The Sandman's Daughter

Fifteen

Sam's harsh breath startled Cassie, drawing her mind back to her. She took one breath, then another, slowly letting her surroundings come into focus. She'd been pulled here, drawn by the thick, probing arms of Riley's consciousness.

She was back in the dream world.

No, she thought as her best friend's fingers dug painfully into her arm as she took another harsh breath. It wasn't just her. They were back in the dream world. "Why did you do that?" she snapped as fear tightened around her heart. She'd led Sam right back to the place she had saved her from. That was the last thing she wanted. "You can't be here. It's too dangerous." She turned her eyes on her, taking in the panic etched into her face. "Why did you grab me?"

Sam shook her head, her mouth moving as she tried to form words. Shock clung to her even as she tried frantically to free her mind. "I couldn't...let...you...do this alone," she finally choked out.

"Sam," the word came out of Cassie like a strangled plea. What was she supposed to do now? She'd come to try to save Riley, not hand her best friend over to the thing that had already tried to claim her once. "You can't do this."

Sam gulped down another breath, straightening up as she got her terror under control. Determination edged into her eyes as she looked around. "I'm already here," she said, challenging her to do anything about it. Cassie couldn't and she knew it. Whether she liked it or not, they were both in the dream world until this played out. "Where are we?" she asked.

Cassie sighed, shifting her thoughts to include Sam on this suicide mission. "I'm not sure," she told her taking in the white, sterile halls around them. It was the same place they'd caught a glimpse of in Sam's dream. The same place the bald, white creature had emerged from once again. "I don't think we're in Riley's dream. This feels different. There's more definition to this place. More reality than what I'm used to when I dream walk." She turned and looked at Sam, eyes wide as clarity stuck. "I think we did it. I think this is where the missing teens are..." Her words trail off as she thought of the implications of that. "This is where dreams go to die."

Sam huffed as her lips pinched in apprehension. "Well, that's cheerful."

"It wasn't supposed to be."

"Okay, then." Sam took a step forward, amazing Cassie with her quick acceptance of everything that had been thrown at her. "Which way do we go?"

Cassie closed her eyes, breathing deeply through her nose, trying to sense the world around them. Did she feel the pull? Was there someplace this world wanted her to be? No, she thought, releasing the breath. This world hadn't asked her to be here this time. Someone else had. Someone with a connection to the blonde girl beside her. "You tell me, Sam," she said, a small smile on her lips as she waited for her direction. "Which way is Riley?"

Sam took a step back, her brows drawing in confusion. "I don't know. How would I possibly know?"

Cassie's grin grew wider, having absolute faith in her friend. She had to be the one to lead them to Riley. There could be no one else. "Listen to your heart, Sam. It'll tell you where its other half is."

Her best friend fell silent, startled by those words. "That won't work," she whispered, too afraid to accept what it meant if it did.

"Yes, it will. It was your bond that brought us here. It will be your bond that finds him now."

Sam eyed her, her body moving to take another step back, denial coating every inch of her. "Don't ask me to admit this. Not yet," she whispered softly.