Embers || Ikemen Revolution || Sirius

Chapter 5 ~ Dreams

Soon afterwards, the Red Army had retreated and we had made it across the Black Bridge. Me and Sirius had stepped out to get some fresh air, everyone else was resting for a bit.

I tried to ignore the carriage door, which had been hacked beyond recognition. Does the Red Army really want me that bad? I walked up to the splintered wood, placing a careful hand on it.

It was hacked through with magic.

Letting out a sigh, I absorbed the magic into me, letting the fuzzy feeling calm me down.

"Why did you get to cuddle with Alice," I heard Seth pout. I turned around to see Seth and Sirius talking.

"I was just comforting her," he said, face calm. Not emotionless, just calm. "The gunshots were scary."

"Oh, oops." Fenrir shrugged his shoulders. "I bet I can ask Oliver to try to make it quieter for her or something."

"Don't worry about it," I said, walking up beside the boys. "It's nothing major. Mostly just shock and lack of sleep."

"Are you sure," Seth asked, looking me over like a worried mama. "I'm sure Fenrir wouldn't mind toning down the sound if it makes you feel better!"

"Honestly, it's fine," I smiled. "There probably won't be anymore fighting anyways, so no need!" But even as I said this, I had a feeling that the Red Army wasn't going to just surrender like that.

*~*

Once we reached the Black Army headquarters, Ray and Sirius got to work, organizing everyone and giving them roles.

"I give Alice a tour around the place," Seth shouted, coming up to hug me.

I giggled slightly as I hugged the blue haired guy back.

"Sure," Sirius said. "Show her to her room afterwards as well. She's probably exhausted."

Yeah, I just want to sleep like a log for hours, but I want to know my surroundings for a bit before that.

Seth quickly led me around the whole campus of the Black Army, showing me everything that's going on and where everything was. A lot of it just flew straight through my head, but some places stuck. Like the training grounds, lounge, library, and kitchen.

"And here's your room," Seth beamed, opening up a room on the corner of the building. Sunlight streamed in from the open windows. "I designed it to be comfy, cozy, and stylish! Do you like it?"

"I love it," I smiled, walking inside to flop onto the bed. "Welp, I'm beat. I think I'm gonna take a small nap for now."

Seth nodded his head in understanding. "Got it! Come get me or the others if you need anything!" And with that, he closed the door behind him with a click.

I let out a sigh, rubbing my eyes as I laid on the bed. I was tempted to just fall asleep, right here, right now, but I forced myself to get up, closing the curtains and taking my shoes and socks off, before slipping into the covers, hugging my knees to my chest.

*~*

When I blinked my eyes open, I was in a meadow. The same one I'm almost always in. The one where me and my family had our picnic. Except, the beautiful, slightly cloudy summer day was gone. It was replaced with a rolling gray storm as the wind blew furiously, whipping my hair and skirt up.

"Hello," I asked, looking around. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but it still sounded some distance away.

At the base of the tree where I had sat before, remembering my old memories, was a figure in purple and black robes. I recognized those clothes from Amon in my dreams.

"Amon," I called out, hesitantly. I walked towards the figure, crouching down in front of them. It was Amon alright, but his eyes were closed, a peaceful, serene expression on his face.

"You shouldn't be here," I heard him say, but his lips didn't move. I looked up at the sky, towards the oncoming storm. "It's dangerous. You shouldn't be here."

"I'm here for you," I replied back. "It's been twelve years, brother. Hasn't it been long enough? Dad misses you."

Silence.

"It's too dangerous for you here. I can't stay for long, but please, promise me you'll stay at the Black Army headquarters. Steer clear of the Red Army. Steer clear of the Magic Tower. If anyone dressed in robes comes near you, run. Fight. Get. Out."

"Wait," I yelled, reaching a hand towards the sky, towards my brother, but I could tell he was already gone.

I let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair. He always kept so many secrets, trying desperately to keep me safe. I never knew of his abusive biological dad until our dad told me recently. No wonder you and mum tried to escape to the Land of Reason.

I looked down at my brother's sleeping body once more, except instead of my brother, I saw a burning body, robes charred, face burnt beyond recognition.

Immediately, I touched my face and started scratching, trying to remind myself that this was just a dream. That it wasn't real. That that wasn't me.

But nothing could stop the helplessness I felt as tears rolled down my face.

*~*

I gasped in shock, pushing myself up from the bed. I was heaving heavily, and tears were streaming down my face. I wiped them away furiously as I got up, rejuvenated.

Peeking outside, I saw a moon up in the sky. Unlike the full moon when I had arrived, this moon was starting to lose its roundness, just a little bit. How long has it been?

Walking to the desk inside this room, I grabbed my leather diary from my bag, writing. Writing down how I felt, how scared I was. How stupid I was for purposefully wandering into Cradle. All the people I've met, all the things I've seen.

I wrote down my dream, making sure to catch every last detail. I don't want to miss anything, in case some of it starts to correlate with real life. It's happened before, sometimes.

I will dream of something like hitting my head, the next morning, sometime later, I might have a headache or something.

I wrote down spells and potions that I vaguely remember my brother teaching me. Some tips and tricks for meditation and dreaming in general. I made sure to keep everything simple and precise with plenty of detail that I will understand, even if I lost my memories or something.

Once I was done, I searched the room for a good place to hide the journal. Somewhere I will remember, and somewhere no one will find it. I don't want anyone to read this. Maybe one day, I'll tell the Black Army the truth about me. For now, I don't think it's safe, just yet.

Finding an open slot underneath the bed in the bed frame, I slipped the book inside, repeating a single phrase in my head over and over again.

Under the bed, inside the head. Under the bed, inside the head. The journal is hidden under the bed, inside the head.

It doesn't make much sense, but something that rhymes is way easier to remember for me. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

A/N: 

I updated this a bit earlier today, since I didn't want to forget about this again. Anyways, this was probably another crack idea I shoved in just cause I was on a writing spree. Not my best work. QwQ 

Word Count (not including A/N): 1208 

2021/06/02