Andy's Apple Farm: Dolce's Game

CHAPTER 8: LAKESIDE

Dolce visibly tossed and turned in her bed, subconsciously clawing and tearing at her arms beneath the apple-printed blanket that covered her. She was in pain, but there was no visible cause for it.

Electricity crackling...Blood vessels bursting...Skin peeling...The searing pain...Her body was being disintegrated piece by piece...

"Dolce...?"

That all-consuming light engulfing her...

"DOLCE!"

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Dolce shot up from Andy's bed, panting heavily, eyes widened in terror.

The apple-humanoid man had already woken and had a gentle hand on her shoulder. There was a look of concern on his face.

"An...Andy..." she whispered.

"Are you alright? Were you having a nightmare?"

Dolce's breathing calmed somewhat, but she still had a tight grip on her forearms.

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Andy inspected her arms closely, parting her fur to scrutinize the skin beneath, but his puzzled expression only enhanced his bewilderment.

"I don't see any visible cuts or bug bites that would cause that kind of pain Dolce." He said standing up. "Maybe you were having one of those 'visceral' type dreams?"

"Did I really though? Felt a bit too real..." she thought to herself, troubled.

"I sometimes get those from time to time." he grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Usually when I worry too much about something." He then looked up in thought. "Actually now that I think about it, I think in my most recent one, I was being chased by this weird 'pumpkin-monster-guy...'"

In his mind, he could imagine a comically and crudely drawn out animated cartoon of himself being chased in the haystack maze by a goofy-looking Demon Peter Pumpkin...

He audibly shuddered at the memory before re-focusing back on Dolce. "It's scary at times yes, but it's just a dream in the end. No harm done."

"Yeah...I suppose..." she glanced back down at her arms.

"By the way, the weather's really good today. It's supposed to be on the warmer side of things now that Winter's passing. The others and I planned out a day by the lakeside. You should join us—clear your head."

Dolce appeared in deep thought, considering his offer. It didn't sound like a bad idea at the time...

At the time...

Dolce looked back up at him and nodded in agreement.

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SPLASH! A bright yellow fish leaped out of the water as Felix started to reel in his fishing line.

Back towards the field, Andy and Melody brought their instruments with them to practice music and some songwriting. Claus was sitting in the shade of a tall tree, immersed in a good book while Margret set up a small bonfire with her portable stove, boiling water in an cast-iron pot to prep the stew she planned on making for everyone when lunch rolled around.

Dolce was unusually somber and quiet while she sat next to Felix, tossing crumbs for the fish to eat while he partook in his own fishing endeavors.

"What's the matter Dolce? Sittin' there all mopey and stuff...You gotta enjoy a good day when it's right in front of you." Felix said, breaking the silence as he reeled in another fish.