Chapter 3
Nightmares are usually something you get when you’re scared.
Or something you’ve seen in human. I had nightmares before, Real ones, Ones where I was drowning in a river of blood, Dreams where I was in pure darkness. I had Visions of my dad dying and my mother gone. But this nightmare I had was unique in every way. It haunted me, and every single pain I had in the dream I really seemed to endure. It almost wasn’t a dream, but real life.
I was walking down a bright red road through a dark forest. I wore an odd dress that was red and my hair was pulled into a really, really long braid that flowed behind me as I ran. A black cape was tied at my neck and I wore black fingerless gloves. I was walking fast down the road, not a run, but a fast walk. I kept looking behind me. A black figure was following me and it growled each time I got faster. Suddenly, I was out of the forest and they were fiery red. I fell to the ground and I noticed I had a large gash in my chest that was bleeding a large amount of red sickly blood. I was moaning in agony at the piercing pain. I screamed suddenly as an arrow shot into my leg. I moved my vision to the side where I found a tall man in full black armor and cape on a black horse with diamond red eyes. He had sharp fangs which was odd for a man to have. Yet he did have tall ears like Livantin and long hair.
The man laughed. The sound was horrible, worse than fingernails on a chalk board. It seemed to crawl up my neck and seep through my brain telling me this man was worse than he looked. And he was scary looking I’ll tell you that.
But then I saw a bright light. It was orange, bright orange light coming from the black forest. It seemed to burn anything it touched. The trees of the forest all disintegrated instantly to black ash. I finally noticed a figure inside the bright light. I couldn’t make out who it was, the light was so blinding. The man on his horse stopped laughing and stared just like I did on the ground crying from the bleeding pain. His smile dropped. I realized…he was scared. But he didn’t leave. But he didn’t attack either.
The light downed showing the person inside. I squinted my eyes to look closer. The girl had my same dirty blonde hair. My same coffee brown eyes. My same freckle covered nose. A complete copy of me. But instead of my dress she wore….skinny jeans….and a Hollister t-shirt…..and red converse….and an orange sweatband at her wrist that said the name, Crystal.
I understood my dream better then. The girl with the braid wasn’t me. That girl was my twin sister Cassidy, the twin they told me about. And I was the girl in the blinding orange light.
I ran down to the side of Cassidy. I spoke a language I didn’t understand. It sounded Latin, but I didn’t know Latin. Then, oddly, I yelled a weird word at the top of my lungs and rings of burning fire filled the entire field. Each of the fire lilies didn’t burn though; the each grew bigger until they exploded into the air burning anything in their paths except Cassidy and me. The man’s black cape whipped in the exhilarating rush that came from all the force. Still, He was not burned. Once he saw what I had done, instead of running away with the rest of his undead army which yelled in fear behind him, he laughed.
“Foolish guardian. You will die….now.”
My entire body exploded in shearing pain. I felt knives be ripped down my back. My dirty blonde hair was pulled out and it whipped my face as I screamed and red blood dripped out of my dry mouth. I clutched the grass and fire lilies under me hoping they could give me comfort which of course they couldn’t. My bones all seemed to disintegrate inside my skin into black dust. Every single inch of my aching body was burning in its own kind of pain, the kind where pain is worse than being killed 10 times. For a final look, I raised my head to look into the fully round black eyes in the man’s sockets. He was smiling at me. I gritted my teeth, crying inside as I knew this was how I was going to die. My sister
screamed next to me as her own hand began to burn from the inside out. This was no horror movie. This was seeing death as a dream.
I slowly reached for Cassidy’s hand, sobbing at this so lifelike nightmare. But then….as I lightly touched her burning hand covered in newly fresh blood a sound hit my ears. Ding…..dong…ding….dong……and as one of my tears slowly fell onto her hand everything changed. She suddenly jumped up and all the bruises and cuts on her body disappeared.
“No. It is not my twin sister who is the foolish guardian. You are.” Cassidy said proudly as she blocked me. “You may be the guardian of death, the king of the dead. But Crystal is the FIRE guardian. Death is a form of fire. She controls it...JUST……LIKE…..YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Stupid girl!!!!” He yelled and he shot a black lightning bolt out of his long bony finger. She fell to the floor screaming as she died.
And with that I woke up sweating on the red couch in Eclipse’s living room. A crackling fire whispered nest to Eclipse where she sat in a chair slowly sipping a cup of tea. “Where is everyone?” I slowly asked trying to find my strength again.
“Asleep.” She whispered with a cold impassively voice.
“Why aren’t you sleeping like everyone else?” I asked.
“Couldn’t sleep. Had a nightmare….and anyway I need to be watching you.”
“I had a nightmare too.” I whispered shivering at its mere thought.
“What did it look like?!” Eclipse said urgently as she scooted out of her chair and sat at my feet. As I explained it to her Eclipse’s big blue eyes got wider and more fearful by the word. Finally when I finished explaining Eclipse stood up and began pacing the floor almost crying. “Crystal…..that is the same dream I had. If the guardians all have the same dream at once….that means they are seeing the future…something important.”
*₰*
My arms were folded as I sat lost in thought in the backseat of my mother’s minivan. Eclipse sat next to me holding the special box. Her blue eyes wouldn’t leave it’s silver wrapping as the car moved.
“You girls are awfully quiet this morning! Is something wrong?” My mother asked from the front seat. She turned a corner. I didn’t answer; my mind was wandering as I stared at nothing through the window by my right side. “Usually you girls are so loud and full of energy that I can’t concentrate on my driving. Now I still can’t because it’s just too quiet!” My mom forced a laugh into the solid tension atmosphere.
Livantin spoke up from the front seat next to my mom, “We are almost to the portal so I think they just have a lot on their minds. Eclipse hasn’t been there since she was seven and Crystal hasn’t since she was born. I don’t even remember what Zerodian looks like.”
I stared longingly out the gleaming window as green trees and fancy buildings whizzed by; still ignoring everyone around me. I was still confused and they weren’t explaining it very well!! I wanted to be home in my room on the bed, my iPod headphones in with music full blast music. But NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to be driving to some portal that takes me to another world. Nothing normal happens to ME! Suddenly, a sign came into view. It was old, with a population probably smaller then my own school that read:Lyons, Oregon Population 1,008 People.
Old houses passed by. They were rickety and worn down, with outdated paint peeling. Weeds grew everywhere. Finally the car roared to the stop in front of an old gas station. Lyons gas ran across the building. Some Old men with cigarettes in their mouths sat by on a bench by the front door. Stuffed up smoke trembled in my nose. I tried to breathe through my mouth. The door jingled as we opened it.
“Okay.” Livantin whispered. “We just need to wait here for Karin. Once she’s here we go into the bathroom. That’s where the portal is.”
“Seriously?” I whined. I was not going into some crappy, gross, disgusting bathroom portal. Livantin stared at me. I rolled my eyes and turned to look at the food while Livantin paid for some doughnuts.
“What?” he asked while my mom gave him a ‘really-your-such-a-child’ look. “They don’t have doughnuts in Zerodian okay!”
“Then buy another pack, and some coke.” My mom laughed. She looked excited, yet scared. I’d be if I was about to see my husband for the first time in 14 years. Her dirty blonde hiar, exactly like mine was pulled in a ponytail. She didn’t wear any makeup, and yet she still was pretty. I wish I looked like her. People say I do look like her, except for my eyes. My unusual coffee eyes aren’t on either of my parents. Sorry…my mom and livantin.
The bell rang again to reveal Karin. She smiled at me then waved at the cashier. “Hi Conizac!” The old man with greasy black hair waved.
My mom stared. “I didn’t know he was a Zerodian.”
Karin nodded. “He helped us get here, now he just happily runs the gas station…and protect the portal.”
The old man lead us to the back bathroom. I squealed in disgust at what I was looking at. An old, normal gas station bathroom with toilet paper on the floor, muck on the walls and the smell of crap. I plugged my nose.
“You know what to do.” Said Conizac. Then he shut the door behind him. Livantin waved then he stuck his hand into the toilet.
“OH MY GOSH THAT’S SICK!” I screamed. Eclipse laughed at my face. Then suddenly, he turned and disappeared into the toilet. “HOLY CRUD!” I screamed. My mom laughed at me as she too slipped into the toilet. Karin went after.
“After you.” Eclipse said. I reluctantly reached the toilet. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. And I stuck my hand in, only to find myself turning into a whirlpool. My head turned around and around, making my stomach flip flop. I felt breakfast start to come up. And then I plopped down on the floor. Looking up at a girl, with my exact same face.
Nightmares are usually something you get when you’re scared.
Or something you’ve seen in human. I had nightmares before, Real ones, Ones where I was drowning in a river of blood, Dreams where I was in pure darkness. I had Visions of my dad dying and my mother gone. But this nightmare I had was unique in every way. It haunted me, and every single pain I had in the dream I really seemed to endure. It almost wasn’t a dream, but real life.
I was walking down a bright red road through a dark forest. I wore an odd dress that was red and my hair was pulled into a really, really long braid that flowed behind me as I ran. A black cape was tied at my neck and I wore black fingerless gloves. I was walking fast down the road, not a run, but a fast walk. I kept looking behind me. A black figure was following me and it growled each time I got faster. Suddenly, I was out of the forest and they were fiery red. I fell to the ground and I noticed I had a large gash in my chest that was bleeding a large amount of red sickly blood. I was moaning in agony at the piercing pain. I screamed suddenly as an arrow shot into my leg. I moved my vision to the side where I found a tall man in full black armor and cape on a black horse with diamond red eyes. He had sharp fangs which was odd for a man to have. Yet he did have tall ears like Livantin and long hair.
The man laughed. The sound was horrible, worse than fingernails on a chalk board. It seemed to crawl up my neck and seep through my brain telling me this man was worse than he looked. And he was scary looking I’ll tell you that.
But then I saw a bright light. It was orange, bright orange light coming from the black forest. It seemed to burn anything it touched. The trees of the forest all disintegrated instantly to black ash. I finally noticed a figure inside the bright light. I couldn’t make out who it was, the light was so blinding. The man on his horse stopped laughing and stared just like I did on the ground crying from the bleeding pain. His smile dropped. I realized…he was scared. But he didn’t leave. But he didn’t attack either.
The light downed showing the person inside. I squinted my eyes to look closer. The girl had my same dirty blonde hair. My same coffee brown eyes. My same freckle covered nose. A complete copy of me. But instead of my dress she wore….skinny jeans….and a Hollister t-shirt…..and red converse….and an orange sweatband at her wrist that said the name, Crystal.
I understood my dream better then. The girl with the braid wasn’t me. That girl was my twin sister Cassidy, the twin they told me about. And I was the girl in the blinding orange light.
I ran down to the side of Cassidy. I spoke a language I didn’t understand. It sounded Latin, but I didn’t know Latin. Then, oddly, I yelled a weird word at the top of my lungs and rings of burning fire filled the entire field. Each of the fire lilies didn’t burn though; the each grew bigger until they exploded into the air burning anything in their paths except Cassidy and me. The man’s black cape whipped in the exhilarating rush that came from all the force. Still, He was not burned. Once he saw what I had done, instead of running away with the rest of his undead army which yelled in fear behind him, he laughed.
“Foolish guardian. You will die….now.”
My entire body exploded in shearing pain. I felt knives be ripped down my back. My dirty blonde hair was pulled out and it whipped my face as I screamed and red blood dripped out of my dry mouth. I clutched the grass and fire lilies under me hoping they could give me comfort which of course they couldn’t. My bones all seemed to disintegrate inside my skin into black dust. Every single inch of my aching body was burning in its own kind of pain, the kind where pain is worse than being killed 10 times. For a final look, I raised my head to look into the fully round black eyes in the man’s sockets. He was smiling at me. I gritted my teeth, crying inside as I knew this was how I was going to die. My sister
screamed next to me as her own hand began to burn from the inside out. This was no horror movie. This was seeing death as a dream.
I slowly reached for Cassidy’s hand, sobbing at this so lifelike nightmare. But then….as I lightly touched her burning hand covered in newly fresh blood a sound hit my ears. Ding…..dong…ding….dong……and as one of my tears slowly fell onto her hand everything changed. She suddenly jumped up and all the bruises and cuts on her body disappeared.
“No. It is not my twin sister who is the foolish guardian. You are.” Cassidy said proudly as she blocked me. “You may be the guardian of death, the king of the dead. But Crystal is the FIRE guardian. Death is a form of fire. She controls it...JUST……LIKE…..YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Stupid girl!!!!” He yelled and he shot a black lightning bolt out of his long bony finger. She fell to the floor screaming as she died.
And with that I woke up sweating on the red couch in Eclipse’s living room. A crackling fire whispered nest to Eclipse where she sat in a chair slowly sipping a cup of tea. “Where is everyone?” I slowly asked trying to find my strength again.
“Asleep.” She whispered with a cold impassively voice.
“Why aren’t you sleeping like everyone else?” I asked.
“Couldn’t sleep. Had a nightmare….and anyway I need to be watching you.”
“I had a nightmare too.” I whispered shivering at its mere thought.
“What did it look like?!” Eclipse said urgently as she scooted out of her chair and sat at my feet. As I explained it to her Eclipse’s big blue eyes got wider and more fearful by the word. Finally when I finished explaining Eclipse stood up and began pacing the floor almost crying. “Crystal…..that is the same dream I had. If the guardians all have the same dream at once….that means they are seeing the future…something important.”
*₰*
My arms were folded as I sat lost in thought in the backseat of my mother’s minivan. Eclipse sat next to me holding the special box. Her blue eyes wouldn’t leave it’s silver wrapping as the car moved.
“You girls are awfully quiet this morning! Is something wrong?” My mother asked from the front seat. She turned a corner. I didn’t answer; my mind was wandering as I stared at nothing through the window by my right side. “Usually you girls are so loud and full of energy that I can’t concentrate on my driving. Now I still can’t because it’s just too quiet!” My mom forced a laugh into the solid tension atmosphere.
Livantin spoke up from the front seat next to my mom, “We are almost to the portal so I think they just have a lot on their minds. Eclipse hasn’t been there since she was seven and Crystal hasn’t since she was born. I don’t even remember what Zerodian looks like.”
I stared longingly out the gleaming window as green trees and fancy buildings whizzed by; still ignoring everyone around me. I was still confused and they weren’t explaining it very well!! I wanted to be home in my room on the bed, my iPod headphones in with music full blast music. But NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to be driving to some portal that takes me to another world. Nothing normal happens to ME! Suddenly, a sign came into view. It was old, with a population probably smaller then my own school that read:Lyons, Oregon Population 1,008 People.
Old houses passed by. They were rickety and worn down, with outdated paint peeling. Weeds grew everywhere. Finally the car roared to the stop in front of an old gas station. Lyons gas ran across the building. Some Old men with cigarettes in their mouths sat by on a bench by the front door. Stuffed up smoke trembled in my nose. I tried to breathe through my mouth. The door jingled as we opened it.
“Okay.” Livantin whispered. “We just need to wait here for Karin. Once she’s here we go into the bathroom. That’s where the portal is.”
“Seriously?” I whined. I was not going into some crappy, gross, disgusting bathroom portal. Livantin stared at me. I rolled my eyes and turned to look at the food while Livantin paid for some doughnuts.
“What?” he asked while my mom gave him a ‘really-your-such-a-child’ look. “They don’t have doughnuts in Zerodian okay!”
“Then buy another pack, and some coke.” My mom laughed. She looked excited, yet scared. I’d be if I was about to see my husband for the first time in 14 years. Her dirty blonde hiar, exactly like mine was pulled in a ponytail. She didn’t wear any makeup, and yet she still was pretty. I wish I looked like her. People say I do look like her, except for my eyes. My unusual coffee eyes aren’t on either of my parents. Sorry…my mom and livantin.
The bell rang again to reveal Karin. She smiled at me then waved at the cashier. “Hi Conizac!” The old man with greasy black hair waved.
My mom stared. “I didn’t know he was a Zerodian.”
Karin nodded. “He helped us get here, now he just happily runs the gas station…and protect the portal.”
The old man lead us to the back bathroom. I squealed in disgust at what I was looking at. An old, normal gas station bathroom with toilet paper on the floor, muck on the walls and the smell of crap. I plugged my nose.
“You know what to do.” Said Conizac. Then he shut the door behind him. Livantin waved then he stuck his hand into the toilet.
“OH MY GOSH THAT’S SICK!” I screamed. Eclipse laughed at my face. Then suddenly, he turned and disappeared into the toilet. “HOLY CRUD!” I screamed. My mom laughed at me as she too slipped into the toilet. Karin went after.
“After you.” Eclipse said. I reluctantly reached the toilet. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. And I stuck my hand in, only to find myself turning into a whirlpool. My head turned around and around, making my stomach flip flop. I felt breakfast start to come up. And then I plopped down on the floor. Looking up at a girl, with my exact same face.
Don't you guys just hate it when the updates look like this?
a reply was made to the forum post: ICHB 2
1 minute ago by percyLover101
a comment was made to the fan pick question: OOC: Has Boyfriend, Single, It's Complicated, or I'm Working On It?
5 minutes ago by percyLover101
a pop quiz question was added: Who was first to join ICHB who is still on ICHB?
10 minutes ago by percyLover101
an article was added: OMG GUYS!! U GUYS MUST READ THIS! IMPORTANT!!!
15 minutes ago by percyLover101
a pop quiz question was added: Who was Hon's first boyfriend?
25 minutes ago by percyLover101
Makes me feel like a stalker....
a reply was made to the forum post: ICHB 2
1 minute ago by percyLover101
a comment was made to the fan pick question: OOC: Has Boyfriend, Single, It's Complicated, or I'm Working On It?
5 minutes ago by percyLover101
a pop quiz question was added: Who was first to join ICHB who is still on ICHB?
10 minutes ago by percyLover101
an article was added: OMG GUYS!! U GUYS MUST READ THIS! IMPORTANT!!!
15 minutes ago by percyLover101
a pop quiz question was added: Who was Hon's first boyfriend?
25 minutes ago by percyLover101
Makes me feel like a stalker....
OKAY! Here's what I must tell you....
It's 9:30 p.m. and...
I need to wake up at 7:20 a.m. tomorrow...
Soo....
IMMA BE TIRED WHEN I WAKE UP TOMORROW!
Yeah I also wrote this to tell you all....
IM SOOO BORED! Like Boredness has tooken over!!
-Dies-
-Comes back- I can never leave you guys xD
But....
-Screams and Runs away-
What? I saw a spider...
xD Yeah, well night guys! Imma leave you all to sleep! xD
-Waits- You guys aren't asleep yet?
No? Okay...
-Waits- Not yet?
No? Okay...
-Waits- MY LORD GO TO SLEEP!!
-Waits- YOU KNOW WHAT!! -Bangs pan on everyone's head to knock them out-
-Waits- Sleeping?
No?
-Explodes-
Now that is what will happen when you do not go sleep.
It's 9:30 p.m. and...
I need to wake up at 7:20 a.m. tomorrow...
Soo....
IMMA BE TIRED WHEN I WAKE UP TOMORROW!
Yeah I also wrote this to tell you all....
IM SOOO BORED! Like Boredness has tooken over!!
-Dies-
-Comes back- I can never leave you guys xD
But....
-Screams and Runs away-
What? I saw a spider...
xD Yeah, well night guys! Imma leave you all to sleep! xD
-Waits- You guys aren't asleep yet?
No? Okay...
-Waits- Not yet?
No? Okay...
-Waits- MY LORD GO TO SLEEP!!
-Waits- YOU KNOW WHAT!! -Bangs pan on everyone's head to knock them out-
-Waits- Sleeping?
No?
-Explodes-
Now that is what will happen when you do not go sleep.
You guys, come on!
This is… this is killing me!
ICHB is my life, guys. If it weren't for this club, I don't know what my life would be like. You are all my best friends. And if this stuff keeps happening…
Guys, I'm literally crying. This is the worst thing that could've happened today. I woke up this morning, was almost late for school. Then, the entire day I just had this awful feeling that something terrible was gonna happen…
I don't like the way this keeps coming to us. It's like… we're being tested by God. I'm sure some of you are atheist, agnostic, but imo, I think these are the times we must remember the good and try to forget the bad. We're human. We make mistakes. It's life. And families stick together.
I don't know how many times this has to be said before it can actually sink in.
But I know this will DEFINITELY not be the last time.
This is… this is killing me!
ICHB is my life, guys. If it weren't for this club, I don't know what my life would be like. You are all my best friends. And if this stuff keeps happening…
Guys, I'm literally crying. This is the worst thing that could've happened today. I woke up this morning, was almost late for school. Then, the entire day I just had this awful feeling that something terrible was gonna happen…
I don't like the way this keeps coming to us. It's like… we're being tested by God. I'm sure some of you are atheist, agnostic, but imo, I think these are the times we must remember the good and try to forget the bad. We're human. We make mistakes. It's life. And families stick together.
I don't know how many times this has to be said before it can actually sink in.
But I know this will DEFINITELY not be the last time.