Life Goes On

Chapter 14: The Power of Three

When I opened my eyes the fire was out, I looked around the tent but it looked like I was alone. As I got up off the bed I realized my whole body ached, as if someone had slammed me against a boulder.

I felt a little dizzy as I stood up, grabbing around for balance I finally made it outside. The sky was still dark. I scanned the beach but couldn't spot Sebastian, Ominis or Mr. Lily Petals. I heard the swoosh of a small wave hit the sand then and I turned towards the water.

It was still dark with the sun barely starting to peak behind the horizon but I could see them clearly. Ominis, Sebastian and Mr. Lily Petals all floating in the water, they weren't moving. I called out to them but they didn't respond or move.

I started running towards them, I leapt into the water and swam as fast as I could but their bodies kept floating away from me.

"Sebastian! Ominis! Mr. Lily Petals! Please wake up!" I swam and swam trying to reach them, calling out for them but their bodies kept floating further into the ocean until I couldn't see them anymore.

"Sebastian! Ominis! Mr. Lily Petals! Please!! Someone please!" I was sobbing, my arms and legs felt like they were made of lead. "Somebody please, please help me... Please save my friends. Please..."

"Ophelia! Ophelia wake up! Ophelia!" I heard Sebastian call out to me.

I opened my eyes, it felt like a heavy weight had struck my chest.

"Ophelia!"

I looked over to Ominis and Sebastian and realized I was floating up above the bed. I inhaled sharply and suddenly fell down on the bed like a boulder. The frame completely snapping under me.

"What the fuck was that!?" Sebastian yelped as they both ran over to me.

"What... What happened?" I asked, my head was spinning.

"I don't know, are you ok? Were you having another nightmare?" Ominis asked sitting next to me atop the destroyed bed.

I nodded.

"Did you hurt yourself?" Sebastian asked as he sat too and started inspecting me.

"I'm ok." Physically perhaps.

Ominis's eyes were darting around as if looking for my expression, "what were you dreaming?"

"I... The three of you..." I started as I looked over at Mr. Lily Petals whose head was sticking in through the tent entrance. "The three of you had drowned. I was trying to reach you, in the water, but you just kept floating away until... Until I couldn't see you anymore." My voice cracked and I could feel tears pooling in my eyes.

"Hey... Look at me, we're here and we're fine." Sebastian brushed my bangs behind my ear. "Listen, I know I was really upset and lashed out at you yesterday. It was really scary, I thought you... or all of us might die. But we're here, ok? Always." He leaned in and gave me a peck on the lips.

Ominis reached for my hand. "Darling, do you...What exactly do you see in your nightmares?"

"I... I don't know I don't always remember." I looked at the floor again.

"Darling," he put a finger on my chin and turned me to face him. "I know you're lying, I know you do every time I ask you about them, but please, you can trust us."

I started panicking a little. He knew I'd been lying to him this whole time? "Why didn't you say anything? If you knew?..."

"I didn't want to pressure you. I know after traumatic events like the ones you've been through, like the ones we've all been through...that it can be hard to talk about the pain. About the things and feelings that come after. I thought you would talk to us whenever you were ready." He turned away. "But I think, your nightmares might be telling you things about what might be going on." His eyes narrowed.