The Dreamer

Chapter 23

I jolt awake in what seemed to be a second and I feel somewhat renewed. The Phoenix horse is still next to me with its flames still going. I can feel the energy returning to me. When I got enough, I stood up. I wobble on my feet but I regained my balance. The Phoenix horse looks at me and I smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

My eyes widen in shock when I hear the voice in my head. "You can talk?" The horse stood up and faced me. It rose it's head above me and spoke again.

"Yes. You have saved my life, using all of your energy in the process. I am grateful."

"But I almost killed you."

"It's understandable why though for I have tried to kill you."

"Why couldn't we just talk then?"

"You had to defeat me to pass. I'd say you did."

Then he bowed down before me. "You don't have to do that." I grow nervous and my eyes dart around at the empty room.

"Wouldn't you say the same Iris?"

He stood up straight and I hear Iris's voice ring out. "I agree. I never said how she could defeat you. Just to do it." I can hear the Phoenix horse laugh in my mind. "You may pass," Iris says.

"I will help you to look faster."

"You mean like riding?"

"Exactly like riding and seeing as you only have a little bit of energy, you wouldn't last very long on your own."

"Thank you. I appreciate it." He lowers himself so that I can hop on and he starts walking towards one of the doors. I watch as it opens for us. We enter and the only light we have is the fire of the Phoenix horse. I keep running my hand through the flames, but it doesn't burn once. It still warms the air around us. "Why don't your flames burn me?"

"I can will them to hurt you or to not hurt you. The same goes for you and your ice. You're able to make ice and letting people stay warm or you can make it deadly cold."

"I can?" I hear him huff.

"Of course. Don't you know this already? Aren't you the Dreamer?"

"I didn't know. I only found out about everything a few months ago."

"That would explain it."

He kept running forward until we hit a dead end. He turns around and ran out. We tried the other doors and my energy starts to run low. I try to cling to every once of energy I have left.

"Just a bit longer. Wait until you're reunited with your people."

I nod and he walks into the last door. They have to be in here. There's no other choice. It's deadly silent. The only sound we hear is the echoes of his hooves hitting the ground and our breaths. I can feel the hope and excitement of finding Zeke and Mia, but we hit a dead end yet again. "How is that possible?"

He turns back around without a word and we find ourselves back in the circular room full of doors. "But we went through all of them." He lowers himself down and I hop off, but as soon as my feet hit the ground, I fall. I keep looking up, too drained to move. I can hear the horse's voice in my head, but it seems distant. I blink, noticing something above us. "What's...that?" I point up, but my hand drops within a second. I see two separate circles swinging above us and when I really focus, they look iron.

"Shall we go see?"

"I can't get up.  I'm just so drained."

"Try. Think of them."