Chapter Forty Four: Beneath the Facade

Celine I was dreaming of my childhood. The air was filled with the aura of happiness as colorful water bubbles floated around me. I recognized my laughter, mingled with another - my parents'. We were in a park, and the day was brilliantly hued, with sunrays beaming down on us. Dad raised me in the air and danced around with me while mom watched us from the corner. The sound of our laughter was a melody to the ears. My cheeks twitched as I watched the scene. The dream shifted to a darker background. We were in a tunnel, and I knew what was coming next. "No, no," I shook my head, struggling to wake up. My favorite nursery rhyme played as my dad drove through the underpass. "Stop!" I mentally screamed, but they didn't hear me. My mom and dad continued to chat, my voice lost to them. What happened next played in my head, and I saw the blinding flash of white light in the distance. I anticipated the crash, ready to feel the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. But it