Case 70: To a dream of the future.

The night I tried to correct Lyra's unhinged behavior, I had a strange dream.

As usual, I woke up in my bed, facing the familiar ceiling that I had gotten used to seeing, but my body was a bit heavy. Puzzlingly, it wasn't because my 'illness' had acted up or anything. Rather, I felt floatiness all over me, as if I was lying on a bed of clouds.

No, the reason I couldn't easily move was...

''...Huh?''

I was bound.

More specifically, my right wrist and left ankle both had cuffs around them. Long, cackling chains were attached to them on one end, the other welded shut to the solid bedframe.

It was an alien feeling.

Mobility aside, I genuinely couldn't get off the bed. Each time I tried to move, the shackles would, without fail, prevent me from getting too far. Ironically, it didn't hurt one bit since the cuffs themselves were made of gentle materials, but the suffocation I felt, and the sheer anxiety within me certainly did a whole lot of damage to my psyche.

I tried looking around, but there was nothing special.

I tried calling Lucy, but I couldn't sense her.

I tried breaking the chains, yet without Lucy, I was but a frail woman.

In the end, I was able to calm myself down gradually. Still, the clicking noises of metal ringing faintly amidst the quietness seemed to be messing with my head.

''Just... what is happening?''

Who would do such a prank? No, was this even a prank?

Rachael?

No, she wouldn't try to restrict my freedom like this. Then... who?

I didn't know why, but I could somewhat decipher the clues. In this cold, silent room, in this wide, lonely bed, someone's lingering warmth remained—someone I should be familiar with and someone I held dear to my heart.

I didn't know why, but I was suddenly drawn to the door. As though I had been waiting my whole life for this moment, my heart went rogue, and a mixture of anticipation and anxiety brewed within me.

Then, it opened.

''Hm? Are you up?''

Accompanied by the calm, gentle voice, a beautiful woman entered the room. Her black hair was long and lustrous; her smile was graceful and pretty, but her eyes were as deep as the abyss itself, triggering a certain fear sleeping in me.

Somewhere... I had seen this woman.

But where?

''Cecilia.''

''Huh?''

Putting the silver tray with numerous items aside, the woman lightly sat on the edge of the bed and held my hand; her smile never ceased. Was she wearing a hypnosis spell or something? I couldn't divert my attention away from her despite those terrifying eyes.

''Um... you are...?''

''...''

''Hic...!''

Gleefuul as I was, facing a hot woman, I instinctively backed away the moment her expression soured. Despite that, she never released my hand. I was still bound. To her.

With a slight hint of concern floating in her eyes, she muttered, ''Even your memory...''

''...Excuse me?''

''No, it's nothing.''

Flashing that same smile, she gingerly took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. Carefully avoiding the littered chains, she got behind me and put her arms around my waist.

I thought of resisting at once, yet I simply couldn't for some reason.

''A-Ah... wait...''

Even as she intimately kissed all over my nape, triggering all sorts of reactions from me, I didn't possess the will to fight back. Nested in her big, warm embrace, I realized that she was probably my lover. But if so... did she lock me here?

''Hey, um... what are these?'' I asked, mustering up every bit of my courage. ''I would like to go out...''

''No.''

A flat refusal.

One look and I already knew she was impossible to persuade. But perhaps noticing the numerous questions on my face, she stroked my head and once again got closer to me. Now, it wouldn't be strange if one called this a 'back hug.'

''These are for... you.'' She replied. ''So you can't go outside without my permission.''

''W-What...?!''

''Cecilia.''

Weaving her fingers with mine, the woman took it a step further and pushed the helpless me down the bed. From below, admiring her fallen hair, drowned in her incredible visual... a part of me screamed that I shouldn't let this continue.

That faint anxiety slowly morphed into realization as she got closer to me...

''Are you... Lyra...?''

''Now you remember me.''

Her smile deepened.

''...!''

And she kissed my lips.

It was so vividly soft. I was supposed to hate it.

Even if I wanted to escape, her strength humbled me thoroughly, not to mention the spiteful chains. For one, I was stunned to the point that I hardly reacted to her arrival near my neck... once again.

''It's time to take your medicine, 'big sis.''' She whispered into my ear.

''Y-You...!''

No. I refused to believe it. My cute little sister wouldn't turn out like this...!

''You make funny faces, Cecilia.''

''Don't call me that! You're my little sister—''

A spark of irritation fell onto her sweet, sweet smile as she promptly covered my mouth with her palm. Her eyes narrowed, and after giving a push to her hand that was still intertwined with mine down even tighter,

''Shh.''

It was borderline terrifying.

Different from the likes of Rachael or Penelope, the woman before me seemed as though she would absolutely not take a no for an answer—a true cold-blooded tyrant.

And she was none other than my little sister who kissed me on the lips.

That, combined with the dooming thoughts of the obedient little child who somehow grew up to be like this, made me not realize that she had put a few pills into her mouth. Before long, she took a gulp of water and—

''Mmph—!''

Almost instantaneously, she removed her hand and forced herself onto me, sealing my lips shut with her own. Even with ample resistance from me, she remained adamant, methodically digging inside my mouth with her tongue while also inserting the medicine one by one.

Bitter.

I had no choice but to take them... if I ever wanted this to end.

''Mmph...!''

Yet, Lyra was cruel. Even knowing my will, she continued to defile me after the pills were swallowed, sucking the absolute soul out of my body with her skillful tongue.

''Nhn... ah... hah...''

Once released, I was left truly powerless, my limbs barely able to move. At this rate, even the cuffs were useless.

''Good girl.''

''Kuh...!''

So, I could only look away in frustration as my rebellious little sister caressed my cheeks, swiping her fingers across my vulnerable skin. They quickly reached my chin, down my neck, slid between my collarbone, and... kept going.

By this point, I was already too exhausted.

This was just a dream. Yes. A dream.

Maybe I was hallucinating.

But It only became exceedingly concerning when she actively held my unchained leg up. Cheek pressed against the calf, the ungrateful girl slowly slid down, running accordingly to the height of my thigh, and, with a victorious smile—

''Hgn...''

—she reached my dangerous place.

''Ah?!''

''T-That was... a dream...?''

What a scary dream. Thankfully, it won't happen in real life... I hope.