One Piece (SSW Backstory)

Chapter 21

Saphira's POV

I was having that dream again. It looked the same everytime. The fields of wild flowers, the cabin with the chimney blowing smoke, and the distant sound of crashing waves. And, like always, I was rooted to the ground unable to move. The first few times I had this dream, I always panicked and tried to set myself free from the shackles holding me in place. But, ever since I realized I would be having the same dream almost every night, I gave up on trying to escape.

Back in Dung, with the limited books there was, I tried to read up on why I was having this dream over and over again. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything that could put a reason behind these constant happenings. After a while, I decided to just observe these dreams. Trying to find any changes, no matter how small, but it was harder than I thought. The scenery seemed to have never changed ever since I started dreaming this same dream since I came to live with Granny Lilo.

Four years of the same dream can become quite boring, but today it seemed different. It was hard to spot the difference, but I did,  and it was unsettling. Usually, when I have this dream, I could only hear the wind blowing, the distant waves crashing and... the song of birds singing. But now, there were no birds. The sky was clear of them and they weren't in the trees. Standing in that field and not being able to hear the birds singing, made me feel uneasy.

"Saphira... my shoulder hurts."

I woke up instantly when I heard the voice. I blink away the blurriness in my eyes as I try to wake my foggy brain. "Move your head..." The grumbly voice came from beside me. I sigh in relief, it was just Mikey. He was resting his head on mine while I used his shoulder as a pillow. "I can't move, your fat head is in the way..." He grumbled as he lifts his head off mine. His eyes were still closed as he sleepily waited for me to move my head. I shuffle around a bit to comfortably rest against the wooden box.

It wasn't comfortable, per say, but there wasn't space to lay down so this would have to do. I groan as Mikey pressed into my side and plopped his head on my shoulder. 'Jerk! He's way heavier than me, so I should be resting on him not the other way around!'  I sigh at my faith. Mikey was like a big baby when he slept. That's why I refused to share a bed with him back home. He would literally cuddle you to death.

I grumble under my breath as I knew I won't be falling back asleep any time soon. Mikey was pressing me against the wall of the wooden box, making it impossible for me to escape. He threw an arm and leg over me too, meaning I can't push him off. 'Damn him!'  If only he was smaller, then I might have found this cute, but no, he just had to be a big boy with a bigger supply of energy.

I jump at a noise I heard outside the box. It was muffled, but it sounded like someone jumped on the wooden floor. Mikey didn't respond to the noise, he either didn't care or was too far in lala land to hear it. I was pressed against the wall of the box, so I could easily hear the approaching footsteps on the wooden floors. "Mikey, wake up." I whisper-shout as I shake his arm. He only mumbled something incoherent as he continued to snore away. I jump again when I hear I thud above us.

It sounded like they dropped something on the lid of the box we were hiding in. I shake Mikey's arm with more urgency, "Mikey, we have company." I try to keep my voice just above a whisper, but when Mikey still didn't wake up, I felt like shouting in his ears. The lid of the box groaned as something was pushed into it. 'They are prying the box open!'  This was bad. They are going to find us. "Mikey!" I reached up to tug at his ear. The bastard only swatted my hand away and continued his slumber. The lid of the box groaned again as they push to open it. I panicked as I saw a bit of light shine through the gap they made.

I push back at Mikey's dead weight to try and reach for our bag that have our makeshift weapons in it. I groan as I struggle to reach it, Mikey's weight didn't even budge an inch. 'I should do some weight training after this.'  My fingertips grazed the scratchy fabric of our bags when the lid of the box was pried off completely. I gasped in shock as I shut my eyes against the harsh light that pooled in from outside.