Dizgaia ~ The Dreamfinder's Daughter

Chapter 8 ~ The Tremaines

Mia wasn't sure where she was going. She didn't exactly know her way around. A small voice in the back of her head warned her that this was foolish, reminding her of what The Dreamfinder had said about the dangers of gallivanting off, but she couldn't seem to stop running. She simply picked a direction and took it, sending people scattering about on a large marble staircase as they gazed dumbfoundedly at the distraught young woman.

In little time at all, Mia found herself outside the Imagination Institute. The immediate campus looked very similar to the surrounding area of Epcot in Disney World, right down to the leapfrog fountains. She took a seat on the small stone wall surrounding one such fountain to catch her breath. Throughout everything, she still held the rose that Dreamfinder had given her. She gazed upon it now, her fingers tracing the petals as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Figment had dutifully chased her down and now hovered in front of her. "Miandra, why did you run away?"

"You're really a naïve little thing, aren't you?" Despite her words, she threw her arms around him and held him close to her chest. "Just let me cuddle you for a moment, okay?"

"Okay."

Figment smiled in spite of the tears plopping onto his head. It felt nice having Miandra hold him. He let out a sound of contentment deep in his throat as he stretched his neck and nuzzled his head against her chin. He was quiet for perhaps the longest time since she'd met him, but Mia was certain he was about to say something silly. However, his words surprised her.

"Miandra, don't hate your mom."

Mia sighed. "It's not that I... Look, I don't hate her." Though even it to her own ears it sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as him. "I'm just angry at her. I don't care if she thought she was protecting me. She should've waited and given me a choice. Instead, she made the decision before I was old enough to know any better. She took me away from a magical fairytale world that little girls can only dream of, and she never told me the truth of who I am or where I'm really from. She never even tried. Besides, it was wrong of her to leave him like that," she said, speaking of Dreamfinder. "He hides it by being all jolly and whimsical, but surely you, who's been with him for so long, can see how much pain he's in."

"He's a lot happier now that you're back, Miandra," said Figment. "I've never seen him so happy in a long, long time. So maybe... maybe you don't have to be so mad at your mom anymore."

"It's not that easy, Figment. I promise I don't hate her, but I won't forgive her either. Call me selfish if you like, but I'm not going back to her. I want to get to know my father. So, I'm going to stay here, danger or no. Besides..." She glanced around, taking in her surroundings more closely since recklessly dashing outside. "I want to explore this world to the fullest."

Wiping her eyes, Mia strolled through the campus with Figment fluttering at her side. They weren't alone in their outdoor excursion. Others walked about the campus, too, either on break or visiting friends and family who worked at The Imagination Institute. There seemed to be all manner of people – employees in white lab coats, and visitors garbed in attire reminiscent of the medieval nobility or the Victorian aristocracy; though Mia was relieved to see that most of them didn't dress too dissimilarly to her. There were plenty of T-shirts and blue jeans to be found. At least she wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.

A group of children led by an older woman walked in a line towards the front doors. It seemed to be something of a class field trip.

"I wanna work here when I grow up!" a little boy shouted excitedly.