The Dreamworld

Chapter 10-Dancing in Limbo

Ashlyn clutched the pages of Calian's notebook and dictionary to her chest as she wandered through the city trying to find her way back to her apartment. Calian's place was closer to the castle while her place was on the opposite side of the city. Random Enforcers floated in the air monitoring the dark city lights as Ashlyn walked. Hardly anyone was on the streets and those she passed looked likely to give her directions.

It had been a good thirty minutes now that Ashlyn had been wandering the city. She was definitely lost. Ashlyn took a seat on the steps of some random building, sighing in defeat. Maybe I should have asked Calian for directions.

Ashlyn had no idea what time it was. She had no watch nor a phone. She had no way to contact anybody. She debated on flagging down an Enforcer, but she didn't want to get Clay involved either. Navigation had never been Ashlyn's strong point. Trying to find her way in the dark was that much worse.

It didn't help that her head was beginning to pound again. She winced as she pressed the palm of her hand against her right temple, trying to alleviate the pain. She wasn't supposed to be having migraines in this place, but Calian had mentioned it was the price of a Rememberer.

You need to escape.

Ashlyn jumped at the random sound of a voice echoing in her mind. She looked around in shock trying to see if anyone was there. Nobody. She was alone.

Go back to reality.

Ashlyn winced at a thousand sharpened blades stabbing her mind. Her vision was growing spotty as she tried to keep consciousness. It was no use, the strange voice was persistent as it shouted orders in her mind.

You know the truth, now. Return to reality.

She shook her head, trying to get the pain to stop. Somehow she had ended up in the fetal position rocking back and forth in pain. It was no use. Ashlyn didn't understand why this was happening. Reality shouldn't be possible. She couldn't return. She was stuck here. Please, someone, make the pain stop!

Ashlyn winced her eyes open, seeing Enforcers floating around her. The voices speaking through them were distorted.

"Ma'am, are you ok?"

"She's fading!"

"Impossible!"

Ashlyn could hear the static, the voices replaced by the sound of machines. She could hear rapid beeping in the background mimicking her own breathing. Her pulse. She jumped, struggling to open her eyes, squinting at the bright lights.

Everything was an eggshell white. The nighttime city was replaced with ugly cement blocks. Two soft voices were speaking in hushed whispers nearby. They stood in the doorway, hands waving wildly as they talked. She recognized the voices. Her mom and Mrs. Pearson, her best friend's mom.

Why was Mrs. Pearson here? This is the ICU, immediate family only.

Ashlyn tried to get her vision to focus, but she could feel machines prodding her back in the Dreamworld. She shook the feeling away, straining to hear the conversation.

"How did the surgery go?" It was her mom's voice.

"There were complications. He's still under," her best friend's mom replied.

"Its all my fault!"

Ashlyn's mom fell forward, beginning to sob. Mrs. Pearson, shook her head in disagreement as she patted her back. "No, he shouldn't have been in such a rush to get here. It's his own damn fault for not wearing a seatbelt."