A Million Dreams

01

England 1940

Peter Pevensie's eyes opened as soon as he heard the familiar air raid sirens. His mum woke him and Edmund up, despite the elder of the two already being awake.

As Peter gathered up the remaining necessities, he heard his mother yell, "Edmund! Get away from the window!"

Susan began gathering her stuff in the room she shared with her sister and noticed Lucy still in bed, cover to her head, and hands over her ears. "Lucy, come on!"

She helped Lucy out and guided her to the door.

When everyone had gotten everything ready, they ran to the shelter and Edmund suddenly cried, "Dad!"

"Edmund!" Mrs. Pevensie called.

"I'll get him," Peter answered, running after his brother.

Seconds after Edmund grabbed the picture of their father in uniform, Peter sensed trouble and knocked his brother down as glass shattered. The glass covering the picture broke. When they deemed it safe, they ran back to the shelter.

As Peter closed the door, he yelled, "You're so selfish! You could've gotten us killed!"

Mrs. Pevensie embraced Edmund and Peter held Lucy close as she shook in fear.

The next morning, they were put on a train to protect them from the bombing.

Mrs. Pevensie pinned a tag on Lucy and told her to be good.

Mrs. Pevensie said goodbye to her children and told Peter to look out for his siblings. Edmund rejected a hug from his mother, so she kissed his cheek.

Lucy held Peter's hand and once again, he looked wistfully at the soldiers. He didn't hear Susan calling to him until she yanked the tickets from his hand.

The four boarded the train and waved goodbye to their mother. As the train started off, Peter put their suitcases up. Edmund insisted on putting his up by himself.

Lucy offered Edmund her stuffed dog and he handed it to a little boy.

They watched as the two children were led away by two adults.

When they arrived at their stop, they got off the train and waited for their ride. A car passed and Edmund stared at his tag. "Perhaps we've been incorrectly labelled."

Shortly, a horse and carriage pulled up. "Mrs. Macready?" Peter asked hesitantly.

The woman nodded curtly. "I'm afraid so. Haven't you brought anything else?"

"No, ma'am, it's just us."

We piled into the carriage and eventually, a huge mansion came into view.

Mrs. McCready gave the Pevensies a tour and Susan reached out to touch a bust and Mrs. Macready exclaimed, "No touching of the historical artefacts!"

Susan gave a small frown as Mrs. Macready went on to tell the four of them that the professor was not to be disturbed under any circumstances.

That night, Lucy pouted. "The sheets feel scratchy."

Peter moved closer to Lucy's bed. "We'll be home soon."

"If home's still there," Edmund muttered, seeing a girl pass the room.

"Now will you just shut up."

Esther poked her head into the room. "Ah, company at last. Goodnight, fellow company."

Edmund frowned. "Who are you?"

"My name is Esther. I arrived a month ago. You four are the Pevensies. Mrs. Macready is quite chatty when she wishes to be. Lucy, you'll get used to the place. The sheets grow on you. Goodnight."

She made her way to her room and tucked herself into bed, quickly falling asleep.

The next morning, after breakfast, the Pevensie children and Esther gathered the sitting room. Due to the heavy rain, none of them went outside.

Susan had picked up a dictionary and was quizzing Peter. "Gas-tro-vas-cu-lar. Come on, Peter. Gas-tro-vas-cu-lar."

Peter let out an irritated sigh. "Is it Latin?"

"Yes."

Edmund interrupted rudely, "Is it Latin for worst game ever invented?"

Esther snickered. "Good one, Ed."

Edmund shot her a dirty look. "It's Edmund."

The girl smirked. "All right, Ed."

Peter and Susan shot Edmund and Esther a look. Lucy jumped up, startling her elder siblings and Esther. "We could play hide-and-seek."

Once again, Peter released an irritated sigh, and said sarcastically, "But we're already having so much fun."

Lucy started pulling on her brother's arm. "Come on, Peter, please! Pretty please?"

After a moment's thought, Peter began counting. "One... two... three... four..."

The other four ran to find a spot.

Susan found a bench to hide in.

Lucy, Esther and Edmund raced to hide behind a curtain and before Lucy could, Edmund hid behind it and said, "I was here first."

Esther hid behind the other curtain and put a finger to her lips.

Lucy huffed at him and ran to find somewhere else to hide. Esther, against her better judgement, decided to follow Lucy, almost as though she felt something calling here.

Lucy glanced to see Esther following her and smiled.

The two came to a room and entered. There, at the far end, stood a giant wardrobe covered in a white cloth.

Lucy pulled the sheet from the wardrobe. The sheet fell, almost like soft snow was falling.

When the sheet reached the floor, Lucy opened the door and stepped through. They felt a breeze and a chill as they made their way through the coats. They had cracked the door because one should never close a wardrobe if inside.