The Prince of Arc - Part I

Chapter 3 - Cameron's Turning Point

3.

After dinner that night, Cameron and I went back to my room. We spent the rest of the night talking about the riots back home, the rumors about King Drake and dad talking, and how that could affect what we might do next to avoid getting attacked by the mobs. At about two in the morning, the conversation finally died down, and we fell asleep. Cameron slept on the ground since the helpers didn't have a room here. Though I offered to give him the bed, he insisted that I should have it. Once again, royalty affected our friendship.

Cameron's loyalty to the monarchy is a lot stronger than mine. He has so much faith in the process and idea of it. I think that is going to change, though. The riots are stronger than ever, and I think they aren't going to just pass by like the others have done. I could feel a rebellion coming. And who am I to stop it?

Dreams destroyed my chance at a decent night's rest. I had a nightmare similar to the one back home. This time however, it wasn't the palace that was under attack, it was the vacation home. And this attack was different; it was more quiet and eerie, unlike the loud, chaotic riots back home.

My room was dark with light only provided by the surrounding aquariums. I look over to the left side of my bed, where Cameron had fallen asleep on the floor. His blankets and pillow were still there, but he was missing.

Hearing the door to the hallway creak slightly open, I turn my head to stare in its direction. After a few seconds of silence, I look away convinced nothing's there. I bundle up under the covers once again. Then, as I'm about to fall back to sleep the door opens once again, this time with a slam. This time it sang out far enough to hit the wall of the aquarium. Hearing the glass almost break, I jolt up out of my comforter, and glance over towards the open doorway. Still, nothing was there.

Confused by what was causing this, I stepped out of my bed and cautiously walked towards the door. Sticking my head out into the hallway, I see nothing. My pulse began to race as goose bumps covered my arms. Then I began to panic. I turned around, and ran back into my room.

But before I could get too far, something grabbed my shirt from behind. The force was so powerful it caused me to fall to the ground. Now on the ground, I looked up to see what pulled me; a teenage girl, tall and attractive, with fiery red hair and restless brown eyes. She's the same girl that I saw in my last nightmare.

I guess now she's back for more.

I struggled to let out a scream, but she stopped me from making a sound. Covering my mouth in a thick cloth, she kept her hand locked over my nose and mouth preventing me from breathing.

Then I became increasingly tired, and my eyes played tricks on me. The edges of my sight gradually shrank, and I saw nothing but black within seconds.

"Blake," I hear Cameron say from the ground beneath me. Opening my eyes, I see my room lit up with the daylight coming from the porch. I take an insanely deep breath of air inhaling as much oxygen as possible. It was just another nightmare. No one with fiery red hair and restless brown eyes was trying to suffocate me; no tall, attractive girl was attempting to murder me again. I am with Cameron, safe in my bedroom. I am fine.

"What?" I ask, propping myself on my elbows. Does he know I had another nightmare? I think as I notice his puzzled expression.

"Are you okay? You looked like you were struggling or something while you were asleep..." He says with concern, "You were shouting too."

"I had another nightmare." I explain, "It was another one like the riots, but this time it wasn't chaotic. Until the very end..."

"What do you mean?"