Dreamer: Part 1 (combined)

I stared up at the night sky.

Life was so peaceful at night. Daytime was always too rushed and busy for me. You could say I was nocturnal in a way. I dipped my feet slowly into the pond and let the coldness ease the soreness in them. Life is so stressful these days...I slowly eased myself onto my back and stared up to gaze upon the life-old moon once more. Imagine just how much happiness and tragedies the moon has seen. If it had a mind, what would it be thinking? How awful and dumb humans are? Or how forgiving and kind humans are? Maybe both, Maybe neither. Oh well, I'll never know what a dead thing is thinking, IF it is. Actually the moon isn't really dead is it? What do you call something that isn't dead or alive? What an interesting question. If it can be neither, can something be dead and alive?...

"Are you going off into one of your daydreaming trances again Alai?" said a cheerful voice from behind.

I nearly jumped before I realized that person was my uncle. My uncle and I lived together in an old house in the middle of nowhere after my parents died in some freak accident I have yet to be told about by anyone. I mean seriously, don't I have a right to know? But anyways, we weren't what you would call a "big happy family". We were a very...strange family. My uncle was proud, laid back and very social. I was more of the reserved smart-alec. We were complete opposites but loved each other despite our differences.

As for my parents, I don’t really feel like talking about them because I know if I start wondering about them I’d never stop. Also, if I started wondering about them, the best person to ask would be my uncle, but that would really hurt his feelings.

"What do you want?" I asked, slightly annoyed that he broke my train of thought.

"I thought you might want to know that it is 1:00 in the morning and time for you to go to bed. There are a couple of wolves heading our way and I don't want to wake up to find a couple of your bones laying beside the pond in the morning. Now head up to bed!"

"First of all, we don't live near wolves. And also, just so you know, it's after midnight therefore it is morning. Don't go losing your sense of time on me, you old geezer."

I smiled and headed back into the house. As I slipped into clean pajamas, I wondered what really went on in that crazy man's head.

I got into bed took a deep breath. The last thought that drifted through my head was one I thought about every night. Each new day has many possibilities. What will happen tomorrow?

***

I woke up to the sound of birds twittering outside.

I jumped out of bed and looked out the window. I pressed my cheek against it. Pretty warm. The sun wasn't up yet but there was no chance I'd go back to sleep. Summer was ending soon and I wouldn't waste a second.

I got perfect grades in school but I hated it with every fiber of my being. Teachers didn't like me too much because I tended to zone out a lot in school and usually received strange stares from the classmates neighboring me. I got this weird blank face when I wasn't paying attention. That's how the teachers always knew.....Anyways I'll have a fresh start this year and I plan not to get caught daydreaming or doodling off my guard. THAT would be a big problem next year considering I was going to middle school. I had a friend once who moved away that told me horror stories about middle school. I shuddered at the thought of having to have my uncle talk to one of my teachers because of something bad I did.

I was still really tired so I went into the bathroom and splashed cool water on my face. I felt so energized that I raced down the stairs and outside. The moon was still out. I danced and ran to the sound of the local animals waking up and rejoiced to the aloneness. As you can see, I like to be by myself.

I stopped running and sat down by the pond again, my favorite spot. Intrigued, I saw a pray mantis and reached out to touch it. I did touch it but I pulled away quickly because I realized it was eating. I'm not one to disturb the way nature is.

I tapped my foot lightly on the pond. I wasn't afraid of fish or dirty things because Uncle had cleaned it out one summer and kept it looking spotless. Even if he hadn't, I wasn't scared to get dirty. I bent over and laid down at the edge of the pond. My head was closest to the pond so I could observe it. So still. What was water like before humans, animals and the wind were created. Did it just sit there unmoving through out time? Wouldn't it then collect dust and grime and then become unbelievably dirty? Well, actually maybe that only happens with humans... Without humans would the earth be clean? But then what about animals?

I stopped pondering over that as something shiny in the pond caught my eye. I immediately ran back into the house and slipped in my uncle's big, ugly, rubber overalls that he used when he cleaned out the pond. I was careful not to wake my ever-sleeping in uncle.

I stepped slowly into the pond. I tripped and almost fell because I had underestimated the depth of the pond. As long as I stood on my tiptoes I would be fine though. I looked around for the shiny object and caught a glimpse of my pajamas. They were completely ruined because some dirt and water had leaked into the overalls.

I found it. I pulled my hood over, closed my eyes and held my breath. I reached down into the water and felt around for it. I felt something and went back above the surface. I held my hand out only to scream in agony. I had just picked up a creature with very large teeth. What the heck was it? It had bat-like head, bird wings, and the rest was like a crocodile. It's teeth were sinking deeper and deeper into my flesh. Blood dripped down my arm and into the pond. I tried to shake it off but it gripped firmly with it's teeth and appeared to grow angrier. What could I do?

Then I fainted.

***

"Where am I?" was the first thing I asked. I looked around and noticed I was laying on a bed in a blindingly white room. Looking out the window, I saw the busy clamor of everyday traffic. I looked up at the clock. 7:00 pm. What day was it?

"You're luckily in the hospital young lady. What were you thinking, suffocating yourself in the pond! I'm glad you came out unharmed. We had to pump oxygen into you. If you had gone on in there for just a few minutes longer...I don't even want to think about it. Your uncle was going hysterical." replied a lady beside me who apparently was a doctor from the name tag she wore.

What did it say? Doctor....Quincy?....No....Olivia? My vision had started to become blurry. Overlapping the Doctor, came a ghostly figure of a Medieval Queen. Beautiful jewelry sparkled on her everywhere. She wore a silk violet gown. Her eyes gleamed with peacefulness. She smiled and waved. Slowly she began to disappear and my vision was fine again. I just remembered what the doctor just said and was confused. What had the doctor meant by "unharmed"? That dumb beast had bitten my hand! Blood and all!

I pulled my hand out from under the blanket, and nearly gasped as I saw it was unharmed. What was wrong with me? What kind of loony freak am I? What had I done to deserve this weird stuff?

"Is something wrong?" Doctor Oakley said clearly concerned.

"N-Nothing" I replied quickly, wondering how she had just gone from scolding me to being polite as heck.

"Okay then..."she said, her eyes glaring at me as if she was trying to break some kind of barrier." Well, make sure you get lots of rest and liquids. Don't push yourself too hard, alright?"

I nodded, waiting for her to finally leave. As soon as she did I slowly got up and sat on the cold window sill. I breathed air onto the window, creating fog. I drew a "Help me!" sign into the fog. Maybe God would see it. Unless he's too busy....But if he's always watching over us, is that even possible for him to be busy? Maybe we're really small compared to him so he can watch every move we doing...I laughed at the thought of God squinting at a television with every single person in the world crammed into the screen. That's a lot of people to watch. Maybe he had different channels! That would be an interesting sight to see.

I turned back, about to go to the bed, and nearly screamed. The thing I had seen and tried to retrieve in the pond was there, sitting on completely smooth sheets that should of been wrinkled from me getting up before. Again?!....Why couldn't I just be a normal girl in a normal world. I have no need for magical powers nor will I ever need them. They would just ruin the delicate balance of my life. Apparently, whatever spiritual force that was doing this to me wasn't going to give in. What did it want?

I silently gave in, not wanting anymore bizarre things to happen to me any more.

Sighing, I went from the window sill and sat on the edge of the bed.

I grabbed the hospital bed remote and poked the object gently. Nothing. It appeared to be some kind of giant ring. It couldn't be crown from the way it was shaped. It was golden with a giant emerald in the middle. Tiny sapphires and rubies went the whole way around the ring alternating. Putting the remote away, I retrieved a pair of medical gloves and put them on. I carefully picked the ring up and held it in my hands.

I tried putting it on my head but it just slid down to my neck. As it slid I noticed something written on the inside. I took it off and examined the inside. The initials R.Z. were engraved in the middle of many intricate designs. It was designed too perfectly that it scared me.

"Destroy it..." I heard a voice say out of nowhere.

Destroy the ring? Sure I would gladly do it, but how? I had a feeling that it had put some kind of curse or something on me from the moment I saw it. If I could destroy it, I would most likely destroy all the strangeness that came with it. End of story.

"How?" I asked.

No reply.

"Hellooooo?"

No reply, just more weirdness.

My heart skipped a beat as someone knocked on the door. I quickly shoved the ring under my pillow and got back underneath the covers again.

"How are you feeling?" My uncle said as he walked in.

"J-just fine." I said attempting to smile but failing miserably.

"You never were a good liar." he said grinning.

He pulled up a chair and sat beside me.

"Girl, I know something’s troubling you. I have known you your whole life. Spill."

"Why would you think that?" I asked innocently.

His dark, old eyes examined me. I glanced around, nervous about the stare he was giving me.

"I assume she'll tell me when she wants to." He said to himself quietly as he left the room. "Oh, and we're leaving tomorrow morning. Pack up your stuff."

"How can you force an ill girl like me to...pack?" I emphasized the word pack as he chuckled.

"You know just as well as I do, that you are just fine. Don't play games with me."

I began to pack, shoving the ring into the deepest depths of my suitcase, wondering about the troubles that abnormal ring would bring.

***

The ride home was...interesting.

Apparently, my uncle had been secretly dating a woman without telling me. Why he didn't, I don't know. She rode in the front seat and blabbered on about things I didn't care for. I'm not the kind of person who'll go screaming at their parents for not asking them to date someone first. As long as she wasn't a brat I'd be fine, and she wasn't one, I guess. I had to restrain myself from laughing about my laid-back, crazy uncle marrying a sophisticated, weird, mysterious woman who talked all about world peace and world hunger but suspiciously did nothing to help the causes. Some people might say that she wasn't so bad and wonder at why I'm laughing like a madman, but they probably haven't met my uncle.

His girlfriend reminded me of the complete opposite of myself. Unlike my black hair and blue eyes, she was a blond with piercing green eyes. I wasn't one to care for other people's feelings and she cared for everyone's feelings. I was pessimistic most of the time and she's always all "happy day!" . At times she seemed a little...fake. It's like she was trying too hard. Even though I had laughed over the thought of them getting married, it scared me a little too. She was so perfect, yet so wrong. Why had my uncle taken an interest in...her?

On our way home, I stared out the window. I thought about if there was a way to prove whether or not the car was actually moving or the things outside were moving by themselves and the car was still. Some people might think the answer obvious, but think about it. It could be true.

I finally noticed the route we were taking was different. I was about to say something but stopped myself after realizing that we were probably dropping his girlfriend, Queen(how surprising), off at her house. She lived in a small house in the suburbs. It had lots of flowers out front.

I had wondered about why uncle seemed to be neglecting me that day in the hospital. Now I knew why. As we drove up to her house, she invited us to dinner. Trying to be polite, my uncle accepted. This would be quite an intriguing "research project." Now I could do some investigating of this new specimen. I pondered over what kind of dirt I might dig up.

***

Her house didn't look like what I expected.

Queen's house was a bit...plain and bare. I expected to see the kind of beautiful house that you would find in a magazine, perfect. Other than a few necessities, she didn't really have anything, despite how big and open it was on the inside. There was a rugged brown couch, A small white refrigerator, bare walls, you get the picture. She sounded as if it was perfect from the way she was talking to uncle.

"So...what do you think?" She asked brightly.

My uncle glanced around nervously, wondering what to say.

"It's....ummmm...very unique!" He replied nervously

"Well frankly I think it's pretty ugly and undecorative. I mean seriously, you call this a house?” I said, completely telling the truth unlike my uncle.

My uncle shot a nasty "What do you think you're doing?" glare at me. I looked away, pretending not to notice. Strangely enough, Queen said thank you to my reply. Something was up, and I would be the one to find it.

"Let me prepare dinner. It won't take long. Make yourselves comfortable." Queen said in a cheerily scary voice.

"Uh, I have to go to the bathroom." I said, trying my best to lie.

"Oh, it's upstairs farthest on your left." She said without looking at me because she had started cooking.

I hurriedly went upstairs. I glanced around. There was 4 doors, each of which I would have to look through. I went to the first one, the farthest on the left. I opened it quietly and peeked inside. I walked in, careful not to misplace anything. It looked like a normal bedroom, in the same style as the rest of the house. Nothing suspicious. I knocked my hand in a couple of places, trying to see if there were any secret compartments. There wasn't.

I left the room, closing the door behind me and entered the room next to it.

Whoa.

It was all dark and Gothic. There was a huge throne right in the middle of it all, There were no windows and black vines wrapped around everything. On a wall there was a big splotch of blood. Everything was black. I was totally freaked out.

And suddenly, I finally blinked and everything was gone. I should start carrying a camera with me, I thought. Now the room was just...blank. Now everything was white and there wasn't any furniture anywhere. Creepy.

"What are you doing?" I heard a voice say from behind. Dang it.

I turned around. Queen.

"N-nothing. I was j-just leaving.” I replied very nervously. I mentally slapped myself for sounding so suspicious.

Her eyes narrowed and her usual peppy smile turned into a frown. She poked me in the middle of my chest and pushed me backwards while she was talking.

"You listen and you listen good. Whatever you saw stays between you and me. I forbid you from ever going through my property ever again. I will make your uncle marry me. He will do whatever I say. If I tell him what you were doing he'll be furious. You wouldn't want that to happen, do you?

I nodded quickly as she pushed me against the wall and increased her force.

"I thought so." She said as her smile returned. "Oh and just as a reminder. Here's a gift."

She pulled out a short silver dagger out of nowhere. She then rolled up my sleeve and drew a small and painful Q near my shoulder. I was silent.

"Let's go down for dinner now. It's getting cold and your uncle will wonder what we're doing"

She grabbed my other shoulder and dragged me downstairs, digging her nails into me a she did it. Oddly, the Q didn't bleed throughout the entire day. I thought about all the possibilities about Queen and about the two remaining rooms that I had never checked. Well, actually one room because one of them has to be the bathroom. I had to find out more.

Dinner was really slow. I stayed silent as, once again, Queen blabbered on and on about things I didn't care for. Eventually me and uncle drove home. I fell asleep in the car and dreamed about a mob of black vines entwining themselves around me and suffocating me. I woke up in the middle of the night breathing hardly. Was I getting myself into the something bigger than I thought?

I was too stubborn to let this go.

***

I woke up late the next day.

I sleepily treaded downstairs and followed the smell of waffles. I sat down at the dinner table and replied a quiet "thank you" as uncle handed me a plate full of waffles. I drizzled a lot of syrup on them and began to eat them slowly. It looked like uncle was going somewhere from the way he was dressed.

"I'm going to go pick up some chocolates for Queen for our date at the movies tonight. Will you be alright? You're not too old for a babysitter you know. I could just---"

"Uncle. Don't worry, I'll be FINE. I've stayed home alone hundreds of times. What's the matter with you?” I asked curiously.

He didn't reply because he was already out of the house. I heard the car turn on and slowly drive away. Was this Queen lady taking over my life? Uncle hadn't been spending as much time with me as he usually did. Oh well...Who am I to mess with the lives of those in love? I'm still wondering how he could fall in love with such a brat, but who knows? Nothing's impossible. My first impression of Queen was SO totally wrong.

I washed the dishes and changed into some clean clothes. I went outside and sat on the porch. I brushed the hair in my face back and held it in a tight pony tail. I flailed my arms everywhere as a bunch bees flew toward me. I hated bees. They reminded me too much of Queen. They deal with sweet things but are dangerous themselves. Did Queen have anything to do with all those strange things happening to me? When uncle comes back I should ask him when he started dating Queen. I would have to do it in a way that wouldn't be suspicious.

And suddenly I remembered the voice in the hospital room. The ring! I raced upstairs and tore my suitcase apart. There it was. The voice had said to destroy the ring. With uncle gone, this would be an ideal time to attempt to break it in every way possible. I went outside and threw it on the porch cement several times. Nothing. Next, I lit a fire in the fireplace and carefully placed the ring inside the fire. I left in there for a few minutes but nothing happened. I carefully pulled it out with tongs until I realized it was cold. What was wrong with this thing?

I finally resorted to an axe. I set the ring on the ground and began hacking at it with my uncle's axe, thankful that no one would see an eleven-year-old going wild with an axe. I then sadly put it away because the ring wasn't even scratched. The axe was better for chopping wood, not destroying crazy cursed rings.

I ran inside, once again, as I heard someone knock on the door. I looked outside through a crack in the window and groaned sadly. It was Queen. I quietly tiptoed into the kitchen and pretended I wasn't there.

"Girl, you better open this door now. I know you're in there. You don't want another "reminder" on your other arm do you?" Queen yelled from the door.

I hesitated but then reluctantly opened the door.

"Where's your uncle?" She asked, making me think her name fitted her really well.

"He's out shopping for you.” I emphasized the word you.

"Hmmm...."She said twirling her hair in her fingers and chewing her gum especially loud. "Well, I don't think he'll mind if I wait here with you."

"Sure..."I said, quite sarcastically. She must've noticed, because when she burst past me, she thumped me hardly.

It looked like it would be a while before I would be alone again. I muttered a few unmentionable words under my breath and headed upstairs into my room. I pulled out my journal and began to write. I put the date down, May 18. Then I began to write 15 terrible facts about my life.

1. Queen is the devil.

2. Uncle is neglecting me because of the devil.

3. My worst enemy is the devil.

4. Strange things keep happening to me even though I don't want them.

5. A stupid ring is making me go crazy.

6. That same stupid ring refuses to be destroyed.

7. If I hear anymore voices in my head, I'll probably go crazy.

8. My worst enemy is in my own home.

9. I can't go near my favorite spot by the pond anymore because of that little beast thingy.

10. If I tell anyone what is happening right now, they'll probably think I'm mental.

11. Uncle has never been romantic and now he is which is scaring me.

12. If I see Uncle and Queen kiss in front of me, all hell will probably break loose. I know it's coming soon.

13. I'll never be able to wear a spaghetti strap again without uncle thinking I got a tattoo or something.

14. I can't think of anything good that's happening.

15. OH MY GOD I LEFT THE RING OUTSIDE!!!!

I ran downstairs and saw Queen sitting on the couch with the ring on her lap. This would be tough to get out of.

"What's this?” She asked trying to sound polite.

"Nothing.” I said and tried to grab it away from her. I failed miserably because she pulled it away from me and I ended up tripping onto the floor.

"It looks like something to me..."

"It's mine. Give it back. You're on me and uncle's property and you have no right to touch what is ours.” I said, regretting it completely.

"Uncle and I, you mean. While your uncle is still dating me, this place is as good as mine so you better shut that bratty mouth of yours up."

I thought about who really was the bratty one. How could Queen correct me, of all people? I would need to get her back. And suddenly I thought of a way. I could try to get rid of the ring by giving it to Queen. But then again, it might follow me like it did to the hospital. I decided I would find a better way to get her back.

"I have no need for this thing." She threw it across the floor. “When’s your uncle coming back?"

"I don't know."

"What do you do in this dump to pass the time? Watch the grass grow?"

I ignored that comment completely and headed outside. I saw uncle's car pull up and he walked inside. I looked in through the window and saw just what I had been dreading. There they were kissing. Queen saw me and gave me a smirk. I rolled my eyes and sat on the porch once again.

Something came up from behind me and hit me in the back of my head, causing me to black out. I was stuffed into a bag of some sort and taken somewhere. I didn't resist. I needed a very long break away from the devil. And I had a feeling that where ever I was being taken, would be far, far, away.

Uncle had probably been neglecting me because he had tired of boring old me. Now he had Queen and would live a happy life. I don't care if I'm overreacting or not.

I'm not needed.

***

I had fallen asleep.

I woke up in the front seat of a car on the highway that seemed to be going past the speed. The sun was out and burning me up. I shifted in the seat and tried to make myself comfortable and the least in the sun. I stared out the window and tried to read the highway signs so I could find out where I was. Jalearkan? What kind of city name is that?

"So are you finally awake?" The man in the driver's seat asked.

"Apparently." I said, quite sleepily.

"Do you want to make a rest stop here or keep going until we get to the hotel?” He asked

"Ummm...neither?” I said, not wanting to go anywhere with a stranger.

He laughed. "Looks like you're going to be a tough one. Here, grab the bag from the backseat and we can eat those until we get to the hotel."

I looked back into the backseat. I saw a black, lumpy bag and pulled it up front slowly.

"Go ahead. Eat whatever you want. Just leave some for the trip tomorrow." He said cheerily

"You do know you haven't told me anything about what we're doing, right?” I said, wondering what he meant.

"I'll explain after dinner."

I squinted at him and gave him a very suspicious glare, which made him laugh again.

"Don't worry. I'm not the kind of person who'll murder you in your sleep."

"Stop putting ideas in my head. You really expect me do believe you? Why did you kidnap me in the first place?"

"Slow down there partner. I told you already, all will be revealed after dinner."

"Whatever.” I said and began to open the bag.

Inside was every kind of food I loved: Hard candy, sour candy, chocolate, potato chips, ice cream, Popsicles, soda, etc. I wondered why it didn't melt or get squished, but didn't ask, not wanting to sound ungrateful.

I was halfway through a bag of potato chips when I realized what he might be trying to do. Maybe he was like the evil wicked witch from Hansel and Gretel. I slowly put the bag of potato chips back into the black bag and stopped eating.

"Is something wrong? You do know I'm not trying to poison you or anything?"

"That's what all the killers say." I said defiantly.

He put his head in one of his hands and sighed.

"How about we just stop by the nearest McDonald's and you can eat some food that isn't poisoned?"

"Fine with me" I replied. "By the way what is your name?"

"Sybel Zophodius but people just call me Almenile."

"What a weird name. Where are you from? Why do they call you Almenile? Isn't it kind of a mouthful?"

He smiled. "Too many questions. I told you, all will be revealed after dinner."

I rolled my eyes at his reply and opened the window. I stuck my hand out the window and savored the coolness against my hot and sticky skin. I closed my eyes only to open them as something strange materialized onto my hand. I opened my eyes expecting something disgusting but I was surprised instead. It was a scroll. I opened it slowly and began to read:

Watch yourself. You think you may of left me but I'll always be there. Always. I'll haunt every shadow, every dream, every day. ME and him are completely happy together without you. It seems as if he has completely forgotten about you. Lucky me. I get my man and no brat. Our children will be much more behaved than you. Expect my loving messages at random times. They'll always be coming, you can count on them. By the way, if you tell anyone about this, expect to be killed in your bed.

Your Future Aunt,

Queen

STUPID DEVIL!!!! Why was she doing this to me? Was she stalking me or something? I mean, sure I had an attitude around her sometimes, but if someone did that to you would you really act like they murdered you or something?! I really wish she would just---

"Are you mad? What is that? Let me see it."

I turned and smiled at him. "All will be revealed after dinner."

"Well, that'll be soon. Look, there's McDonald's."

I turned and spotted the annoying yellow sign. I stuffed myself full as we got our order. I wondered what kind of things would be "revealed" after dinner.

Just more weirdness to be shoved down my throat, most likely.

***

"So..."He said getting into the car.” Where should I start?"

"Why did you kidnap me in the first place?” I asked

"It depends on how you look at it but...some one wants you and I was told to bring you."

"Okay...and who exactly wants me?"

He smiled. "That you'll find out for yourself."

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Anyways, why do they call you Almenile? Isn't it a mouthful? Why can't they call you Sybel? It's much shorter."

"...Something...happened a long time ago and I was forced to change my name to Sybel. It was originally Almenile and that's what most people know me as."

"Interesting. Why haven't you given me a straight answer?"

"Well, I want you to be able to find out these things for yourself. It's no fun to have everything just told to you."

"Then what's the point of me asking you questions? What was up with the whole "all will be revealed after dinner thing"?"

"I like messing with you." I glared at him.

Changing the subject I asked: "How much longer do we have to drive?"

He rubbed his chin. "Roughly half an hour tonight and 1 and a half hours tomorrow."

"I hate car rides..."I said absently.

"Who said we would driving tomorrow? I know I didn't."

"We're flying on a plane?..."I said

"Yes we're flying but not on a plane"

"Oh yeah sure. We're riding a rocket ship. Woohoo." I said sarcastically.

"Do you have an imagination?"

"Hey, I'm just being realistic. It's not like we're going to be riding Pegasus, the magical flying horse."

"Well not exactly. More like a horse scientifically fused with an angel."

"Yeah right. Angels are spiritual beings. They can't be fused with something physical. Also, THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE."

He raised his eyebrows. "And you know that how?"

I sighed angrily. "Because I know that I don't live in some magical place with abnormal creatures. Besides, I still don't know whether or not you're a psycho. You're sure acting like one." I smiled, seething with annoyance.

"Excuse me? If I'm such a psycho, why are you still here? I didn't know you'd be so stubborn. Well, let's just see that sweet little smirk disappear once I prove YOU wrong." He looked away and continued: "I certainly didn't expect you to have anger issues."

I balled my hands into fists and my mouth was hanging open. I was about to reply but Armenile blasted the radio on and I was muted. Man, I hated him right now.

We drove on into the night, without a word. We each had separate rooms at the hotel. Apparently, the lady at the service desk thought HE was my dad and was about to book us the same room. That just irritated me a lot more.

Still though, I would rather stay here and blow my head off with anger than to stay home and watch uncle and Queen kiss. Ugh. Was she like some evil wicked witch from a fairytale whose come to kill me? I know that sounds really crazy, but seriously! She sure looks like one.

We both headed to our rooms as soon as we got there because we were both exhausted. Nothing strange had happened...yet. And I still didn't know where in the world I was. My life is getting so mixed up. Also, what about that guy who wants to see me? It was surprising how much I could get myself into in a matter of weeks.

What's going to happen to me?

***

I woke up to the sound of Almenile pounding on the door.

"GET UP ALAI! It's an emergency! You would sure be able to sleep through a thunderstorm!"

I rolled over in bed and covered my ears to block out his yelling, yet it still continued.

"I can call hotel service and tell them to remove the crazy man from my door." I could just imagine him making a face.

And suddenly the door opened and in came Almenile. He walked right to my bed threw off the covers and practically pushed me out of bed.

"I don't have time to waste on the likes of you." I could tell he was annoyed. Get your sorry butt up and out of this hotel room or I'll do it."

"Sheesh, and you thought I had anger management problems." He ignored that comment and walked out. And then I remembered I had no other clothes.

"Wait! What am I supposed to wear?"

He took a deep breath, paused and answered. "Go to the gift shop."

I did. The store had some extra clothes just for weary travelers. I bought a black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Hmmm....Would I have to buy clothes from stores like that until I got home? IF I got home?

I met Almenile down in the lobby. He had already checked us out and was impatiently tapping his foot while sitting in those squeaky leather couches.

"You're ready? Come on let's go. We're already late."

"For what?"

"Don't play dumb. Starlight is probably already going crazy in the stable."

"You mean that fake scientific experiment gone wrong that only exists in your mind?"

"Sure. Think whatever you want to. You'll see. Let's go now."

"Without breakfast?"

"I've already bought some. We're eating it in the car."

And that was that. We drove for a while I ate pancakes smothered in thick syrup. We came upon an old, red rundown, building in the middle of nowhere, like my house.

Almenile didn't say a word as we walked in. It looked WAY different on the inside. It was all prim and proper. Like the inside of a mansion, fancy. But for the millionth time I blinked and it all disappeared, revealing what I had thought it would look like. Nothing was real these days.

We walked through the entire house and out back to where I guessed the stables were, as said by Almenile. He opened the door slowly.

"See? I told you. Isn't she beautiful?"

It was completely empty.

"Ummm...I don't actually see anything."

"She's standing right there, how can you not see her?"

"I don't...AH!" Something hard whacked me on the face and my nose was bleeding. It hit me again in the stomach and I was bent over gasping for breath. And something similar to a whip hit once again several times on my back, probably hitting hard enough to leave scars. It continued on like that and I was soaked in my own blood. I didn't see anything though. I blacked out. Nothing...

"Alai?! What's wrong?!"

***

Almenile was spooning some kid of liquid into my mouth.

I opened my eyes. We were in one of the rooms of the old house. I tried to sit up but Almenile gently pushed me back down.

“Take it slowly. There’s no rush.”

“What are you feeding me?” I asked sleepily.

“I’m feeding you medicine, obviously. You still think I’m feeding you poison?”

I chuckled. “When are we going to leave?”

“We’re spending the night here because of your condition. I’ve already bandaged you and all. You need to heal first.” I blushed, thinking about certain places he’d seen.

“Okay. By the way, is this your house?”

“No. Its been abandoned for a while and I thought I’d just make use of it.”

I rolled over in the bed and groaned. I ached like heck. Suddenly I was falling, falling into an endless black hole alone. I screamed. I wanted to get out but nothing happened. Soon it all began to dissolve away and reveal my uncle’s house. Queen was sitting on a couch. She waved at me and smiled.

“How’ve you been doing?”

Quite fine without you, I thought but apparently she heard me and replied.

“How mean! Just so you know, it’s been a 2 months since you’ve left.”

Leave me alone.

“Sorry I can’t do that, By the way, you know that ring? Look down at your left.”

And then I was back in the room of the abandoned house.

“Is something wrong?” Almenile asked, a worried look on his face.

I didn’t reply but instead looked to my left. There it was hanging on a nail in the wall.

“Almenile, I want to leave. Now.”

“We just barely got here. What’s the matter?”

“I told you, nothing. It’s important. I have to get out.”

“Not in your condition.”

“I have to! I’m scared! I need to leave!” I shrieked and tried to get out of the bed.

Almenile caught me and put me back into the bed. I struggled but he held down firmly. With one hand he reached to the bedside table and picked up a bottle. He poured a little bit of it’s contents into my mouth but I spit it all out. This place was a living heck. It must have been haunted or something. So many weird things had happened here. More then ever. Most of them hurting me, emotionally and physically.

“I hate my life! Get me out!” I screamed.

“Get a hold of yourself. Drink this.”

He poured more of the liquid into my mouth and covered my mouth with his hand so I wasn’t able to spit it out. I began to feel dizzy. I struggled and fought against it but I slowly fell asleep.

Am I going crazy?

***

For once in a very long time, I dreamed.

I was in a forest by myself sitting on a rock. It was nighttime and I could see the stars. Just like home. A black cat walked over and sat on my lap. I slowly stroked its fur. I was in my element. A woman with blue eyes and black hair walked over and sat beside me. Her lips moved but I couldn’t hear as sound.

“Excuse me?” I asked politely

Her mouth continued moving but I still couldn’t hear anything.

“I can’t hear you mam.” She smiled and hugged me. Then she disappeared and I woke up.

***

“Are you sane now?” I heard Almenile ask.

“Perfectly.” I replied

“Do you feel any better?”

I sat up but fell back again because of the pain.

“Yes” I said weakly

“It doesn’t help that you can’t see her, but you’ll have to ride Starlight with me. It’s the fastest way.”

I glared at him. "Fine. Are we still going to that weirdo who wants to see me? You know, I still don’t feel good about that.”

“Don’t worry so much. It’ll be fine.”

“I am not worrying! I just fear for my life, that’s all.”

“Whatever you say, it’s still worrying.”

I rolled my eyes at him. And suddenly he picked me up and walked towards the stables. He opened the door to the stables and I finally saw something. Starlight was standing there. She had silky black fur on her body, save for a splotch of white on her forehead and edges of white feathers on her wings. She was beautiful.

Almenile hoisted me up onto her and got on himself.

“Hold on to me.”

As I did so, Starlight trotted out of the stable at Almenile’s command. Soon, we were in flight.

Flight was wondrous! The wind through my hair rejuvenated me and I could see so much from so up high. Almenile seemed like he was enjoying it too.

“What day is it?” I asked

“July 18”

That was really strange. I just barely remembered it being around May 18 when I left. It hadn’t even been a week. Did time pass by faster here in this place called, I think, Jalearken?