For Now | Dreaming Trilogy | Book 1 (HEAVY CONSTRUCTION)

Shane | Dizzy

I was losing strength, and fast. I could feel it oozing out through each drop of water I thrust at an unsuspecting guard. I was strangely aware of everything. Phoenix, at least, seemed to be strong as ever.

We kept getting glimpses of the Nightmare's cloak as she ran, or hearing Kayla cry out for me. I had never felt so aware of things.

That is, until Phoenix stopped. A wall loomed ahead of us, glaring down and mocking us.I was surprisingly not out of breath. Phoenix glared at the shimmering golden wall, decorated with scenes of fire.

I stepped ahead of her. The floor gave out, and suddenly I was plummeting.

"Shane!" I heard Phoenix yell. Her head appeared over the hole that I fell down. Her pretty little face was blurred. It took me up until I tried to breathe to realize why. Water nearly choked me right then and there.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her voice muffled behind at least six feet of water.

Thinking that, since I control water, I'd be able to breathe, I nearly drowned. My lungs took in fluids instead of air. She noticed. Her fiery eyes grew wide and she jumped without thought. It took her a moment to untangle the hair from around her face, but she quickly succeeded.

I couldn't move. I was paralyzed. My muscles clenched and unclenched uselessly. I felt like I should be flailing, rocketing towards Phoenix, but nothing happened. I just stayed eerily still.

Bubbles danced around Phoenix. Her crown of flowers rose to the surface and floated merrily above her.

I wanted to scream. I needed to scream. I needed to inhale air and show her that I wasn't completely inept.

The world started going hazey. Pillars swayed and danced around me. The pretty ceiling so high up waved at me. Everything was pulsing, breathing air meant for my dying lungs. I was panicked. The water turned dark.

Something snaked around my waist and started swishing the darkness around me. I felt waves of water rippling across my skin. I was thrown onto the cold hard floor.

"Wake up!" Phoenix's distant voice demanded.

I blinked. Everything was blue. No, wait, just her hair was. I coughed up water. So Prince Charming of me.

Finally, I could breathe again. The air burned my lungs, but I didn't care. I could breathe.

Slowly, the world came back into focus. There were many minutes feeling like hours as I regained my composure.

"Never doing that again," I muttered, wiping sticky hair off my forehead.

"You will."

I stared at my Dream Stated friend in disbelief. "You want me to go back down there and die again?"

Phoenix rolled her eyes. She pointed a hand at the pool, which had conveniently revealed itself now that I'd made a fool of myself. Flames so hot they dried my clothes shot out.

Too hot - hot damn.

No? Okay.

Anyways, the water started to boil, then steam. I scrambled back from the scorching liquid, but Phoenix stood fearlessly as the room was filled with floating water.

I stood up when she was finished, and the walls were dripping. "Look, Phoenix," I said. "We're getting steamy."

I received a hard and hot smack across the cheek. Whatever lethargy I'd been feeling before fled at the thought of another smack. I rubbed my cheek, and felt it to be very hot.

"You burned me!"

Phoenix gave me a quick smirk before jumping into the now empty cavern. I sighed, but followed.