Dream Weaver ✓

Chapter 18

Louis' eyes narrowed and his chest heaved with anger as he glared at Sean. "What do you even think you're doing?" he demanded, his voice laced with a hint of malice. "I knew you were working with the Drainer."

Olivia interposed herself between the two men, extending her arm to halt Louis' advance towards Sean. "Hold on," she said. "Let's talk about it first. We can figure it out."

Sean took a step forward, his eyes betraying a mixture of resignation and regret. "Olivia, we can't."

As Sean lunged forward with his sword aimed at Louis' chest, Louis reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, pulling Olivia back with him as he dodged to the side. The rush of air from Sean's blade was felt on Louis' cheek as he rolled over the ground, his heart pounding with fear.

Olivia's eyes blazed with determination as she drew her own sword and marched forward, her movements graceful and fluid. She couldn't let Sean kill Louis, not while she had anything to say about it.

With her eyes locked on Sean's, Olivia swung her sword in a wide arc, the blade glinting in the sunlight. Sean parried her attack with ease, his own sword moving in a swift and deadly dance. The sound of metal on metal rang out in the clearing, echoing off the trees and filling the air with a tense energy.

Olivia marveled at her own swordsmanship, amazed that she could fight like this with no formal training. The movements came to her naturally, as if they were etched into her very being. She moved with a fluid grace, her body shifting and parrying as she continued the sword dance with Sean. As he shifted from one foot to the other, Olivia's blade came close to his chest. She could feel the heat of his breath on her face, smell the sweat on his skin. But she didn't falter, didn't hesitate. She pressed forward with unwavering determination, her eyes never leaving his.

The sharp tip of Sean's sword sliced through Olivia's skin, sending a searing pain through her body. She staggered backward, her legs buckling beneath her as she tumbled to the ground. Sean loomed over her, his sword held high and poised to strike the killing blow. But in a moment of desperate courage, Olivia rolled to the other side, narrowly avoiding the deadly arc of his sword. Sean's weapon hit the ground with a resounding clang, sending shockwaves through the earth.

Olivia's heart pounded with the realization that death had been mere seconds away. She watched in awe as Louis, his face contorted with fury, sprang into action. With lightning-fast reflexes, he pushed Sean to the ground, his body pinning Sean's to the earth.

The sound of Sean's sword clattering to the ground echoed through the clearing, a sharp contrast to the muffled grunts and thuds of the ensuing fist fight. The two boys writhed and grappled, their bodies locked in a furious struggle. Olivia watched with a mixture of horror and fascination, her breath coming in short gasps.

Olivia's heart clenched with fear and desperation as she watched Louis and Sean pummel each other with unbridled rage. She knew she couldn't let them kill each other, but what could she do? Then, she remembered the words of Emily's grandmother.

With a deep breath, Olivia squeezed her eyes shut, focusing all of her energy on the dream realm. A gentle breeze caressed her skin as she visualized a solution. Suddenly, the ground beneath the two boys shifted and groaned, a prison rising up from the earth. It was a cage made of vines and branches, woven together with a strength that belied their delicate appearance. Louis and Sean struggled and writhed, but the prison held them fast, keeping them apart and safe from harm.

Olivia's voice was soft as she spoke, her eyes flickering with a mix of regret and determination. "I'm sorry," she muttered, looking at Louis and Sean. "I couldn't let you both kill each other."

Sean's voice was a furious growl as he screamed for release. "Let me out!" he roared, straining against the vine-woven prison that held him captive.

Olivia stood firm, her arms folded over her chest. "No," she said firmly. "You wanted to kill me. And Louis. Be happy I'll let you live."

Olivia approached the woven prison with caution, her eyes scanning every inch of it for any weak spots. Satisfied that it would hold, she untangled the vines and branches until there was enough space for Louis to slip out. He emerged from the cage, rubbing his wrists and flexing his fingers. He looked at Sean with a mixture of anger and confusion, but Olivia had already turned away. She didn't give Sean a second glance as she strode towards his sword, her hand reaching out to grasp it.

As she tucked the weapon n away, Louis fell into step beside her. They walked away from the clearing, their footsteps soft on the ground. Olivia's thoughts were racing, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. But for now, she focused on putting as much distance as possible between them and the danger that still lurked in dream realm.

As they rounded the corner, Louis cast a worried glance over his shoulder. "How long do you think it'll take for him to realize he can imagine the prison away?"

Olivia's response was a shrug, but her expression was serious. "Let's hope he won't until we defeat the Drainer. We can't afford any distractions right now."

Louis wasn't convinced. "But what if the Drainer doesn't control him, Olivia?" he pointed out. "What if Sean has become bad himself?"

Olivia sucked on her lower lip, considering the possibility. "I don't believe Sean is evil," she said finally. "The Drainer has too strong of an influence on him. We just need to find a way to break that hold."

Olivia's mind was consumed by thoughts of Emily, her friend who was in grave danger. She couldn't bear the thought of losing her, not after everything they had been through together. With a determined set to her jaw, Olivia pushed aside her worries about Sean and focused on the task at hand. She had to find Emily before it was too late, before the Drainer could claim her soul and snuff out the life that remained within her. As she marched through the dream realm, her stomach roiled with anxiety. She could sense the danger all around her, feel the tendrils of the Drainer's influence stretching out like sinister fingers.