07:00 AM
Mila jumped out of bed at the metallic, sharp sound of her old alarm clock, so suddenly that the glass on her nightstand rattled and spilled a few drops of water. It took her a moment to catch her breath.
What kind of nightmare was that…?
She tried to convince herself it was the two bottles of soda she had downed in exhaustion last night.She carefully stepped off the bed; the floor seemed to ripple beneath her feet. She held onto the wall to steady herself. After a few minutes, still slightly dizzy, she forced herself to get ready for school. She was so late that all she could do was tie her tangled hair back and leave without breakfast.
The school bus smelled of fish oil, as always—the lingering scent of tuna cans piled in the back. Mila closed her eyes, trying to push the nightmare from her mind, but the image of that clock… grew clearer.When she arrived at school, she didn't look at anyone, walked straight into the classroom, and sat down. The dark circles under her eyes and her pale complexion were noticeable from afar.
– "Mila? Are you okay?"
It was Veronica—her best friend, or at least the closest person in the class.
– "Oh… yeah, I'm fine. I just overslept. I was working late on a project last night."
She gave a faint, forced smile. Everyone knew she wasn't the type to stay up late for *any* project.Throughout the class, her gaze was fixed on the board, but her mind… was nowhere. Only that dream. That clock. That vague feeling that she had seen something she wasn't supposed to.
Maybe the school counselor could help. She had heard from others that he was calm, discreet, and very knowledgeable. After class ended, she made her way to his office, her heart racing—not sure if it was from worry or the need to explain.She knocked softly on the door.
– "Come in."
A calm, composed voice. The counselor adjusted his glasses with a finger and looked up from his computer. He scrutinized her for a moment, then gave a small smile—one that seemed designed only to reassure.He stood and said:
– "I've been expecting you, Mila. Sit down… and tell me everything."
11:50 PM
Mila's eyes were fixed on the ceiling, her mind still tangled in thoughts. A strange sense of unease lingered deep inside her, but she tried to ignore it and closed her eyes.Suddenly, the loud metallic ticking of a clock echoed from nowhere. Mila opened her eyes in fear. Standing right in front of her was an old clock, its hands frozen exactly at 12.
Mila froze.
Where is this? Shouldn't I be in my bed?
She stood shakily and looked around; nothing was there but sterile white walls. The tall old clock continued to tick… tick… tick…
Turning her back to the clock, she ran her hands over the walls, trying to make sense of it. Then she heard something being dragged. She turned and saw a torn open can of tuna on the floor. Her pupils widened and her breath caught. She stepped closer, and the stench of rotten fish hit her. She covered her nose.
The brand was clear: NEXO.
Mila carefully examined it but couldn't touch it. She stepped back—but the walls seemed to move closer. The walls and the clock, covered in mold and grime, filled the room like poison. She was gasping for air, trying not to touch anything, but there was no way out.
A scream escaped her throat.
The last thing she saw: the clock, 12:59, and the room growing darker and more unreal by the second.
When Mila described her dream, the nausea was obvious on her face. She accepted the glass of water the counselor offered and drank a little to calm herself. He jotted down a few notes and then spoke:
– "So, what do you think could be the reason? Overeating, or a jumbled mind?"
Mila paused, then hesitantly replied,
– "I don't know… but… I feel like it was real. Even if it was more of a nightmare… I could smell the rot, touch the walls, and…"
The counselor responded calmly:– "It's better to calm your mind a bit. I'll prescribe you a pill—no side effects, just to help you sleep easier. And I recommend you avoid horror or crime novels for now."
He said the last part with a casual, joking tone. Mila said nothing and stood to leave.But just before exiting, something caught her eye: the card on the counselor's shirt… Mr. Viska, NEXO
Mila froze
Why was the brand of a tuna I clearly saw in my dream printed on the school counselor's shirt next to his name?