Sweet Dreams

by J. Clarice

  “More power?” She answered.

  “Exactly!” The professor snapped his fingers. “More power to be able to walk between the realms as they wished, to not only terrorize the Earth realm from Ever Realm but to be able to go there themselves. However, Edgar had an ulterior motive. For a reason known only to him, he despised Dreamers and made it his mission to rid the Realms of them. Of course, the nightmares didn’t oppose and went along. Thankfully, before he could get very far, he was stopped by our current leaders, Cher and Roger Blackdall.”

  The professor turned toward the board and a picture of Scarlett’s parents appeared big and clear.

  “WHAT?”

  The class turned and they all stared at Scarlett. Scarlett’s ears ringed and her cheeks burned as she sunk into her seat. Her outburst wasn’t in her mind.

  “As magnificent they look, please refrain from bursting comments Ms. Scarlett.” The professor raised an eyebrow before resuming his history lesson. A few of the students snickered.

  Scarlett’s head spun as she tried to picture her parents in a battle with what was supposed to be the most dangerous nightmare in history.

  ‘When did they even have the time for this?’

  ‘How was that even possible?’

  She was only eleven years old when it occurred but she couldn’t think of a time that her parents were gone long enough to fight in a war.

  “However,” Professor’s words drowned out Scarlett’s thoughts and her attention was drawn back to him. “The exact way they defeated Edgar is unknown as many rumors have been spread. But before they managed to rid the Realm of him, he placed a curse on the Dreamers rite of passage, leaving us in our current state.”

  “Psst.”

  Scarlett looked out the corner of her eyes to her left. A few seats down a guy leaned towards her and waved his hands underneath the desk.

  “Psst.”

  She turned her head towards him while she leaned back. “What?”

  He sported light brown curly hair with streaks of dark orange which matched his Dreamer armor that was as plain as hers. His emerald green eyes shone brightly and a boyish grin spread across his face. He looked about her age, then again, all the students in this class mostly were.

  He waved his hand for her to get closer. Scarlett simply stared before giving in. She kept her eye on the professor as she leaned to the left. With two desks still between them, she managed to hear.

  “Are you a Blackdall?”

  Scarlett’s eyes widened and she quickly fixed herself back in her seat. She moved her gaze back to the professor, who was displaying new photos on the board.

  “I won’t tell anyone, your secret’s safe with me.” He annoyingly whispered.

  ‘This guy really doesn't stop.’

  Scarlett kept her gaze forward but continued to peek at him from the corner of her eye. The lesson ended and the professor dismissed the class. Scarlett rose from her seat and exited the room, squishing between the other students. Activities gym was next.

  She walked down the hall and followed behind the crowd of students when someone came up beside her.

  “The name’s Jasper.” He held out his hand and Scarlett slowly reached out to shake it.

  “Scarlett.”

  “Yeah, I know and I was serious about what I said back there. Your secret is safe with me.”

  Scarlett raised a brow at Jasper and tried to appear nonchalant even though he hit spot on.

  “I’ve been here three weeks already. I’ve got two more before I’m released from this place.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Scarlett asked before she shut her mouth and stared ahead. Jasper smiled and bumped her shoulder with his.

  “She speaks,” he snickered.

  “Very funny.” Scarlett rolled her eyes and gave him a small laugh.

  “We only do history and the background part of this school for a few weeks. Then we get duty and go out into the fields. We continue our physical training until we graduate, plus it depends on what field we go into also.” Scarlett widened her mouth into an O and went to say something when she’s bumped into Jasper from the side.

  “Watch it.” The sneer reached Scarlett’s ears and she whipped her head to face the one who shoved her.

  A girl wearing dark purple armor hardly glanced at Scarlett as she walked past. Her brown curly hair had dark purple streaks running through it and perfectly matched her armor. She was thin and the same height as Jasper who was a good foot taller than Scarlett.

  Scarlett dipped her chin as a simmer began in her chest. She was about to take a step toward the girl when Jasper placed a hand on her arm as if he knew she needed it.

  “Ignore her,” Jasper smoothly said. “Jayden’s always been the bitter one out of us two.”

  The pieces clicked in Scarlett’s mind at the brief sight of Jayden. They shared the same emerald eyes and hair color.

  “Twins?”

  Jasper nodded and Scarlett lowered her tensed shoulders. The tug in her chest disappeared as if it were never there. “It takes some time for Jayden to warm up to the recruits.”

  The rest of the students stayed silent or whispered, they weren’t as forthcoming as Jasper.

  “It’s all seriousness when becoming a Dreamer. The excitement wears off when they realize how dangerous this thing actually is. They’re the lucky ones that didn’t die in their sleep.”

  Scarlett understood because she’d been feeling it herself.

  They reached the Activities gym and the students inside were already getting started.

  Scarlett slumped her shoulders as they walked inside. “I won’t be able to do anything.”

  Jasper had walked ahead and whipped his head at Scarlett’s words. He glanced at her right arm.

  “Outrage!” He shouted while pointing his index finger in the air. “You’ll be able to work with me and build some basic fighting skills. Even if your right arm is in a sling.”

  Scarlett’s heart jumped as a smile spread across her face. She’d begun towards Jasper when Chad stepped in and blocked her path. His arms were crossed across his chest with a quirked eyebrow in Scarlett’s direction.

  She’d forgotten.

  “Where do you two think you’re going?”

  Jasper flashed Chad a grin. “I’m going to show Scar here some basic fighting skills.”

  Chad stayed silent and looked over at Scarlett. She stared back with a plea in her eyes. A small sigh left his lips. “You can do it, on two conditions. One, your mother doesn’t find out or else she’ll have our heads and two, I’m training with you.”

  Scarlett widened her eyes as a small smile graced her lips. She mouthed ‘thank you’ while Chad slowly shook his head.

  She needed this.

  Nine

  Heaves left Scarlett’s chest as she leaned against a pole for support. “Weren’t we supposed to take it easy?”

  Jasper and Chad barked out a laugh. “What are you talking about? That wasn’t even half of what we normally go through,” Chad informed.

  Two hours passed as they went over basic one-handed defenses and how nightmares were fought. Dreamers relied on the use of their minds, the most powerful weapon they had. How they used it exactly? They told her she’d learn over the next few days once her arm was fully healed.

  Scarlett didn’t bother to correct them on the injured part. Even though her arm was in a sling, she hadn’t felt any pain since she woke up in Ever Realm. A few tingles were left here and there but she was too caught up in everything else to mention it. Maybe rapid healing was common in Ever Realm? Her arm was broken, but now, she somehow knew it was not.

  The time at the gym came to an end and Chad needed to return to his duties.

  “Your mother should be here soon, just wait at the front office.” Scarlett nodded at Chad’s instruction and watched him walk out of the gym. Whatever she had against him before was gone from her mind.

  Scarlett was the only one that felt the practice. She h
ad sweat lining her back while the guys had looked fresh as ever and she wondered.

  “How do you do it?”

  Jasper laughed at her question. His curls bounced across his forehead as he shook his head. “You get used to it. You should’ve seen me the first time I got here, I was worse than you. If you want to clean up, the showers are back there. Don’t worry about the armor, they clean themselves.”

  He cocked his head towards the other side of the gym where Chad left through. Beside the exit was another doorway where female Dreamers were walking in and out of.

  “Thanks, Jasper.” Scarlett smiled at him and headed towards the showers. She cleaned up and was grateful for the freshness the water brought. As Jasper had informed, her armor slid itself from her body and dried. The showers weren't actually showering either. It'd felt like air that slicked any sign of her struggle off her skin. Once she was done, her armor moved through the air and rearranged itself back on her body.

  Scarlett watched in awe at the way it moved into place. Still stuck with wonder, she walked out to find Jasper alone and the gym almost empty.

  He wanted to stay behind and wait with Scarlett but some of his friends were calling from the gym doors.

  “It’s alright, I’ll be fine. My mom won’t be too long so go.” Scarlett shooed him away and he flashed her cheeky smile.

  “Alright, alright. See you tomorrow, Scar.”

  At Jasper’s leaving, warmth spread through Scarlett’s chest. She bit her cheek in an attempt to stop the oncoming smile.

  ‘My first friend.’ Scarlett rolled her eyes at her thought and started towards the front office. She didn't do friends, but he quickly wormed his way with her.

  The front desk was empty when Scarlett entered and she searched around hoping her mother was in one of the halls. No one was there.

  Scarlett stood in front of the entrance and observed the chaotic painting on the right wall. A heavy sigh left her lips as she reminded herself of the fact that her parents were basically King and Queen of Ever Realm. They were the leaders. She, for sure, had things to discuss with them.

  Scarlett glanced away from the art and saw the bustling stars. Cocking her head, she shrugged her shoulders and decided to wait outside.

  The view was more beautiful anyway.

  As she waited outside the Youth Dreamers School, the number of Dreamers in sight decreased. Ever Realm became less crowded and the dark star-filled sky surrounded her. Her mother didn’t seem to be coming anytime soon.

  Scarlett was about to head for the main building where Ren worked when a whisper made its way into her ear. She unconsciously leaned towards the unknown whisper that came from behind her. It was like an itch in her mind and wasn’t going away.

  She wanted to explore.

  That was an itch Scarlett could not resist, so she scratched it.

  Starting down the stairs, Scarlett stared into the vastness of Ever Realm. She reached the edge of the Center and closed her eyes as she took her first step alone off the platform. Her heart pounded in her ears as she looked down at the endless space below and quickly tripped over her feet in quick retreat. She brought her fisted left hand to her mouth and lightly bit her knuckles while taking deep breaths. Scarlett walked in a small circle before she went back to the edge and looked beyond.

  ‘I can do this.’

  Shaking out her good arm and legs, Scarlett closed her eyes.

  ‘I’ve got this.’ She reminded herself.

  Taking her first steps into Ever Realm, she kept her gaze straight ahead not once looking down. She was going for it.

  A freshness like a soft spring breeze surrounded her body. It didn’t move like the wind and made no motion, but it could be felt through the armor. Scarlett swung her head around, taking in all the stars that dotted the sky. All different sizes and shapes with a few being a home. Many were simply stars. A few Dreamers popped up here and there as each minded to their own business. Summing up courage, Scarlett dared a peek at the ground below and dizziness overcame her.

  Scarlett turned around in search of the Center she left to find it had returned to its original form; a star. A star that so greatly blended in with the others.

  She wondered too far and didn’t know how to navigate Ever Realm yet.

  Scarlett closed her eyes and focused on slowing her breathing.

  'You’re fine Scarlett, calm down. Panicking in the middle of an endless space filled with stars is not the best way to go about things.' While her heartbeat pounded away, her arms and limbs loosened at her sides. Opening her eyes, Scarlett turned and saw a Dreamer that flew high.

  Scarlett remembered what her mother told her. “Here, Dreamers can walk, fly, or jump however they wish. It’s a natural thing for us.”

  ‘A natural thing? What’s that supposed to mean.’ Scarlett closed her eyes and pictured herself flying.

  Nope, nothing happened.

  ‘Okay, let’s try again.’ Scarlett squeezed her eyes tightly and furrowed her brows. ‘Flying, flying, flying, flying!’

  She’s still standing.

  Scarlett dropped her shoulders when she abruptly tilted backward. A shriek fled her lips as her feet left the ground. Before she could register what happened, Scarlett fell and landed on her back on Ever Realm’s floor. With her limbs spread out to her sides, she stared above with a racing heart that was about to burst from her chest.

  Unexpectedly, her laugh filled the air. “What just happened?”

  Slowly sitting up, Scarlett felt around with her left hand. The invisible ground was still beneath her. She moved to her feet and a thought crossed her mind. Bending at the knees, she jumped to feel the ground leave her feet.

  Scarlett was flying. She pushed higher and a loud laugh sounded from her lips. She did it.

  It was a matter of doing that made it come naturally. She flew through the stars and flew in circles, mocked falling only to catch herself and sail upright. Lightness filled Scarlett and reminded her of when she was a little girl. Her father would pick her up and spin her around the room as that weightless, careless, and innocent childhood feeling nestled in her heart.

  She felt free.

  Scarlett floated backward while facing the stars of Ever Realm. Caught up in its beauty and her thoughts, Scarlett couldn’t see that she was about to be swallowed by its darkness.

  She gawked as the starry ground got swept away by blackness. Yanking her gaze up to find Ever Realm’s stars out of sight and nowhere to be found. She slowly lowered herself until she felt the ground return to her feet and hastily turned in every direction.

  Scarlett was enveloped in darkness with not a single light in sight.

  Her chest tightened as the familiarity of the situation struck her mind and a cold sweat broke across her body.

  “Please, please, no.” She squeezed her eyes shut and slowly opened them to find nothing changed.

  “Mom? Jenna? Dad!” Her shouts didn’t reach the faraway ears of her loved ones. Scarlett even found herself calling for Chad and Jasper.

  No one heard her but the things that did were the ones she didn’t want to meet.

  A guttural shriek reached Scarlett’s ears, sending her stomach dropping to the tips of her toes. Her wide eyes searched the surrounding area but she couldn’t see anything. She didn’t know where it came from and quieted her heavy breathing to listen.

  The sounds of scratching and heavy pounding filled the air when a force rammed into her side and threw her who knew how far. She landed on her back with a nasty thump and a clipped scream followed. The wind was knocked out of her and Scarlett gulped for air while clawing at her chest. Air finally found its way into her lungs and she sat up hunching over trying to get a grip of herself. She swiftly ripped the sling from her right arm and scrambled to stand as the ugly scrapes of claws and pounding turned in her direction. It was coming back.

  Scarlett tried to gather which direction the creature was coming from when a flash of purple shot through the darkness. For a second,
Scarlett saw something she wished she hadn’t.

  The top of its jaw stretched far over its head, stopping at the back of its skull. It made the top of the thing’s head its entire mouth which was layered with raggedy razor teeth. It looked as if someone yawned and threw their head back but their jaw never ended. Its eyes were empty slits on the side of the mouth that oozed black muck. It also dripped from its gangly body and its ribs protruded from its chest. The skin was completely sunken in and hugged every bone. On its hands were long black claws as fingers that matched its feet. The thing completely towered over Scarlett and snapped its gruesome face in her direction. The creature shook as another shriek vibrated out of its body.

  Scarlett’s spine went rigid.

  Without a doubt, she knew exactly what it was.

  A nightmare.

  Scarlett turned and ran in the opposite direction. Her heart was beating like drums in her ears and she was sure the creature could hear it. Another crack whipped through the darkness that surrounded Scarlett and illuminated everything in a white purple. She pushed herself to run faster and felt a stab in her side due to her erratic breathing.

  All of a sudden, something wrapped itself tightly around Scarlett’s ankle and yanked her backward. Scarlett yelled and tried to reach what was pulling her but she couldn’t grab it. She slid across the ground and another whip of purple burst from the direction she was being dragged towards. Scarlett followed the strike to see it land directly into the nightmare's gaping mouth. Its horrific screeches rang her eardrums but she kept her eyes on the nightmare.

  The purple light traveled throughout its body making it glow. The tortured nightmare wriggled as if it were a glow stick getting cracked before it burst into a purple muck that sprayed in all directions. Scarlett covered her face as it rained and slimed over her armor. Her skin crawled at the spray of purple blackened muck and reminded her of when she first experienced it in her rite of way.