Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Three

     "Link! Link! Wake up, Link!"

     Link's eyes opened and he flew up in his seat. He gasped as if he'd risen from an ice bath, and he clutched at his chest feverishly. He pulled his hands away from his chest and looked down at them. The tears stung his eyes like he'd opened them under the salt water sea. He'd finally stopped the screams, sobs rumbled out of his mouth in its wake.

     Rhett had taken a seat at the edge of the couch and gripped Link by the shoulders. "Link? Look at me, Link. What happened, man?"

     "We didn't get that on camera did we," Chase asked.

     Link narrowed his eyes in confusion as he slowly gained more control of his breath. He sniffled and wiped at his nose with the back of his hand. "Why can't I see? What's happening to me? Did it take my eyes?"

     Rhett opened his hand for Link's glasses, to which Stevie placed them into his hand. Rhett slid Link's glasses onto his face as Link began to stare off into space. "I seriously hope that was just acting."

     Link slowly shook his head. "I wish it was," he said in a dream-like trance. He slowly lifted his head to look at Rhett, who looked at him with concern. "That was the worst experience of my life. I never want to lucid dream again."

     Rhett looked taken aback and he flinched backward in his seat as if Link had slapped him. "What?"

     "That was terrifying!"

     "You mean you didn't get to fly?"

     "No!" Link flew out of his seat and paced back and forth, and as he raked his fingers through his hair he clutched fistfuls of it. "Dude, we watched an animal rip a poor person apart! And you weren't you! You were... Weird. I don't know!"

     Everyone's faces exhibited concern as Link raced back and forth as if he had ants in his shoes. Rhett rose from his seat and took Link by the shoulders once more. "Relax. Do you need some water?"

     Link swallowed and nodded slowly. He had noted how dry his throat was. Rhett reached for Link's mug on the table and handed it to him. Thankfully it already had water in it, and Link took a long satisfying swig.

     A small girl with long blond hair came into Link's peripheral vision. "I think you should go outside and get some fresh air, Link. You look like you're gonna faint," Stevie said with concern.

     "That's a good idea," Rhett agreed as he veered his friend toward the door by the shoulder. Link didn't object. He was willing to do anything to overcome the sickening feeling that was settling in his belly.

     As Rhett pushed the door open that led them outside, Link gasped in alarm. He shielded his eyes from the bright sunlight with his arm, maneuvering his way toward his car.

     Link ducked into the car first, followed by Rhett. Link rolled the windows down before he rested his head against the door frame, Rhett looking at him. "You alright, man?"

     "I was so excited about going lucid. I'm seriously surprised it worked. I found you in my dream and just had to tell you we were dreaming... But we were watching an animal tear somebody apart." He turned his head to look at Rhett as he spoke. The tears pooled in his eyes once again. "Is there something wrong with me?"

     Rhett's mouth fell open slightly and he shook his head. "No. There are such things as lucid nightmares. You just happened to experience one on set today."

     "Impeccable timing, right? Just my luck," Link said with a sigh. He adjusted his glasses, focusing on something a little ways in the distance. There was a girl that stood next to a building with one foot propped back against the wall, a bag strapped over her shoulder.

     She sported long hair in a braid, and it cascaded over her maroon shirt like a black waterfall. She wore black leggings and riding boots that reached her knees, with several buckles and a long zipper down each side.

     Rhett leaned forward and narrowed his eyes to scrutinize her before turning to Link. "She looks like she's waiting to catch a bus," he commented. Link swallowed noisily. He remembered in the dream where the ravaging took place, and it was right in front of the building where the girl stood.

     He gripped his seat on both sides, right as something hit the roof of the car. It had jarred the both of them to the point that they both screamed. It sounded like a boulder had landed on the top of the car, and when Link looked up, he saw a huge indentation in the metal.