A Million Dreams

Prologue

My name is Zeta Mazarine Midnight, maybe I would say that confidently and without hesitation if only I had never dreamed of the thing that would change my life 180°.

My life is so boring, every day I always do the same cycle and it makes me sick but I'm too lazy to change. I try to live this life as normal as possible without causing the slightest trouble, but what do I expect heh, something will definitely turn bad even if you try your best to be normal.

I slowly opened my eyes before blinking a few times. But the view I get isn't at all the same as the one I get every day.

I remember sleeping in my room which was painted light brown with a small bed and modest furniture. But this time, it wasn't that sight that I got but, the painted ceiling resembles a galaxy with a star-shaped lamp that shines as light. There's a lots of furniture here and there, And don't forget this soft bed I'm lying on.

Even my bed is not this soft.

Okay, where am I?

My first thought about this was, one I have been kidn*pped and locked up in this unknown room.

There's no way someone kidn*pped me, after all who wants to kidnap me?!

Two, my body was moved by someone (maybe Lau) to this room.

Which is impossible because I've already change my key house. Beside, Lau probably will wake me up if she visit my house.

Three, maybe I was just sleepwalking all the way here.

But I haven't sleepwalked, for 5 years.

But among all those thoughts, the one that made the most sense was number one. If that's true, why me, I mean I'm not that smart, rich, or or something extraordinary like that!

Maybe they want to sell my organs

Okay, relax me...don't think negative damnit, it might be happen if you keep thinking like that.

I exhaled a few times before my panic finally disappear. What should I do now is to get out of here first without making slightest sound. But I haven't had time to get out of this very soft bed when suddenly the door of this room open, thus making me hastily change to my previous position and go back pretending to seems asleep.

My heart rate increased, when I heard footsteps getting closer and closer to me. This is bad, oh God!

'Crap!' cold sweat started running down my face when I can clearly feel that someone is sitting right beside me. Whoever they are, I hope they can't hear my heartbeat which I think is the loudest sound in this silent room.

A hand landed on top of my head making my heartbeat stop for a moment before finally beating again. That hand caressed my head like a parent usually does to their... child? But there's no way, my mom hasn't been home for a long time and my dad....mom says he's dead.

Maybe, just maybe my second and third toughts is right, w-well I hope so. Making up my mind, I finally gathering all my courage to open my eyes.

I regret my dumb decision.

I wish I can rewind time and tell my past self to not open my eyes.

I quickly closed my eyes again. I don't see any familiar faces like my parents face or Lau's face.

But the monsters that always mentioned in fantasy or legend books. And what's even worse, The monster seemed to notice I had woken up, proved by the stroking of its skeleton hand above my head stopped.

That's it, I'm dead. I'm so freaking DEAD!

"I'm sorry if I wake you hun, but your little tummies needs to be filled." It sounded like a man's voice but his tone was soft when he spoke.

Feeling my body being lifted make my panic increased. Calm down Zeta, calm....HOW CAN I CALM DOWN WHEN AT THIS MOMENT MY BODY WAS LIFTED BY A MONSTER?!

The monster seemed to notice my panic, his hand that was pressing my head against his shoulder, he used to stroke my head. He also uses his other hand to gently pat my but—

THIS IS HARASSMENT, SOMEONE HELP ME! WARGHHHHHH!!!

"I know..." he suddenly stopped before speak again, "I mean, we know you hate physical contact but you'll get hurt if you try to walk by yourself." This monster's words makes no sense to me, I always have been fine walking by my own, but he hasn't finished speaking yet. "Remember when you tripped and fell down of the stairs?" Nope. "You got me and your father worried sick Thasma, lucky you only get a scratch."

Thasma? Who the heck is this Thasma person? But, there's only me and him in this room, last time I checked my name's still Zeta.

Suddenly my body was placed on something soft, again I opened my eyes and found the view of the dining table in the room colored violet and gold. The figure that had been carrying it also disappeared somewhere, leaving me alone in this very strange room.

If you expect me to just sit still until that monster back here then you are very wrong. With so much difficulty and without trying not to make any sound(which is very hard if you ask me), I descended this surprisingly high chair.

The moment my feet touch the ground, I lost my body lost balance and fell making a loud sound in process.

Thump!

The chair I was sitting on earlier also fell and almost hit me if I didn't roll over to the my right side.

I quickly stood up before that monster show up at any moment, but for some reason I couldn't feel my left leg and the next thing I knew I fell again..I looked at my numb left leg, and I hoped what I saw this time was a dream.

There's nothing from the knee to the bottom, there's only a stump wrapped in a bloody bandage.

No..

No....

No, NO! I-it can't be! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LEG?!

The sound of something slamming, followed by footsteps, drew closer to me, and at this moment I knew that I just made a huge mistake. Out of the corner of my eye I could see a hand that wanted to grab me, but I slapped it before it could touch me.

Slap!

Even though he's just a skeleton, he can make a shocked look on his face, but what surprised me to after that he looked sad and disappointed. Why does he look me like that?

Forget it, it's not important. I don't care what he feels toward me, why'd I care about a monster that maybe the cause of what happend to my left leg.

As he approached me, I backed away until my back hit the wall. His tall body overshadowed mine, and it made me involuntarily let out a small whimper.

I hid my face on my foot with the two hands I used to protect my head, this way maybe I would survive if he tried to hit me.

"Thasma? Did you not remember me?" The voice filled with sadness, and it makes me a little curious by what he meant. I peeked a little and saw him who was now squatting in front of me. His hand seemed to be outstretched in the air, as if he wanted to grab me but stopped his intent.

Hesitantly I shook my head in response. Never in my life have I met him or any other monster. And I hope there's no another of them.

His face looked even more sad, but somehow I could see a hint of happiness there.

He hugged me and held my head against his chest which was covered by a very soft jacket. Damn it, where did he get this jacket?

"My little moon, I'm your dad."

W-what?! What kind of nonsense is this?

I immediately push him, and look at him in the eyes, "I don't have a Dad! He's dead, and always be dead to me sir." tears fell from my eyes as I said my words, I might be scared of him but he really went too far for bringing up my dad.

"Thasma, I'm your dad and always be your dad. Can't you see me alive right now?" I went panic as this monster touching my shoulder, " 'm not y..your k-kid." I whispered those words as I feel my panic attack started to built up.

My breath became ragged, my chest began to feel tight and my vision was blurry due to tears, my ears are ringing loudly and it makes my head feel like going to explode.

Am I going to die?

Is he going to torture me with this nonsense so he can make me go insane?!

No, no please I still want to live! I don't want to die here, in arm of a strange monster!!

"-llow my words Thasma, breathe in and out."

I subconsciously followed his words, my chest slowly no longer felt tight, making my breath stabilize again. Once again my body was lifted, but before I could move, something plugged inside my mouth.

Reflexively, I bit it, after realizing it was the tip of baby bottle I tried to get rid of it but this unknown monster is holding it tight. I couldn't help but drink the milk through the baby bottle, it didn't taste too bad. I could feel my eyes getting heavy and heavier until I finally fell into the darkness.

.................................................................

Hhhahhhh...hahhh..hah

The sound of gasping breaths became the only sound that filled the room. The black-haired character woke up from his nightmare with a body covered in sweat, his mouth opened to suck in as much air as possible until he regained his composure.

He immediately looked at his room, then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the familiar room. He also took off the blanket and almost cried when he saw his left leg, which was still fine.

Thank God, it was all just a dream.

For a moment he pondered and thought back to a strange dream he had. The dream feels so real, even he could still feel that monster's touch on his body, it was too real to be called a dream. But a dream is a dream, it's useless for him to think about that dream now.

Once again he sighed then got ready to go to his school. And it didn't take a long time for him to be fully clothed, and immediately he walked to his school after previously locking all the doors in his house.

His name is Zeta Mazarine Midnight, nama yang cukup mewah jika kau tanya dia. He is the second of two siblings, his sister was only a year older than him and with such a close age gap like that, they often argued something (mostly nonsense) with each other.

Maybe that's what would have happened now if his sister hadn't run away from home after figuring out that their mother never came home again. While Zeta never thought the same way as his sister did, he just thought that his mother was away on vacation and would come home anytime soon. Her sister just looked at him as if trying to say he's crazy when he told his sister his thought.

That night, Zeta could only pretend to be asleep when his sister snuck away and left this house and left him alone. In a house that doesn't feel like home anymore. Zeta didn't blame his brother at all, after all it was his brother's decision and he couldn't stop his sister even if he tried his best to stop her. His sister way to stubborn and he can't do anything about it at all.

A month after everyone in house had left, problems started to arise. Zeta had to experience what it's like to suffering from starvation, it was the most unpleasant experience that had ever happened in his life. He even has to eat stale food or food that is not fit to eat in order to save his pathetic life.

That time is his toughest times.

The character who used to be 13 years old was even depressed because he realized that he was alone in this world with no one by his side, and with mental state that could be said to be unfavorable, once made him nearly kill himself if only a thought hadn't crossed his mind.

What would his mom think if she came home and found her son hanging himself.

She would be sad. And he doesn't want his mom become sad because of him.

So, he throw away his intention and threw the noose in the corner of his room.

He then tried to find a job, but who am I kidding. The country of his residence, never allowed children under the age of 17 to work.

Very unfair, but he can't change a law that's been in place for decades.

When he was desperate with money problems, suddenly his neighbors offered him to be their child's tutor. Without thinking, he accepted it and was he lucky because his neighbor is rich so they often gave him a lot of bonuses.

He never asked the reason why they didn't just hire a professional.

The problems of money and food were thus resolved, and all he had to do now was wait. Waiting for when his mother or sister returns home, even though he rarely interacts with them doesn't mean he doesn't love them, he just hoped they would come home soon so he wouldn't be lonely all the time in a place he once called home.

Tap

Tap

Tap

Again he glanced from behind his back and found nothing was following him. He had turned several times because he felt something/someone was followed him, but still every time he checked back there was definitely no one on this quiet street but him.

"Hufft...maybe it's just my feelings." He whispered to himself even though he knew it was a lie.

He spends his time playing with his phone on his way to school, His gaze may seem fixated on that flat object but if you look closely once in a while you'll notice his eyes darting around, looking for something out of the corner of his eye.

"Azi!"

The scream that sounded from a distance make the figure called Azi look up from his phone and found a teenage girl in the same uniform as him running toward him with her hand waving rapidly.

The phone in his hand he put in his bag pocket, but before he can reach his bag, his small body was firstly being lifted untill he can't feel his feet touching the ground. And second, that previous girl hug him with all her mighty, hugging the life out of him.

"Azi! How my little strange friend doing?"

"F-fi—ugh—ne...." Haltingly he uttered that one word, He breathed a sigh of relief when finally his feet touched the ground and the deadly hug was released.

"Can't you, just hug me slowly." He said with a hint of annoyance in his voice, said the girl just giggled as she apologized quietly.

"But I miss youuu." She clinging to his arm and it make him a little uncomfortable, because he didn't like any physical contact. "We just met yesterday." He tried to free his hand from his friend grip but he gave up when he realized it was futile.

Lau, as Zeta like to called her just smiled sweetly as he watch Zeta attempted to free his hand from her. It looks so cute!!!

Suddenly she felt her female instinct tell her that something is wrong with her little friend. Silently without Zeta's knowledge, she watched him and she could only pretend not to notice that Zeta looked worried about his surroundings.

"Azi." when Zeta's attention returned to her then he resumed his sentence. "Something wrong?"

Zeta keep silent, and Lau let her friend take his time to answer.

"I feel someone's following me." He said quietly but she still can hear him. She frowned and looked at her back, and she found no one following them.

She sharpened her hearing sense but no footsteps beside them could be heard. Maybe Zeta's just paranoid?

"I can't feel any presence beside us 'zi, maybe you're just too anxious?"

"I guess you're right." He sighed.

Lau reached her pocket and after find something in it, she put candy she'd unwrapped into Zeta's mouth. With so much force because she know Zeta doesn't like sweets.

She earned a death glare from Zeta, but her little friend need candy to wipe away his negative feelings.

The black haired teenager cringed as he taste the candy Lau forcedly feed to him. It's too sweet for his likeness. Ugh, damn Lau and her taste for candies.

"So?" She ask.

"......mmh so what?" he replied lazily.

She pouted before clarifying her question, "There's something else bothering you, my strange-friend-in-problems sense are tingling!"

Zeta ignores whatever Lau says, but Lau started shaking his arm and also repeating words that annoyed the heck outta him.

"Tell me, tell me, tell meeeee!" She shouted the last part, luckily there's no one else here beside them. Or else Zeta will bury his friend in a ground after making a fuss.

"Fine fine, stop shaking my arm geez!"

He's so grateful when Lau no longer shaking his arm.

Actually he want to tell Lau about dream he had, but Lau probably won't believe him, he himself didn't believe it, especially Lau who is actually smarter than him.

But the threatening look that were thrown at him if he didn't confess make him couldn't help but start to open his mouth to spill his unease.

"I'm dreaming."

"Dream? Dream about what?"

Zeta look hesitant to say the next sentence, but he has make up his mind to tell his only friend everything about this strange dream he had. And who else would listen to his BS besides Lau?

"I dreamed about..."