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Hugging her legs to her chest, she hunches over, surrounded by the endless, empty blackness, hearing the grinding of creaking and banging metal. Water is sloshing in, soaking into her clothes. An icy cold feeling is gradually spreading up her body. She knows she needs to escape, she flails her arms, seeking something to grab hold of, but it's coming too fast and there's nowhere to go. She opens her mouth wide to cry out even as the water starts to rush up to her neck-
Save me, Sissy!
Kamila jolts awake, a gasp passing through her parted lips. The top sheet has become partially twisted around her body. She lies still, conscious of her heart beating furiously in her chest, regaining her bearings. As her eyes adjust, she realises that this is indeed her bedroom at home, and she's safe and sound in her own bed. There's no water and no noise. She shivers beneath the sheets, letting out a soft whimper, as tears brim in her eyes. What a terrifying dream it had been, trapped in such a cold and dark place with the water rushing up like that, and she feels like she's somehow had that dream before, but when?
A few soft whiskers brush over her cheek and she hears a soft mew.
"Si... ssy..."
Her hand reaches out to find his head, cupping it, and she strokes her thumb over his fur. Sissel purrs softly, rubbing his head against her face.
"I had a bad dream," Kamila murmurs. "It felt so real, like I was really there."
Sissel mews again, his meow sounding slightly more concerned.
"I'm so glad you're here, Sissy." Kamila pulls the kitten closer, holding him to her chest. Sissel purrs as loud as he can, while she relaxes, focusing on the sensation of his tiny little body vibrating against her. It feels so comforting, having him right there. She can almost start to forget the frightening details of that disturbing dream she had.
It's so quiet in the house. Her mother and father are presumably fast asleep in their bed. All she can hear is Sissel's loud purring, and the occasional distant sound of a car passing by. At least she's not alone. Being all alone in the cold, in the dark, it's a depressing thought.
"It really was just a dream, wasn't it?" Kamila says, to which Sissel mews in response, butting his head against her chin. "Yeah, of course it was. I know that. But they feel so real sometimes. I'll dream about being scared, being locked away in dark places, sometimes I have sad dreams as well, like..." She pauses to catch her breath. "Like my mom and dad not being around anymore. I would hate that."
Sissel rests his head beneath her chin, continuing to purr.
"But then I wake up and everything is fine." Kamila idly strokes his fur as she speaks. "Mom and Dad are there, you're there too, and there's nothing wrong. There's no reason to be sad or scared, because you're all there for me."
Turning over to her side, she continues to hold Sissel to her chest, staring ahead at the faintly lit curtains drawn across the window. After a while, she speaks again. "You will always be with me, right?"
Sissel meows, softly butting his head into her chin.
Kamila smiles, closing her eyes. "Thank you, Sissy."