7 Chapter 7-Land of Nod-Cold Mountain

He was more surprised that she'd have the guts to look amused.

She stared at him blankly, speechless even. She came to stand in front of him, her silky blond hair blown by the wind and her big brown eyes so innocent and yet confused. He thought to himself, was this a hallucination? How could she look so real and beautiful at the same time?

Catherine has turned her face sharply.

"I have no idea." Chuckling.

Then a look of shocked alarm came into her face as he wondered why, until he recognised that she had been staring at his clothes, up and down, and was laughing. Her laughter was so free and pure, so innocent despite her adult years. It came to her ears as a tickle and bounced-and only a flimsy heart could do anything but join in such a considerable laugh.

Suddenly, he realised he was still in his unfashionable open-neck shirt-superman pajamas, and at that moment, he knew he was beyond embarrassed.

And at the time, the embarrassment was immense, and he could have hidden it as a child might have, but it was time to own it and show that he was more grown-up than all that. With the inner strength of a superhero, he had dismissed her laughter.

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You think this was funny? Wasn't this what they call "hallucination with fun?"

"It's not supposed to be funny!" He theatrically protested, watching the woman half-smiling this time, running a hand through his hair to neat it out as much as possible. He hates it when the wind messes it up.

When he was done adjusting himself, he bent down over her. Then he leaned into her ears and whispered. "Don't forget, I'm still your boss, Catherine."

"Oh common, relax! Take a deep breath, in and out, in and out, "she smirked, never taking her eyes that were full of energy enthusiastically.

His hunger for her lips increased at the sight of them. He wanted to devour her.

Wait, what kind of dream was this? transforming him into a poetHe irritably thought.

Following her stupid suggestion, he asked himself, was he even here? Or this was all just a figment of his imagination?

How did he end up here? Or is he simply a character plucked from his darkest fantasies?A creation of his unconscious mind? He asked himself. Surprised? That was a big word. Yet, this place was something out of the ordinary.

"Call it whatever you want..." She shrugged then trailed off, "I'm tired and cold. I don't want to deal with any drama right now, but maybe you are right! "

"Maybe this is real? Believe me, I have been here often, and trust me, I could walk on this terrain blindly if I wanted to. " She smirked. "Or maybe Mr. Walton, you are in my dreams."

He looks at her questionably, his eyes blur. He looks at her, really looks at her. This was all just too odd for him. Something was undeniably odd.

But don't fret, your confusion will be gone when you wake up anyway! You won't even remember a thing, "she added confidently.

He was still in a confused state of shock to even muster anger.

"Are you sure? But if this was our dream, or I don't know... "his curiosity was aroused, "How can I talk to you so vividly? I have never had such an experience before! "

"Bet you haven't," she retorts back while trying to fight the numbness in her soft and delicate hands.

You do know this was a dream, don't you? none of the real-world I knew of were here! Except you, now! Nor do I recall any conversation like this or having had a conversation with."

"Yes, and won't I recall this either?" He asked her, then rubbed the stress from his eyes. His confusion was evident from miles away.

"I don't know, I have no idea. I don't even know how you got here or why you got here in the Land of Nod." She smiled dramatically. That smile wasn't the prettiest thing he had seen in a while, for it did not extend to her eyes and deep into her soul. It looks miserable.

"You name this dreamland "The Land of Nod? How original! " He mocked with a little smile on his lips, looking around, trying not to look intimidated by her big, sparkling green-brown eyes.

"Yes! Mr. I'm-so-confuse, at least I didn't name it Dreamland." Catherine was ridiculed.

Seriously, will all the memories of our conversations be wiped clean after I wake up? Or I'll remember them? "He implored sternly while Catherine stood there in a fitted shirt; gone was the girl in the office earlier.

There was something in the way that she stood, pride in herself that was so wonderful to see. He could say that she had blossomed as flowers do. So elegant and lovely, willingly revealing her inner beauty.But he knew at that moment, with her skin clad in perfect silky white, that she was ready for the big wide world, or this world.THE LAND OF NOD.

As much as he would have loved to keep her, she belongs to herself, the keeper of her destiny. He wonders why the shirt brought such feelings, for it is the woman inside it who means something to him?

It was getting on his nerves; he became poetic. And that was scary! He cringed.

Does Sean even remember her name? This was shocking. She never recalled introducing herself to him earlier in the office, or did she? Catherine thought that alone brought a smile to her face. making her laugh as she chose to answer him back, a plan running wild in her head.

"You are lucky enough to survive in this place, you know! Those ugly creatures who bit you were poisonous, and they bit you in your left arm. Am I right? " She asked, trying not to smile. Much to her relief, as the wind grew vulnerable against this snowy mountain, her muscles worked all the more.

Sean paled in no time, looking at his swollen arms. How could she know that? Sean asked himself. This is his dream, right? How could she know that? This is by far the most insane dream he'd ever had. How did she know so much? Sean was wondering. Walking slowly, checking on the snow-covered mountains. He wondered why the cold did not bother him at all. He was in his pyjamas for heaven's sake. Why does this place feel so familiar that he could almost taste the wind? After all, it is not every day one is lost in his dream or consciousness or even converses with somebody whom he doesn't expect to exist in his dream. He decided to calm his senses first and then continued to ask.

"What about these swollen arms? This was not real, was it? " He asked attentively.

Catherine smiled, albeit in a devilish way. She didn't even bother to answer him back. Instead, she pretended not to listen and hummed a song instead.

"Catherine," he shouted furiously, and still got no response.

"How can my subconscious mind be so harsh to play such tricks on me?" He wondered aloud. There were millions of questions that ran through his head.

"Mr. Walton, have you forgotten sarcasm and wit are two things you are good at? What are you so afraid of?" She added teasingly. Carefully, he connected his words in a particular line of reasoning.

"I'm not afraid!" He yelled loudly. Maybe a little, but there was no way he would let her know that he thought this was just a product of his hallucination gone bad slash sleeping pill overdose.