Sweet Dreams

by J. Clarice

  Scarlett was barely able to breathe as she frantically glanced for things to throw in front of the door. The nightmare crashed against a wall before harshly banging on the door. Cher wasted no time and rushed over to the painting that hid the armory. She hastily inserted the code as the pounding increased.

  “COME ON! COME ON!” Cher yelled in frustration as the wall began to part. Neither of them remembered it being this slow. It finally opened and a flush of relief flooded Cher and Scarlett.

  At the same time, the door to the room splintered and gave way.

  Thirty-Three

  Cher reached for Scarlett’s shoulder to pull her into the room but was a second too late.

  A searing heat traveled up Scarlett’s leg as she fell to the ground. An agonizing scream left her lips and she was dragged towards the door.

  “SCARLETT!”

  Scarlett glanced down and saw the nightmare’s hooked tail going through her left calf. It steadily dragged her away from the armory and she squeezed her eyes shut as she became paralyzed with pain. The curved hook nicked bone and impaled the meaty part of her left calf. Throbs pulsated from Scarlett’s leg as tears poured down her face. She tried grabbing onto something but the yank on her leg weakened the feeling in her hands.

  A booming bang resounded through the room and made Scarlett’s head pound. Her ears stung from the stabbing ring that entered and she weakly covered them as she lowered her head to the ground. She wasn’t being dragged anymore. Another bang occurred and Scarlett opened her eyes to an empty broken doorway. Muck covered the walls and Scarlett’s impaled leg. Its hooked tail was going through her, but that was it. A tail with no Nightmare attached to it.

  Scarlett shakily turned her head to her mother who stood at the armor room’s entrance with a shotgun in hand.

  Cher quickly put it down and rushed to her daughter’s side. Scarlett felt hands loop under her pits and drag her backward. Her head fell back and she saw the roof changed from a tanned ceiling to a dark brown leather one. Her father liked the luxurious style and the thought brought a weak smile to her lips. He was now her light in the darkness.

  ‘Light… The light!’

  Scarlett’s eyes widened as an idea dawned on her as her mother shut the entrance to the armory. It was a thick door, the nightmare wouldn’t be able to get in easily if it came back.

  “Mom.”

  Cher didn’t hear her feeble call. She ran around opening cabinets and pulling out knives and guns. “For all the weapons your father had, he didn’t think to put a first aid kit in here.”

  She let out a choked laugh and grabbed a throw pillow that laid underneath a knife. She cut it and stretched the fabric while making her way towards Scarlett. Lowering herself beside the injured calf, Cher gave her a weak smile before moving her leg. Scarlett harshly bit her lip and sobbed from the pain that erupted. Cher tried to work quickly and tied the cloth around the wound's openings where blood was pouring from.

  “I’m so sorry Scar,” Cher whispered as Scarlett released another wave of tears. “There, there, I’m done.”

  She lightly patted Scarlett’s leg and rested it back on the ground. Her mother continually chanted ‘I’m sorry’ as she took in Scarlett’s state. Her skin drastically paled and her leg was torn. Dry blood caked the top of her head and drips of it lined her scratched face.

  Scarlett’s breathing slowed and she shook her head to bring herself back to her mother. “Mom.”

  Cher shushed her. “Don’t speak, baby, you’ll be alright. Hold on okay.”

  “Mom!” Scarlett’s scratchy voice stalled her mother’s worrying. “Light. In Ever Realm, the nightmares died because we used light, the bracelets. Regular light doesn’t do anything to them, but what about fire?”

  Cher’s eyes widened at what Scarlett was implying and murmured to herself. “The light that’ll burn through the darkness, not just shine.”

  Cher grabbed knives, strapped two guns to her side, and carried the shotgun on hand. “I’m going to be right back, okay. Just hold on Scarlett.”

  She lifted Scarlett and propped her against the wall and placed another pillow under her leg to elevate it. Cher leaned forward and softly kissed her on the head. “I love you, my princess.”

  Scarlett’s eyelids lowered as if attached to bricks and her forehead lined with blood and sweat. The last she saw was her mother’s brown eyes before she got up and walked away.

  ∞

  Gasoline…

  Its pungent smell assaulted Scarlett’s nose as she came to.

  Blinding light shined on her and she blinked a few times to see that it was the sun shining through a window.

  There were no windows in the armory.

  She groaned as her body was moved. Scarlett drowsily looked up and her mother’s hair tickled her face.

  “Shh, shh, not right now Scarlett.” Cher had a new gash that crossed her face and she frantically swiveled her head in all directions. The nightmare was still there. Her mother’s right eye was red and swelling and her nightgown was practically no longer on her; save for the threads that hardly hung on the sides.

  ‘What happened?’

  Scarlett couldn’t feel her left foot. She moved her gaze to her leg to see the aftermath of the nightmare. Bone shone whitely against the bloody gashes and the nightmare’s hook still stuck out from her leg which was twisted sideways.

  She couldn’t feel her entire leg. The dragging stopped and Scarlett watched her with half-opened eyelids.

  “Mom, what’s going on?”

  “I’ve barricaded most of the entrances and the thing to set it all ablaze will be the nightmare, it’ll burn down with the home.” Cher’s tears mixed with the blood and grime on her face. “It’s time to burn it all away.”

  Scarlett saw her mother’s lower lip quiver as her nose flared. She’d gotten that trait from her. Father couldn’t no matter how much he’d tried and would spread them with his fingers. He knew it’d get a laugh out of his girls.

  Scarlett reminded her mother of the memory and tears freely fell from her eyes. Heartache tore at both their insides. No matter the physical pain, it was the damage inside that hurt them most.

  “I’m so scared.” Cher sat between Scarlett and the wall and hugged Scarlett between her legs. They were tucked into a corner with a level view of their staircase and the hall below it.

  “Shh, you’ll be okay.” Her mother reassured as Scarlett molded to her body and rested her head against her chest.

  Pounding resounded throughout the hallway under the staircase and Cher gently removed herself. She leaned Scarlett against the wall and walked to pick up a sword and a match that laid beside them. Cher looked back at Scarlett before stepping forward and disappearing behind a corner.

  Scarlett kept her eyes on where mother was last before moving them to the foyer. She saw her mother move behind the wall that was beside the staircase. She leaned her head and back against it. The match rested in one hand, ready to be sparked at the perfect moment.

  Shrieks and snarls filled the air as the nightmare made its way down the hallway. Scarlett could see the damage her mother had done to it. One of its entire hand was missing and the top of its mouth had been blasted off. Its tail was half the length with the hook missing. Black muck poured from its body as it ran down the hall on all fours. Its black orbs caught sight of Scarlett and headed towards her.

  Scarlett’s heart thundered as she stared the nightmare straight into its pitch-black eyes. It was mindless, only doing what it’d been programmed to do. The High Nightmares took advantage of that and used them as they pleased.

  The thing was getting itself killed for nothing.

  The nightmare tripped over the thick rope at the hall’s entrance. It harshly tumbled to the ground unaware of the bucket of gasoline descending upon it.

  They used the Lowly Nightmares not caring about their outcomes, only about theirs.

  Scarlett, with half-lidded eyes, saw her mother rush from behind the wall.
With a match in hand, she set it alight. As if time slowed, Scarlett saw it flip through the air, the flame steady while the rest of it moved. Scarlett’s heart beat with every turn of the match until it landed on the nightmare. The flames bloomed to life and licked every inch of its victim.

  Shrieks, the most hollowing and grisly sound she’d ever heard, filled Scarlett’s ears and rang through the depths of her mind. Cher watched the nightmare bump into the stairs and set them aflame. It’s happening.

  It is truly happening.

  Cher turned her back to the nightmare and faintly smiled at Scarlett. She ran towards her as Scarlett saw something black explode from the fire.

  It wasn’t muck.

  The nightmare’s spikes lining its spine exploded from its body and shot in every direction. Scarlett watched her mother stumble forward and fall to the ground as another black spike headed straight for her abdomen.

  Everything slowed.

  Scarlett stared at her mother who laid face down unmoving. Shouts rose from Scarlett as she tried to drag herself forward. She choked over her sobs and tears streamed down her face as she grabbed ahold of Cher’s limp hand. Scarlett moved beside her mother and pushed her over onto her side.

  “Mom, no. Please don’t leave me.” Scarlett laid her head on her mother’s still chest as smoke began to fill the room. Her heart cracked and numbness slowly infused throughout Scarlett’s body as her eyelids drooped.

  Before she fully closed her eyes, a voice called from her mind.

  “My brave girl, you are so incredibly strong.”

  “Mom?” Scarlett feebly called back.

  “Your time on Earth may have come, but your mind and life still have yet to continue.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Scarlett couldn’t see anything as she was surrounded by blackness. She didn’t remember closing her eyes. Her chest rose and fell quickly.

  Gradually, Cher came into view and stood in front of Scarlett’s Ever Realm gate. She was beautiful as ever with not a scratch or stain marring her angelic face.

  Scarlett realized what it was. “Mom, you’ve gotta go, or else you won’t make it.”

  She moved to push her mother towards the gate but she solemnly chuckled. “That’s not for me anymore. You still have so much more to do. I love you, Scarlett. Don’t ever forget it and I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

  It dawned on Scarlett and her chest grew heavy as she heard her mother’s words. Her throat tightened.

  “No, no. Don’t do this. That is yours, not mine.” Scarlett backed away shaking her head in denial. She couldn’t do this.

  She couldn’t leave her alone.

  “You’ve made me so proud Scarlett. And I know you will continue to do so.”

  Scarlett ground her jaw to attempt and hold in the water that threatened to push through. “Please don’t leave me too.”

  Cher smiled warmly at her daughter and didn’t give her a chance to waste any more time.

  ‘I love you’ were the last words Scarlett heard from her mother before she was knocked out and surrounded by darkness once again.

  ∞

  Scarlett thought she’d felt grief before.

  But nothing compared to the emptiness she felt as she stared up at the grey ceiling.

  The blackness that’d been taking its time eating her from the inside completely consumed her.

  Scarlett screamed into the air as sobs retched through. She closed her eyes as her cries went unheard.

  Her family was gone.

  The fight was still in motion and she could hear it. It drowned all noise and filled her ears.

  He did this. They were all gone because of him. Scarlett curled her hands into fists as fire filled her veins.

  Scarlett left the room and went to the roof of the Center. Hatred and revenge burned through her mind with every step.

  ‘They will all pay.’

  ‘He. Will. Pay.’

  Reaching the roof, she stepped out and swept her gaze across the battle. Dreamers she’d never seen before joined the fight and she understood when she caught sight of Official Samsus.

  He brought the Havened Ones.

  Even with their new numbers, Nightmares kept pouring from the Dark Realm. Endless waves after waves. They wouldn’t be able to hold for much longer.

  At the center of the battle, Scarlett laid her eyes on her target. She clenched her jaw and ignited her palms until he turned and gave her a glimpse of his opponent.

  ‘What!?’

  Scarlett’s eyes widened as her mind stumped trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Cain fighting Cain?

  The missing detail to Cain’s story finally clicked into place.

  'Twins.'

  Thirty-Four

  Scarlett saw red.

  Now standing side by side, she saw the difference between the two brothers. Raxon’s armor was more scarred and greyer than Cain’s. They stood at the same height and had the same facial features. Their hairs were cut the same but Cain’s was in its ruffled state while Raxon’s was slicked back. She remembered Ca– Raxon’s display of power and it’d been dark red like tainted blood. The only major difference between the twins.

  The Dreamers' numbers were decreasing and quickly turning into a slaughter rather than a battle. At the front line, Cain whipped his power at his brother who gracefully deflected every one.

  Before Scarlett could enter the battle, something breached the back of her mind. As smooth as silk, it flowed down her neck until it reached the ball in her chest. It wrapped around and coated the strings of her power to become one.

  Instead of being afraid of it, Scarlett welcomed it and let it fill her body. She knew the changes before they happened. Her grey armor disappeared as blackness poured over it and coated every inch. The mark on her collar stayed grey, marking her as the One and noticeable for all to see. Her armor thickened as her new powers raged inside, eager to be released.

  Scarlett jumped and sailed through the air in an arch. She landed crouched on one knee in the middle of the battle and a ways away from the fighting brothers. Nightmares rained upon her touch down and Scarlett unleashed her powers with no mercy. The Dark Realm creatures exploded upon contact with her newfound power. Muck splattered her but blended in perfectly with her armor. Dust clouds swirled throughout the air as Scarlett struck Nightmare after Nightmare. Dreamers and Dreammares began to take notice of the immense power radiating off Scarlett as she made her way towards the center.

  Her hair flew wildly around her, alive and buzzing with energy. A sheer black cape that draped down the back of her armor appeared out of the cloud of blackness that trailed Scarlett. The crowd had parted with each of her steps. She held her head high and with sharp eyes placed herself in front of the brothers. The brothers were enwrapped with each other and didn’t take notice of her.

  Scarlett raised a hand and flicked her fingers to the side. First, in Raxon’s direction and then, in Cain’s. They flew backward and landed roughly on the ground. That got their attention.

  The brothers glanced up from the ground, surprised to see Scarlett standing before them. The battle around continued while some ceased to watch the events unfold.

  “This ends now.” Scarlett thundered as she looked them both in the eye. Seeing anger in Raxon’s and relief in Cain’s, Scarlett didn’t let herself be fazed by either.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Raxon rose and shot a bolt of his red tendrils straight for Scarlett.

  Without having to move a finger, her black power blocked it inches from her face. Scarlett kept her expression stoic as she cocked her head at Raxon. Refusing to back down, he threw strike after strike.

  Not one clipped her. Raxon stiffened and his grin slowly faded.

  Scarlett stepped towards Raxon and lifted her open palm. Her fingers slowly began to close into a fist and a thrill overcame her as she watched his expression slip and panic shown through. Raxon found himself unable to move as something unknown tighten
ed around his body. He grunted and was soon followed by Cain.

  “Scar, what are you doing?” Cain shouted as he found himself unable to move as well.

  Scarlett ignored both of their cries and continued what she needed to do. Lifting her other hand in front of her, Scarlett twirled her fingers with her palm facing in. A small, non-intimidating motion, but enough.

  A tiny black circle appeared right above the tips of her fingers.

  ‘Twins are special in Ever Realm and extremely rare.’

  Raxon’s eyes widened at the sight of the black hole and silence fell across the battle like a wave.

  An entrance to the depths of the Nether Realms. One hadn’t been seen or made in all of the histories of Ever Realm. They’d thought they were simply stories.

  Scarlett turned her gaze to a glaring Raxon.

  “Raxon, your pathetic act of a reign has come to an end. Those reasons you have for a war, that only disrupt the balance of all life, will cease to exist as you will from this day on.”

  ‘Twins are known to share a powerful link between their minds unlike no other.’

  She shifted her eyes to Cain who clenched his jaw already knowing what’s to come. All her emotions hit her like a truck but Scarlett doesn’t give way to any of it except for the tear that trickled its way out from the corner of her eye. Cain looked away. He had nothing to say Scarlett either.

  ‘Even stronger than a partner’s link.’

  Raxon caught on and let out a bitter chuckle. He smirked at Cain. “Looks like I’ll be dragging you along with me brother.”

  ‘You see, where one twin goes, the other must follow.’

  Raxon threw his head back and laughed louder. Shouts began from behind but Scarlett paid them no mind and put up a giant wall that surrounded the trio. No one could see in or get through. The black hole began its way towards the two brothers and grew.

  Before it reached where they stood, Scarlett called out to Raxon and he abruptly stopped laughing to listen.