On the Tip of the Moon

Chapter 3- Box of Nightmares

I was running through a forest. I wasn't sure where I was, but that didn't matter to me. My hair was wild and the cold wind blew harshly in my face, making it difficult to see. My heart was thumping uncontrollably and I was afraid that it would beat right of my chest. I felt fear coursing through me. I wanted to scream out for help, but that might attract the monsters to me. They weren't right at my heel anymore, but they couldn't be far. I could sense them by the horrible sinking in my stomach that wouldn't leave- almost like a sixth sense. I was so caught up in my thoughts, that I didn't even realize the tree root underneath me, that had been hidden by the dirt, until my foot made contact with it.

        I landed face first onto the ground, already able to feel the mud cling onto my cheeks. I stood up quickly, not daring to waste any time while I still had a chance to escape. I ignored the warm, crimson blood that was trickling down my wrist and my throbbing head.

"Olivia." I heard a spine-tingling, seep, robotic voice say. Goosebumps appeared on my arms, and my blood run cold. I didn't turn around, afraid of what I would see if I did. I felt its slippery tentacles grasp my good wrist and a knot formed in my stomach. This was it. The monster was going to kill me.

I woke up to someone shaking me, calling my name, worriedly.

"Don't touch me." I said in a low, harsh tone. "I won't let you kill me."

I turned to face the creature to find that it was only Isaac.

"Liv, what's the matter? Who's trying to kill you?"

"Isaac? I'm so sorry. I had a night nightmare where this horrible monster was chasing me, in attempt to kill me."

I began to feel way too warm, so I opened the window, trying to allow the gentle breeze in.

"It's ok, but there's something you should know. As this is your world, any nightmares that you have and remember here will come true at one point."

I snapped my head up to look at him. "So that means that I could die here? In my own word?" I asked, almost yelling. Well that was just great.

"Was I there?" He asked me, grinning.

"What? No."

"Then you'll be fine. I'm supposed to help you. What help would I be if let you get killed that easily?"

I smiled.

"Anyway. We need to go." He told me, getting ready to move.

"Go where?"

"Remember how I told you to meet me at midnight? Well, I'm going to take you to visit Cale the wizard. He had all of your nightmares boxed up and we need to get them all back if you're going to save us all."

We both silently crept out of the room. Once we were outside, I began to follow each step that Isaac took, as I guessed that he knew where the annoying, creaky floorboards were. He led me straight outside and I felt the chilly nip in the air. I shivered, wishing that I brought a coat with me.

"If you're cold, just say the world 'coat' and you'll get one."

I stopped, wanting to test out his little suggestion.

"Coat." I said out loud, into thin air. Nothing happened at first, and I began to feel stupid for even trying it out, when all of a sudden, a white coat floated down into my hands. I put it on, and felt relieved with the warmth it provided me. It went down to my waist, fitting me perfectly, and had a trail of matching fur on the hood.

"You'll need this."

Isaac handed me his navy-blue neck-chief. I took it from his hands, probably looking as confused as I felt.

"The colour blue should protect you from most monsters." He explained, almost as though he had read my mind.

"If that's the case, why couldn't I have wished for something blue?"

He thought for a moment. "You could have, but there's no point if I have something blue to give you."

I crossed my arms, smiling. "But that's like saying I could have had your jacket because you have one."

"Well, yeah, but that'd be weird."

I laughed. He had a point.

In one of the bushes, I spotted my first ever goblin. Its head and body were a sickly green colour. Its large, pointy ears were a darker shade of green, whilst its eyes were bright yellow. As soon as it caught sight of me, it scurried off.

We reached the bottom of a rocky mountain.

"Abracadabra magic." I heard Isaac say. He then knocked on an invisible door, four times, before it became visible.

An elderly man opened the door midway, inspecting who we were. He wore a blue, pointy hat with a dark purple, silk wizards gown. He had gold shoes, that were curled up at the edge. In his hand, he held a wand. He gasped when he saw me.

"Come in, come in, children. Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Gold. " He stretched the door wider so that we could both come through.

Inside his house was quite small. There were millions of little shelves, holding ingredients such as 'frogs legs' and 'snake venom.' He had millions of luminous potions, flowing through one jar to another, going this way and that, reminding me a mad scientist's experiments.

Above us, there was a cage with a brown feathered owl perched on a small branch.

"Please take a seat."

I sat in the seat next to Isaac, whilst Cale sat in front of us.

"Why are you both here so late at night? Does the queen know about this?"

Isaac shook his head. "No. She doesn't. We're here to collect Olivia's nightmares."

Cale looked at Isaac sternly. "Isaac, you know you're not allowed to see me without your mother approving. What if she found out?"

Isaac didn't say anything.

Cale sighed. "I think it's best that you both go back home. I-"

"If you want Olivia to save us all, then you'll give us what we want." Isaac said, his tone of voice changing from friendly to cold and dark.

I saw Cale swallow nervously. Why was Isaac being so intimidating? I decided to step in.

"If I'm not able to remember my nightmares, then I won't be able to save this world. I need them so that I know what I'm against, so that I can plan and prepare what I'm going to do."

The wizard stroked his beard that touched the floor. "If I help you, I could die."

"You won't." I told him firmly. "It's my world and I won't let you die."

He sighed. "Fine. But to do so, I need to know all about your worst memory. To open the boxes lid, it needs to identify you."

I took a deep, shaky breath in. Isaac and Cale were both staring at me, waiting for my answer. I wanted to answer, but I didn't know how to tell them. I'd never spoken about it before to anyone. It has always been a touchy subject, and one I always tried to avoid.

"When I was three years old, my father left my mother. She had all of the bills to pay, a job to attend as well as trying to get me ready for nursery. She told me that it was all too much for her, so she put me in a care home. She promised me that she would come back for me once she earned enough money." I dropped my gaze to my hands, which were now in my lap. " I stayed up later than all of the other children, hoping that she would come, but she never did. Three years later, I found out from my care worker that my mum was now a successful business woman, who had her own company located in LA. She had moved out there and got back together with my dad. Thankfully, I have adoptive parents who mean the world to me now."

I finished and the sound of silence dwelled in the rom. A red box made its way into my hands. It had my initials carved into it. This was my box of nightmares.