to pull him out, but his strength is not enough. Then, everything went dark.

Sarah's eyes glazed over as she reminisced about those times. He felt like everything that happened after him was hazy and unreal. He woke up in the hospital, his body full of bruises and casts. David was beside her, his eyes tired but full of relief when he saw Sarah unconscious.

"How long have I been asleep?" ask Sarah in a loud voice.

"A few days," David replied gently. "You're doing fine. What matters is that we're still together."

However, their happiness lasted only a moment. When David told me about Luke, Sarah's heart was broken. They both lamented and grieved, feeling a deep loss.

After coming home from the hospital, they felt like ghosts walking inside the once cheerful house. Luke's toy is lying on the floor, reminding them of an irreplaceable loss. Every corner of the house seemed to contain their fond memories with Luke, and guilt ambushed Sarah.

He felt he had to protect Luke, and he felt guilty for not being able to do so. She felt like she was a failed mother. Every night, he is awoken by nightmares about the accident. He saw Luke screaming and trying to reach his mother's hand, but he couldn't reach her. The dream always ends with the darkness separating them.

The sound of her cell phone ringing cut through Sarah's daydream. He picked it up and saw a message from David.

**"I came home late tonight. Don't wait for dinner. I try to cope with work and distract. I know it's hard for both of us, but we need to be strong. I love you."**

Tears rose in Sarah's eyes as she read the message. David tried hard to stay strong, but he knew that they were both crushed inside.

Sarah feels lonely in a house that now feels so empty without Luke.

He lifts a photo of Luke from the table and grabs the family photo album. He opened the first page and saw Luke's adorable smile inside. His face felt like it had been hit by a blow when he realized that he would never see that smile again.

"It's not fair" he muttered in a trembling voice. "It's not fair at all."

Sarah put the photo back on the table and cried in her own arms. The deep trauma of the incident lingered in his heart, and he felt like he was trapped in an endless nightmare. His life was ruined, and he did not know how he could continue. But, he knew he had to try, for Luke, for David, and for himself.

Suddenly, he felt a cold gust of wind passing around him. He raised his head and saw something unusual. In the corner of the living room, he saw a black shadow hovering around. His eyes widened, and he felt as if the darkness had a strange presence.

Sarah's hand trembled as she tried to grab her phone, but something strange happened. The light of the lights flickered, and he felt as if strange sounds were entering his ears. He felt dizzy and almost fainted. Suddenly, he saw Luke appear before his eyes.

"Ma. ma. ma.." Luke's voice was soft and faint.

Sarah grabs Luke's hand, but he can't feel his touch. She saw her son smiling at her, but the smile looked so strange and unreal. Then, in an instant, Luke disappears, leaving Sarah in confusion and panic.

He felt his heart pounding, and he saw the black shadow coming closer. The darkness enveloped him, and he felt as if he was being sucked into another world. All the surrounding became blurred, and he had no idea what had happened to him.

When he opened his eyes, he felt confused. He was in the middle of a dark and sinister forest. Huge trees stood looming around him, and a cool breeze bit his skin. He felt very weak and helpless.

"David? Luke?" he shouted with a loud voice. But no voice replied.

He tried to walk, but his legs felt paralyzed. He felt as if he was caught in a strange and terrifying trap. He felt as if something was lurking behind the shadows of a tree.

Suddenly, he felt someone touch him from behind. He turned around quickly and was surprised to see that black shadow before his eyes. This time, the shadow looked more real, but its form was vague and mysterious.

"Near me" whispered the shadow with a hoarse voice.

Sarah was scared, but she felt she had to face it. He approached the shadow carefully.

"Who...who are you?" ask her tremblingly.

"My name is... Inara," replied the shadow slowly.

"Without?" reiterate Sarah, feeling as if her name has an unexpressed meaning.

"This is another world, a dark world invisible to many. This place is full of darkness and destruction, and I am the guardian of the boundary between this world and yours," Inara explained in a faint-sounding voice.

Sarah was confused. He did not know what to believe or how he could be in this place.

"What...what happened to me? Where is my husband? Where is Lukas?" sarah asked in a voice full of despair.

"In this world, time and space intertwine in strange ways. I brought you here, to the place between the two. Your husband and your son are still in your world, but you can see them from here" Inara explained.

Sarah felt her heart heavy. He felt as if he was caught up in a strange and unfathomable reality.

"I want to go back! I want to go back to my world!" he shouted with despair.

"This is what you have to do, Sarah. You must pass the tests I will give you. If you succeed, you will return to your world with new knowledge and strength" Inara said seriously.

"The test? New power? What are you talking about?" sarah asked confusedly.

Before Sarah could respond further, things went dark and she felt as if she was thrown back into the real world. He opened his eyes quickly and felt his breathing sting.

He was again inside the quiet living room, a family photo in his hand. Everything felt so strange and fuzzy. He didn't know if the experience was real or just a nightmare.

He felt tired and hurt. The deep trauma of the accident continues to haunt her, and she feels

it was as if he could no longer live in peace. However, he felt that a new power was growing within him. The power to fight the darkness, to face his fears, and to find the answers he seeks.

Sarah held the picture of Luke tightly in her grasp. He knew he had to be strong, not only for himself, but also for David and for Luke. She must find the courage within herself to overcome her deep trauma and face the challenges that lie ahead of her.

Sarah sat back in the quiet living room, but this time, she felt more steadfast. The strange experience he had just experienced in the dark world had left a mark in his mind. He felt that something had changed within him, a new spirit was tempestuous.

With her trembling hands, Sarah put the photo of Luke back on the table. He walked to the window and looked out. The dim sunlight illuminated the desolate courtyard of their home. A cool breeze rubbed his face and returned him to reality.

"Something strange happened" he murmured to himself. "I need to find out more."

But before he could think further, the sound of footsteps at the entrance made him turn around. David walked into the room with a tired expression on his face. He grabbed a packet of food from the store and placed it on the table.

"How was it today?" david asked gently, but there was a look of worry hidden in his eyes.

"It's a little strange" Sarah replied hesitantly. He decides not to tell David his strange experience in the dark world. She was afraid her husband would worry more about her condition.

David nodded in understanding, but his gaze was still full of concern. They both felt like they were between a beautiful memory and a deep wound. Luke's loss left an incurable wound in their hearts, and their every step seemed to be accompanied by the shadow of their departed son.

They eat in awkward silence. The atmosphere that used to be full of cheerfulness and warm chatter now felt so heavy. Sarah tried to smile at David, but the smile never reached her eyes.

After dinner, David helps Sarah clean the table. They sat together on the sofa, but the atmosphere was still awkward. David looked at Sarah with a attentive look.

"How are you feeling?" ask David gently.

Sarah nodded slowly. "I feel like I'm in a dream, or maybe it's more like an endless nightmare."

David grabs Sarah's hand gently and looks her eyes lovingly. "We're gonna get through it together, baby. We must be strong, for Luke."

Sarah held David's hand tightly. She felt warmth and support from her husband, and it gave her a little relief. The two of them pondered in silence, recalling the wonderful moments they once had with Luke.

Then, all of a sudden, they heard a strange sound coming from the hallway. The two of them turned towards the sound and felt a deep fear permeate them. The sound of slow footsteps and strange vibrations shook the floor.

David grabs Sarah and pulls her behind him, trying to protect his wife and their home. The two of them stared at the passageway in fear, waiting for what to appear.

Suddenly, a black shadow appeared at the end of the passageway. It looked bigger and scarier than before. Blazing red eyes focused on them, and rumbling sounds filled the room.

Sarah felt a throbbing in her chest. He felt the darkness speak to him, calling him in a terrifying voice. But he knew he couldn't just keep quiet. He has to face it, for himself and for Luke.

He let go of David's handrails and walked slowly towards the shadow. David tried to hold her back, but Sarah shook her head firmly. He knew he had to face it himself.

"Who...who are you?" he asked with a trembling voice.

The shadow was floating in the air, but this time, there was something different. A soft light began to radiate from within the darkness, forming a silhouette that was clearer than the shadow's form.

"Sari... Sarah," whispered a soft voice that sounded.

Sarah felt her chest tight. He knows that voice. It was Luke's voice.

Tears flowed from Sarah's eyes. He felt his heart rustle with happiness and confusion. He grabbed Luke's hand, even though it didn't feel the way it should.

"Luke? What...what happened?" ask Sarah in a soft voice.

"Ma. ma... I... am here to give. you.

Sarah felt a warmth envelop her body. He felt as if he sensed Luke's presence around him. The soft light emanating from the shadow began to radiate brighter, filling the room with a calm aura.

"You must fight... darkness within you, to return," Luke said in an increasingly dim voice.

Sarah nodded, though she did not really understand what she should do. But he knew he had to try, for Luke and for himself.

Luke's shadow faded, but the light remained luminous. "Don't..never forget... I'll always be with you..."

With that final voice, Luke's shadow disappeared completely, leaving Sarah with mixed feelings in her heart. He felt stronger, more prepared to face the challenges that lay before him.

David approached her and grabbed her tightly. "What's going on, baby?"

Sarah looked at David with teary eyes. "Luke... He. He gave me strength."

David is shocked to hear it, but he feels Luke's presence around them. "We're going through this together, baby. We'll deal with it, for Luke."

Sarah clasped David's hand and smiled at him. They both feel closer to Luke than ever before, and they know that with their courage and support for each other, they can overcome the deep trauma they've been through.

**TO BE CONTINUED...**