☽★𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝑰𝑰 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒐 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒆𝒔★☾

Hestia

Thanks for all the lies

Pretty smiles

Sparkling eyes

Made me think I was special

2020

I sprint across the cobbled street, my trainers occasionally sliding and nearly losing my balance. Heavy rain pounding on the cobbles sparkling in luminous different colours makes it look like the colours are melting off. I dive under an archway and huddle against the cool, bumpy wall. My heart is pounding and I can hardly breathe. I glance back at where I came from. I am not able to see anything through the rain except for enormous, distorted shapes looming over the dark grey, stormy sky. I can hear the ocean roaring near me. Then the shapes come nearer. I crouch down and cover my face with my pale arms. The darkness surrounds me. I let out a horrible scream. All of a sudden the rain stops and the darkness retreats. The shadows take up the shape of a tall man with white hair. I pass out.

I sit up with my ears ringing. I let my gaze roam around the room I'm in. I register the dark green walls, the white furniture and the big window. I slide out of my bed and stroll through my fluffy, white carpet. I slide my lacy curtains aside and turn the handle of the balcony door. My head feels hazy like I haven't fully woken up yet. It's become a familiar feeling lately. Too familiar. I barely know what's real anymore. The cold morning air hits my face as I step out. Goosebumps rise on my bare arms. I watch the skyline as rosy and orange tinted colours creep up and light the silhouettes of nearby buildings up. It must be only dawn. I feel the balcony floor under my bare feet. All of a sudden a dark, enormous shape like the ones in my dream looms in the corner of my eye. I turn around and back down a few steps toward the black metal railing. A petite figure is standing on the fire escape. I watch as the short girl with dark skin and short, untidy, black hair and a cluster of freckles on her round nose, regards me calmly. "You're a dreamer, Hestia." A strange smile spreads across her wide lips but it doesn't reach her bright, amber coloured eyes. She's wearing white ripped jeans and a pink t-shirt. About a million questions spin in my head. Who is this girl? How does she know my name? What did she mean by "you're a dreamer"? Could she know about my dreams? "I sensed you," she says. "My brother and I have been watching you for a while." I frown. "Your brother." She nods. "I'm Dawn. I can only appear in a solid shape when the sun rises and then I melt into the light. My brother's name is Dusk. He watches you during the night." Dawn's voice sounds sing songy but not in an annoying way. It's like she sings but she doesn't. Like there's a beautiful melody behind her voice. "But why?" I ask. "Why have you been watching me?" Dawn frowns. "I just told you. You're a dreamer." I must look flabbergasted because she hurries to explain: "You have strange dreams from other dimensions."

"But they're just dreams," I argue. Dawn shimmers like a hologram. I glance at the sky quickly. "My brother will explain more. But your dreams aren't just dreams. They're real." Then she disappears in the shimmering light like she was never there. Maybe she wasn't.

I close my bedroom door behind me as I step into the hallway. "Hey, you're up early." I flinch and turn around to look at my dad. His sandy hair is a mess and he's wearing baggy pyjama pants and a wrinkly, dark green t-shirt. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep," I say, trying to make a smile appear on my face. "Well, I'll go make coffee. Feel free to join me in the kitchen." He grins and saunters toward the kitchen. I knock on my twin brother's door. "Percy?" I whisper. "It's important. Please wake up." I push his door open. His room is a mess and even that is an understatement. Just imagine a junkyard. Somehow Percy's room is worse. I leap over a pile of wrinkly clothes. "Percy," I say, this time louder. I stop randomly to look at a painting of a beautiful redheaded girl with dark brown eyes and a sweet smile. I recognise her as one of my best friends and Percy's girlfriend Cassie. I turn to look at Percy lying on his bed under the covers snoring faintly. I let out a frustrated sigh. I go over to him and shake him. "Mmmm..." he mumbles. "Just five more minutes, mom."