Innerworks

56. The Keeper's Dream

"Remy! Remy please! Get us out of here!"

"It's us, we're here! It's really us, please!"

The Aspect shuddered, his very core felt torn.

Thomas was unconscious in the cage next to his, though it somehow seemed to be out of view for the pair screaming for him. Serenity and Patience were trapped together in a giant hourglass, the sand inside was black and falling much quicker than it should, in fact the sand almost looked like liquid...it almost looked like ink.

Remy blinked.

The Girls banged their hands against the glass, shouting and pleading for him to help them-

He could.

He really could. His cage wasn't that hard to break out of, not with his Sand that is. He didn't have much, as a matter of fact all he had was his Jacket and Shades; his Shades alone would be enough to break the two locks trapping him and Thomas. The Jacket could be sent across the room to break the Girls free, but doing so would mean that he and his unconscious Host would be completely defenseless for the time being.

Remy blinked.

Defenseless in a place like this was not an option, and despite everything, the Girls pleading for him looked so real- She said she could give him what he wanted in exchange for his Sand;

He never said yes but near all of his sand was taken anyway and with it a good chunk of his energy...his life force really. She thanked him as he fell to his knees in the cage.

"Such a strong and compassionate little one", She said, reaching through the bars to caress his face lightly, "you've done well Dream Keeper, your reward will be yours when you wake~" and then left with that sickeningly sweet smile of hers.

Having been barely conscious, the only thing keeping him awake at the time was the constant squeezing and un-squeezing of his Jacket. His fight against the darkness that threatened to overcome him was successful, if only by a hair's breadth.

The shadows in the left corner had started to rise and writhe, dancing in gruesome shapes until it solidified into what looked like an empty hourglass. The first grains of sand began to trickle in but they looked odd. It's not until the particles began to stick to each other and reform into very familiar shapes that he realised why.

Remy blinked.

The Girls had formed particle by particle on the bottom of the glass, their bodies whole and unmarred. At first they looked confused and disoriented, but woke rather quickly to hug each other. Patience was the first one to spot him and immediately they both began screaming for him. The Black Sand had begun to fall.

Remy blinked.

Honestly he could save them but there had to be a catch.

Despite what he saw, it could all be a trick and if it wasn't...what about Thomas?

It was one thing to break a lock or two quietly but breaking a giant hourglass was definitely going to make noise and that would get him in trouble, he couldn't risk his Host.

He could free Thomas and make a run for it and possibly come back for the Girls-

He just wasn't sure they were real. What if he was dreaming? What if he wasn't? Could She actually bring them back?

Remy blin-

"Remy! Goddess dammit, it's us!" Shouts Patience, "When we first met, remember what I told you?" She keeps hitting the glass, Serenity had yet to stop either. "I told you that your scrawny ass, for all your power, wouldn't last a day in the Dream Tower without us to help you! So we did, we always did-!" Patience chokes on a sob, tears streaming down her face, causing the black sand to stick to it.