Another World of Dreams-The Escape

Chapter 8 - Mechanical Things

An elf lady stood in front of Liv when she opened her eyes. A dazzling silver light surrounded her and she wore a thin dress as white as the first snow of winter. It was difficult to make out her face or determine the color of her hair, yet Liv could tell that she was beautiful beyond belief. Her intuition told her that the lady was not asleep somewhere else, nor was it an illusion or part of her imagination. The lady's presence was something she had never experienced before.

"Who are you?" she asked in a hushed voice.

A young deciduous forest surrounded them. The air was fresh, and the sun reached the moss-covered ground beneath her feet, despite that the dense trees concealed the sky. The lady walked a few steps to the side and stroked her thin fingers up and down the trunk of a birch.

"I've been looking for you." Her voice was round, as if coming from inside Liv's mind.

"Who are you?"

She looked sad and shook her head.

"Ask me anything, except for that. I can give you other answers. Answers no one else can provide."

"What are you doing here? "

"I wanted to see you, and I worry for you."

"Then help me. In my dreams I'm never safe and when I wake up I'll be in grave danger."

The lady stepped closer and studied Liv. Her brown eyes were so deep that they could absorb a universe.

"You are not a girl who asks for help," she said. Liv stared at the ground, ashamed. Something burst inside her and when she looked up at the lady again, a tear left her eye.

"Now I do."

"On the other side of the mountain lies a village where the natives of Anland once lived, before the settlers stepped ashore in Southport and changed everything. Go to this village. Saint Rafael is its name."

"I've heard of the place," said Liv. "The most religious boys from the boarding school traveled there on a pilgrimage."

"Yes, pilgrims kneel in front of the altar in Saint Rafael's heavenly chapel to show their respect to the divine," said the lady. "They come into contact with something they cannot describe, a thing older and purer than themselves, but it is not their God they sense. There are forces in that place, forces that will make you stronger and awaken the elven blood within you. It will help you understand your dreams."

"What do you mean?"

"Watch the mountains and the valley. Acknowledge what you see and you will understand."

Something moved in the flourishing forest behind them, and a dull humming vibrated through the air. Liv glanced over her shoulder and when she turned back around the lady had disappeared. The sound of rustling footsteps approached her. She pressed her back against the trunk of a maple and leaned forward to peek. A tall elf with wide shoulders appeared amongst the trees. He wore a black robe and sang, or rather spoke in tones, the same unfamiliar words, over and over again. It was appealing and eerie, like a church choir on a gallows hill. The elf seemed submerged in thoughts, almost in a trance, and did not see Liv as he passed a few strides away.

He stopped, fell silent and sniffed the air. Liv's heart beat fast as she tried to decide whether to run away and show herself to the elf or just stay hidden. She told herself that she had nothing to fear from him. Maybe he could even help her get to the mountains faster, though she sensed that he was not of the helpful kind. Roads did not exist in her dreams, nor rails or draisines. For several days she had fought her way across rugged terrain, through forests so dense that it was impossible to walk straight for more than a few steps. The coast was now far behind her, yet the mountains were not coming any nearer. She had hiked up freezing rapids and climbed slippery cliffs, but every time she reached a lookout she was disappointed to find out she had lost her bearing. They called for her, those infinite mountains on the horizon. Was there a safer world of dreams waiting behind them? Or did the peaks just appear so impossible to climb she had to try? It mattered not, she would not waste effort pondering over old decisions. She let her instincts guide her instead.