Reality of Daydreams

Half-asleep

The memories flashed before me as though recalling a dream. Bits and pieces. Faces. The ocean. Trees. The river. I blinked rapidly as they came to a sudden stop. I shook my head. Did that really happen? It felt too real to be just a dream, as though I had experienced it while half asleep. A strange sense of terror began to overwhelm me as the wind lashed around me. Why can't I tell? Whether it was real- or not? A sadistic smile creeped on my face.

"Am I just crazy?" I whispered into the wind, not expecting a reply. 

"Well, you're not wrong." I spun 'round. The hairs on my neck standing up. Nobody. Something was nagging at me. Familiar. 

"Oh come now, you haven't already forgotten about me, have you?" The voice came again echoing from all sides. All sides. The hag!

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, now get back here!" Her voice was annoyed.

"No."

"What? What do you mean 'no'?!"

"No, as in not interested! Find another wolf-slayer! Maybe one that can actually kill the wolves rather than get killed!!"

There was a pause before her cruel laughter filled the air. "Speaking with you is just a formality, it's not like I actually want or need your opinion." With that, a burst of wind hit hard against my torso. 

"Oh dear, looks like they found you again..." She sighed as a howl filled the air. I was backing up, shooting glances about me. "Well hurry up!" She yelled impatiently.

"How?" I yelled back, feeling panic.

"You don't know how to come home?" She croaked patronizingly.

I ignored her casual mention of 'home', like that place could ever be my home! I scoffed.

"Grab the ribbon."

I obeyed. Nothing happened besides the howls getting louder and closer. 

"Why isn't it working?" I asked frustrated.

"Dear child, are you even thinking?! Where are you trying to go? Heavens, do I have to do everything for you?" The hag mumbled grumpily.

Where am I trying to go? Despite not wanting to, I shut my eyes tight. 

Where. 

In my mind's eye, I pictured the first thing I remembered about the other world

The calm waters with a thick blanket of fog covering them into the distance.

The howling wind was getting stronger around me. I could hear something fast approaching. The wolves. No, don't think about them.

The tree I had leaned against facing the waters. Yes. That's it! I shot my eyes open. Everything began to melt away from me. The restaurant's parking lot and dumpsters melted farther and farther into the distance. Everything was now dark. Completely and utterly dark.

My eyes fluttered open as I took in the scenery. My fingers still wrapped tightly around the blue ribbon. I swallowed.

"I guess I'm back."

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A/N

It's a good thing I like writing this story or else I probably would have dropped it a long time ago! Hopefully, the confusion of my thought process isn't causing you too much distress while trying to follow the story... hehe

So far I've been able to avoid settling on a specific gender for Charlie but I fear that soon it will be quite difficult to keep up. So leave a comment on whether you think I should keep writing with a done deal Girl or a done deal Dude?

May the odds be ever in your favor... da da DAAAAAA

Adios Amigos (I think that's how you spell it hehehe)