The Dreamer: The Book of Godspells

CHAPTER TWENTY

I wasn't sure how long I'd been confined to that cell, left to my own devices after Colik left. Exhausted both mentally and physically, I collapsed onto the cot-like block, shutting my eyes tightly. The oppressive presence of mirrors surrounded me, a relentless reminder of my own existence. What kind of twisted torture was this? But strangely, lying down seemed to ease my troubled mind. The soft sheets enveloped me like a cocoon, offering a rare moment of tranquility amidst this strange and unfamiliar chaos.

"A meal?" The unexpected voice shattered the silence, causing me to startle. The small man who had kept his distance upon my arrival at the Citadel now stood at the entrance of my cell. Up close, his simple stature was even more apparent, and his attire, a blend of purples and golds, seemed to blend seamlessly with his surroundings. His wide eyes held a nervous energy as he glanced at me.

"I'm glad you all weren't going to starve me," I started, rolling my eyes. But he just stared at me, misunderstanding my attempt at humor.

"Is that a yes?" he inquired, gesturing to the plate of food he had placed at the entrance.

"Yes, thank you," I replied, my stomach growling in agreement. But his sudden movement startled me, causing him to retreat against the door as if afraid of me.

"What is your name?" I asked, studying him closely.

"Patryk, the herald of the dreamers," he responded nervously.

"Nice to meet you, Patryk. I am Piper."

"Pipe..." He began, but halted abruptly, his demeanor shifting. I observed him closely, sensing an air of unease surrounding him. Despite his proximity to the Royals, he seemed strangely timid. We were silent for a moment. Then, noticing his fixation on the mirrors, I couldn't resist probing further.

"Like what you see?" I asked, flashing him an innocent smile. His gaze finally shifted to meet mine, his golden eyes shimmering with an otherworldly intensity.

"If you get the rare chance to look beyond this world, and within yourself, would you not choose to do so?" he shared cryptically.

"Not when it is constant. Not when all you can see is yourself," I replied, sensing there was more to his words than met the eye.

"Seeing yourself and seeing within yourself are entirely two different things. Like seeing two different worlds, don't you see?" he countered, his words tinged with a sense of mystery.

"You know about my world too?" I pressed.

"It is my job to know about all worlds," he stated before suddenly tensing up, his attention diverted elsewhere.

"All worlds?" I echoed, but he offered no further explanation, retreating into silence as another figure entered the room. I found myself also wanting to retreat, unable to suppress a grunt as I laid eyes on the newcomer.

"You and your odd noises. I always wondered what humans were taught, but those habits are quite unappealing," Lulu remarked as she entered the mirrored cell. The tight confines made me feel claustrophobic, but it wasn't just the physical proximity that bothered me.

Lulu brought with her an immediate sense of animosity, and Patryk seemed to shrink in her presence too. It was strange how I could feel the tension in the room, almost as if the Willows themselves were transmitting it. Was it because I was becoming attuned to this world, or was it something else?

"Patryk, leave us," Lulu commanded without even sparing him a glance. He quickly complied, skirting around her to exit the cell. It seemed deliberate, as if he wanted to put as much distance between Lulu and me as possible.

Once he left, I didn't go near the food he left behind, despite the persistent growling of my stomach. Letting it rumble felt like one of the few human things I had left, and I clung to it stubbornly. I then noticed that Lulu avoided looking at herself in the mirrors, just like the other dreamers. Why did they all refuse to face their own reflections?