PHOENIX

Chapter Thirty Seven: The Book

Neverending blackness surrounded me as I passed out, the quietness of Alyssa's home fading into hissing, no, whispering above me. I was laying on my back, wrapped in some kind of cloth. My vision was fuzzy as I attempted to open one eye, only instantly closing it after the harsh lights blinded me.

That's when I felt it.

The burning that I had slowly become used to over the past couple months started out strong, coating my limbs. Getting hot quickly, I struggled in the cloth, trying anything to get the stifling blanket off of me.

The whispering grew louder, hushed voices making remarks I could almost hear, but not understand. It was like my brain understood they were talking about me, but I just heard gibberish.
The heat kept growing, and I opened my mouth to plead for help, but instead found that I could only wail and scream, like I had forgotten how to speak properly.

I kept thrashing in the blankets, burning and crying in the eternal heat.

"Nix!"

I woke up with a start, my heart running a mile an hour while I sat up quickly.

Dream sat next to me, a hand on my arm, checking to see if I was alright. I was in Alyssa's house still, on the ground next to the chair that I had previously burnt.

It had been a nightmare, one that I recognised.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly.

"Yeah...sorry. Am I still..." I trailed off, not finishing my own sentence.

"No, you're...extinguished?" Dream answered, looking for the right word.

"Good." I let out a sigh of relief, slowly but surely getting up off the floor.

"I think we should leave for a bit, I uh...I think you gave Alyssa a scare." Dream rubbed the back of his head, walking over to the front door.

I followed quietly, sneaking a glance over towards the kitchen. I really really wanted to explain things to Alyssa, even though I wouldn't know what to say. She's rightfully scared, if I was in her position I would be too. But I just wish I could talk to her.

"Dream?" I whispered, walking alongside him towards the community house.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"What? What do you have to be sorry about?" Dream asked incredulously, cocking his head to the side.

"Well I- I don't know. Alyssa? The fact that I'm not human, that I set a chair on fire? That I ruined breakfast." I rambled on, trying to come up with something. I felt guilty, even though I knew that none of what happened was entirely my fault.

"You're right, you should apologise." Dream faced forward again, his voice becoming serious.

"Sorry" I shrunk back, feeling shame wash over me.

"Now what will we eat for breakfast? The sausage we lost can never be recovered." Dream sighed dramatically, opening the door to the community house and holding it open for me.

"Oh" I shuffled inside, not knowing how to respond.

"Come on, that was a joke. You have nothing to apologise for. Maybe the chair and breakfast actually..." He stopped for a second to contemplate.

I knew he was trying to cheer me up, but I couldn't shake the gross feeling in my stomach. I know that I looked like I was handling this well on the outside, but on the inside I was a mess. If I wasn't human, what was I?

"Nix," Dream touched my shoulder, shaking me from my thoughts. "Look at me."

Taking a deep breath, I looked up, seeing him slowly move the mask to the side of his face, his hunter green eyes watching me carefully.