The Dreamwalkers

Chapter Two: Into the Dreamscape

The air was thick with tension as Aeris, Luca, and Kaia stood in the aftermath of the creature's attack. The shadow had dissipated, but its presence lingered—like a bitter taste left behind after a nightmare. Aeris' mind churned. Dream assassins weren't supposed to exist anymore, not since Darian's disappearance. Yet the signs were unmistakable.

Luca paced, his boots tapping a restless rhythm on the cobblestones. "That thing wasn't natural. It wasn't just a nightmare."

"No," Aeris agreed, eyes still scanning the empty alley where the creature had vanished. "It wasn't. But whatever it was, it was tied to the dreamer. It didn't come into this world on its own."

Kaia, still trembling slightly from the exertion of using her powers, rubbed her temples. "That means someone brought it here. Someone with enough power to weaponize dreams."

Aeris nodded. "It's him. I know it."

Luca looked at her, his expression tight with concern. "We've been chasing shadows, Aeris. Are we sure it's Darian? We haven't seen him in years, and we have no proof."

Aeris turned to Luca, her gaze hard and unyielding. "I'm sure. He's the only one capable of this."

Kaia's voice cut in, soft but firm. "If Darian is involved, we can't keep reacting like this. We need to take the fight to him."

Aeris nodded, already a few steps ahead. "We need to enter the dream."

Luca's eyes widened. "Are you serious? You want us to dreamwalk into that?""Do you have a better idea?" Aeris countered, folding her arms across her chest. "Whatever that creature was, it's tied to the dreamer. We have to find out what it was and why it's appearing in the real world. That means we go in."

Kaia sighed, pushing her hair back from her face. "We don't even know if we'll find him in the dream. We could just be walking into more of those shadow creatures."

"We don't have a choice," Aeris said. "We've seen this too many times now. The pattern is escalating, and if we wait, more people will die. We need to confront this head-on."

Luca looked from Aeris to Kaia, his expression torn. Finally, he gave a resigned nod. "Fine. But 

let's not pretend this is a normal dreamwalk. If this is Darian's doing, we'll need more than just our usual tricks."

"I've got something in mind," Aeris said. "But we'll need to move quickly. Kaia, are you ready?"

Kaia took a deep breath and gave a determined nod. "I'll do my best."

The three of them stepped back from the scene, retreating into a quieter corner of the square. 

Aeris gestured for them to sit. She settled herself on the ground, cross-legged, and the others followed suit. In a practiced motion, Aeris closed her eyes, letting her breathing slow. She reached out with her mind, feeling for the currents of the dream world. It was a familiar sensation, like dipping her fingers into a river that flowed just beneath the surface of reality.

"Stay close," she whispered. "We'll tether ourselves to the dreamer's last memories. If we're lucky, we'll find something useful."

Luca and Kaia nodded, their breathing syncing with Aeris' as they prepared to enter the dream.

---

The transition was seamless, like slipping through a veil. Aeris felt the shift before she opened her eyes. The world around her was muted, the colors washed out, as though they were underwater. She could feel the dream pressing in on all sides—the pull of subconscious thoughts and emotions swirling in the air.