SEDATEPHOBIA | Dream

II

"I'll never be that me again."
~ b.m.

_ _ _ _________ _ _ _

Eleanor woke up to a subtle headache.

Her mouth felt dry and her body weak. It was like a heavy blanket that weighed down her shoulders and tempted her to never move again.

A low groan left her mouth as she sat up, only to realize that she was back in the little ICU where she woke up the last time.

Was it all a dream?

Everything was still the same, untouched, except for the fact, that Dream and Nick's beds were now empty, slightly crumpled sheets as the only traces left behind.

Slowly, she tried to stand up, only to realize how unsteady she was on her feet.

Where are the others?

Eleanor took slow steps through the corridors, taking random twists and turns.

She ended up in front of Alfred's office. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open, only to find Alfred sat in his chair, cat-like eyes set on her figure as if he already knew that she'd walk through that door.

"What did you do to me?"

He scoffed at her, irritating her even more.

"Darling, I did nothing. The real question is: what are you going to do now?"

The question made her wonder.

"What do you mean?"

What could she possibly do?

"Look, there are two options that you can choose from.
Either, you let me continue the procedure of project OMEGA or you and your friends can pack up and get out of here. You have time until tomorrow two pm."

That little-

"I'd suggest you think about your choice twice. What would you prefer, help me create a cure and help all of your friends. Think about George - you don't want the same to happen to the rest now, do you?
Or, be selfish and decline, then you'd be back on the streets with no food, protection and whatever."

The words still rung in the back of her mind even after she arrived at the cafeteria, her stomach rumbling from the lack of food the last few days.

Taking a good portion of whatever was already cooked, she sat down on a table to satisfy her famished body.

The headache from before seemed to get stronger the more she thought about.

How did he know George's name?

Her appetite was ruined, to say the least.
Pushing the plate aside, she let her thoughts wander to various things.

I could help create a cure.

The faces of everyone she knew flashed through her mind, little fragments of memories replaying in her head.

I should accept.

But why do I feel like Alfred's planning something else?

Like this is just a cover for something else.

Sighing, she let her head fall onto the table before releasing a pained groan. Eleanor wished for all of this just to be a bad dream.
A deep slumber that she'd eventually wake up from, in her little sleeping fort that her brother had dragged her out from.

"El."

Speaking of the devil.

Her fists clenched and face scrunched up in anger.