Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asguard Book 4: the fortress of Hel

Nightmares? What Nightmares?

I hated being eaten It is one of the worst ways to die. So, as I sat in the lindworm's stomach, I decided that I would in fact, not be eaten today. I moved my sword carefully, trying not to kill myself in the process. I was suffocating slowly, black and white dots dancing before my eyes. In case you wanted to know what being eaten is like, get a garbage bag, pour a ton of soap in it, and then climb inside a car compacter that also happens to be a furnace. Needless to say, it sucked. My lungs screamed for air and I was starting to black out as I lined up the tip of my sword with the monster's stomach. I lost my grip on the slippery handle and the sword slid out of my hand, cutting off my head. My plan had been to cut through the lindworm and emerge looking awesome. Plans suck.

...

Why, just once, can I not just float in the void? As my conciousness collected, I was instantly plunged into a dream. The first thing I noticed was the chattering. The cries of the unworthy as they suffered in Helhiem. Then I noticed Hel herself. Her half living and half dead face was disturbing as ever. The side of her face that still had skin was smiling, a gesture that was slightly offset by the skeletal mimic of a smile. She spread her arms and a white mist poured off of her, forming whispy shapes. 

"Magnus dear! You have come at last!" I froze. Standing in front of me was a younge girl in battered jeans, hiking boots, and a tank top. Her stormy grey eyes blended in with the grey of the figures behind her. Her hair caught nonexistent rays of sunlight. 

"M-mom?" I croaked out, tears running down my face. She simply smiled. But there was no warmth in her smile. It was cold and dead. I looked away, too shook to do anything else. Her dead smile edged closer as I tried to avoid her. She placed a hand on my shoulder. It was freezing cold and  frost started to spread on my shirt. 

"Stay here Magnus. Stay with us." 

I jolted awake, keeping my eyes closed. I could still feel her hand on my shoulder. I reached up to feel the spot and my hand came into contact with something warm and fleshy. My eyes snapped open and I noticed that, indeed, there was a hand on my shoulder. That hand was attatched to a dark skinned arm, which was connected to a body, that body was connected to a very cute face. The face had green hair and heterochromic eyes. Her amber and brown eyes looking down into my grey ones with concern. She saw me looking and cleared her throat. 

"Magnus?" she said.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"You drool in your sleep." she stated and looked away.

"Oh." Yeah, look at me being intilectual.

She smirked slightly, amused at my stupidity like always. Then she plopped down next to me. 

"Alex?" I say

"Yeah?" she responded.

"What is a cute girl like you doing in my room?"

She smiled, meaining that I had guessed her gender correctly.

"You think I'm cute?" she smiled at me. I melted at that smile.

"You already know what I think of you Alex. You didn't answer me." I looked in her eyes.

"I decided to climb my tree and I heard you crying from up there. Apparently they are connected. So I came down here and woke you up."

"You care!" I joked.

"You missed dinner." She got up and left.

Male or female, I will never understand Alex Fierro.

Later that night I tried to sleep, but kept waking up in a cold sweat. I was having the same nightmare as before. It was always the same. The stunning beauty of Hel's left side, and the horrid appearence of her left. My mother calling to me. I sat up for the sixtyeth time that night and brought my knees up to my chest. I needed to be near someone. Someone living. Someone to remind me that I am not all the way dead yet. I looked at my alarm clock. 2 am. I wondered if Alex would mind. I figured I had a pretty good chance at getting decapitated if I bugged her, but hey, at least I would get some rest. I got up out of my bed and went to Alex's door. I tried the handle and suprisingly, it opened. Normally Alex locked their door. I wondered why she had chosen not to. I stepped inside. Alex was sleeping on... HIS... yes his bed. I went over and sat on my knees next to it, gathering my courage. Just as I was about to reach over and tap him, he lifted the blanked and patted the bed.

"Hurry up Maggie. Before I change my mind." He said. I quickly climbed into bed next to him, careful to face away from him so as to not make it wierd. He accepted it,  replaced the blanket over me and him, and wrapped his arms around me, forming his body perfectly against mine. I felt so safe and secure that I drifted to sleep. No more night mares, no questions, no teasing. He was just there for me when I needed him. Gods I loved Alex. 

...

I slowly gained my conciousness, remembering where I was I remained there, not even opening my eyes. But something was different. I did a mental check. Alex? Asleep, same position. Gender? Nope, still male. Nothing had changed. I opened my eyes to see a fiery haired Mallory Keen grinning at me.

"Morning Beantown." She said, snapping a photo. "You guys missed breakfast." She said as she sped out of the room, yelling for Halfborn and TJ. Alex was awoken by this, and sat up, looking around. Then he noticed me. His eyes widened as he remembered what had happened last night. 

"Magnus, get out of my bed. Do not look to close into last night. I was to lazy to garrot you and I wanted a warm teddy bear. Go on now get!" H-She said, turning a slightly pinker shad of brown as I got up, wearing only my whitey tighteys and walked out of her room. Male or Female, I will never understand Alex Fierro.