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