The Unmasked (Book One)

Chapter 4- Weird Dream

Grandmom passed away when I was only around 7 or 8 years old. I don't remember her having any serious illness, though. She had always seemed cheerful and energetic.

But one day, I was surprised to learn that she had died in her sleep. Just like that. She didn't wake up anymore, and there was no concrete explanation for it. Perhaps it was a heart attack. Or as others would often say about such mysterious deaths, maybe she had a terrible, fatal nightmare.

I faintly recall that right before she left us, she had been sleeping for longer hours. She lived with us at that time, and even as a young girl, I had noticed that she was asleep most of the time. She wasn't as vibrant and active. I would always try to shake her awake, but to no avail. Gosh, she'd slept so soundly!

A few weeks after, I dreamt of her. She told me not to worry because she's happy and safe. She said to tell Mom and Dad that she's sorry she never had the chance to say goodbye. I had woken up vividly remembering every detail of that dream. It had seemed so real. But then, I'd felt at peace afterward.

"You understand now, Alexa?" Grandmom asked with a bright smile. Her hazelnut brown eyes twinkled in delight as she motioned to the vast green fields behind her, shimmering with jewel-like flowers.

I shook my head in response, still in awe that she's standing in front of me now. More than the strange place and the weirdness of that moment, I felt overwhelmed with joy and amazement.

"Oh, Grandmom! I don't really get it. But I'm just so glad to see you!" I exclaimed, my voice full of emotion. "Am I actually  dreaming of you for the second time? Why?"

"Third time, dear," she said.

I gave her a puzzled look. "Third?" I repeated.

She nodded, smiling. Then with a wave of her hand, the fields behind her suddenly morphed into a familiar street with heavy raindrops spattering on the pavement. It was like watching a movie on the big screen in which I'm the star and Troy's my leading man. Now that's not such a bad idea...

My focus shifted to the scene playing before me as I watched myself wish with all my might and with tremendous desire for everything to be okay. And then the storm stilled.

I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of my powers in the dream, but the expression on Grandmom's face told me it's certainly not something to be taken lightly. Her lips were pursed tightly. Her eyes were filled with great anguish.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly.

"They probably didn't know it at the time. They're just randomly causing trouble, perhaps trying to scare whoever's around," she explained with a tinge of tension in her tone. "But with what you did, they must have an idea now. About what you're capable of. About you and Troy."

"Huh? What do you mean? Who are they?" I asked in confusion.

Grandmom looked into my eyes in silence for maybe a minute and I felt as if she was scrutinizing my very soul. Then she sighed deeply. "I can't believe it's taking you long to adjust. You've lived in the Human World too long without any contact from here. That's why you now wake up without remembering your dreams, unlike when you were a little child. I should have gone to you sooner. It's my fault."

"I don't und..." I wasn't able to finish my sentence as I saw a grayish mist forming around her head. It seemed to spread out to the air with streaks of murky blue clouds seemingly churning around the edges.

Guarded and unsure. That's how I automatically interpreted the gray tones. But the mixture of blue, a dark and gloomy shade... Instinctively, I closed my eyes. And in a second, it was like I heard a voice whisper the answer in my head. Sadness. A bit of regret.

When I opened my eyes again, Grandmom was staring at me intently. "Did you see my aura?" she inquired.

My eyes narrowed. A crease formed on my forehead. "Aura..." I whispered. "That's what I've been seeing?"

"Yes," she said. "You, my granddaughter, are gifted. It's a special psychic ability that few people have."

Understanding dawned on me. Great! I'm not going insane, after all. But wait a minute... Isn't this entire scenario proof that I'm nuts? What a wild imagination I have! Makes perfect sense, though. The jumbled up thoughts and feelings I've had lately probably made me conjure up these images in my head and form them into a story.

"Cool," I said aloud, smiling.

"I hate to break it to you, Alexa," Grandmom started. "But everything you're dreaming now is real. In this world, we are living Spirits. But it's all real."

Before I could even begin to process what she was trying to tell me, I saw a gigantic wave of water rushing from behind my grandmother. She then disappeared as the tsunami-like surge washed over me. I thrashed my arms and legs, struggling to escape the swirling water that threatened to drown me.

I forced my eyes open and was instantly flooded by radiant white lights.