Wicked Dreams (PUBLISHED)

Two

Jayden.

Jasper.

Chad.

Trevor.

Samsus.

Grandma Ruth.

The only ones left by her side.

Scarlett walked down the halls as she planned to speak with each of them. The twins were alive. Chad was alive. Trevor – alive. Grandma Ruth – also alive. Not well, but they were alive and that is what mattered.

It has been three days since the battle with the Dark Realm.

Three days since she fully embraced her newfound power.

Three days since she banished Cain and Raxon to the Nether Realm.

Three days since the death and sacrifice of her mother.

If it weren't for the people still alive, Scarlett would've fed the idea of killing herself. A life without those she loves is a life she'd rather not live. But for those still there, she's hanging on.

No one was the same. The battle changed everybody and only initiated something far worse than they could've imagined, and yet, they won't even know. The Officials agreed that it was best to keep the information hidden from the population. If word got out that Edgar Azur was alive... they imagined their reaction wouldn't be peaceful. They'd be kept in the dark for now. On other matters, Scarlett had to deliver the news to her chosen team.

The grey halls she walked were eerie and dead quiet. The paint that once shined was dull and cracking. Doors were shut even though nobody occupied the rooms. There weren't enough of them for that.

An open door appeared, and Scarlett slowed to enter. The lounge was crowded as people huddled together and only whispers flittered through the room. Ignoring the gazes, Scarlett scanned and narrowed on the three soldiers sitting at the back. She caught their sight and beckoned for them to follow with a nudge of her head. Without wasting a second, she walked out and entered one of the empty rooms lining the hall, secretly glad to be out from their gazes.

Not long after, the trio followed in. To say they looked alive was the best compliment they could get.

Jasper's shoulder was patched up, and his skin hadn't regained its tan. With a bruised face, he still managed to give a slight smile Scarlett couldn't return. Trevor's dark brown complexion was pasty, and his eyes were hardened by the slaughter they witnessed. He made it out with a few mere scratches. Jayden appeared the worst of them all, and it wasn't due to physical harm, it was mental. At the news of Liam's death, she didn't bother with the theatrics of having her heart ripped out. Her empty eyes said enough.

Their cheeks were sunken in due to the weakened state of Ever Realm. If something weren't done to bring more Dreamers, they'd all die there.

"Trevor, Jasper, and Jayden." Scarlett nodded to each. "We've been informed of new information that I am trusting you with. No one outside of us is to know and it will have to stay that way."

Confirming their secrecy with a nod, Scarlett sighed. "I'm going on a mission that will possibly end the curse placed on Ever Realm. With the information presented by the Havened Ones at the meeting, we have reason to believe Edgar Azur is alive."

"How is that fucking possible?!" Jasper snapped.

Not giving them a chance to continue, she laid everything out. "You, three, were my top choices when it came to going on this mission. Before you accept, I need you to know what is at stake. I will explain the details later, but this task will not be easy and the chances of us making it back alive are slim. The objective is to kill Edgar. We kill Edgar; we get rid of the curse."