Week Twenty Five: Unhinged: Wes II

  The ride to the high school was quiet halfway there. Wes never made anyone speak up, especially when he knew something was on their mind. Instead, he played music. Music was always a good way to communicate without direct conversation. Outside of the fact he knew Jane’s little brother was probably still in mourning over his own cousin, Wes was lost in his own thoughts of the night before.

  There was a physical drain that came with the dream last night. Since he decided to become an English Major and take a break from athletics, Wes hadn’t felt this kind of strain in years. His body ached he felt detached from the world. When Hal had leaned in to give him a kiss this morning he almost didn’t feel their touch. This caused an embrace before their departure. Wes knew that he was still physically in the same world but he wanted to make extra sure that this was true.

  Next to him, Jane’s little brother stared off into the distance. The boy didn’t speak much to Wes because he was closer to Wes’s cousin. But the two knew that this would have to be their situation until Jane’s little brother was able to pass his driver’s test. Looking over, the boy glanced at Wes. It seemed that he could tell that Wes was also deep in thought. Laying a hand on the volume on the stereo, the boy grasped Wes’s attention. Meeting eyes, Wes brought himself down to earth.

  “Is the music too loud?” Wes asked gently. He didn’t want to upset his new company.

  It took a moment but but the boy shook his head after turning the music down a few levels. “No. But I wanted to ask you something.” He said, the look in his eyes reflected deep concern.

  “Of course. What is it?” Wes questioned. He could still feel the distortion between where he was physically and mentally where he had been mentally. Noting this in his head for later, he focused on the road. He was on earth. Physically. And mentally. This is how he had to be if he was to get him and Jane’s little brother to school.

  “You don’t talk much…” The boy said, fumbling with his fingers. “It makes me feel like you’re observant but don’t say anything…” He paused, during this Wes glanced over at him before looking back at the road.

  “I have a friend who is hurting….” He sighed. “I want to help her but I don’t know how. Is there any way I can look and see without her telling me?” He asked, the genuine concern washed over Wes as he spoke.

  Taking in the question, Wes nodded. “There are ways. But the most important thing about helping anyone is to know whether or not they want help.” He said, allowing Jane’s cousin to think about the statement before continued. Giving a moment, Wes continued. “Does your friend want help?”

  Only the hum of the background music filled the car as Jane’s little brother thought over the question. It wasn’t long before he sighed and replied, “She said that I couldn’t help her. That I wouldn’t understand it.”

  This, Wes understood. He couldn’t tell Hal everything although he wish he could. Hoping that the situation was nothing like his own, Wes continued. “Did you ask her to explain it anyway?”

  Another pause. The second to last stop light stood in front of them as Jane’s little brother thought long and hard for his friend. Wes could tell that he cared immensely for the girl, and hoped that he could help him even if it was small.

  “She said I wouldn’t remember the conversation but I do.” Jane’s little brother thought more to himself rather than to Wes. “She’s super smart but she can’t stay awake in class. I turn in her paper sometimes…” Jane’s little brother smirked. “The other day the teacher was being rude so I took her to the library and she finished the assignment in five minutes tops…”

  “She then told me that she’d let me in on her secret…” Jane’s little brother paused for a moment.
“But it wasn’t exactly a secret. I haven’t told anyone. But I feel like I can trust you with the secret since we don’t go to school together and you have no reason to tell anyone.”

  “I won’t.” Wes reassured. Now parked where he normally would drop Jane’s little brother off.

  “She said that she knew everything in the library. She’s my age and I wouldn’t doubt that she’s read all the book in our library but I find that hard to believe you know?” A panic arose in Jane’s little brother’s voice. “I’m concerned is all. She spoke to a friend she thought was there but it was only the two of us. Then she passed out. I took her to the nurse's office where she ended up sleeping the rest of the day. Then she got picked up sometime before school ended….”

  “Hm.” This was an interesting situation Jane’s little brother had brought before him. “So your friend seems sleep deprived is what it sounds like.” The ache in Wes’s body pulsed as he said it. “But she sleeps a lot?”

  “Well…” Jane’s little brother sighed. “She sleeps restlessly. She’s fallen asleep in class before and she’ll wake up screaming or gripping her desk. She could be crying… It all makes me feel bad for not knowing how to help her.” He frowned. “Even though we haven’t talked much I see that she’s in pain and I don’t want anyone to be in pain…” He paused then added. “At least, if they are in pain I don’t want them to go through that pain alone.” He smirked, checking the time on the car clock. They had a few more minutes to talk.

  “Which brings me back to my first question.” Wes shrugged. “Do you think she wants help?”

  Jane’s little brother frowned. “She didn’t say she didn’t. She said I couldn’t.”

  “That doesn’t always mean that the help isn’t wanted. She doesn’t believe you could provide her with what she needs in order to help and that’s okay.” Wes smirked.

  “But now that we’ve established that I can help her what do I do?” Jane’s little brother asked, messing with one of the extension ont his backpack.

  “Your friend thinks that you won’t remember the conversation between you two when you speak of whatever it is…” Wes said, again thinking of Hal. “That’s where you start. You get her to talk to you. It won’t fix the situation but it’ll help you understand what she’s going through.”

  Understanding, Jane’s little brother smiled. “You know, your cousin always said you were pretty amazing and I can second that. Thank you for taking me to school since he used to….” A glimpse of remorse flashed through his eyes but was quickly replaced with happiness. “It means a lot that you take the time out of your day to do this.”

  “Your class starts right before mine so I don’t mind.” Wes smirked. “See you after you get out.”

  Waving, Wes took off. It took a few cars to get out of the drop off zone before he could actually head to his own class. As he sat patiently in the line of cars, Wes felt a wave of anxiety and depression. Sucking in a breath he turned to look for the source.

  Heading through the doors of the main entrance trudged a young girl, with a boy beside her. Taking a harder look, Wes could tell that the two were sibling even without looking at the two’s aura. Another wave of depression and pain slammed against Wes’s body. The feeling of distortion resurfaced from earlier. Suddenly, the image that seemed to be murky that night before was clear as crystals. Wes could see everything again. The fragments, her dream from the night before. Had it not been for the car horn that blared for him blocking traffic he might have lost himself in the middle of the parking lot.

  That was her. The girl Jane’s little brother had spoken of. He didn’t know how he knew but it was clear to him. He had to save her not only for his own sake but for Jane’s little brother as well.

Week Twenty-Four: Unhinged: Dax VIII

  Amber eyes. Dax’s memories replayed the first day he was in the City of Relics. There was a girl who had helped him medically recover. Years later, she would be dead from a different inmate’s incident so why was Dax thinking of her now? That was six years ago.

  Suddenly, there was a surge of pain that started from his right wing and pulsed inward. Dax’s eyes opened but his memories still played in his head, the first time he saw that he could fire breath, that he was part dragon. He was eight. Why was this memory playing now?

  Wind rushed past his face. He was losing altitude and quick. But all he could think about were those amber eyes. Why? Ignoring the spreading pain, Dax concentrated. At that time when he was eight he couldn’t remember whose eyes they reminded him off. The girl was nice, but all she was to him was a medic. They had no past together. She was comforting but that was because it was her job. So why, while falling to his death, was he so adamant on figuring out whose eyes they were?

  Her voice was distant again as he remembered what she had said to him when they first met. “Poor you, being in the state you were in for so long…” While hearing this Dax felt himself start to lose his breath due to the fast altitude lost, a dizziness started to wash over him.

  Why had he not asked her before what state she was talking about when they first met and even more so when they got to know each other? The records say that he entered the City of Relics injured but did he go to the City of Relics on his own?

  “I’m sure you don’t remember what happened.” Her voice came to him again, this time he felt the pain from his wings in the center of his back, he had to have gotten shot by something. World a blur, Dax began to nod off.

  “However, the real question is, should I tell you?” Dax remembered what he thought when she said this and how he couldn’t speak, all he could do was breath fire. Pain taking over him, Dax’s mind ceased. There was no more pain and no more voice. However, something else pulsed through Dax’s body.

--

  Euro exclaimed in joy. “Got him!” He yelled, placing his bow down. “Didn’t think I would, did you? Now we’re going to be rich.” He said approaching his brother Imore.

  “Better make sure we cuff him and sedate him with enough of that stuff your nerd friend gave us. I heard dragons aren’t the nicest of mythics.” Imore warned.

  “No mythic is nice, brother. Haven’t you learned that by now? That’s why we do what we do?” Euro scoffed. “Their mutations is what they are. Nothing like us. If anything, their animals.”

  “Which is why we need to get to him as fast as possible before he does has chance to recover. He wasn’t in full dragon mode. You could tell by how he was flying. Those of who lose their minds to their mythics are the worse and the scariest so you better hurry up, or we might be pushing up daisies.”

  Euro rolled his eyes. “You honestly think they said that in the Old Western times?”

  Imore shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. What does is that we get him, before-” Imore cursed under his breath. Behind him, Euro approached in confusion. “We’ll get to him. Why are you so worried?”

  “Because I was afraid of something like that.” Imore growled. “Now we have two choices here.” He said as a roar shook the ground they stood on. “Either leave it for a professional or we die trying to get him into that quarantine.”

  The roar resonated in Euro’s heart, making his breath stop. So this was a dragon, a real one, not one that was under control. He knew he should have laced his arrow with the sedative. Why didn’t he? It was only a matter of time before the dragon would notice them and Imore was right. Leave or die trying. Which would he choose?

  “Well?”! Imore yelled, as the roars didn’t stop. The dragon was thrashing now, looking for a target
and if Euro was not planning on sticking around Imore didn’t want them to be the first things that the dragon saw.

  “Professionals.” Euro said, his heart clenched up. They had taken down many mythics in the past. However, none of them went into full mythical creature mode so they had it easy. This one, a full sized dragon, bigger than any building he had seen, was not going to take them lightly.

  Grabbing Euro’s arm, Imore pulled him to safety as the dragon began to created cracks in the earth. Imore had never seen a duel elemental dragon before. If they breathed fire they tend to only breath fire or produce fire. But then again, Imore had never dealt with a real dragon before.

  The two scrambled up the mountain they had come down from, giving them a better perspective of how big the dragon was, which didn’t help their fear. Huffing, Euro sat down to take a breath. “Do you think we should warn the Quarantine?” He asked, it would take days on foot, maybe even a week but seeing that this was a mad dragon on the loose? This probably qualified for Quarantine intervention.

  “The city is closer than the Quarantine. I’d imagine if this type of dragon was on the loose they would know but we’ll need back up. We can always go to the others about this.” Imore suggested.

  “That’s embarrassing though.” Euro sighed. “This dragon is massive, I mean, there’s an arrow in its wing because of me but now it’s on rampage.”

  Imore nodded towards the city. “Look brother, it happens. In this profession there’s bound to be a mythic or two we can’t take down on our own and that’s okay. We’re not Gods.”

  “We take them down because they think they are.” Euro said, now brushing himself off. Let’s set a signal and then run for it.” Euro grinned, causing Imore to roll his eyes. “Pretty sure we don’t need to send the dragon our location when others who do the same work as us can figure out that there’s a dragon on the loose.”

  Euro shrugged. “I was trying to give us more incentive to run.”

  Punching Euro in the arm, Imore took Euro’s flare from his pack. “Don’t think so, idiot. I don’t want to die today.”

Week Twenty Three: Unhinged: Nightmae VI

 Engulfed in an abyss of numbness and silence, she fell. Within her, emotions of the dead-she presumed. During her nightmares she never knew all the details to what asylum of history she’d visit. As she watched the wind flow through her hair, she waited. This in particular nightmare was taking time to make its course. Her first feeling… How cold the wind was as it resisted her fall. Oddly enough, it seemed welcoming.

 Emptiness. Whoever’s life she was experiencing held onto nothing. Literally. No love came to mind as she continued to slip farther and farther into the abyss. There was no memory that made itself known as she continued her journey. The only feelings she could note for this nightmare: Nothingness and the cold physical touch of the air.

 An anxiousness of her own dwelled inside her. Who was this person or species since she had experienced many varieties of memories. What did they do to lead up to this abyss. How did they find it?

 Theories began to surface her mind as a sudden loss of breath left her chest. She could feel her heartbeat throughout her body. The Pressure forced her to focus not on the surrounding darkness but on the ice within her body.

 Trembling she realize this nightmare wasn’t of anyone or anything’s death. This was a rare encounter of her own fears and her first fear: Being Lost.

Lost

I wake to my own screams

The one I love, devoted to me

Losing me, a fear radiant to my vision

Sweat covers my body

I’m a threat to myself

The high mental activity cost yet another night and two days

When I do not wake, where am I?

How does my body not go into shock

During these mental adventures I seek

What I seek, unknown to me

One fact stands

Not only am I lost when my eyes are closed

My open eyes don’t dare to see

The path of the lost is infected

And infested with emptiness

There is nothing left in me

A life of my own I cannot live

Instead, the past lives of others reply in me

What I am

Is a record

Of lost last memories

--

 Fidgeting with a pencil, Wes stared off into space. Hal, sitting across the living room looked up from his textbook to glance at his love. It was obvious that he was lost in thought again. What Wes was lost in, Hal would be intrigued to know, but he knew better than to ask.

 Physically in front of Wes was the TV. However it was off and he had no intention of turning it on. By placing himself in front of the big screen he could step into another world. One he couldn’t describe without words, no matter how hard he tried.

 Juvallian, a cat humanoid known also as a Tabaxi, knew that he’d have another one of these moments. The blank TV screen helped him seem less insane to anyone who didn’t know what he was actually doing. It took a few awkward encounters but he was finally there. He found her, the one close to death. By the way she was acting he could tell that she wasn’t awake like himself. To be ‘aware’ in this world he was in took a lot of concentration.

 From afar Wes took note of the girl. Physical appearance when out of the world were his worst. He was better with emotions and auras (the feeling of a person that surrounded them. However not felt by the person it belonged to)

 Her core (located in the middle of the chest) pulsed a black. Despite this appearance, Wes knew that the black wasn't’ a negative aspect to her detail. What concerned him was the trance she seemed to be in.

 In this world. Wes was never located in the same exact location as the person or thing he was looking for or into. Instead, he could view and observe what he needed to collect to help the person or thing when they passed..

 However, in this girl Wes wasn’t sure but she seemed to be searching. Although where she was searching would only make it harder for herself without guidance. Reaching out to her, Wes gasped as he began to see though her perspective with his vision doubling over her

 Scattered. The girl felt lost. But what she didn’t know was that she was made of many feeds, all trying to display themselves at once. Her actual self believed that it didn’t exist since it hadn’t been to the forefront of her mind since the beginning of living.

 A shudder ran hough Wes’s body this girl was made of shattered mirrors. Finding her peace would consist of directing her true self to her aware self. Through many years of practice Wes could tell the difference between his own deeper self and aware self. However, understanding that concept for anyone else was impossible.

 The girl thought she didn’t exist due to all the noise within her mind. Wes would have to silence it all in order to reach both her deeper self and aware self. He also had to be careful that he didn’t cause any more of an uproar which would be easy to do with all her fragmentionation.

 Taking a moment to breath, Wes took a step back and emerged back into the living room with the TV. Curled up in his lap, Hal snuggled and slept. Gently caressing Hal’s face Wes realized how difficult this save was going to be. He’d have to plan and take action physically if he had hope in saving this one.

Taking Hal in his arms, Wes took him to the bedroom when suddenly he froze. One of the many fragments played in his head. In real time only two seconds passed but in that world it was almost a lifetime.

 Wes held onto Hal for dear life in the physical world. Sighing he managed to make it to the bed where he tucked in Hal and slipped under the covers where he would build his defenses mentally against her fragments. If he wasn’t careful he’d allow the fragmentation happen to himself. Then the situation would only escalate from there.

 Kissing Hal goodnight, Wes closed his eyes to experience a very familiar sense that the girlf labeled ‘nightmare’.

 

Week Nineteen: Unhinged: Nightmare IV

 The classroom around her shrunk as she felt a piercing pain in the side of her temple. Suddenly, her breath was short and she was a man running for his life. The battle had spread across the lands. A battle between all species. This man was an elf, out of arrows, but a speed that Vali had never encountered before. Behind him, a spirit.

 It had a black void for eyes, Vali could feel its vengeance. The elf had never encountered a spirit that could surpass a few prayers or chants that he knew from the heart. Around his neck was a charm that usually prevented encounters like so. The elf’s heart raced. The spirit has separated the soul of his eagle. (Which was another thing he had never seen before) So running was his only option.

 Vali felt her physical body jolt in distress. This elf was going to die. That was the only way she could connect with the scene. But how? Coming to the edge of the mountain, the elf came to a screeching halt. Behind him, the spirit persuade. He could feel his soul being sucked towards the spirit. Wide eyed, Vali felt the legs of the elf jolt then felt the wind past his face, a long spell left his lips as he cascaded down the mountain.

 Two minutes. That would the be the amount of time it took for him to hit the ground in a splat. Embracing the fall, Vali felt for her physical body. It was nowhere in her mental reach. A second before the elf slammed into the ground, the spell translated.

 Barriers of the heart be my ground.

Survive shall be the sound.

From truth will honesty bound

A soul to its true calling.

May it be heaven, may it be hell.

 Biting her lip, Vali gripped her desk in hopes of finding her physical body. This hadn’t happened while she was awake before. At least she was sitting. Tasting the blood from her lip. She opened her eyes slowly. Her body quivered as she came to.

 Surrounding her, the whole class stared. Impatient, the teacher pushed her glasses up and crossed her arms. “Xevolta, we don’t have time for one of your ‘mental’ breakdowns.” She said in aggravation. “Would you like to leave?”

Nodding, Vali tried to get up. Feeling the weakness in her muscles, she panicked. Her mental self wasn’t connecting with her physical self. Tears forming, Vali sat helpless as the teacher tapped her foot.

 “Don’t have time for games, Ms. ‘Volta.” She pressed, her lips doing the slant Vali knew everyone hated.

 “I…” Vali shuddered. Feeling the tears run down her cheeks.

 “You, what.?” Her teacher rolled her eyes in annoyance.

 Vali felt herself get heavier and farther from her body. The whole class was quiet. She absolutely could not stand her teacher. Most of the time she’d be quiet and do her work but this teacher had something against her. Especially when she came in crying the first time in class.

 Suddenly, Vali felt herself be lifted from her side. “Let’s go, Vali.” A baritone voice, showered over her. “I’m sure our teacher won’t mind me escorting you to the nurse.”

 Another glare was pointed in her direction. Vali wasn’t sure what her teacher had against her. She did all her work, the only thing that she did that might bother her is that she cried sometimes in class due to the emotion stress of neverending nightmares. A strong hand held her steady as the boy partly guided partly carrier her out of the room. Once he shut the door behind them, he leaned her against the lockers.

 His hazel eyes met hers in concern. “You okay?”

 Wide eyes, Vali stood speechless. “Santiago…?” She asked in a daze.

 “Devon…?” He said, waving a hand in her face. “You with me, Xevolta?”

   Vali felt her mental self reconnect with her physical self. “Devon…?” She asked, feeling her voice speak in the back of her throat.

 “Yea…” Devon blushed. “Guy who doesn’t talk much. Sometimes turns in your paper for you when you pass out in class for exhaustion…” He shrugged. “That guy?”

 Looking Devon over, Vali smirked as she saw his aura bleed off of him in a haze. Of course he would help her, there was a connection he didn’t understand that existed. Taking in a slow breath, Vali sighed. “I’m sorry that you have to help me in class so much.” She said still feeling the shakiness in her body.

 Touching her side, Devon urged her to lean on him. He was steady, and it almost felt romantic, had Vali not felt bad that he was the one pulling her weight in more than a literal sense.

 “Please don’t take this the wrong way…” Devon blushed. “I have a girlfriend…” He muttered. “But if I let Ms. No Soul abuse you anymore I wouldn’t have forgiven myself.” He smirked. “So to the nurse or would you like to go somewhere else?”

 Another sigh left her lips as she felt her weight adjust to Devon’s side. “I’m sorry, Devon.” She said, tears in her eyes. “If I could explain the kind of exhaustion I go through I would but…”

 “Don’t worry about it.” He smiled, shifting himself to be in front of her. “Piggyback ride to wherever you decide?” He asked lightly.

 Pulling her onto his back, Devon stood waiting for direction. “Would the library be okay…?” Vali managed, feeling herself lose focus again. A scream of pain rung in her ears, making her grip on Devon tighten. “All I want is for it to stop.” She cried.

“Whatever it is.” Devon said, holding her tightly. “I’m sure you’ll get through it. You do assignments without looking practically. And don’t say you can’t. I’ve literally seen you do it without looking at your paper as if you knew before she explained everything.”

 Vali gave a tired laugh. “I appreciate it, Devon.” She said, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Like I said” Devon smiled as he pushed the library door open. “Don’t worry about it.” He smiled. Turning his back to her. “Let me get our backpack and I’ll be back okay. Don’t pass out until I get back.”

 With what strength she had, Vali nodded. “I’ll try.” She said, hearing his laugh in the distance.

Week Eighteen: Unhinged: Fhei VI

 Around her, the memory dissolved. Next to her, the fake Gale stood patiently waiting for her to return to her senses. Fhei’s mind was ablaze. Pressing her hand to her temple she felt the physical weight of her body and the pounding impulse being sent to her brain. She tried to think of a way to stop it but the more she tried to think the more intense the pain would become.

 Suddenly the dimension around her collapsed into a frizzle. Clenching her physical fist, Fhei opened her eyes, realizing that she was no longer a projectile of herself. Gale was no longer visible but Fhei knew that she was still there. The world around her continued to work around her in peace. It was nice to see that the world was relaxed at the least.

 Searching for shelter, Fhei eyed a tree with lush grass not too far from the waterfall. However, she didn’t know if she could physically get there on foot considering that she could hardly stay focused. Painfully pushing herself into a walking position, Fhei quickly fell as her head began to pound. She was sure that passing out where she was sitting originally wouldn’t be a problem in a peaceful place as this but some shelter would be preferred..

 In the back of her head, Fhei could barely hear the voice but she concentrated to hear what her friend Gale had to say. It was quiet, almost as if she knew words were being said to her but the words wouldn’t come out correction. Tell. Tell? Fhei’s head throbbed the more she tried to decipher the message.

 Import.

 Fhei sighed in confusion. Tell. Import? She forced herself to keep her eyes open and stare at the area in which she would have liked to rest. Tell. Import. She pushed herself to think even though it burned to do so. For a moment, the memory of her mother coming from the kitchen into the lab pushed to the front of her mind. Suddenly, Fhei understood.

 “Teleport.” She said, staring hard at the spot. A split second later, the grass seemed to be directly in front of her. Reaching out, Fhei crawled into the lush grass against the tree and curled the jacket that she assumed belong to one of her brothers against the tree for a pillow. Within moments, she became part of the silence of the world. Around her, the world continue to live on peacefully.

--

 In the distance, Loun sat in a tree with his arms crossed. Okay, she knew how to teleport. Easy enough. But she couldn’t handle a couple of replays in her own memory? There had to be a reason. That or she was that weak. Which, he didn’t want to believe but secretly hoped.

 Normally, he would have been able to leave this dimension, world, and timeline and go to his own. However, something was holding him here and he had slight suspicion that he had to do with this ‘Guardian’.

 Glancing over her from a distance, Loun could tell that she was in a lot of physical pain. Even though she had the ability to fix it, he couldn’t let her fail in whatever it was she was meant to do in this safe haven. Gracefully jumping onto the grass beside her through his own portal, Luon knelt down quietly and passed his hand over her third degree wound on her leg. She also had a burn on her face. However, that wouldn’t kill her so he decided to allow her to fix that. Pulling his hand back, he glared as the shadow hissed at him.

 This is my prey. It said as the wound on her leg dissolved. First come first serve.

 “You’re lucky that I don’t obliterate you myself.” Luon warned.

But you allow the girl to fall to her doom? It asked, somewhat amused.

 “No.” Luon said, as he conjured a portal behind him to return to his tree. “I can’t do everything for her. She’ll have to get rid of you on her own. However, I’ll step in if you manage to go too far.” He said, settling himself back onto the tree.

 Beside him, the spirit Thiy lurked. “You spoke to it?” It asked in curiousity.

 Luon nodded. “That flesh wound on her leg was going to get infected faster than the one on her face. Hopefully she can learn to heal that. I might have to if she doesn’t in the next day or so.”

 “You’re allowing yourself to be here for that long?” The spirit questioned in amusement.

 “I can jump timelines unlike her.” He said, with a shrug. “If there’s anything I have it’s time.”

--

 Fhei woke up in trance. There was warmth and a light breeze, opening her eyes she fiddled with the jacket she had curled up into a pillow. Which brother did the jacket belong to she wondered? Breathing in, Fhei cringed as she felt a pound in her chest. Something was wrong and she couldn’t quite understand what it was. Looking around, Fhei called out softly.

 “Gale?”

 Encasing her, was the dimension she had been to before she received that awful headache. Next to her, she sat beside her own physical body. Glancing around, it took her a minute but she found her friend. Calling out again, Fhei stared until Gale looked over.

 “You’re awake.” She said, with a smile. “I wasn’t sure how long it would take you considering you had to break past the barriers that had been placed to prevent you from remembering. It was a task but I knew you could do it.”

 “Barriers?” Fhei asked looking at Gale once again. “What’s wrong with you, why are you not being as warm as last time?”

 The one taking Gale’s place appeared beside Fhei. “Sorry, I may be your friend but I do not have the memories of your friend since I’m using your memories to be your friend.” It said the paused. “Does that make sense?”

 “In a way, yes.” Fhei said but then reached for her chest in pain. “Why is the pain ten times worse in this dimension?”! She said, suddenly clenching her own physical fist. She was no longer in the dimension with ‘Gale’. Grunting, Fhei leaned up against the tree and spread the jacket across her lap, gasping when she realized that her leg was no longer in pain.

 Quickly, she touched her face, then winced in pain. Did she do that? Had she healed her own leg? That wasn’t possible. Gale but not Gale said that she couldn’t do that yet. Well, not that she knew anyway. Running the back of her hand against her thigh she twitched in feeling the pain on her face. Something was different about her leg. There seemed to be an outside source applied to it. No medicine she knew could heal a third degree would that quickly. Baffled, Fhei looked around only to find what she had fallen asleep to. This world was strange but it didn’t seem to be a place she couldn’t trust. Now only if she could stop her chest from pounding. It was as if someone was digging into her bone structure.

Week Seventeen: Unhinged: Dax V

 Stealing wasn’t Dax’s forte. However, when no one accepts your attempt to buy something, or notice that you even exist then why not eat your fill? As far as Dax could tell, he was physically there but not visibly aware to everyone around him. He had to dodge people constantly since they couldn’t see him or when they ran into him they’d stare in confusion and move on.

 Maybe the fear in him activated a new ability he hasn’t known about but then again all he knew that he could do was fly and breath fire. This new ability would be an interesting code to crack. After grabbing a couple of supplies (Dax learned that anything he touched also went invisible with him, which was neat but also annoying) Dax looked around the village for any hints on how they’d react to a mythic.

 Coming upon a church, or what seemed to be a religious building, Dax looked up at the massive statue of a boar/human hybrid, it held a sword and a shield, It stood at least ten feet tall. Glancing at the glass on the windows, Dax noted that there were different mythical creatures in each one, none of them being violent. However, in some of the depiction he couldn’t figure out if the glass painting was neutral or good.

 Stepping into the religious building, Dax looked over the pews and at the alter. In the front stood a reptile like creature in a robe. Smelling the figure from the entrance, he tilted his head. The snake like human seemed to have something about him that didn’t click well in Dax’s gut.

 In awe, Dax looked up at the rest of the beauty that the building had to offer. Alarmed, Dax created a fireball in his hand without turning his body. There was a presence behind him. One that could see him, no doubt.

 “I’m not here in intrude.” Dax said, hoping the being would understand him. Different mythical creatures could speak to one another. Dax learned how to speak to his dragon kin and some other specifics but he spoke without considering the being might be a human.

 “Camouflage.” The voice hissed. “Impressive.”

 Keeping his fireball in hand, Dax turned to face the voice. Before him stood the monk. Silently thanking his gut, Dax met the snake’s eyes. “I don’t know how to be visible again. Can you help me?”

 This made the snake cackle. “A mythic that does not know of his powers? You smell young and inexperienced. Your kind are usually coped up in one of those cities, how are you not in one?”

 Adjusting his stance, Dax stood straight. “I escaped.” He said, still not comfortable with the snake’s attire. “Please, I want to interact with people, how can I make them see me again?”

 “It’s not a matter of making them see you.” The snake retorted. “It’s a matter of making yourself visible to you.”

 “That doesn’t make sense.” Dax growled, fire intensifying without notice. “I wanted them to see me. I saw myself in the river coming up here. I know I exist.”

 “The river?” The snake curved his head in almost a question mark. “Only those who are pure can see the river. Do you believe yourself to be pure?”

 Putting away his fireball, Dax squinted his eyes. “I could see the source of the river from the skies. How can something that huge be visible to only some people?”

 Keeping his distance, the snake monk replied. “It is not visible by people.” He informed. “Again, only those who are pure can see the river. Only those who are of our world can see the river.”

 “Then…” Dax said as a couple walked in, greeted the snake monk as if he were normal, and continued on into the church. “We can’t be on a different plane as them.” He said as he watch ed couple walk away. “They even greeted you.”

 The snake monk nodded. “Ah, yes.” He smiled, revealing his fangs that made Dax cringe. “You want to be visible, or would you rather have a cloak like I?”

 “Wouldn’t you menan, a cloak like yourself or in your case you’d say ‘me’?” Dax asked, following the snake monk.

 “In our world, english terms are irrelevant.” It hissed. “This cloak will make you look human, boy.”

 Staring at it, Dax took a step away from it, it was the same cloak the monk was wearing. “But I thought I looked like a boy.” He said, looking at his hand. “At least, I can see myself as one in a mirror.”

 “Ah.” The snake monk nodded. “Well, keep this with you. You might need it someday.” He said then closed the door he had opened to reveal the cloak. “You can meet the father of this church. He’ll determine whether I can help you learn how to reveal yourself to the public.”

 Dax crossed his arms. “Why do you need permission to show me how to do anything?”

 The snake monk laughed. “Jhasar.” He say, with an unintentional hiss. Dax wasn’t sure if he could get used to that or not.

 “That your name?” He asked as he followed the monk down a corridor.

 “Yes, Brother Jhasar.” He said, holding the candle far enough in front of him to make the path visible for them both.

 “I know you can see in the dark.” Dax said, confused by the candle. “So why bring a candle?”

 Jhasar laughed. “You’re very observant young one.” He said as they took a right. “Is this why you can trust me without fail?”

 “No.” Dax said, his bag slung over his shoulder. “I have no where else to go.” He added with a frown. “So it’s not a matter of trust…” He let the word linger as they continued to walk aimlessly. “It’s a matter of curiosity.”

 “Honesty.” Jhasar said as they arrived at a wooden door with a metal handle, lit up by the light of the room on the other side. “Only those who are pure can pass the barriers we went through a while back.” He hissed. “For an experiment I’m surprised you passed.”

 Dax growled. “Don’t call me an experiment.” He converted a hand into a claw. “We’re both reptiles here, but you seem too holy for a fight so don’t start.”

 This made Jhasar laugh. “The father will like you.”

 Frowning, Dax returned his claw into hand form and followed Jhasar inside. Whatever it was guiding him here, he hoped that it would make its point and release him soon.

Week Sixteen: Unhinged: Nightmare III

 Her first instinct was to hide. She could hide, then return home, but then she would have to put the barriers up once again. He could sense this in her, and that’s why he sat quietly in his room. This was a big decision on her part, now that he knew how she truly felt about the situation. This was one of the aspect of this dimension that she hated. Nothing was a secret here. At least, between them.

 After her como relationship with him she spent more time appreciating who she was physically around. Although the memories of their love life lingered in her heart, she set her eyes on what she could physically see and focused on providing the love and appreciation that she was not able to give for her ten month coma.

 To allow him to be part of her life again was a big question. Because in her eyes, they had a life here in this dimension but not one in the physical world. He was loving and understand and persistent. Although, there was the language barrier.

 Appearing in the room with him, she looked over his body from head to toe. He was still physically attractive. More so, emotionally considering she knew everything he did in his perspective. It was hard to want to say no to him. To return to a life that seemed real enough that she forgot that her physically body was frozen made her long for what they had.

 “Baby steps.” She finally said as she looked deep into his eyes. “We never actually talked about where either of us were from.”

 He smiled. “If waiting two years isn’t long enough then I will do what I can, my love. I was hoping that this action itself could prove to you how much I care.”

 Vali looked through his memories as she tampered with a pencil at his work station. “Santiago Acero Cifuentes.” She said as the name came to her and rhythmically left her lips.

 “Vali.” He said, his head tilted. “I always thought it was short for something.” He smiled. “Like Valentine.”

 “No.” She blushed. “Although, I don’t mind you calling me Valentine if it’s easier for you.”

 “Vali- Sylvia- Xevolta….” Santiago said, his accent adjusting certain vowels. “That’s…” He smiled. “Muy bonita.”

 “Very beautiful…” the translation came to her with a smil. “Santiago…” She said as she stood from his work station. “Here, we can translate… In real life we can’t do that.” She smirked.  

 “Whatever language you speak.” He, said approaching her. “I’ll learn it.” He said as he took her hand. “I want us to be together.” He said, placing a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

--

 Benjamin sat up in discomfort. There was something not right. Getting up quickly, he slipped into a shirt and jeans then ran to his sister’s room. Knocking on the door quietly, Benjamin spoke up in the way he did before he would enter her room. “Vali, I’m coming in.”

 Running to her bedside, Benjamin placed a light hand on his sister’s forehead. She seemed to not have a fever, that’s usually what woke him up if it was small. A deep fear emerged as he spoke to her in a shaky voice. “Vali…” His voice lost in fear.

 “Can you hear me, Vali?” He asked bringing her hand in his. “Please tell me you’ll be back soon, Vali.” He said with tears in his eyes. “I have a feeling you’re not going to be able to hear me this time.”

--

 Laying next to Santiago with his arm around her, Vali let out a comforting sigh. “I miss cuddling with you.” She said playing with his finger.

 “You don’t have to tell me twice.” Santiago smiled, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Who is that?” He said as he looked up, a boy appeared at Santiago’s work station, arms crossed with his head down.

 “Who’s?” Vali questioned, turning to see the boy. “Ben…” She said, looking into Santiago’s eyes. “That’s my brother.” She replied.

 “How is he?” He questioned in concern. “Can he do what we can do?”

 “No.” Vali replied, now in more alarm. I need to wake up.” She said, giving Santiago a long kiss on the lips. “He needs me. He’s never jumped into this state before and if he’s-”

 Santiago’s lips stopped Vali from continuing. Pulling away a moment later, Santiago nodded. “Do what you have to do. I don’t want you to go through that pain again,” he said allowing her to stand.

 Nodding, Vali embraced Santiago once more then approached her brother. “Ben, how are you in Santiago’s room…?” She questioned then quickly adjusted her speech.

 “Hey, Ben…” She said with a smile. “Can you hear me?”

 “I…” Ben’s figure fluctuate as if the connection between the two was hazy. “You’re asleep how are you…?” He said, staring at the wall of Santiago’s room.

 “It’s a long story, brother.” Vali said, the queue of the nightmare leaking into her sense. “Brother, please I’ll come to you. Go to bed. I will awaken soon.”

 A silent pause was held between them. “You better.” He said, his figure fading from view. Turning to Santiago, Vali smiled. “I love you.” She said, receiving a reply in whatever language he spoke, Santiago frowned and pointed to his heart instead.

 Nodding, she touched her own then turned away from his. Around her the world slipped into darkness. The warrior’s kiss lingered on her lips. Heart breaking, Vali watched as she once again lived through the last moments of people’s lives.

 The last cry of the innocent child emerged from her lips, Vali shot up in a startle, her breath shaken and her sweat running down her face. Within second, her brother emerged at her door, tackling her in her bed.

 “I don’t know what happened, or what that was…” He said as he cried in her arms. “But whatever that is…” He held her tightly. “I love you and please…” His breath was slow. “I need an explanation.”

 Metting her brother’s eyes, Vali’s eyes widen as she saw the look that she knew she had given after her first interaction with the nightmares. “Please tell me you didn’t see anyone…”

 “Why?”! Ben’s voice raised in confusion and anger. “Is this why you wake up screaming almost every night?”

 Vali’s tears fell from her face as she held her brother tightly. “Yes.” She said squeezing him. “It’s a hell I hoped no one else would have to imagine.”