Bab 4: Something's pushing me down

Today was Drake's 20th birthday. Actually, neither he nor Miss Maggie knew his exact birthday, but when Miss Maggie found him on her doorstep, he was quite like a newborn. From then on, that day was associated with his birthday. Miss Maggie woke up earlier than usual to make a special chocolate cherry cake for her son, which was Drake's favorite. She prepared the batter by adding the main ingredients, baked it, and then decorated it with delicious chocolate and yummy cherries before putting it on the table.

Suddenly, Drake screamed horribly from his room. Miss Maggie immediately went to his room and knocked on the door. "Drake, what happened, honey? Are you alright?"

Drake was shivering with fear and horror as he opened the door. "Drake, my dear, what happened?" asked Miss Maggie, her voice tinged with concern and anxiety. He looked shocked and panicked, as if he had seen a ghost. Miss Maggie held him by his arm and said, "Come on, my child, come sit on the chair."

Drake was still panicked and shocked. Miss Maggie inquired, "Tell me, my son, what happened to you?" Her voice was trembling as she saw his condition.

"Bad dream. I just had another bad dream. Really, really bad. It felt so real like I saw it in reality," Drake responded.

Miss Maggie brought him close to her and hugged her son. "Oh, my son, just look at me," she said. "It's okay, alright? You're fine, my dear, just be calm, okay?"

Drake nodded and said, "Och, okay." He was still breathing heavily.

"Look, I made something for you, son. Your favorite chocolate cherry cake with some extra sugar syrup. Doesn't it look yummy?"

Drake subconsciously replied, "Yeah," in a low voice. He was still struggling with his mind to digest what he had seen. Perhaps it wasn't a dream.

Drake was sitting with Alan in a restaurant when the waiter approached their table. "May I take your order, sir?" the waiter asked politely.

Alan glanced at Drake with a smile and said, "It's your birthday, Drake. You can order anything you want—this is my treat." But Drake seemed lost in thought, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Alan noticed Drake's distraction and asked, "What's wrong? You look like you're a million miles away."

Drake blinked and shook himself out of his daze. "Huh? Oh, it's nothing," he said, though his voice lacked conviction. Alan gave him a concerned look and signaled the waiter to come back later. He turned back to Drake and asked, "Is it that dream again?"

Drake hesitated before responding. "No, it's not that," he said, his tone betraying a hint of unease. "But Alan, I really need to talk to you."

Alan leaned in, showing his full attention. "Sure, I'm listening," he said.

Drake glanced around the restaurant, then looked back at Alan with a serious expression. "Not here. Let's step outside."

Drake and his friend Alan sat on a bench by the lake, the air thick with an uneasy silence. Alan glanced at Drake, noticing the troubled look etched on his face. "Why did you bring me here, huh? It's your birthday, and I wanted to enjoy it with you," Alan said softly, concern creeping into his voice. Drake took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. "I know, but it's important. Just sit quietly and listen to me. None of this is a joke." Alan's brow furrowed, confusion mingling with concern. "Okay, I'm listening." Drake's voice quavered as he continued, "Today, I went into the bathroom, and I saw it—a dark, black, horrendous monster. It was like a demon or a beast. I don't know; it was terrifying, just like the ones I've seen in my nightmares. I saw it with my own eyes, and then I screamed. My mom heard it too." Alan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you serious, Drake? Did you really see that? Are you sure it wasn't just your imagination or a dream?" Drake shook his head vigorously, his expression earnest. "No, Alan, it was real. As real as you and me. I could feel its presence, its malevolent energy. I swear I saw it." Alan studied Drake's face, reading the fear and anxiety etched into his features. He felt a wave of confusion and tension wash over him. After a moment of silence, Alan sighed heavily, still grappling with the gravity of his friend's revelation. "I know it's hard for you to believe," Drake said, his voice tinged with frustration and exhaustion. "I just want to go home. I need to rest." Alan looked at Drake, seeing the worry in his eyes. He reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Drake's shoulder. "Let's get you home. And listen, don't worry. We'll figure this out together," he said, his tone steady and supportive.