Astéri Somniorum

A New Day

Rue stood alone in an infinite plane with the night sky bursting with a myriad of stars. The floor rippled with the touch of each step forward into the almost empty space. Among the vastness, a gentle voice called out to her, drawing her gaze towards a white silhouette of a male figure with a warm, beckoning smile.  

Intrigued, she began walking towards him on a narrow catwalk. As Rue got closer, she noticed a pair of large yellow-purple eyes glinting hungrily from behind him. Rue takes a few steps back in fear of the being, yet behind her she felt the catwalk beneath her feet crumbling away into a dark abyss. Panic seeped into her as she looked back, the platform-like catwalk that shimmered beneath her shattering plane by plane inching closer to where she stood. Rue runs to the white silhouette, just as she takes his hand, he gently pushes her back causing her to fall to the depths below.  

Looking up, Rue sees the White silhouette being engulfed by the shadow with large eyes. The creature lurking behind the male swiftly enveloped him, its maw swallowing him whole. Yet, a single star broke free, descending after Rue as she clutched it tightly to her chest.   

Her eyes locked on the twinkling stars above, shrouded in a soft, blue hue before the dream melted away by the warmth of the sun.   

Upon waking, Rue was greeted by the cheerful chirping of birds outside her window. Puzzled by the dream, she reached for her journal, and she noted down every detail in her dream journal, meticulously recounting the vivid details. Shaking off the unsettling thoughts, Rue prepared for her day. Dressed and ready, Rue made her way to the garage where her gleaming motorbike awaited her.  

The morning sun kissed her skin, and with a quick check of the time, she revved the engine and embarked on her journey. While stopping at a red light, Rue noticed a black car beside her. Inside sat a young girl with a blue hair bow, and her mother engrossed in a call. As the light turned green, she made a turn to the right parking by a building Titled "Little G's", Rue hopped off her motorbike with a yellow delivery bag in hand and made her way towards the building. As she entered the building the smell of hot and ready food reached her nostrils, Rue focused her thoughts when she reached the pickup counter. A woman with a beauty mark on the left side of her mouth greets her from the inside of the counter. "Morning mama!", Rue greets her mother as she places her delivery bag on the counter.   

"Morning baby!" her mother said, smiling as she prepared some packaging, while giving her a small list of orders to deliver. Rue glances at the list, before nodding, then heading out to deliver the orders. It was a normal day of delivering meals, some of the customers were thankful, happy, or excited while others were rude or petty over the littlest of things. Thankfully Rue wasn't that fazed by their actions since this was a rare yet normal occurrence, and simply moved on to the next house on her list.  

Rue took a second glance at the address of the house; she smiled as she walked up to the door. 

This house belonged to an old friend of her mothers, Cedric Gatherson, when Hope was born, Rue and her mother used to care of her sometimes, however, after his wife Heida past, he became more engrossed into his works, dropping of Hope more, until she reached school age. Now Hope was six years old, a feisty but sweet young lady. Rue smiled at the memory, before knocking on the door.  

With a practiced smile, Rue holds the order up as the door opens to show no one. Looking down she sees a young girl with two orange puffs tied up with red ribbons, wearing what one would assume to be a circus costume. The child looks up at Rue, asking her what she wants in a bossy tone. Rue blinks at her and sighs, "Hope, I am here to deliver your order." Hope's eyes brighten, as she holds her arms out to grab the food. Rue pulls it back out of her reach, holding a triumphant smile, "Sorry, munchkin, I can only give my deliveries to one who is 18 or older to order, so, where's your father?"