Crown

Haela

I jarred awake, gasping for air. Once again, I had been haunted by dreams. This time, however, I couldn't ignore them. I sobbed, rolling off my bed. I landed on the ground with a thud, likely waking the entire country. "Haela?" My name was followed by footsteps, gradually growing nearer. I remained on the floor, tossing and turning. Finally, the door opened and a tall figure walked in. "Cassian?" I whispered. He came over to where I was and knelt down. " Are you okay? Did you fall? Are you hurt? 'Cause that sounded like it hurt." I cried more, unsure what to tell him. "Hey, hey it's ok. It's going to be ok," he assured me. If only he knew that it wasn't.

I thought of my dream, and finally gave in, telling him everything. "I had another nightmare..." "I'm listening," he said. "But this time it was worse. It seemed almost-real." I took a moment to breathe before continuing. " I- I saw my parents." Although I couldn't see him, I felt the tension in the room.

How could I recognize my parents? I've never seen them. The only mother and father I had ever known were his parents----and mine had simply left me on the palace doorstep as a baby. I'm sure he recalled all of those things, as I recited my haunting. I expected him to interrupt, but he remained silent. " They weren't- they didn't-" I struggled to tell him this part. "My mom was one of us, but my dad-- he was one of them." "A Warfaianian?" he asked. I nodded, but then realized that- since we were in the dark- I would have to use my words. "Yes." "Wow," he breathed, slumping down against the wall. "And before them--way before them--there were other people. I- I saw who stole the crown." I could practically hear his jaw drop to the floor. I tried to lighten it up a bit. "Ok, here comes the crazy part, ok?" "Mhm?" "I may be... related to them?" "Your parents?" He asked, sounding genuinely confused. "Wha- of course- no!' I slapped him. "Ow! Ok, ok continue." "I have to find it, Cass. I have to." "Don't you think- maybe- it's just- it's just a dream?" I sighed. He was right. Running off to find some artifact that might not even EXIST, just because I had a dream about it? It was crazy. "You're right." I said. "It's just a dream."

Out of nowhere, he hugged me. I could never describe what I felt, but I wish it could last forever. Maybe it could have. But then, I heard a loud bang.