Sandra woke up from her afternoon nap and slowly opened her eyes. She smiled in relief as she felt Lukas holding her close. She felt very safe being near him.
Since leaving the hospital and having that strange dream, everything had been calm. There were no signs that Thomas would return. Even the full moon was only a few hours away, coinciding with the New Year celebration.
Sandra was curious about the meaning of that dream — the one that left her in a coma for a whole week. Though it felt like only a few minutes inside the dream, so much time had passed.
Had the changes she made actually altered their fate? Would Thomas no longer come after them?
What turned Thomas into a cruel demon was his unjust death, his rage at everyone, including young Lukas who had failed to save him in time.
But if that dream really happened, then now Thomas owed a debt to both her and Lukas. The roles had reversed.
"So, you are no longer too proud to look at me?" Lukas touched her face gently, gave her a sweet kiss, and playfully ruffled her hair.
"Tonight is New Year's Eve. Don't be sad anymore. Don't be afraid. Everything will be fine. We have already survived this far. I believe the full moon will pass without incident."
"But Lukas…"
"I promise. Let us pretend none of it happened."
"I am just afraid something will happen."
"Let fate take its course." Lukas kissed her again. "I will be very happy if I have to die protecting you and our baby." He caressed her stomach gently with a soft smile.
"Maybe we should not go out for the celebration. Let us just stay home."
"Come on, my love. We cannot keep running from fate like this."
"Just tonight. Let the full moon pass first. They will hunt me until midnight. After that, we can celebrate." Sandra pleaded.
Lukas nodded in agreement. She had a point. If they could make it past midnight, they would be free. They could live normally again. No more threats.
"So what will we do at home then?"
"Hide. We must not let Thomas or any other demon see us. Why do you seem so restless staying at home?"
"Well, we can barbecue inside, my love. Grill sausages, meat, or cook our own hot pot."
Sandra raised an eyebrow. What Lukas said made sense — they could celebrate indoors. But still, who could eat in the middle of such tension? She would never feel calm until the night passed.
"Tomorrow we will go for your checkup. Then we will buy all your favorite food." Lukas reassured her.
"Promise?" Sandra hugged him tightly.
"Promise." He patted her back gently. Though he was nervous too, Lukas had already accepted his fate. If dying meant his wife and child could live, he was ready.
Sandra smiled sweetly at her beloved husband. She felt so lucky to have him in her life.
"This is not your world, Sandra. Wake up." A voice spoke from behind the door, interrupting their quiet moment.
Sandra turned to see Thomas standing there, eyes sharp and cold. She quickly stood and stepped back as he approached.
"What are you saying, Thomas? Stay away from my wife!" Lukas shouted.
"You both were in an accident during your escape. Everything since then has been a dream. You are still unconscious. Come with me, Sandra. I will take you to the real world. I owe you a debt."
"Nonsense. Let us live in peace. Leave us alone!" Lukas yelled again.
"He is not Lukas, Sandra. Your husband is still lying in the hospital."
"Do not listen to him, San. Stay with me. Believe in me. This is real."
Sandra hesitated. After all the strange dreams she had experienced, it was hard to tell what was real anymore. Should she believe Lukas? Or had Thomas truly changed?
"Come with me, Sandra. Lukas needs you. Come now."
"San, you believe in me more, right?"
"Lukas is dying, Sandra. Did you not already change fate?"
Sandra stepped closer to Thomas and pulled her hand away from Lukas's grip. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Is Lukas hurt?"
"He is dying. Come now."
"Sandra! You cannot change fate. That only exists in fairy tales. Trust me. This is the real world. Only the future can change fate, not the past."
"Do not listen to that demon beside you, Sandra. I have changed. Your kindness in the past has changed me."
"Sandra, do not believe him. He only wants your soul." Lukas pulled her into his arms. "Listen to my heartbeat. Can you not feel how real my love is?"
The light in the room dimmed. Though they had only been speaking for minutes, time seemed to fly by quickly.
"If you will not believe me, then I cannot help you," Thomas said, stepping outside. He stood under the blood red moonlight and smiled. "If I were a demon, I would return to my true form. But look — I have not."
Sandra broke free from Lukas's arms and ran toward Thomas.
"I want to see Lukas. I believe you. Take me to him!"
Thomas smiled and reached out his hand. But Lukas did not give up. He grabbed Sandra and pulled her back before she could step into the moonlight.
"Sandra, what are you doing? I am right here!" Lukas shouted. "I already told you, the past cannot be changed. The future is what matters. Do not trust him or it will happen again."
Before Lukas could finish, he was violently thrown to the ground. Thomas had struck him, breathing heavily with rage.
"Do not get in my way!" Thomas screamed.
Seeing this, Sandra suddenly saw a vision from the past. The moment when Lukas had died. It started the same way. Lukas was thrown down. And now she saw the killer clearly. It was Thomas.
"You are the demon that must be destroyed…"
"Do not hurt Lukas!" Sandra shouted. "Take me instead!" She ran straight into the moonlight.
Thomas laughed. His plan had worked. He had fed her a dream of redemption and twisted the truth. That was how demons worked with lies and illusions.
"Perfect." Thomas's body changed into his true form. Glowing red skin, horns, and burning eyes.
"Sandra, no…" Lukas whispered, badly injured.
Just as Thomas reached out to take her soul, a blue light surrounded her. He could not touch her.
"What is this?"
Sandra looked at her wedding ring. It was glowing. So was Lukas's ring. The light between them pulsed with love and sincerity.
Unknown to them, the rings were made from the moon goddess crystal. A relic passed down by their ancestors, destined for this moment.
Even the ring given by Maria began to glow. Perhaps every wedding ring in Lukas's family held the same secret power.
"This is not how it is supposed to end!" Thomas screamed.
"Lukas!" Sandra rushed to him and held him close. They embraced tightly, praying for the night to pass.
Thomas tried to reach them again, but the light stopped him.
Then laughter echoed through the night.
"I have been waiting, my dear. Come with me into the dark." The real Sandra — in her original form — appeared and pulled Thomas away.
"You will never touch them," she said with a smile.
A circle of light opened under the red moon.
The real Sandra pulled Thomas into it. Before disappearing, she absorbed the blue light and smiled.
"Thank you for completing my mission. For letting me feel what it is like to be loved by Lukas. I am truly happy."
She stepped into the portal, taking all evil with her.
"Enjoy your happiness, Alana. It is your turn now."
Sandra and Lukas remained silent. Could this be another trick?
But the moonlight faded. The portal vanished.
Everything turned dark.
Just before passing out, Lukas saw Sandra's face change. Her lips trembled as he whispered:
"Alana…"
*****
Tring tring…
A husband and wife woke up to the sound of an alarm.
They were back in their bedroom, just like before the demon attack.
"Lukas, Alana, wake up! Grandma wants to see you. Why did you not answer the phone? Were you too busy celebrating?" Thalia's voice called from outside.
Hearing her say Alana, Lukas looked at his wife's face.
She now looked exactly like the woman from the old photographs — the real Alana.
"Why is Mama calling me Alana? Why are we here? Did we really survive?"
"My love…" Lukas smiled with joy. He kissed her forehead. "I told you. You are the sweetest woman in the world, Alana."
Alana stood and went to the mirror. Her eyes widened when she saw her own face staring back.
"Will Mama recognize me?" Alana ran to meet her mother-in-law.
"Alana, dear! Are you feeling better? I was so worried. I called you all night," Thalia scolded gently.
"You know me? Really?"
"Alana, are you confused from your coma?" Thalia touched her forehead.
"Mama, she is fine," Lukas said, chuckling.
"Are you sure?"
"Mama, do you know anyone named Sandra?"
"Sandra? Another girl? Are you cheating again? What is wrong with you?" Thalia smacked Lukas's shoulder.
"No Mama, it is not like that." Alana scratched her head and smiled awkwardly. "I was just half asleep. Do not worry." She hugged her mother-in-law tightly.
Alana teared up. She was finally herself again.
"Pack your bags. Grandma wants to see you. Her condition is worse now." Thalia's expression softened.
"I am just glad Alana is safe. I could not bear it if something happened to her too."
Lukas and Alana hugged Thalia. They knew she had worried deeply.
"Mama, everything has its fate," Lukas said gently. "All we can do is accept it."
"You are right," Thalia smiled. "My son has truly grown up."
"Now hurry. We are flying to Singapore to see Grandma."