A Dream Chronicle

7

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The next morning, Dad said I needed a nice, refreshing walk alone to clear my head. He told me not to go far, but I won't. When have I ever done a thing like that...?

I strapped my old dreamcatcher around my neck and set off at once. I left the new mug sitting in the middle of the table, not wanting it to smash.

Out in the open, I left my heart to beat, slowly dropping into a calm, peaceful state. I took deep breaths, clearing my head.

Hartburrow. Bump bum-bump. Azafar. Bump. Bum-bump. Mum. Bump. Bum-bump!

I tried to come up with solutions, but each one seemed to have many flaws, erase marks inside of my stupid head.

I watched drops of rain slowly fall from a deep-green leaf. As the drop fell as if it were in slow-motion, the leaf too, fell onto the mud ground, leaving the tree nearly bare, apart from one leaf.

It was all alone and sad, the only brightness on the dark and cloudy day. Not even a rain drop decided to land and fall off of the leaf, leaving it worthless. Nothing.

I walked over to the leaf, trying to get a closer look. Nothing extremely interesting, just a leaf. Just one.

I went to pick it when I heard a sudden cough. One that draws attention to yourself. I tuned my head into the direction it was coming from.

And there was Mum.

"Mum!" I ran and hugged her tight. "Are you real?" I just had to check.

"You bet I'm real." She hugged me tighter. I took her word for it. She felt as real as it gets in my dreams. He keeps putting me to sleep, like blowing fairy dust into my face.

I knew I was dreaming and that was alright, because it was just Azafar trying to stop me, but I wasn't scared of silly little dreams.

And at that exact moment filled with love, I learned that all of it was fake. Mother soon slipped away, almost peeling like a rotten banana, falling in peeled-like slices onto the ground, like she was melting into the mud beneath me.

I cried out her name, crouching down and trying to find bits if her, but nothing would work.

"You know none of this is real." I turned around to see the Dream Woman standing there, a couple meters away from where I crouched.

"I know, but that doesn't mean it isn't sad." I snapped loudly.

"It is, but you must not let these things get to you. It's what Azafar wants, don't let him win."

"What is it with Azafar, anyway? Why do you know so much?" I joined her where she stood, perched over fallen leaves.

"I told you, I was sent here. I'm expected to know these things." She shrugged her shoulders, denying anything I suggested.

"Yes, but you seem to have all the answers, you know everything." I chuckled sarcastically.

"So? Look, kid, I'm only here to protect you, you don't need to know anything apart from that. You'll get in more danger." She rolled her eyes dramatically.

She started to walk away until I roughly grabbed her arm and swung her to face me. I opened my eyes wide.

The woman sighed. "Ok." She grabbed me by the hand and sat me down by an old tree.

"The truth?" She asked. I nodded.

"Fine. I am Azafar's missing sister. My brother is Creeton..."

"...As in Dream Shop Creeton?" I interrupted her.

She nodded. "Yes. He is one of my brothers. There were seven in total, five of them died, leaving Azafar and Creeton."

"How did they die?" I became more and more intrigued to the story.

"There was a battle in this forest. They all died, leaving me and the two. I decided to tell the Fairy Council all about the battle, the destruction Azafar created. But he did not want that. So he threw his axe... Really far."

"Did it hit you?" I huddled closer.

"...Yep." She was tearing up. "The Council soon found out I was left dying in the forest with Creeton. In the end, Creeton gave up his powers to save me, as bringing a person back to life was difficult, needing much, much magic."

"And...?"

"And, it didn't work. I died. But, the fairies, using his powers, made me Dream Immortal, so I could live and help people, only in their dreams. That's why we can never meet in real life. Creeton, on the other hand, is now the owner of an old shop, as you said, as still dreads the day when he and Azafar will come face to face."

I put my head on her shoulder. "I'm dreaming, and it is fake. But everything seems so real, and it all is quite sad. And even though you'll wake up, it's still heartbreaking, especially for you, isn't it?" I asked her in a soft voice.

"Ha... Yes. Stuck in one dream while seeing another. It is hard, but we all cope." She stroked my leg gently.

"Goodbye."

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I woke up with a smile. Now I was up to date with everything. I just felt like I was missing one thing. Kind of stupid, almost. But I knew, that this was no where close I being over.

No...way.

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☪"Be passionate for the things that you think deserve passion, don't hide anything if you are proud."☪