The Ice dragon's Mistake

Chapter 4-Glowing

“Phew” Riley exclaimed in relief brushing off her sweaty forehead after bringing her trash all together. It’s been a couple of days since she was fired. Riley decided she just can’t continue to lay depressed on her bed and decided to clean her home and start another new chapter of her life by writing her resume again and also start looking for a job, after all, she’s got a lease to pay.

Riley didn’t expect things to be easy but she was a hard worker. After her parents' deaths, Riley struggled to get by after escaping with the insurance payout since it appears her relatives were gonna hoard that too, just like they did with her parents' assets. Since her parents' deaths were sudden, they had no will written whatsoever, making it relatively easy for her to be cheated.

Riley recalled how miserable those times were and smiled. ‘I’m sure if I can survive that, I can survive this too’ She thought to herself, fastening the trash bags after tying them up. For two days she lay in bed wondering where her life had gone wrong, she felt idle and sluggish. Just sleeping and eating, cooking was a hassle so she ordered most of her food from home resulting in a trash pile but the third day wasn’t the same for her, Riley woke up determined. She cleaned her room and the spare that used to be Sasha’s before she moved in with her boyfriend.

She cleared out her fridge and went grocery shopping despite feeling tired and woozy. Riley finally found some courage to cook proper food. Adorning her dining table with lasagna and sausages, she scrolled her phone for any vacancy.

A cold coffee on her coaster as she had her meal while her indolent hand stayed on her phone. Riley in her casual t-strap top and sports shorts. She sat in her living room while scrolling through her computer after rolling her light auburn hair into a messy bun.

“Is job so scarce these days?” She wondered aloud while she continue to scroll for vacancies. The blaring ringtone of her phone disturbed her intense concentration resulting in her absentmindedly reaching for the phone and picking up in one click.

“Hello-

“Riley” She ended the call without a second thought since she knew the voice so well. The devil who took away her job.

“Why the f**k is he calling me for?” She muttered throwing the number a contemn look before checking for options to block it but a message notification tone distracted her. “I promise to give you back your job, if you come see me” There was a hotel address attached to the text.

“This bastard, does he really think I’m desperate or something,” Riley thought out loud while rolling her eyes in utter disgust. Without a second thought, she blocked the number and continue surfing for job vacancies after perfecting her resume.

While she was already certain how strenuous her job search is gonna be, nothing prepared her for the frustration that comes with it after a few job interviews but she was more frustrated with herself with the daily nightmare she’d been getting as weeks flew by.

“This again” She wondered after she find herself facing the dragon-like figure that always give her a big scare, only this time she wasn’t scared, and watched as the huge sapphire eyes stared down at her, then it uncoiled, the monstrous figure slowly rose this time and as the figure shadow cast on her, a harrowing chill run down her spine.

“What is this?” She wondered as the enormous being rose and brought its head closer. Then comes the strange pull to the figure and despite the fear that engulfed her, her racing heart and her trembling hands, she found herself taking light cautious steps towards the figure that now had its head lowered in front of her.

Its head alone towered over her in height, it was like a picture out of her nightmare. ‘Oh right…it is my nightmare’ She thought before her hand landed on the hard scaly skin of the monstrous figure. The creature let out a low growl then huffed and blinked at her as if commending her for her courage. The impact of the huff blew her dress and hair but she still stood, her hand on the majestic creature nesting in her dream.

“Riley!” A loud call of her name startled her out of her dream. She sighed and remove the sleep mask on her face to wake up to the morning sun and her somehow rowdy friend.

“I can’t believe you’re still sleeping” Sasha shook her head as she slide open her windows, inviting the burning sun rays into her dark room.

“Well…good morning to you too,” Riley said with a yawn before getting down from bed. She flipped off her cover before waddling her way to the kitchen to get herself some water.

“Is it your day off? Why are you here?” Riley asked after emptying the glass of water she had filled herself.

“It’s the weekend you i***t” Sasha appeared from her bedroom.

“Oh you blame me, every day is a weekend for me right now” She rolled her eyes and Sasha sighed.

“Still no luck?” Sasha asked while Riley rubbed her sleepy eyes and smoothed her bedhead.

“Yeah,” Riley answered dryly.

“That’s why you should try out John’s company-

“Can you at least give me some time to try my luck…I know it’s all good trying to recruit me for your boyfriend and all but lemme try my best first, okay?” Riley expressed in a low serious tone that had Sasha nodding immediately.

“Sasha” Riley hesitantly called wondering if it was really okay to ask.

“Yeah,” Sasha answered pulling off her woollen coat before taking a seat on the sofa while waiting for Riley to spill whatever the reason was for calling her.

“Well…what does it mean to dream of a dragon?” Sasha turned back in her direction and as far as Riley could tell, her action meant she wanted to know if she was serious.

“I dunno, maybe it means good things are in stall for you or something” Sasha replied with a shrug while Riley throw a sarcastic look as if saying ‘Oh, really?’

“I’ve been having that same dream for weeks now, it just doesn’t make any sense” Riley mentioned, making her way to the coffee makers.

“Dragon huh? I’m sure it’s a good omen-

“I’ll just ask your grandma” Well, Sasha’s grandmother used to be a professor versed in ancient history.

“My grandma is a history teacher, not a dream interpreter” Sasha sassed with a smirk.

“But I’m sure she’s got more to say about it than you do” Riley appeared in the sitting room with two cups of coffee, one of which held for herself.

“You aren’t even gonna brush first you crazy coffee fanatic” Sasha arched a brow in disgust but an unconcerned Riley just sink onto the sofa next to her. Sasha’s look suddenly disappeared and she slowly narrowed her eyes at Riley.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Riley asked cringing up on the spot.

“Is it just me or did you really put on some flesh-

“That’s impossible, you have no idea how stressful it’s been for me these past few weeks” Riley denied almost immediately.

“I’m serious though…you’re practically glowing despite your nasty look-

“Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?” Riley rolled her eyes at her but Sasha’s deadpan look had her narrowing her face at her in question. “You’re being serious-

“Will I ever joke ‘bout something like this?” Sasha asked but was sarcastically answered.

“Um…yeah” Riley replied.

“I’m serious…even with your hair in a tangled mess and the dried drool at the corner of your face, you still looked like you just finished a several thousand-dollar spa treatments-

“If you’re trying to say I’m pretty, you can just be forward with me,” Riley said with a proud look making Sasha sigh. She placed her coffee on the coffee table by the sofa then walked straight to Riley’s room only to return with a mirror.

“You’re really serious about this?” Riley chuckled faintly before taking the mirror from her but she see no difference in her appearance like Sasha emphasized, Sasha who noticed her cluelessness sighed and returned to her seat.

“You can’t see it, but you’ve changed-

“Maybe it’s because I’ve been sleeping more these days, I mean…I always wind up home exhausted” Riley shrugged indifferently while Sasha sighed and turned away. Riley might not have noticed but she definitely did. After that, the girls hung out all day but Sasha eventually had to leave since her boyfriend John came to pick her up.

“Hey, girls” The 30year old approached them as they both exit the apartment building. ‘I guess he’s here’ Riley muttered to herself as both girls walked forward. Riley, Sasha and John met during college, while they weren’t very close with each other at the time, they were at least aware of each other’s presence.

To them, John was like any other upperclassman, until they met much later after graduation, and to Riley’s dismay, he started getting close to her, but only for the purpose of asking Sasha out, anytime she sees them together she felt a sense of pride knowing she was their matchmaker, although their lovey-dovey and cringy moments made her feel sick to her stomach, making her wonder why she was born to be single. She’s never dated anyone for more than a year, it got so serious she gave up on ever dating seriously but she was someone with a big heart and always falls end in first, but as time goes on, Riley learn to keep her emotions in check.

“One day…maybe one day,” She thought wearing a smile as Sasha ran into John’s arms. She was still watching them when she start to get all dizzy, what the…she thought as she felt a sharp pain from the inside and ended up collapsing right there.

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