Dreamers: Venture Into The New World

Chapter 9: On The Way To The Greatest Heights

"Gary?" Miles called.

Miles opened her eyes and found no one beside her. She stood up and looked around the clinic but she found no one.

"Is anyone here?" Miles panicked, "This isn't a very good joke! I hate jump scares!"

No one responded. Anxiety began to consume Miles which caused her to run outside the clinic. Once she's outside, everyone look withered and agonizing.

"What's going on?" she asked in fear.

Suddenly buzzing noises are heard around her.

"Gary?" Miles called, "Gary, where are you?"

No one responded. She walked past all the withering people who's staring coldly at her. As she continue to run, she reached a pale woman who dressed similar to her. Once she stopped, everything around her became dark as the woman looked towards her.

"No," Miles shook her head in disbelief, "This can't be happening!"

The woman resembles Miles's physical appearance, as if she's looking through a mirror. The only differences are, the woman was extremely pale, having black sclera while weeping blood. As the buzzing grew louder, the woman's cry also became louder which sounded like a sad and creepy hum while displaying a very lonely expression on her face. 

"NO!" Miles screamed as the darkness covered her vision.

"Miles," Gary called, "Are you alright?"

"Gary?" Miles asked as she look around.

Miles found out that she's still in the clinic. She found Gary sitting beside her and Marina watching over her.

"Oh my gosh," Miles sighed in relief, "Thank God it wasn't real!"

"Yeah," Gary mumbled, "You screamed as if you were being eaten by a huge monster."

"How exactly do you mean by being eaten, Gary?" Marina jokingly asked.

"Hey," Gary got Marina's point, "We shouldn't get that far."

"Please don't leave me," Miles begged, "I don't wanna be left alone."

"How old are you again?" Gary asked.

"Eighteen," Miles replied.

"Then stop acting like a bratty kid!" Gary exclaimed.

"Gary," Marina scolded, "That's rude!"

"Are you going to leave me?" Miles cried.

"No," Gary replied, "Just stop acting like... nevermind."

Suddenly, a familiar person approached them. This is the man that talked to Gary earlier before the brutal duel that almost killed Miles.

"You're getting closer towards your objective," the man told them.

"You're back," Gary greeted, "Now tell me who you are!"

"When are you going to Mount Regor?" the man asked.

"You're not fuckin' answering my question!" Gary exclaimed.

"We'll continue venturing tomorrow," Miles answered the man, "The sooner we'll go there, the sooner we'll end this game."

"...And the sooner this story will end," Charlotte mumbled who is watching from the clinic's door.

"No, Miles!" Gary complained, "You need to rest for several days."

"It's fine," Miles reassured him, "I can move my limbs. See? I'm caressing your cheeks right now!"

"Okay, okay," Gary shoved her hands off, "Stop doing that!"

"I'll see you then," the man bid farewell as he walked outside the clinic.

"Hey, wait up!" Gary called him.

The man didn't stop walking. Once, he went outside, Gary looked back at Miles who is smiling at him. That smile is truly beautiful. That smile contains cheerfulness, courage, determination and hope.

"We'll be this world's mightiest heroes," Miles softly spoke, "After that, we can finally go home."

"Yeah," Gary replied in a gentle manner.

And so, they took it for a day. Miles fell asleep while in thought of their home world. Happiness was the only thing she felt, until she opened her eyes.

"Gary?" she asked while trembling.

She stood up and looked around. Everything was dark, it was still on the middle of the night. She peeked outside and there are no lights, as if there was no one there.

"What's going on?" she panicked, "Guys?!'

She ran outside and saw nobody. It would seem that everyone left her until she saw a guy that she knew for several days.

"Gary!" she called as she ran towards him.

When Miles reached Gary, she poked him on his shoulder and once he looked at her, it made her realize that everything wasn't making any sense. It's The same nightmare she had before.

"No," she gasped.

He was faceless. She tried to move backwards but it seemed that she was paralyzed by what she saw as she heard noises that buzzed around her. She tried to scream but suddenly she jumped from her bed. That was just a nightmare. She caught her breath and looked around. Once again, Gary was not there.

"No," she shook her head as she remembered her nightmare.

She ran outside to see if everything's real. To her relief, it is. Miles saw Gary who seemed practicing his knife handling skills. He looked at her and he's also surprised that she's there.

"Miles?" Gary asked, "Aren't you suppose to be resting?"

Suddenly, Miles ran towards Gary. She hugged him tightly as if she wouldn't like to let him go. Meanwhile, Gary who felt surprise, barely hugged her back.

"I'm scared!" she cried, "Please don't leave me!"

"Would you let go of me now?" Gary asked, "I'm still training for our final battle, y'know?"

Miles released him from her hug. Soon, she smiled to Gary which made him confused.

"Can I join your training?" she asked.

Gary was surprised by what he heard from Miles. Was he deaf or he just want her to repeat what she asked?

"I mean, I don't wanna go with you just to watch you fight whoever that person or monster that awaits us on Mount Regor!" Miles explained.

"Okay?" Gary asked for confirmation, "But, are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely!" Miles cheerfully replied while maintaining a determined look on her eyes.

"Alright," Gary instructed, "This training might be hard for you so, if you ever felt like giving up, just tell me, okay?"

Miles just nodded. Soon, they prepared for their training. After a few minutes, they started to train. As they train, Gary seemed so worried about Miles gasping and wincing in pain and tiredness, but Miles keep her determined look and posture. This and the fact that Miles is a fast learner inspired Gary to give effort on his training which also made Miles excited. After almost an hour, Gary and Miles wrapped up their training session.

"Great job, Miles!" Gary applauded, "We will rest again and continue our training before dawn and once the sun rises, we will sail to Mount Regor."

"Thanks, Gary." Miles replied in appreciation.

And so, they walked back to the clinic, the place where they can stay for now. Once they closed their eyes, they thought about their last day in this world and what future awaits them in their home world now that they are on their way to the greatest heights.