Dreamscape: Saving Alex

by Kirstin Pulioff

  “I still don’t understand. Who are they?”

  “Berkos’ spies. We’ve lost a lot of men in recent ambushes. Now we know why. Anyone on this list is an enemy of the rebellion.” He shook his head. “This changes the game for us. We now know who we can trust and who we can manipulate to our advantage. You have given us this. I don’t think I can thank you enough,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

  “Well, maybe you can thank me with some food. I’m starving.” On cue, my stomach grumbled.

  “Ah, Goldy, I wish I could, but we finished it all yesterday. We’ll have to head into town to get something. Are you up for that?”

  “I think so. My legs are better,” I said, stretching them. I reached around for my dagger and floundered at the empty slot where it normally rested. My stomach growled again. “Do you know where my dagger went?”

  “It’s here. I had to take it to carry you.” He pulled it out of his bag and handed it back to me. “I wanted to get as far away from there as possible before he sent his men out. We surprised him, but I don’t think he’ll forget about us anytime soon.” He chuckled and brushed the hair out of his eyes. “I still can’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve ever had quite so much fun fighting anyone.”

  Fun? We had very different ideas of fun. I straightened my tunic and felt unusual ripples constricting my ribs. Peering beneath my shirt, I saw the vines crisscrossing my stomach. I blushed.

  He’d had his hands around my ribs, and I couldn’t remember.

  “And then the way you jumped over the guards...” His voice continued in the background.

  His hands were all over my stomach, and I couldn’t remember.

  “The way you...”

  How could I forget that?

  “What?” I cut in, not having paid much attention to anything he’d said.

  “Last night. I just can’t get over it,” he said, coming closer to me.

  My version of it didn’t seem quite as heroic as his when I replayed the events in my mind. I remembered a lot more fear and fumbling.

  I unwrapped the vines around my waist and felt his hand stop on top of mine.

  “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to cross any boundaries,” he said, nodding towards the vines.

  My skin flushed. “Don’t apologize for healing me. If you haven’t figured it out, I seem to attract a little danger.”

  “Is that all you think you attract?” he asked, shrinking the distance between us.

  “It seems everything here comes with some danger,” I said, my heart threatening to leap out of my chest.

  “Then I’ll just have to make sure I stay close,” he whispered, taking my hand in his.

  “I thought I was supposed to be the hero,” I said, looking down at our entwined hands. A blush warmed my face.

  “Even a hero needs saving sometimes.” He tilted my chin up to meet his gaze.

  How was I supposed to respond to that? My stomach fluttered and my knees buckled. We stared at each other, the moment stretching into silence. I didn’t know what to do or what to say. I did the only thing I could think of, and looked away.

  “Don’t do that,” he said.

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Then help me understand.” He raised my chin, searching my face for answers.

  “I can’t...” I protested, lowering my gaze. Looking at him was too difficult.

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  I twisted away. Tears stung the edges of my eyes.

  “Alex, you’re everything I’ve ever hoped for,” he said softly.

  “You mean the rebellion—”

  “No,” he said, turning me back to face him. “I mean me.”

  “Don’t do this. I…I can’t,” I said, trembling. I was losing the game of tug-of-war between my heart and mind.

  “Why not? There’s nothing you can say that could deter me.”

  I stared at him for a moment. “Nothing?”

  “Nothing. Whatever’s in your past, is just that...your past. You’re here now, with me. I hope,” he said, lifting my hand to his lips.

  “Arrow, it’s not that easy.” But I was melting.

  “It can be. Let the rest go.”

  I wanted to. I wanted to fall into his arms, feel his embrace and the beat of his heart that matched mine. I wanted to believe...but I couldn’t. How could I forget who I was or pretend that this fantasy was real? I couldn’t lose myself here when I needed to get home.

  “No,” I said, silencing the battle within.

  Arrow stepped back, his face fallen. “What?”

  “I can’t be what you want me to be,” I said more evenly.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t either. But I can’t. I’m not from here,” I said after a deep breath.

  “It doesn’t matter to me where you’re from. We could make it work,” he said.

  “Not this far.” I bit my lip. “Arrow—”

  “Don’t,” he said, quieting my protests with his finger on my lips. “We’ll make it work.”

  “Please, Arrow, you don’t understand. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  His eyes flickered between confusion and hurt, finally settling on disappointment. He let my hand go. “It’s fine, Goldy. If you’re truly not interested, I understand. You don’t need to worry. I just thought I saw something back there between us,” he said.

  I bit the inside of my lip. That did not go how I’d intended. “Arrow?”

  “Forget about it. Please, just pretend I didn’t bring it up. We still have a long way to go to get to town.”

  I sighed deeply and nodded. Maybe some things were better not discussed. “Which way is it?”

  “It’s about a half-day walk over that ridge, and...”

  “And what?” I asked, following his gaze to the dark plumes. “Oh no.” My stomach dropped.

  Dark smoke spiraled over the horizon. Beneath each spout of smoke, flames crowned the forest. In their wake, charred remains darkened the trees.

  “This has to be Berkos’ men. Marix couldn’t burn the king’s territory without permission. I should have known they would retaliate. I just didn’t think it would be so soon.”

  “Retaliate? Against us?”

  “It’s bigger than us. He’s retaliating against the rebellion. We may have been the spark they were waiting for.”

  “But how would he have even known? We just left there last night.”

  “He has ways of communicating quickly. He’s probably been following you since you arrived. In fact, he’s probably tracking us right now,” he said, pausing to look around. “I hate falling into someone else’s plan.”

  I reached for his hand, knowing that feeling all too well. “What do we do?”

  He shook my hand off, grabbed his bag and then handed me mine. “We need to get more men,” he said, throwing his bag over his shoulder.

  “More men? Why?” I asked, dreading his answer.

  “Because, Goldy, you’re going to lead us to victory, and I assume you’ll want more men than just me behind you.” His voice held an edge.

  “Whoa, what?” I asked, feeling fear’s grip tighten on my chest.

  “You’re the Golden Hero. That’s why you’re here.”

  Crap. I knew pretending would eventually come back to haunt me. “I can’t do that,” I said.

  “What do you mean?” he asked, exasperated.

  “I mean, I’m not who you think I am,” I said. “I’m not the hero you’re looking for.”

  “We’ve already been over this. I’ve seen what you can do and what you know about the places we need to go. If you’re worried, don’t be. You’ll have plenty of people to support you.”

  “No, Arrow, I mean I can’t do it. Leading you to hidden papers was one thing, but I can’t lead a rebellion. That’s not why I’m here.”

  “Then why are you here?” he asked, shuffling his bag to his other shoulder.

  “I’m just looking for my way home.”r />
  “To the north?” Arrow rolled his eyes and started back on the trail.

  “No.” I grabbed his forearm. “I lied before; I’m not from the north. I’m not even from Lockhorn.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m not from your world.”

  He laughed.

  “I’m serious,” I said.

  He stopped in his tracks and turned around to face me. “This isn’t the time to go over this. If you’re scared, that’s fine. Most of us are, but we still do what’s required. I expect the same of you,” he said with a tightened jaw.

  “You’re not understanding what I’m saying. I’m not from here.”

  “You keep saying that as if it would mean something to me. It doesn’t. Now let’s go. We can’t waste any more time on these trivialities.”

  “Trivialities?” The ease at which he brushed off my concerns angered me. “Trust me, this isn’t a simple matter.”

  “Then explain it to me.”

  “I don’t know how to explain it so you’ll understand,” I said slowly.

  “We have to get moving, so find a way quick.”

  “Okay… I’m—I’m not from this world. Where I’m from, Lockhorn is nothing more than a game.” I cringed, watching him absorb what I was saying.

  “A game?” he scoffed.

  “Yeah, it’s just a game. We play it for fun, traveling the forest, storming castles, saving the queen. All of it…all of this, isn’t real.” I tried to keep my voice even and stop my feelings from pouring out in my words. I watched anger and confusion collide on his face.

  “So none of this is real to you? You don’t believe in Lockhorn?” he asked again, this time with an equal measure of disappointment and comprehension.

  “No,” I said, biting my lower lip. I felt bad for him, struggling to understand when I still hadn’t come to grips with it myself.

  “Why are you here then? Why did they send you to be our hero?” he demanded.

  “I don’t know,” I said. Part of me wished I didn’t feel so relieved at telling the truth, when it meant crushing him. But I did. “I just want to go home, and I think I can do that by rescuing the queen. I’ve spent my entire life playing here, beating the king and saving the queen. In theory, I understand everything about this world.”

  “In theory?” he asked. To his credit, he didn’t move, didn’t even flinch at the rest of my confession.

  “Things are just a little different from how they were in the game. That’s why I didn’t understand the history or the meaning behind the boxes and stuff. In the game, you just kind of take the things you need along the way.”

  “I can believe you’re not from this world. That much is a given. I knew that from the moment I saw you. But to hear that this is just a game to you…that you don’t believe…” He rubbed his forehead and tightened his lips. “I don’t know what to say,” he admitted.

  “I know, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I didn’t know how to explain it. I still don’t.”

  “None of that really matters. Magic is magic. Even if you don’t believe now, or understand why you’re here, I do. You were chosen for a reason.”

  “It’s not that easy, Arrow. I don’t think I can be who you need me to be.”

  “Goldy, you’re exactly who I think you are. I don’t care where you’re from, you’re here now. You know things, and that’s what we need.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing,” he said with finality.

  “Don’t you care who I am?”

  “I could ask you the same thing. Are you going to leave us just because you aren’t from here? Because you don’t understand who we are? Is that what you do in your world?”

  “No, I, uh…” I stammered, shocked at harshness in his words. They struck too close to home.

  “Think about it, Goldy. It’s obvious you’re different, but it never mattered to me, because you acted as if you were committed to us and to our cause.”

  “Then why are you acting this way now?” I asked, hurt.

  “How am I acting?”

  “I-I don’t know!”

  “Fed up? Angry? Hurt?” he asked, punctuating each word with emotion. “I feel all those things. But most of all, I feel responsibility for my people. I swore I would bring them the Golden Hero, and that’s you.”

  I looked at him and pressed my lips together.

  “You’re our hero, Goldy. The rest doesn’t matter to me.”

  I looked down at the ground. What if it mattered to me? I wasn’t sure I could do all that he expected of me. If they put their faith in me, their lives in my hands, shouldn’t I be willing to do the same for them? But I didn’t want control anymore. The moments of power weren’t worth their cost.

  “Now grab your stuff. We have to head to the capital,” he said.

  “To Lindle? No, I was just there, and trust me, you don’t want to go there.”

  “No, not Lindle,” he snapped. “We’re going to the true capital, Flourin. You’d better learn that while you’re here for the rebellion, you’re here on our terms. We’re still loyal to King Helio and our history.”

  “Okay,” I said, taken aback.

  “Our time’s running short, and I want to make sure we’re ready. Are you with me?”

  I nodded and fell into step behind him. I was with him, but I still didn’t know what that meant.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I stumbled into town, dragging my bag behind me. I’d been reduced to incoherent mumbling, begging Arrow to slow down. My shorter legs refused to keep up with his urgent pace. By the time we crossed into town, they gave way, refusing to budge anymore. I slumped over and hung my head low, avoiding his eyes. I’d had enough.

  “It’s not much farther,” he said, pulling my arm.

  “I can’t do it. I’m done. I can’t move. You go, get your men, and do what you have to do. Just leave me here for a few minutes.” I waved him along, keeping my gaze fixed on the dusty road.

  Even though I refused to look up, his eyes burned into me. “I was going to get food first. But if you’re too tired for that...”

  My head jerked up, and my eyes met Arrow’s mischievous smile.

  “You better not be kidding,” I said, narrowing my gaze. This wasn’t the time to mess with me. “Help me up.”

  “It’ll be the best stew you’ve ever had, I promise. Now Goldy, before we go any further…”

  “I know, I know, hide my hair.” I started to twist my ponytail, but he stopped me.

  “No. This time, I want everyone to see who you are.”

  “I don’t understand.” I let my hair slide back down my neck.

  “We’ve passed the point of waging a silent battle. When they see you, they’ll know the time has come for action. It’s time to take back our kingdom.” His voice rang out triumphantly.

  I rolled my eyes. I was not in the mood for a speech.

  “Whatever you say. Just get me something to eat.” I reluctantly stood, leaning against his arm as a wave of lightheadedness rolled over me. I hated the way my body—and attitude—deteriorated so quickly without food. Hangry, as Natalie called it. All my other pains seemed minor compared to the gnawing hole growing in my stomach.

  My vision blurred, and I followed Arrow’s gentle tugs. The brief glances I managed to take of my surroundings did not impress me. I looked around, disheartened.

  Flourin seemed to be a city of monotony, forgotten under a layer of dust. The bones of the old capital were there, but I recognized nothing else from Arrow’s stories. Nothing stood out to me in the deserted market. I didn’t see a single person. In fact, everything Arrow had praised about this town seemed wrong. I only hoped he was right about the food.

  Cobblestones tripped me, and I stumbled, barely finding enough energy to step over the broken edges.

  “We’re almost there,” Arrow said, stopping to help me up. “I promise you, this will be worth it.”

  “It better be,” I
mumbled, grabbing at his arm.

  The farther into town we went, the more I began to doubt where he was taking me. Cottages and storefronts appeared from behind the wall of dust. Instead of comforting me, the evidence of disuse and neglect added to my discomfort. Gusts of wind shrieked through the broken windows, signs creaked, swinging from only one end, and dark corners lengthened into dark buildings.

  It was a shame, really. These cottages, if repaired, could belong in one of my mom’s magazines. I sighed, watching half my reflection disappear in the cracks. Neglect was a formidable enemy, always underestimated.

  A knot, bigger than hunger, twisted my stomach. Who did Arrow hope to find here?

  He stopped in front of a rundown building. The faded sign had twisted on its hinges. The letters spun, indecipherable, but the bread and bowl etched into the windows told me what it had once been.

  “Arrow?” I hesitated as he pulled me forward. “I don’t think we should go in there.”

  He laughed and walked to the door. “I thought you were hungry. Are you coming?”

  I stood there, frozen in place. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “It’s fine. Trust me,” he said, shaking his head as he disappeared into the dark abyss of the tavern. I bit the inside of my cheek, cursing him. But I did trust him, even if this place gave me the chills.

  “Wait for me!” I said, trying to catch him before he disappeared. There was no way to know what lurked in the shadows. If it was anything like what I had seen so far in Lockhorn, it couldn’t be good.

  I blinked as I stepped through the door into the dingy tavern, letting my eyes adjust to the dark. The smells knocked me off guard. Thick smoke mixed with wine, choking me. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t see, and I felt like I was going to get sick. The dim lighting only made things worse. When I couldn’t see, my imagination worked overtime, giving me nightmarish visions. Visions I didn’t want to meet for real.

  It was too late. The loud thump of the door closing behind me echoed in my soul. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes. I didn’t need to see clearly to know that everyone stared at me. The moment the door closed, all conversation stopped. Not in a casual, lull of conversation way, but in an abrupt halt, where whispers sounded like echoes. They were all staring at me. I no longer wore my nightshirt, but I felt just as exposed.