Where We Lie

2. Wake Up, Theia

The first movement I gain control of is in my fingers. I use them to pet the ground below me as I try to understand my surroundings. I feel what seems like rough grass blades on my fingertips. Within a second, the rest of my senses rushed back to me, giving me a splitting headache.

I wince at the pain and rub my temples to soothe my pulsing head, but it stays persistent and constant. As I massage, I slowly sit up and take the opportunity to gather my bearings.

I am in a forest - that much is clear by the open blue sky and the plethora of green trees scattered frequently around me. I hear birds chirping a foreign melody in the distance as I bring myself to stand. "What a realistic dream." I take the time to review my person: I am still in the same clothes I fell asleep in, I have no shoes, only socks, and the picture of my mother lies by my feet. I had dropped it when I stood up. 

A cool wind blows through my hair and as the breeze travels, it takes my mother's picture with it. The photograph dances with the wind and loops away from me.

I chase after it without hesitation and quickly catch it. I ignore my persistent pounding headache as I leap for the picture. "Gotcha!" I triumphantly bellow as I snatch the floating image. I carefully slide it into my sweatpants' pocket before I re-evaluate this world. 

Slightly delirious, I trek forward - or at least what I think forward is. My headache dies down the further I pursue my path into the wilderness. Being the tactile learner I have always been, I touch everything I pass: flowers, tree bark, and leaves.

It all feels so realistic.

I continue to examine every object until one flower catches my eye. It looks as if it is made of gold, yet it sprouts from the ground and sways with the wind. The petals sparkle as they catch the sun's rays and brightly reflect light.

I am entranced by the flower as I approach it slowly as if there is any way I could spook it. I lower myself onto my knees as I move to cup the flower petals. As I bring my hands closer, I feel an intense warmth emitting from the flowers and into my palms. Light looks as if it is radiating from my hands as I keep them in that position. I concentrate on the feeling and spot flecks of light absorbing into my palms. I focus my eyes on one speck as it travels from the flower, to my palm, and up my arm. I can feel a trail of warmth coat my limbs as the flower loses its shine and transfers it to my skin.

I lean in to get a better look but my peaceful curiosity is cut short when an arrow whizzes behind my head and into the dirt. Terrified, I snap my head to where the arrow originated from.

A man dressed in otherworldly, yet vaguely historical clothing, stands with another arrow drawn and ready to be released at any point. The tip of the arrow is pointed towards my head, "Who are you?" The man shouts with authority as he takes proper aim. I feel my mouth grow dry as I focus on the arrow aimed at my forehead. I say nothing, my mouth refusing to move. My lack of answer does nothing to lower the man's guard or weapon.

As seconds pass, my initial frozen instincts wear off, my flight impulse immediately kicks into overdrive. I charge in the opposite direction of the man, not caring about examining the little details of this dream anymore. He looks all too real and at this point, I'm begging to wake up.

"Hey!" He exclaims. I can tell he is not too far behind by the volume of his voice. I take a sharp right turn in hopes of throwing him off but fail miserably when it only allows him to get closer to me.

"Wake up, wake up, please wake up!" I scream to myself as I push through the burning sensation in my lungs and thighs. Arrows fly past me with every slight turn I make. I push forward even as a faint glowing orb forms itself around me. Though it blurs my vision of the world, I ignore it to the best of my abilities. I hear the man release yet another arrow in my direction. However, the arrow never flies past me and I watch as the surrounding glowing orb shatters around me.