Chương 48: Chapter 47: Dreaming Again

It was the dead of night. Alice covered her ears with her hands as she squirmed in her covers, kept awake by a cacophony of noise searing into her brain. Rustlings in the gardens, footsteps in the halls, scratching on her ceiling, and that god-awful ticking of that clock echoing so loudly it nearly burst her eardrums. She could hear everything, down to the tiniest croak, as though they were right beside her. Make it stop… please make it stop… I just want to sleep…

"Her time is nearing…" A whisper whimpered. What was that? Alice's eyes shot open and she jolted out of her covers. Her eyes darted around the room as fear and panic surged through her body.

"Who is that? Evelyn, is that you?" She called out, her voice sore and croaking. The noises went silent. She gripped her covers, hearing her heart pound against her chest. Seconds went by, and eventually a minute, and Gods, she wished that Evelyn would reply. But there was no one. She was completely alone in her chambers. Am I hearing things? But it was so clear… Goddess, I don't like this. Alice scampered toward the light switch, flicking it upward.

The bulb hummed, emitting a faint spark before flickering out the second after. Why now? Why now? Something's very wrong. Am I… really alone? Alice gulped and channeled spirituality into her eyes. The world turned black and white as she peered into the world of spirits. She grabbed the silver scissors on the table, half expecting to see some horrid revenant standing in the corner of her room. She sighed in relief, as she was greeted by an empty room. I'm just getting paranoid.

Just as she lowered her hand, she spotted a pale red light emanating from the wall facing her bed. It vanished as quickly as it came, leaving not a single trace. Alice frowned, gripping the scissors tighter. That's just… the runes probably. Sometimes it does that… but I've never seen red before. Alice walked up toward the wall and gave it a swift knock. A loud thud came back at her. That's strange… She knocked on the wall beside it, and the sound was much softer. It was solid brick, after all.

Alice pushed the scissors into the wall, and with a little force it plunged inside, ripping into plaster. She slashed an opening barely the size of her closed fist, revealing a cramped compartment clad in slate brick on the other side. What in the name of the Lady… She peered into the hole, spotting a cramped compartment on the other side. There were strange white and red stains on the slate walls, and a piece of red cloth lying on the ground.

She looked to the right, and there was a small tunnel that led to God knows where. She couldn't see the end of it from where she looked. How is that possible? Alice stared at her chamber door to her right. The hallway is right there. That doesn't make sense. Alice gulped and stepped away from the hole, her legs trembling in fear. Am I dreaming? Shit… I'm not sure… I need to get out. I don't like this. A hand smothered her mouth. Another snatched the scissors out of her hands, throwing it to the ground.

She let out a muffled scream as she was lifted up by the neck, fingers crushing around her throat. Help! Help! No! No! She flailed her arms and legs like a fish out of water, slamming them against its unseen figure. Whatever it was, the thing was large and strong, its grip like iron. She could barely see the large black glove covering her mouth. She gasped and wheezed for air as tears began swelling in her eyes. She clawed at its arms to no avail, feeling her limbs going limp little by little.

She looked down as her vision darkened, glimpsing at the white hem of its robe. Someone… help me… Fight as she might, the darkness filled up her sight until she could see nothing else. With a final wheeze, she fainted, her body falling limp like a corpse. Amidst the world of black, she heard the ticking and tocking of the old clock. Alice gasped as she opened her eyes to the familiar sight of her room. The morning light was seeping through her curtains, painting the floors and walls a warm orange. What's…

what's going on? Her back was covered in sweat, and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The hole in the wall was gone, and her throat only felt lightly sore. Was it just a dream? She looked into the mirror and saw herself with ruffled hair and slightly reddish eyes. She lifted her chin, ogling her neck, looking for any scars, but there was nothing. She rose from the bed and shuffled over to the wall in front of her, giving it a hefty knock.

A soft thud came back, sending a wave of relief rushing through her body. It was just a dream? Goddess… am I going mad? Alice stepped back, touching her neck. That felt too real… is this a sign of succumbing? I need to get myself back together. A loud knocking jolted her back to reality. Alice opened her chamber doors and found Evelyn waiting for her outside, leaning against the old wall.

"Good… Good morning?" Alice said.

"You're up late. I was about to go inside and wake you."

"How long have you been waiting there?" Alice raised her brows.

"Ten minutes now. Goddess, you look awful. Did something happen?" Evelyn frowned.

"Did—did you hear anything inside earlier?"

"No, I don't think so. Why? Were you doing something?"

"No, nothing. I think I just had a bad dream." Alice shook her head.

"I'll go fix myself. You can go ahead without me." Maybe that really was just a dream.

"I'll just wait. Father Orlando would be even more worried if I came alone."

"Alright." Alice closed the door and approached the mirror. She combed her hair and changed into a fresh set of clothes, and by the time she was done the reds of her eyes turned white once more. She hurried out of the chamber as if nothing happened at all. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"Let's get going," Alice said. Evelyn grabbed Alice's hand and hurried down the hallway. Alice followed Evelyn down the stairwell, all the way toward the classroom below. When they arrived at the doors, Evelyn let go of Alice's hand, wrapping her arms around her back as if waiting for something. Alice sighed inwardly and pushed the classroom doors open, stepping inside. Father Orlando greeted her with a smile, and Alice cast one back. She walked down the main aisle, passing by rows of silent students.

There were only ten of them left, including herself and Evelyn. The room felt too spacious as she took her seat. Evelyn sat down beside her, pulling out a notebook and a pencil from her bag. Father Orlando stood up from his desk and greeted the students with his usual words. Then he went up to the board and began to teach. Hardly anyone was listening at this point, and it seemed like Father Orlando was just trudging through the lesson because there was nothing else to do.

Alice's mind was elsewhere, thinking about her horrid nightmare from earlier. Grey gloves, white robe, and it was so tall it could hoist me up at least a meter from the ground. And that voice… was it watching me from the hole in the wall? It must have… and it came from the tunnel. How does that even make sense? The tunnel cuts right through the hallway… it cuts right through… no, it does make sense. It's the Cathedral that doesn't make sense. Goddess, why am I thinking so hard about this? It's just a dream.

Just forget about it. Alice groaned as she felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She lowered her head, her eyes glued to the patterned white floors. She heard the chalk scratching against the whiteboard, faint murmurs among her classmates, and their loud, unbearable breathing as if they were heaving right into her ears. Oh Goddess… it's happening again…

"Hey." Evelyn's voice boomed into her ears.

"You don't look so good. Are you alright?" Alice's face twisted in pain.

"Ye… yeah…" she whispered.

"Shut up, Evelyn…" Evelyn opened her mouth to speak but stopped halfway. Alice raised her hand and murmured, "Father…"

"Yes, Alice?" Father Orlando's voice echoed throughout the classroom.

"Can I go to the washroom?" Father Orlando nodded without saying another word. Alice sprang to her feet and rushed into the hallway. What's happening to me? Why… why can I hear everything? Stop. Stop. Please, stop! Alice covered her ears and sprinted down the hall. Vapid groans, chirping of birds, and scratching within the walls blared into her ears like violent screams. Where do I go? Where do I go? At the end of the hall, she spotted the marble archway of the gardens.

With a deep breath she sprinted past the arches and emerged on the other side, and the noise seemingly stopped. She took a few more steps before halting upon the path. It's gone. The noises are gone. Alice gazed at the bright blue skies, taking in their otherworldly beauty. Silent were the winds, and the croaks of insects and cretins. She sighed in relief and let out a soft laugh.

"Something's wrong with me…" Her eyes landed on the tall oak tree in the center, sprouting so far out it nearly kissed the high clouds. That… that looks much bigger than I remember. Blades of grass that reached up to her knees sprawled across the garden, veiling the stone aisles and paths, even the rocks and fences. What happened to the flowers? The paths… Alice turned around and widened her eyes in horror.

Endless plains of grass stretched out in every direction, swelling up in tiny mounds and hills in the distance. The skies extended far out in their infinite glory, bright and fair and unsullied by man. The wind howled, sending her hair and the hem of her skirt fluttering backward. Its warmth brushed against her face, sending a chill down her spine. Goddess, help me. She looked around and saw nothing but fields of grass as far as the eye could see. The Cathedral was gone, alongside the cold wintry bite of the north.

Her gaze returned to the massive oak, spotting a figure sitting against the base of its trunk. It was a boy with short blond hair, wearing a red checkered coat and black pants. That… that can't be. She approached out of instinct, as if she was being pulled toward the boy. As she neared, his face became increasingly clear: pudgy cheeks, round blue eyes, an eagle-like nose. The boy was so large that his body swelled against his coat, making it impossible to button it shut.

"Marley? Is that you?" Alice stopped in her tracks. The boy looked back at her and raised his brows in surprise.

"Alice? What are you doing here? I didn't call you over for practice."

"How is this possible… you're… you're dead…" Marley shrugged.

"That's all in the past now. Sit down with me, will you? This place is beautiful, much better than the garden." Alice stood still, the cogs of her mind churning for an explanation. Am I dreaming? Have I lost it? Goddess, don't tell me this is how I succumb.

"What are you just standing there for? It's not like you have anywhere else to go." Marley gestured over with his hand. Is that really Marley? Goddess…

"Ri… right…" Alice walked under the tree and sat down beside Marley. She ran her fingers through the blades of grass, feeling their warm, almost silky touch.

"Where… where are we?"

"We're closer to home than you think." Marley grasped the earth.

"This is Vakundir, or rather, was Vakundir."

"The air is too warm, there is no snow, we're nowhere near the North." Alice shook her head.

"Believe what you like. It doesn't matter anymore." Marley stretched his legs out and yawned.

"How is Evelyn doing, by the way?"

"She's… she's not doing so well." Marley's expression fell.

"I… I see…"

"She's become quieter. She's starting to take her studies seriously too. I miss the old her. And… ever since Jack died, she's gotten worse." Alice stared into Marley's pale blue eyes. Marley sighed.

"Take care of her for me, will you? You're the only one that can."

"Who are you, really?" Alice clenched her fist.

"You're on about that again? You still don't believe me?" It furrowed its brows.

"Marley and Jack were practically brothers. You didn't react when I said he died." Its smile faded away and its brows loosened, losing all semblance of emotion within seconds. A blank mask stared back at her, with eyes so cold it made the hairs on her skin stand up.

"You are making this difficult. So be it. I must make this quick." A flat, mechanical voice echoed in her ears, its lips unmoving.

"Who… who are you? What do you want from me?" Alice gulped. Every atom of her mind screamed for her to run away, but her legs refused to move.

"Something lurks in the Cathedral." It grabbed her arm and leaned toward her, its face mere inches from hers.

"Wh… what?" Its skin liquified into dark goo, sliding off its face in waves, revealing the red flesh underneath.

"You must not trust them…"

"I cannot reach them… Father… You must leave…" It moaned in agony as its eyes crumbled into liquid mush.

"Take her with you… before it is… too late…" Alice let out a scream as it pinned her to the ground, chunks and bits of its gore splattering all over her face.

"It is… everywhere… trust… no one…" Its mouth completely dissolved, leaving behind a bloodied hole that was its throat. The goo seeped into her orifices, sealing her nostrils, then her eyelids like wax. Her screams turned into muffled whimpers while she lost feeling in her limbs one by one. Just as the darkness claimed her sight, she opened her eyes and gasped for air. Above her lay the small canopy of an oak tree, with rays of light passing in between the branches and leaves.

She rose up from the grass, her eyes darting around the garden in confusion. The Cathedral walls were right there, as well as the patches of flowers and stone littering the earth. I'm back here… Her back was completely covered in sweat, and her mouth felt as dry as the desert. She reached out for her own face and thought, That wasn't a dream. I'm going insane… I'm going insane… A familiar figure with bright red hair emerged from the archway.

"Alice? Are you here? Where are you?!" She called out, her voice trembling in worry.

"Evelyn…" Alice murmured as she locked eyes with the older girl.

"Goddess! There you are!" Evelyn sprinted over.

"What are you doing here? You had me worried."

"I was… was just tired… I took a nap." Alice gritted her teeth. What else can I say? She'd think I'm succumbing if I told her the truth. Just… what on earth was that? Evelyn paused for a moment, her lips curling into a frown.

"You were gone for a while. I got worried."

"How long was I gone for?"

"Five minutes. You don't look alright, Alice. Did something happen to you?" Alice bit her lower lip, her eyes roaming around the Cathedral as if looking for someone.

"Let's… let's just go back to class first. I'll talk to you after."

"Okay… but you can tell me anything, alright?" Evelyn extended her hand out. Alice grabbed Evelyn's hand and pulled herself up to her feet.

"Alright."