ET2: Through The Storm

Chapteer 35

Crystal Dwight's POV

Darkness. Never-ending. 

I keep on wondering yet I keep getting lost in a vast darkness.

I felt my knees trembling and my whole body shivered when a gust of wind blew. I wonder where that came from. Moments later a firefly became visible before me. It hovers in front of me like it was talking to me. Strangely, I found comfort with its presence. This tiny insect mysteriously brought relief to me. 

Suddenly, I thought of my mother. I roomed around my eyes but just like before, I saw nothing but black surrounding me.

"Mama?" I uttered. 

The firefly flew up and down like it was inviting me for a quest. It began to fly before me and I took little shaky steps to follow it. 

I wonder where I am. Nasa kabilang buhay na ba? But in every novel I read when they woke up after being dead, they saw white around. But I only got black here. Or I was thrown somewhere else?

I continue to follow the firefly without minding what I stepped on. My thoughts were filled with where this firefly could take me. 

Hope grew bigger inside my chest when I saw a tiny glimmering light somewhere far away. Despite being exhausted, I never stop walking. I keep on ambling forward. 

"Lianne?!"

A voice filled my ear that halted me from walking. I could hear the voice but couldn't figure out where that came from. 

"Xiaoli, princess?!" I don't know who was the owner of the voice because it is completely unfamiliar to me. I never heard someone talk to me with this voice.

Xiaoli? Is she calling me? 

No. She's calling the kid that has been appearing in your dreams, Dwight. 

My instinct told me that she was calling me but what if she wasn't? I tried to ignore that voice and go on with my own journey. I don't know this place. I need to get out of here.

The light was getting bigger as I got closer. I could now see what lies around me. I could see wild plants and various varieties of exotic flowers. I had never seen them before. When I looked up, towering trees were covering the entire area. 

I went through the woods and when I finally got out, an endless view of the oceans welcomed me. The clouds almost touch the water. There are some strange colors floating above. 

It was a paradise. I was momentarily lost from its peculiarity. I felt like I was in outer space and seeing heavenly bodies. 

But why am I here? This place does not exist at Dreem. 

I tried to walk with a bare foot above the white sands. Glancing down, my realization astounded me. I am wearing the dilapidated dress that kid, Xiaoli, wore every time she show up on my dreams. Why I am wearing this? And how happened that it fits right on me?

I ran to the seawater and saw my reflection on it. I cupped my face and confirmed that I am Dwight. 

I was about to stand up when a photo on the ground got all my attention. It was the photo that Ryle showed to me one morning at his garden house. 

I picked it up, feeding my curiosity. Staring at the photo, I felt a strong connection with her.

Why I felt like that kid was me?