The cold wind seeped through the gaps in the windowpane as Ella turned on her bed for the umpteenth time that night. Sleep refused to come, and when it did, it dragged her into the same chilling nightmare she had been having for weeks.

The dream began the same way every time. She stood in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield, chaos erupting around her. Warriors clashed with savage cries, their swords and claws dripping with blood. In the distance, an enormous beast loomed, its figure cloaked in shadow but its glowing red eyes burned like fire.

Ella ran, but no matter how fast she moved, the beast followed. Its...