Forever, You Are My Star

Chapter 28: The Trial

Mey looked over the deck of the ship to see crystal clear waters. The sky above her was a beautiful blue with not a single cloud to be seen. The sun was beating down on her skin, but did not hurt. In fact, it felt nice. The only sound was the sound of the waves crashing up against the ship. What was this place? Was she in the middle of the ocean?

    "Mey?" Mey turned to see her mother standing near the back of the ship. She quickly ran towards her,  letting herself sink into her mother's arms. She felt tears coming down her face. She pulled away and let her mother wipe the tears from her cheeks.

    "Where am I? Am I dreaming?"

    "This is not a dream, nor is it reality. You are stuck, my child." Mey looked up at her confused.

    "What do you mean?"

    "When one wants to live, but is also close to death, they become stuck in between worlds, forever roaming the seas until it is decided on what they must do." Mey fully pulled away trying to comprehend what her mother just said. It then came back to her. The ships, Commander Penn, the gunshot, then all went blank. She was dying.

    "I need to go back. I must go back." She began to pace as she became worried. The others, what about the others? What about San? What happened to them? "Mother, I need your help. San and the others, they need me. I can't just leave them behind." Raya then walked up to her and stopped her, calming her down.

    "That is why I am here." Raya placed her hands on Mey's upper arms. "I am here to guide you back." Raya then took Mey's hands in hers and tried to give her a smile.

    "What must I do?" Mey asked taking a deep breath.

    "I need you to clothes your eyes and remember. Remember your life back in Barranor; when you would run around as a child around the castle and throughout the grounds. Remember the memories you made with your family." Mey just gave her mother a look of concern.

    "And what if there are memories I cannot remember?" Raya's eyes became soft at Mey's answer.

    "Remember what you can, my star. I will help you as much as I can." Mey closed her eyes as her mind began to wander. She saw herself playing in the gardens with Felix when they were younger. He was chasing her around with mud in his hands like he always did. She could feel herself giggle. There was a flash, and Mey found herself in her room once again. This picture she remembered from a different dream. Soowon and Lin were there along with Arden and Raya. But Mey saw herself on the bed once again, lying cold and lifeless. Her mother was sitting beside her, holding her hands and crying. She was crying for Mey to wake up, but nothing happened. Mey now made her way over to the bed and began to shake herself awake, scared of what would happen if she didn't.

    "Wake up! Please!" On cue, little Mey, who was laying on the bed, shot her eyes open at the same time there was a flash of bright light and Mey's eyes finally opened. She jolted up and felt cold sweat dripping from her body. She looked around to see she was back in her room in Barranor, a room she thought she would never see herself in again. Her breathing slowly returned to normal all until she heard the crying of a baby, and her panic returned. Even though her body told her no, she took herself out of the bed and made her way towards a cradle that was nearby. Her fear subsided when she saw Tae comfortably wrapped in a blanket. She picked him up and began to rock him against her to calm her down at the same time the doors to her room opened. She turned to see her maid Giyah now wide eyed from shock.

    "Your....your highness, you are awake. You are alright." She said with a subtle bow. 

    "I am. What of the others? Are they hurt?" Giyah made her way to Mey.