Lotus Amidst Clouds

Nightmares

In the middle of the night, Jiang Yanli came to wake up Lan Wangji.

"Wangji. It's A-Xian."

The first time it had happened, Lan Wangji was fraught with worry. Wei Wuxian was sleeping, but it seemed like a stupor from which he could not return. He was screaming and shouting as if someone was hurting him.

He woke up only when Wangji held his hand and called his name.

"Lan Zhan... my parents died. I was all alone. Dogs kept biting me. I was cold and hungry."

"You're back home now, Wei Ying. Rest."

Huaisang didn't want to leave after hearing how Wei Wuxian had a nightmare, but his brother needed him back urgently for the Cultivation Conference. He, however, did promise to come back right after it.

This was the second time it had happened, and Wangji ran to Wei Wuxian's room. He held onto Wei Wuxian, calling his name. After a few times, Wei Wuxian woke up, tears in his eye.

"The Jiangs adopted me. Madam Yu hates me. Gods, Wangji, what do I do? She hates me!"

"No, Wei Ying. It's a dream."

"Why does a dream feel so real?"

Wangji hugged Wei Ying. He was trembling like a leaf. "Yanli jie, may I stay with Wei Ying tonight? He doesn't seem okay."

"You do that. I'll go tell his mother. What timing. Father and Uncle Wei are at the Cultivation Conference. We'll have to check whether he's possessed, or he's being tormented by a vengeful spirit."

She left, taking one last worried glance at Wei Wuxian.

Wangji pressed Wei Ying against his chest and played with his hair to calm him. "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Wei Wuxian fell asleep, his tears drying on his cheeks. Wangji hated it. He hated not being able to stop Wei Ying's nightmares, which were draining the life out of him. Wei Ying smiled less that day. Hopefully, tomorrow would be better.

Madam Yu checked Wei Wuxian the next day, worried, and concluded that there was no paranormal phenomenon in play.

"Wei Wuxian, why don't you rest some more? Don't go out much, and have Wangji, A-Li and A-Cheng stay with you. DON'T over exert yourself, foolish boy. "As an afterthought, she added, "You may be a foolish naughty child, but you're just like A-Cheng and A-Li to me. I would never hate you." She left, just as tears began sliding down Wei Wuxian's cheeks.

On the third night, the three of them slept in Wei Wuxian's room. The nightmares were back. This time, no matter who called out to Wei Wuxian, he would not wake up. Even the medic who was on standby couldn't do anything. They all had to watch helplessly as Wei Wuxian laughed and cried, sometimes screaming in pain. He woke up with a start, hours after his nightmare had begun. He couldn't stop his tears.

"Lan Zhan! We- we weren't in love. We didn't know Huaisang! Your mom,Lan Zhan, auntie was no more... The Wens took us away. Cloud Recesses burnt. We were trapped! You and I, we were trapped in a cave! We almost died, Lan Zhan! I saw you hurt before me and I couldn't move! And, oh, Lan Zhan, it burnt! They branded me! We killed a huge tortoise and then the Wens destroyed Lotus Pier."

Wei Wuxian hugged Yanli. "Jie jie. Madam Yu and Uncle died. You were crying, Wanyin was crying, everyone was hurt, and I was useless."

"Xian Xian, look at me. It's over now. You're back with all of us. That's all that matters."

Jiang Cheng looked worried. "Should we call another doctor? Maybe he's been cursed? It's possible that he offended someone, you know him."

"Wanyin, shush. I'll be fine. Just... don't leave me alone. It's scary."