Memories (Of Dreams and Demons)

When Fairy Tales Fail

Vuitton's words echo in my mind.

You really think this was going to be a childish fantasy? He says. The trials you must face will corrupt you to your very core.

At his request, Naoko and I return to the world above. Vuitton insists he stay behind to scout the tunnels and search for clues; trying to learn more of the rumbling slowly shaking our sanctuary apart.

It's for the best: sneaking out to spend early mornings and especially nights within the Realm is forbidden by my parents, and we've both already spent far too long here.

Briskly walking Naoko back to her school, we rush our goodbyes. As always, our hugs linger, neither of us wanting to let go of the other for even a short moment. But with a slight sigh she grips me one last minute before darting inside.

Despite our separation, the sun heralds a beautiful morning as I make my own way home. Even so, with fresh spring autumn air and warm sun on my face, time spent outside the Realm feels as if it isn't real; as if it no longer holds any meaning. The line between where the Realm begins and real world ends is.. blurring.

After a while I arrive back home; a place quickly becoming more ephemeral by the day. It's an old house, shrouded in fog and sitting quietly on the edges of my memories.

Cautiously entering the front garden, I grab a spare key from within a flower pot. I've had a lot of practice sneaking in and out of here, and I know it's early enough that everyone inside will still be asleep.

These last four years I've snuck away as often as I could, to be in my own little world, my own little adventure. One I only wanted to share with Naoko. To remove any suspicion, I've behaved well at school; achieving good grades and keeping my teachers very happy.

Not once had I given any reason for anyone to suspect anything out of the norm. Everything fit my flawless little routine; it was perfect.

A sharp, sudden call turns my eyes upwards. High above, soaring between dawn-red clouds, I see an eagle flying high. Something tickles at the back of my mind, something important, but I cannot place it.

Shaking off troubling thoughts, I reach the front door, for a moment uncertain if I am still within the Realm. Sometimes I forget, as both places often blend into one another. The eagle must be real though, but seeing it fills me with troubled thoughts. I think it is a very bad sign.

"Whatever happens," I say to myself, "is not part of our fairy-tale."

Why do I tell myself that?

I barely make a sound as I enter the house and head down the dark hallway to my bedroom. Not a soul stirs, and early dawn gives the hallway a wispy, blue glow. Little rays of first light peek out between cracks in curtains and doorways as I slink towards my bedroom.

Breathing a sigh of relief for not waking anyone, I reach the room I share with my younger brother. Oh, how I wish I had my own bedroom; growing up sharing rooms was trouble to say the least. Sneaking in, like a mouse on a mission, I climb gingerly to the top bunkbed and sink beneath my sheets quietly. I've made it.

Not so fast; the sheets in the bed below rustle, and the annoying little face of my younger brother pops up from the side of my bed.

"I'm awake, you know," he says wickedly in the dark, "I'm telling father."

In that moment, for the first time, the feeling of encroaching darkness invades the privacy of my very bedroom.

Have I finally been caught? I don't know what to say to him; nothing I can say will change his mind. So for the following few hours I lie in my bed quiet, tears slowly welling in my eyes.