4 Dreamed

4- Dreamed

The following week was mellow

compared to the hectic previous week

of curating. Although the business

partners still had work to do, there

were restful periods during the day

where they could relax.

This period, however, didn't feel

as relaxing to Alana Walters. This

was because when she wasn't doing

anything, she would often catch

herself thinking about Friday night.

Her thoughts specifically wandering

toward the enigma of the man in

Armani. Karla's boss, Lylas.

Alana couldn't exactly understand

why she couldn't get him off her mind.

Was it his attractive aura? He had

practically glared at her throughout

the whole encounter last Saturday. So

she shouldn't pay head to that sort of

arrogant person. However her mind

wouldn't stop.

This inner turmoil with herself made

her frustrated. She would never meet

that person ever again, although

She had Karla's business card for his

company. Alana couldn't see herself

contacting Karla. She stopped herself

from doing so, because deep down,

Alana knew the reason she wanted to

get in contact with Karla was for the

chance of seeing him again. This would

be very wrong and unfair for her

friend.

And so, for the rest of the week she

decided to dedicate all her efforts and

thoughts into working.

By Friday night, Jake and Pam invited

her out, since they never really

celebrated the success of last week.

They went clubbing and Alana went

all out for that night. By the time she

called it a night, she was too drunk for

sense.

Pam and Jake had been reluctant

to let her go. However, seeing how

intoxicated the usually faultless Alana

was, they decided to hail her a taxi and

implored the driver to make sure she

got home safely.

The minute Alana

entered her flat, she tottered drunkenly

toward her bedroom. The tight dress

was discarded immediatelv and

she didn't have time to slip into her

pyjamas when she slumped into her

bedsheets.

It didn't take long for her to fall asleep,

she was out the minute her head hit the

pillow.

The dream entered her subconscious

the minute her mind entered REM

sleep..

In the dream, Alana found herself

standing in middle of the forest. The

leaves and grass of this forest were

auburn red, indicating the bloom of

autumn. She didn't know why but the

urge to hurry pulsated through her. She

was here because she had a purpose.

And that purpose was to find some

fruits or any edibles amongst barren

trees. She had to return before sunset.

As she coursed through the dense forest

for any edibles, it didn't take long to

encounter ripe persimmon fruits. Some

had fallen and got spoilt on the ground,

however some of juiciest still remained

rooted on the branches. She gathered

these ripe fruit using a stick to ease

down the branches. And then shoved

sixteen of them on the pockets of her

sleeves.

She then rushed her way back to where

she came from, the urge to hurry before

the sun set making her feet move faster.

The dense forest began to channel into a

soil road and she merged on this path.

A few meters away, there was a

house-like cabin waiting for her. She

saw the pile of smoke mingling with

the air from the chimney and her heart

pulsated faster. Somehow she knew

what this smoke meant.

It meant he was back. Back on time as

he had promised. She began running

toward the wooden house, her shrilling

voice calling out for him.

"Is it you?" She asked as she dashed

for the entrance door. The house was

warmly lit and cosy compared to the

blankness state she had left it in earlier.

He emerged from the threshold of the

kitchen and her heart beat quickened as

ifit was the first time seeing him.

"You have returned?" His deep voice

uttered. Then he opened his arms,

beckoning her over.

Her glee reached her toes as she quickly

ran into his hug.

It was at this point that Alana felt

herself slowly dissociating. As if her

soul was suddenly leaving her body. She

watched as the scene alter into a blur

once she became aware that she was

dreaming

The blury body she had dissociated

from reached the man with dark hair

and dark clothes. Alana watched their

bleared bodies embracing for a while

and felt a strange prickling all over

her body. It was a very weird feeling.

Because at that moment she felt as if

she were the one in his arms.

The man then leaned down to

the woman's ears and whispered

something. Alana felt her ears tingling,

as ifa warm breath had tickled her

ears. However, no matter how much she

strained to hear and see, she couldn't

for the life of her make out what he had

said and what he looked like.

There was something oddly familiar

about the two people she was watching.

Alana felt at a plight as she tried to

gather how, when and where she could

have seen these people in order for them

to feel fanmiliar to her.

All ofa sudden, the air in the dream

shifted, as if cold ice was encased

all over it. This sudden air made her

shudder with fright.

Alana turned around and startled when

she saw a man in front of her. It took a

while of studying him for her to realise

this was the same person she met at

the Gallery function last week. The man

that plagued her every thought this past

week. The man whom was her friend

Karla's boss. Lylas.

"What are you doing here?" He asked

her accusingly, his ever glaring mass

prominent.

Alana sighed, feeling disappointed that

even in her dream he was scowling.

"Its my dream, you're just a figment

of my subconscious, and shouldn't be

asking me this..." She replied.

"No." He countered. "This is my dream

portal. How could, a mere mortal such

as yourself, have managed to even

slip in? Which demon accessed you a

voodoo spell?"

Alana frowned to herself, "Dream

portal? Demon? Voodoo spell?" She

questioned, genuinely confused and

curious about what he could be possibly

saying.

It was such a strange dream to be

having. But then again all her life

her dreams have never been normal.

Nevertheless, there was something

about this certain dream that felt very

odd.

Was this what they called a lucid

dream? She wondered.

"Yes, a dream portal.. " Lylas answered

her. "..created from her strongest

sentiments and memories. No one but

me and her can enter it. " He pointed

behind her.

Alana looked back at the scene she had

left behind. Shock rooted her speechless.

The figures that had been glossed over

-as if stained with water running down

glass-were now as clear as day.

Although clear, Alana couldn't see the

features of this woman he pointed at.

Only the back of her long silver hair

accompanied witha diamond pearl

crest wrung around her head. The

greyish white dress robe and skirt

she was wearing looked ancient and

expensive, as if they were made of

one hundred percent silk and satin

material.

The silver hair on the

woman perturbed her for a moment

before she suddenly made a connection.

Could this be the same woman from

her art piece? The woman in a field of

snow? The same painting he was so

adamant on getting last week. The art

piece she regretted not keeping since

a crazy person like him had bought it

for such a ridiculous amount of money

from a third party. Alana couldn't know

for sure, since she couldn't see that

person's features.

This, however, wasn't what had made

her awestruck. It was seeing the man

whom was facing toward them--as he

hugged that woman-that astounded

her. She could see this man's features

clearly and that man was the exact

replica of the one standing and talking

beside her. Lylas.

Alana rubbed her eyes and pinched

herselffor good measure. Was she too

somnolent that she was seeing double?

Maybe she was envisioning it all. It was

after all just a dream.

"That person is you?"

"Yes." He replied.

"How?" She asked in stupefaction.

"It's my past self, exactly fifteen

thousand years ago."He told her. There

was a pain she couldn't decipher in his

tone and eyes. As if watching the couple

in front of them brought him immense

agony.

"Fifteen thousand years ago?" Alana

echoed.

She knew her dreams had always been

abnormal growing up, but to conjure

such a dream witha backstory for him

was too surreal for her to even imagine,

let alone dream it.

"How am I dreaming this?" Alana

muttered to herself

"You're not dreaming it...this is my

dream." He told her.

"I don't understand, why and how I am

in your dream then?":"

Of course you don't, you are just a

mortal.. when you wake up, you'l have

forgotten this ever happened.."

Alana suddenly panicked hearing this

statement. And through her panic she

grabbed Lylas hand. She hadn't a clue

where the courage had came from.

However. she lived life seizing moments.

This moment to Alana was just an odd

but thrilling dream she was having. And

in this dream, she told herself she would

take full advantage of the situation.

In reality she would never again meet

this person. And since he said she won't

remember this dream, the desire to

touch him overtook practicality.

Alana felt the instant warmth of his

palm against hers for a that mere

second before he flinched from her

touch. The warmth of his hand felt so

real, it brought her pulse to a spike.

Did she judge wrongly then Was it not

really her dream? How could he feel so

real to touch?

"Who are you?" He asked her, his eyes

were on the hand she had grabbed.

The look on his face as if she had

contaminated him.

The way he looked down at her-with

his deep glaring expression-the slight

puzzlement ingrained in his eyes made

it seem as if he was asking himself that

question.

Alana felt submerged in his eyes

instantly. Although his expression was

unpleasant, there was something about

his eyes that was drawing her in.

She opened her mouth, about to

remind him that they met at the

gallery function last week, the artist

of the painting he purchased, when he

suddenly waved his hand infront of her

face.

Something gold and shining twirled in

front of her eyes. It beckoned, entranced

and made her even more lethargic.

Her last thought was of regret before

she fell into a burst of unconsciousness.

Regret that she couldn't spend more

time with him in this weird but pleasant

dream.

**

Saturday mornings were sacred to

Alana Walters. As sacred as Buddha

to monks. This was her precious time

to relax and have a lie in: either with

a good book in hand or a tv show on

play. Nevertheless, today the second

she woke up, she was afflicted with

the urge to paint. She felt tormented.

Tormented by the dream she couldn't

recall.

She sat in her painting room across

from her bedroom with a blank

canvas mounted, paints arranged and

paintbrush in hand. However still, all

she could do was trace the foggy faint

outline of a face she thought she saw in

her dream.

Alana felt at an impasse. As if

something very important was missing

and she couldn't for the life of her

figure out what.

Another twenty minute of frustration

passed by before she was saved by the

ringtone of her blaring phone.

The caller was an unknown number

and as she picked up, Alana was

surprised to hear a familiar voice. It

was Karla and she wanted them to

have breakfast together. The time

and place was already arranged and

booked. All Alana had to do was get

ready and drive there.

Since the whether was still too hot for

this country, Alana decided to wear

the same blue denim shorts she wore

last week, with a sleeveless white crop

top and white All Stars. She topped this

with a baby pink flannel shirt in which

she wrapped around her waist. Just in

case it got chilly later on wards. You

never knew with this unpredictable

bipolar whether.

For her face, she didn't bother with

make-up. Alana was one of those

people that were blessed with natural

clear skin and striking features: a

perpetual pale face against her stark

dark brown almond shaped eyes and

pinkish full lips.

For her neck-length black hair, she

tied some strands off her face and left

a fringe to cover the annoying mole on

her forehead.

Before she grabbed her keys on the

wall, she made sure nothing electrical

was left on. After double checking

everything, Alana then darted out of

her door and headed straight to her

car, thankful for choosing the ground

floor from this three storey flat.

Alana entered the famous

elite cafè feeling out of place by the

poshness of the interior. Even the

servers looked more expensive than

she was. The waiter greeting her bore

a doubtful look as he saw her attire.

However, since he was on the job, his

customer service was pristine and

established.

As he escorted her to where Karla

was waiting for her, Alana attracted

watchful disapproving eyes from

onlookers as she walked by table

after table. This further enhanced the

unwelcome feeling.

There was one table that Alana felt

an extremely uncomfortable rise

in temperature as she passed. This

temperature felt as if it was boiling

her vital innards and destabilising her

system. She felt a quick compression

puncturing through her head, as if

someone struck her head with a bolt of

electricity, thus making her head ring

with constant pain. This pain, however,

was gone as she soon she passed that

certain table.

Her eyes met with a deadly stare that

could incinerate one into ashes on

the spot. The ominous bloodthirsty

expression on such a handsome face

made her feel exposed and vulnerable.

Whoever this person was, Alana was

alerted to the impending danger.

She didn't know how she could tell,

but her intuition was sending booming

signals to be cautious. Especially when

that person smirked so evilly at her

distressed expression.

"Finally you're here?" Karla rose fromn

her seat to greet her with a welcoming

smile.

Alana wrought her gaze away from the

danger two seats away, telling herself

she was over analysing again. she

decided to concentrate on reuniting

with her long lost best friend. She

smiled at Karla and asked how her

morning was and whether she had

already ordered.

"I have," Karla replied her latter

enquiry. "And I ordered you your

favourite full English breakfast."

"I'm glad you remembered." Alana

commented genuinely surprised.

Karla looked hurt by her comment.

"How could I not remember? We were

practically sisters in Mann, Lana."

Alana smiled gleefully hearing her

childhood nickname from Karla.

She was suddenly wrought with a

flashback of her adolescent years

where she used to be adamant on going

by "Lana" instead of her full name.

Overtime as she grew older, it confused

people why she would disown her

beautiful unique name to such a

basic one. And thus she discarded the

nickname and owned up to her full

name.

Alter une rooa was neauy placed

on their table with the appropriate

utensils, Alana took a bite of her toast

while Karla spooned her porridge.

"So, tell me," Alana began suddenly

after a few minutes of contemplating

whether it was appropriate to ask

her friend this. Curiosity was making

her very impatient and she needed to

know.

"..when and how did you fall in love

with your boss?"

Karla coughed, almost choking on her

mouthful of porridge. A blush stained

her cheek as she dabbed her mouth

with a napkin. Her watchful eyes were

bulging at Alana's daring question.

"Is it that obvious?" Karla seemed

mortified.

Alana's nose crinkled as she tried to

hide in her smirk. She nodded in reply.

Karla slumped back on her seat,

dabbed her blushing cheeks with the

back of her hands and pouted. "Well

then..you'll be the first to have noticed

and made a remark on it."

"Does he not know?" Alana asked

leaning forward.

Karla sighed in affirmation. "My

boss is..he is someone too busy and

occupied to be concerned for such mire

matters."

Alana frowned. "How long have you

known him?"

"Three years?"

Alana felt dread enter her heart. They

had history. This feeling unsettled her.

She quenched it quickly before she

could questioned what it meant.

"That long and he still doesn't know?"

"It's unrequited. He doesn't know how

I feel about him and unless I truly

confess, he will never know..." Karla

told her truthfully before she added,

".Alana, please I'd like to keep it that

way..I'm truly happy as long as I'm by

his side."

A concern wrinkled Alana's

expression. "You're happy that way

even if he never knows?" Alana

couldn't understand it.

Although she'd never fallen for anyone

nor experienced that heart-pacing and

gut-wrenching feeling of love everyone

talked of. She was very sure if she

ever did fall in love with someone, she

will let that person know soon as she

realised.

Karla nodded.

Alana contemplated on Karla words

and tried to understand this meaning

of love.

Karla saw her reflecting state and

smiled. "Unless, you're in my shoes,

Alana, if I try to explain you'll never

get it."

It was a very arrogant thing to say, but

she was right.

Alana was contemplating some more,

when Karla's spoon suddenly clashed

and cluttered on the porcelain bowl.

Her face blanched, however her eyes

were filled with horror and warning as

she stared in panic at Alana.

The ominous feeling returned as the

air of the cafe shifted. Alana felt as if

she was in dreamful daze, watching as

everyone stopped their movements.

What was more disconcerting was how

even inanimate objects defied gravity

by being suspended mid-air.

Everyone and everything stood at a

stand still, as if someone had stopped

ume ana Torgo avou nTer.

Then it happened so quick, Alana

thought she imagined it all. The man

she saw earlier with a death on his

eyes stood up and in seconds was in

front of her as if he'd flown. A sinister

smirk played on the corner of his lips.

If it were not for the malice in his eyes,

Alana would have appreciated his

handsome features.

"I knew you couldn't be a normal

mortal... the scent of your soul enticed

me as soon as you walked in." He

spoke, his voice tinged with deep

hoarse tone that made her shudder.

"What a shame though," He continued.

"My target was not you today, but since

you're with her, I'll have to take you

too... Maybe I'll stew up and gobble

you up later onwards. I could do with

an increase my strength..." He smirked

evilly.

".Since you're so special my Time

Halting spell didn't even work on

you. I'm sure my strength will triple

in comparison to when I consume a

mortal without essence." He spoke.

Alana couldn't understand the

sentences he was spewing. Mortal?

Time Halting spell? Essence? It was

odd because she felt shed heard

these words before, but as she tried to

recall where and when she couldn't

remember exactly where she'd heard

them before.

I must be dreaming again. This was her

thought as she watched the man's blue

eyes quickly change to neon red.

As if someone had struck a match, fire

quickly encased on his palms running

over his arms, shoulders and torso,

until it consumed his whole body.

Yet he still stood as if nothing was

happening.

Alana's chest rose with quick breaths,

fear rooting her numb. The heat

compressed her head again and she

felt a migraine brewing. After a few

second, she realised that the fire was

not incinerating him because he was

the one that was harnessing it.

"w-What are you?" She stuttered

through the terror.

"I'm your worst nightmare!" He leaned

down at her, the pernicious smirk

decipherable in his expression.

The flames blinded her eyes, the

bluest colour shaping a heart on his

chest. This flame came alive, pumping

hot liquid all over him, this liquid

hardened his body limbs as it travelled

all over him.

Alana could only watch-frozen in

terror-as the man slowly transformed

into a five meter tall monster, with hot

red stones for skin and fire red flames

for eyeS.

She fainted at the horror of it all.

***

Hey guys, those reading this, I hope

you are enjoying this story so far!

Please vote and comment and tell me

all thoughts! Really appreciate!