The Dreamworld

Chapter 17.1-You've Got a Friend in Me

Ashlyn lost track of how long Granger lay wrapped in her arms as he sobbed. He sniffled, wiping his tears as he glanced up at Ashlyn. "We can't stay out in the open much longer."

She agreed, the two of them helping each other up from the ground as they awkwardly looked at each other. "Should we go back to the city?"

"No!" Granger didn't even hesitate with his answer. "The Queen wants to arrest you."

He was right, she did. Even if he had been walking away, he must have heard everything at the gates. Ashlyn ripped off the gates to the city. She couldn't go back. She'd be arrested on the spot. But, it wasn't safe out here either. During the day, they were fine. When nightfall hit would be a different story.

"Granger, with either option, we are screwed," Ashlyn said. Granger nodded as he studied their surroundings, eying the forest in the distance.

"I hate to say it, but the Welcomers won't go in the forest. That's our best bet."

Ashlyn paled, gulping at the thought. The forest was home to the Beasts. She couldn't keep making the sun appear; that would alert them to their presence. She wasn't even sure if they would survive a night in the forest, let alone five minutes.

Granger reached out, grabbing Ashlyn's hand and giving it a supportive squeeze. He reached over for her issued watch, unclasping it as he did the same with his own. "What are you doing?" Ashlyn asked.

"They won't be able to track us, now."

Granger tugged her along towards the forest. Ashlyn gulped, taking one final glance back at the two watches lying in the middle of the plains. Her one link to calling for help was gone. The only thing that connected her and Granger to the city was now terminated. They were rogues in this place, on the run with no way to get out unless they could figure out a way to wake up. Ashlyn wished she knew how, but it wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

The entire world was rumbling in the distance. Granger tensed as he walked faster, tugging her farther away from the city. Ashlyn knew what that was, it was the world threatening to unravel as people began to revolt. So many wanted to return home now, and she was the reason why.

She glanced up, not realizing they had already made it into the forest. Granger continued to walk, they went deeper and deeper until they found a clearing that the sun shone down through. Granger let go of Ashlyn's hand, working to use his own imaginative power to make several mirrors appear setting them up around the perimeter. In the center, he constructed a fire and a tent. Light. That was what was going to keep the Beasts from breaking through. The flames reflected off at the mirrors, shooting out into the woods. Hopefully, this worked because by the time Granger had finished, the sun had begun to set.

"Come on, let's get some rest." Granger guided Ashlyn into the tent.

"Granger, you feel it, don't you?" Ashlyn had been tense, her mind elsewhere for several hours now. She felt this world unraveling at the seams.

Granger paused, cocking his head as he glanced back at her. "What do you mean?"

"You don't feel it?"

Granger only looked confused as he shook his head. Ashlyn jumped, feeling another rumbling travel through the ground. Granger was completely oblivious. Why am I the only one who can feel it? What about the others in the city? she thought to herself.

Granger had closed the distance between them, lifting her chin up to gaze into her eyes. "Dorothy, what's troubling you?" He paused as he swallowed, averting his gaze with his next words. "I'm sorry if I scared you earlier. I promise I'm better now. I may not be ready to live, but I don't want to die anymore, either."