Spear, iPhone And 19th Century

Text 6: Dream Upon Dreams

(Contain warning: suicide)

In the dim of the night, a silhouette passes through the corridor of the residence in a rush. The red ribbon tied to the woman's messy pony tail flutters by the night breeze. The wooden floor squeaks under her weight as she jumps onto the ground, barefooted. She proceeds to the well at the far end of the garden and lifts the wooden cover of the well, revealing a hollow and dark space within. Without a moment hesitation, she climbs over the edge and jumps into the well. Red ribbon surfaces on the water moments later, although the body, however, never to return.

My body jerks from the dream with heavy gasps. My heart beats so fast that I have to put my hand on my chest to calm it down.

"Masa?" The futon rustles beside me as Akari, sleepy-voiced, peered at me. "Are you having a bad dream?"

I nod frantically, seeing my own horrified looks mirrored in her eyes. The terror of having the dream still lingers over me. It seems so real as if I was witnessing a person committing such act right before my eyes.

"It's only a dream, surely." She assures me, giving me a little squeeze on the shoulder and lies back in her bedding. "Go back to sleep, Masa. We are going to have a busy day today." Though I am still petrified in my bedding, it does not take long before I hear her peaceful breathing again.

I sit in my bedding, wiping away the sweat on my temple. I look over the room, sigh of relief judder out of me as the current reality hit me right back. There will be no other nightmare as bad as this, isn't there?

It has been a week since I offer my service to Lord Gizenji, a well-known merchant in Kyoto whom currently had his allegiance to Tokugawa. It was late evening when I met Akari, a court lady of Lord Gizenji while I was wandering aimlessly in the town. Needless to say, Akari had saved me from my misery after being chased out by Oji-san from the house.

Deciding to take a trip to the bathroom, I ready myself to the door, though to my surprise, I almost collided with Lord Gizenji's retainer, Lord Murai, right outside of my room. I hurriedly bow before excusing myself though I do feel something is off regarding his whereabouts right on this instance.

"Wait!"

My steps halt and I immediately turn back to him, lowering my eye level for various reasons.

"You're the new court lady, right?" inquires the seemingly noble man. I nod and answer adequately, but his leering gaze on me openly from head to toes does not slips past me. The edge of his crooked lips twists into sly grin by the time he allows me to go. I can't help but feel sick to my stomach. It quickly fades however, as I convince myself again and again that I will soon, wake up from this frighteningly real dream once and for all.

***

"Oi! Sano!"

Shinpachi trudges behind Sanosuke, whom now just enters a fabric shop in search of certain someone, completely ignoring him. He grumbles in exasperation, crossing his burly arms until finally Sanosuke comes out of the shop, frowns evident on his brows. His grips on his rarely used spear tightened, flexing the muscle on his right arm.

"Sano-"

"Shinpachi, go check the other side of the road. I will take this one." orders Sanosuke as he makes his way down the road. Before he takes another step however, he was spun around by Shinpachi with the hold on his haori.

"Calm the hell down, Sano." Shinpachi fumes, "We've searched all around the town for a week. She is not here. Not in Kyoto. You hear me??"

Sanosuke's jaw sets as he removes the hand on his collar. "You're not wrong. But I can't stop searching either. Even if our operation is needed on some other area, I'll keep searching for her until she's found. Until then, if you're not gonna help, don't stop me."