Memoriae (The Arcana Game)

III- Nightmare

The realms of sleep didn't offer much relief from the confusing world I now lived in. In the middle of the night, I woke in the middle of the night from a nightmare I couldn't recall. Screams echoed from somewhere. I couldn't tell if they were real or not. I covered my ears with my hand to try and block them out. My body was drenched with sweat, and I couldn't breathe.

"You're ok. It wasn't real" the stranger reassured me. I realised that I was still in his arms.

For some reason I knew I was safe with him. Head resting against his chest, I tried to pace my breathing. His hand stroked my had as he hushed me, his chin resting on top of my head. I lowered my hands and held onto his shirt tightly. I was afraid that if I let go, he would disappear, and I would have to fend the nightmares off by myself.

"Do you remember anything?" he gently asked. I shook my head. Nothing. "Do you remember my name?". I shook my head again. I couldn't see his face, but his sigh told me that wasn't the answer he was looking for. "It's Asra".

As he said his name, it was if I had already known. But I didn't. A dull thudding started at my temple.

"Do you want to know your name?". I nodded.

"Emrys". Once he had said it, something inside me clicked. It felt right and I knew he wasn't lying. Asra took my head in his hands and made me look up at him. His touch was light, as if I was made from glass. "Your name is Emrys".

I smiled for the first time. And so did Asra. The unmistakable grief behind his eyes vanished and he let out a breathy laugh.

"It means 'immortal'" he explained before letting me go. I didn't want him to, and that caught me of guard.

As I leant back something caught my eye. Only a small candle was lit, casting most of the room in darkness. But hung on the wall above it was what looked like a map. A word was circled in the lower left-hand side. I couldn't read what it said. I pointed at it and shot Asra a questioning look. His eyes followed my hand.

"That's Vesuvia, where we are".

Asra explained that the city-like state was built into the side of a cliff by the sea. He recounted the different areas and recalled its beauty. Each area was unique with many canals that twisted and turned through the streets. He promised to show me as soon as I was well enough.

The area where they were was apparently one of the calmer ones. There was a market nearby where, according to Asra, the pumpkin bread was one of the best things he'd ever tasted. Did I even like pumpkin? But by the way he talked out it, I really wanted to try it.

I had thought we were in a house, but it turned out to be a shop. People would come for help with their ailments or for a tarot reading. One of Asra's specialities. Although he told me that it would remain closed for the time being. Despite his reassurance that he'd rather be here taking care of me, I still felt guilty. I didn't want him to lose money or his business.

Actually, my business. Apparently, it was my shop. Passed down to me by my Aunt I had convinced him to move in and join me.

The headache started to pound.

Asra rose from the bed and walked over to the map. With a wave of his hands, the rest of the candles in the room lit up and the room was bathed in a warm glow. How did he do that?

The pounding started to get worse.

"This is where you're from" Asra explained, pointing to a collection of islands near the top of the map. "You came here over when you were younger. Unfortunately, both your parents had passed and you're Aunt had offered to look after you. It's called Meliora".

Blinding pain. It took control of my entire body. I dropped my head in my hands, body shrinking to try and escape it. A cry sounded from somewhere and it took a moment to realise that it was me.

"Emrys? What's wrong?" Asra's voice come from in front of me. His hands tried to pull my arms away from my head. My own buried into my hair unable to let go.

I screamed. I didn't know I could, but I knew that it was definitely. My throat burned as I continued.

Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop.

"Emrys I need you to look at me" Asra called his voice laced with panic.

I shook my head. I couldn't. I couldn't do anything.

"Please". Asra was crying.

I couldn't move, but I allowed him to untangle my hands from my hair. He pulled my arms away then firmly grabbed my chin. I could feel him rest his forehead against mine, his tears mixing with my own. His breath fanned my face as he spoke.

"Open your eyes. Just for a second".

It took so much effort, but I did. I knew he was there, but I couldn't quite see him.

"I'm so sorry"

A flash of purple and then it all went dark.