Through The Dreamscape

squinting at the morning light creeping through her curtains. Her dreams from last night felt li

ood. Really good. But now? Now she just felt drained, l

h. The one with

image of those silver eyes from her mind. They'd looked so real, s

cing herself out of bed. "It was just

under her eyes like bruises, and her skin looked almost gray in the earl

her mom would worry if she didn't show up for breakfast. So she pulled on her uniform-the same boring navy skirt and white button

han the last. The kitchen light was on, casting warm yellow light into the di

lett said, her voice

se than yesterday-deeper purple now, spreading across her pale skin like spilled ink

o cheerful. Like if she just smiled hard enough, everythin

pt forgiving him, why they had to pretend everything was fine when it so clearly w

al seat at the small kitchen table. The wood was scr

es, worry creasing her forehead. "You l

where I torture my bullies, and now there's this weird guy showing up, and everyth

er mom's voice softened, and something in

d, pushing a piece of pancake ar

fingers brushing Scarlett's wrist. "You know

rist that matched the one on her cheek. What right did she have to complain

g a smile. "I should get go

but she nodded. "Okay, honey.

or her. It was her mom's favorite thing to say, e

ng at her feet, or maybe it was just dread making every step feel like she was walking t

Crestwo

gging toward her, his blonde hair messy like he'd just rolled out of bed. He wore a di

en slightly out of breath. "Didn't mean to scare yo

ning. No one talked to her on her way to school. No one t

ntly, her social skills

way that made her suspicious. "That's cool. I talk enough for

but wasn't sure how anymore. She kept walking, and to her

y and stuff." He wrinkled his nose. "We've got mold in our cafeteria that's probably olde

stop it. She quickly ducked her head, letti

ounded way too proud of him

voice came out all scratchy from disuse. She clear

chest feel weird. Not bad-weird, just... different. "So, what's y

this wasn't a dream, and Liam was just... a guy. A weirdly friendly

" she mumbl

it out. "Nice. Very mysterious. Like a char

m sideways. "You r

ugh. Won't shut up about some book wit

ecret H

were the bookish type. You've got that whole..." he waved hi

die sleeves, suddenly self-

shrugged. "Some people just ma

strap. "Well, this is me. East Haven's that way." He pointed down the street that branch

her, maybe. Or at least goodbye. But her tongue felt

s school, leaving Scarlett standing there feeling... weird. Kind of warm, but also like she

ts. Why had he talked to her? What did he want? People like that-bright, fri

just as awfu

, and Ava-wouldn't leave her alone. They cornered

ch dumpster did you find

head down, biting h

sad," Lila added, voice d

away, her nails digging into her palms. By the

n take off her shoes, just dragged herself upstairs and threw her

let out a shaky breath, g

whispered. "They'l

ghter and see their sneering faces. Claire's mean voice was loud in her head, every word stin

s brought her here-her school, but not quite. The walls seemed to go on forever, and the air felt hea

e, everything

like she owned it. But instead of having her usual bac

sneered, arms crossed. "Scarlett H

ult and mean comment. But here, in her dreams, she was in control

back, stepping forward. Her

, Brittany, and Lila for help, but they didn't move.

stronger. "Funny, isn't it? The queen

laugh. Brittany and Lila nodded

"You think this changes anyth

alking closer. "It

g. Scarlett didn't have to touch her. This was he

That heavy feeling came back, pressing on her chest. Scarlet

and there he was-th

like he belonged there. His silver hair seemed to glow even in

id, voice smooth and cal

kers stretching until they faded away. Claire and t

asked, trying to k

king his time with each step. "Who do you think I am

t snapped. "But I want y

g over one eye. "Gone? That's not how t

said, backing up. "I don

to know who I am. The real question is..." He paused, a smal

rds hit her harder than they should hav

hrugged, his voice teasing bu

'd had with Claire, but it didn't work. No

e softer now, almost kind. "I'm not like them

?" Scarlett demande

til there was barely any space between them. Sca

d quietly. "For now, just remember thi

arted falling apart. The hallway melted into

. The room was so quiet she could hear herself breathing. She blink

hoing in her head

as powerless

way he looked at her, like he could read every thought she tried to hide. How the air got heavy around him, making it hard to breath

he goosebumps. "It's just a dream," she whis

ams supposed to be fun? A way to control everything and escape real life for a while? This... this

d, and how he just showed up, all calm and smug, like he'd been waiting for her. Scarlett buried her face

something else. Somethin

n't jus

she couldn't explain, like some part of h

shaking her head. "I'm

She used to love lucid dreaming. It was her escape, her chance to make the world work her wa

f he ca

e pale and her eyes wide. "No more lucid dreams," she said ou

urt, but it was the only way

llowed her as she