Dreamer
Syl got out of her bed and walked to the window, still half asleep she pulled back the heavy curtains and looked through the glass. The fires outside raged almost as high as her fifth story bedroom window, but she seemed not to mind at all. The sun was only just making itself visible over the eastern shore. As the sunlight hit the grass, the fires shimmered and dwindled to small flames that were swiftly blown out by the wind.
Syl went to her wardrobe and selected her plainest dress, chestnut silk with a scarf in olive. She climbed through the window onto the tree branch that supported her bedroom and tiptoed along it silently until it was too thin to walk on. She jumped from branch to branch going farther and farther into the forest until she came to the tree with the nest of branches that she had formed into a shelter some years back. She scaled the trunk until she reached her small makeshift nest. Syl climbed inside and looked herself over. She cursed under her breath when she discovered that her dress was now covered in bark and bits of leaves. She opened the small satchel hanging at her side and pulled out a pair of dark trousers and a loose shirt. She quickly changed and shoved her silk dress in the small leather satchel. Then she pulled out a small ration of bread and smoked meat and nestled in the shade, listening to the gentle sounds of the forest.
By the time she was leaving the tree nest, it was about midday and the sun was blazing in the sky. Syl crept back through the forest and changed silently in her bedroom. She slid nimbly down the vine outside her room that served as stairs and slipped out the door. She entered the classroom upon hearing the bell and took her place. The afternoon seemed to last forever. Syl absentmindedly scribbled on a sheet of paper as the tutor droned on, after a few moments a poem had started to take shape. Syl read it to herself under her breath.
The trees and the grass are conquered by flame
All of the dangers now seem tame
The world will never stay the same
When all of its people dream
It becomes a different place
The forests vanish without a trace
Only sadness on its face
When the world dreams
At the end of classes, she scrunched up the paper, tossed it lightly into the bin by the door and made her way home. That night she dreamt of nothing. Absolutely nothing. It wasn’t plain white with no detail at all. It wasn’t even the blackness of closed eyes, it was just, nothing. It wasn’t cold, or empty, or like anything else she’d ever experienced. Syl awoke, gasping for breath, and sat up. A cool breeze blew through the window chilling the beads of sweat that clung to her arms and legs. She shivered and slipped into her housecoat. She tiptoed lightly to the window and drew back the curtains. The moon blazed brightly in the sky surrounded by a blanket of stars. Suddenly a searing pain ran through Syl’s entire body. The flesh along her spine tore itself apart as three sets of enormous insect like wings burst from her back. They flexed and curled themselves around her body. She just managed to catch the edge of her bed to support herself as her legs gave way from under her.
***
The treetops rushed by beneath her and her hair streamed out behind her as the beat of her wings stirred up the loose oak leaves and pine needles. Her heartbeat tuned itself into the same rhythm as the wing beats that echoed above her.
And then she was falling, crashing through the waiting arms of the trees as they tried and failed to keep her airborne. The ground crept closer and closer.
A loud crash echoed through the forest, scattering the birds from their nests and sending the wildlife scurrying in all directions. The frigid water soaked her clothes and forced its way down her throat. She struggled slowly to the surface choking and spluttering. Grabbing at a stray branch, Syl pulled herself onto the shore.
***
The treetops rushed by beneath her and her hair streamed out behind her as the beat of her wings stirred up the loose oak leaves and pine needles. Her heartbeat tuned itself into the same rhythm as the wing beats that echoed above her.
And then she was falling, crashing through the waiting arms of the trees as they tried and failed to keep her airborne. The ground crept closer and closer.
A loud crash echoed through the forest, scattering the birds from their nests and sending the wildlife scurrying in all directions. The frigid water soaked her clothes and forced its way down her throat. She struggled slowly to the surface choking and spluttering. Grabbing at a stray branch, Syl pulled herself onto the shore.
***
Syl sat panting on the edge of her bed. She hugged her knees close to her chest as tears began to form in her almond shaped lilac eyes.
***
The water edged its way closer to Syl’s chin. She struggled to move but both her legs and left arm were trapped beneath the trunk of a great tree. People moved around her like ghosts, in and out of the water as if it weren’t even there. Syl called out, louder and louder until she had no voice left. Still they moved on, some sparing her a glance, the rest were merely heads shaking a painful disapproval. A small girl skipped past, and bent down beside her. The child scooped up a handful of acorns lying near Syl’s head. In a violent motion Syl grabbed the child’s arm. The child looked down at her slowly, then turned and skipped away. Syl stared aghast at the severed arm in her right hand.
***
The water edged its way closer to Syl’s chin. She struggled to move but both her legs and left arm were trapped beneath the trunk of a great tree. People moved around her like ghosts, in and out of the water as if it weren’t even there. Syl called out, louder and louder until she had no voice left. Still they moved on, some sparing her a glance, the rest were merely heads shaking a painful disapproval. A small girl skipped past, and bent down beside her. The child scooped up a handful of acorns lying near Syl’s head. In a violent motion Syl grabbed the child’s arm. The child looked down at her slowly, then turned and skipped away. Syl stared aghast at the severed arm in her right hand.
***
The tears flowed like a river overrunning its banks. She hugged her knees so close to her chest that it hurt. She didn’t feel the pain anymore, just the sadness. So she cried. More than she had ever cried before. She cried until her tears ran out. And then she sat shuddering in the middle of her bed. She pulled her silk coverlet around her shoulders and buried her face.
***
Syl was lying on her back, looking up. In the distance the distorted shapes of men were visible in the small patch of light. Handfuls of dirt fell on her from above and pinned her body to the earth below. She tried to cry out to the men high above. As she opened her mouth, a large amount of dirt forced itself in and down her throat. Syl gasped for breath.
***
Syl was lying on her back, looking up. In the distance the distorted shapes of men were visible in the small patch of light. Handfuls of dirt fell on her from above and pinned her body to the earth below. She tried to cry out to the men high above. As she opened her mouth, a large amount of dirt forced itself in and down her throat. Syl gasped for breath.
***
She stared helplessly at the oak paneled ceiling above her, her eyes darting frantically back and forth.
***
The earth around her was once again sky. She was walking through it, but it was so much more than just air. The sky was dense. Syl was moving in slow motion. She pushed her way through, desperate to be free of her dreams. She reached the edge and fell, eyes closed, heart pounding.
***
The earth around her was once again sky. She was walking through it, but it was so much more than just air. The sky was dense. Syl was moving in slow motion. She pushed her way through, desperate to be free of her dreams. She reached the edge and fell, eyes closed, heart pounding.
***
Syl’s sheets felt heavy on top of her. The dark made her room seem claustrophobic. She gazed silently at the clock, counting the minutes until sunrise. Seven thirty-two, the nights grip weakened and gave way to the blue sun.
Syl grabbed her leather side bag and her riding cloak. In the kitchen, she rummaged through the cupboards for some provisions. Outside she hurried to Nala’s stall. The stallion whinnied in its sleep. Syl sighed, it was the same everywhere. Broad daylight and everyone was still asleep. Holding back her tears, she started towards the city center, desperately listening for voices she knew she would never hear. The city was deserted, echoes of life lingered in the shadows. Syl pulled up the hood of her cloak, and set out due east towards Gale.
