Saving Akira (Complete)

Chapter 15

Land of Dreams 

     Everyone feared the Land of Dreams from time to time and Akira was no different. Now lost in her own mind thanks to the sedative she had been given her mind took a journey into the Land of Dreams. Unfortunately for Akira this was a place or memory she did not wish to see ever again. Funny how the conscious reacts when the body is in a numb state due to drugs or illness it seems to always take a person to the one place they do not wish to be no matter how hard they fought. 

    The Land of Dreams always seemed so real to those who were whisked off to be reminded of things they did not wish to remember. In Akira’s case she found herself standing right next to herself at the age of nearly eight years old. Her parents were rushing around packing some of their belongings. “Momma why are we leaving? I don’t want to leave here I have friends here. Please Papa can I take Cupcake with me at least?” Nearly in tears as she clung to her little kitten she had been given on her seventh birthday. 

     “No sweetheart you cannot take Cupcake with you. But I promise our Alpha will take very good care of her for you until we come back.” Her Papa knelt down in front of her gently wiping away the tears. “We are going on a grand adventure! You will see that time will pass quickly and you will find yourself back here safe and sound with Cupcake. Now I need you to be strong for me and Mama. You see my little angel your Mama can feel every bit of pain in your heart right now. Remember how she told you one day you would feel what your pride or leap would feel?” Akira nodded her head and sniffled a little more trying to stop the tears. “Well right now she knows how broken your heart is and she feels every emotion you are. Not only that, she can feel your fear and my fear as well. So what say you and I become very brave soldiers for your Mama so she does not have to worry about how we feel right now?”  

     “Ok Papa I will try. But I want to bring Cupcake with me. Please Papa? When I have Cupcake with me I feel better. Cupcake will be a good little soldier too!” He could not bring himself to make her leave the kitten behind so he simply smiled and nodded in answer. “Thank you Papa!” Akira wrapped her arm around her Papa’s neck and hugged him and Cupcake at the same time. 

     Meanwhile in the land of the living she whimpered softly in her sleep. “Please Papa?” It became quite obvious to Jon she was starting to dream about something as to what he had no clue. “Shhh cara I am here for you.” Then he gently smoothed her hair out of her face as he held her close. With a soft sigh he grabbed a cool wash cloth and gently wiped her forehead. The infection must have been starting to set in because Akira was starting to run a fever. 

     With their few meager belongings packed up her parents escorted her to the van they had bought for the trip. Once they had Akira settled with Cupcake they high tailed it out of the city of Lebanon Indiana a place Akira would never see again and had not remembered existed until now. “Mama? Papa? Why are we leaving?” 

     Her Papa looked to her Mama and her Mama nodded as if to say it was alright to tell her. “Well angel a very bad man is coming after your Mama and me. We want to keep you safe so we are going to head into the mountains of Colorado. There is a wonderful city there called Colorado Springs and it snows there all the time. You love the snow so I know you will love this place too.” 

    Akira sat quietly for a moment as she thought about where her Papa was telling her. “Papa why is this bad man coming after you and Mama?” Her parents look at each other and sighed. “Angel your Papa and I can do something wonderful that one day you will be able to do as well. What we can do sometimes make people scared of us and want to do mean things to hurt us.” Marie looked over to Todd and smiled. 

     “But Mama you always told me being different is a good thing. So why would people be mean to others like that?” Akira looked down at her kitten that was asleep in her lap still feeling all sorts of confused by what was taking place. 

     “Oh sweet angel not everyone was taught the way we taught you. Some people are taught to fear the unknown.” Todd glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the look confusion deepen as it passed over Akira’s delicate features. “Akira do you remember the day Nelly threw that toy at your head last year at school?” 

     “Yes Papa she was mean! She said I was weird because of my eyes. And that because of my eyes I didn’t belong near others.” All of a sudden her face lit up as the proverbial light bulb went off in her head. “Oh I get it. I think. But what is so different or weird about you that makes this bad guy want to hurt you?” 

     “Angel it is getting late. Why don’t you go to sleep for a while. When we stop for the night we will wake you can eat. We will talk more about this later.” Marie’s voice was so soft and gentle as she spoke to her yawning daughter. Naturally Marie knew that her precious little angel was confused, scared, and exhausted because of the events that had just taken place. She watched for a few more minutes as her little angel fell off to sleep. 

     She groaned as pain filled her features while she slept. Jon quickly got up and grabbed Christina who was just outside of the door. “She is hurting can you give her some more pain medicine? She is running a fever too. Christina I am worried and scared.” Not wasting another second Jon went back to the bed and gently brushed her hair from her face. “Shhh cara everything is alright.” He watched as Akira’s eyes moved rapidly behind her closed eye lids. In that brief moment Jon realized that Akira had to be in the Land of Dreams. What was she dreaming about that had her so agitated? Was she scared in her dream? So many questions ran through his mind as he became aware of Christina being on the other side of the bed checking on Akira. “She is in the Land of Dreams.” He whispered softly. 

     “She is running a temperature of 103.4. It is not uncommon with a fever this high to visit there. All you can do is be here for her because I have a feeling that when she wakes she is going to need to be held. I am going to give her some antibiotics, more of the sedative, and some more pain killers. I want to keep her under until the infection is gone.” Quickly and efficiently she administered the medicine through the IV line. “Jon can I get you anything to eat or drink?” 

     “I am not hungry right now. Maybe later though. But thank you Christina for everything you are doing for my beloved Akira.” She smiled at him as she left the room. Jon went back to gently dabbing a cook clothe to Akira’s forehead trying to help lower her temperature and let her know he was here taking care of her. 

     Akira felt the warmth of the medicine race through her body but she still could not wake from the dream. In the few moments of clarity and pain she lost the dream sequence but now that she was back under and the pain was gone the Land of Dreams greeted her once more. This time they were at a new house in Colorado. Akira smiled to herself remembering the place and how beautiful it was or it seemed to her as a child. She was playing outside when their neighbor Darren Strauss and his wife Karen Strauss came to visit them. Akira could feel to her bones even as a child that something was not right. 

     “Mama! Papa! Mr. and Mrs. Strauss is here!” She called out to her parents as she stayed seated amidst a bunch of Barbies in the front yard. “Hello Mr. and Mrs. Strauss. How are you today? Is something wrong? You both look like something is bothering you.” She was being polite just like her Mama had taught her to be. 

     “Well hello there Miss Akira it is good to see you. And my that dress looks good on you. Maybe I will have Darren take me to the store and buy me one just like it. What do you think? Would I look good in a pretty blue dress like you are wearing?” Karen went over to kneel down in front of Akira as Darren went in to talk to Todd and Marie. They had received word that the Hunter was getting close to the area. However, they believed that he was going to just bypass Colorado Springs all together since it was such a small place. 

     Akira giggled softly as she looked up to Karen. “Mrs. Strauss this only comes in little girl sizes! But I think you should buy something in blue because it always looks good on my Barbies and they have the same hair color you do! Oh and the same pretty blue eyes. Mama says blue looks pretty on me because one of my eyes is the color of sa..of..sapire.” Ok so she did not say it right but she smiled up at Mrs. Strauss anyway. 

     “You mean sapphire. And yes you have very beautiful eyes. I wish my eyes were as pretty as yours are.” Karen reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind Akira’s ear. “I hope someday that I have a little girl who is just as pretty as you are.” She meant that to the very depths of her heart. 

     “I think she will be just as pretty as you are Mrs. Strauss.” In that moment the child version of Akira got a strange look on her face and then she looked up to Karen with awe and shock in her tiny delicate features. “Oh she says that she wants to be as pretty as you. Did you hear her? Where is she?” Quickly Akira looked around the yard looking for the little girl. 

     “Akira I do not have a little girl yet.” Then it dawned on Karen that Akira was sensitive to her surroundings and others for that matter. Perhaps the darling child’s abilities were starting to manifest. “But Mrs. Strauss I heard her!” It was then that Karen realized she was with child and a little girl at that.  

     “Mama! Papa!” Akira got up and ran into the house with Karen right behind her. “I heard a little girl that said she wanted to be as pretty as Mrs. Strauss but I can’t find her!” There was a distressed look on her face as she flung herself into her Mama’s arms. 

     “Hush sweet angel it is alright because I heard her too.” Marie lifted her gaze to Karen and Darren. “You may want to confirm but I do believe you are with child or about to be since we both heard your precious treasure’s desires. Congratulations to you both. I would get up to hug you Karen but Akira needs me right now.” Without any further talk Marie carried her little Angel into her room. Taking a seat in the rocker Marie gently rocked Akira to calm her down. 

     Todd escorted the Alpha and Prima out of their home and wished them well before returning to Marie’s side in Akira’s room. “I think it is time we tell her what is going on Marie. We need to prepare her in the event that one day we cannot be here for her.” A shadow crossed over Marie’s features as she realized that it was not going to be long before they would have to leave their little angel.  

    “Sweetheart remember when Papa and I told you that you were like use?” Akira nodded her as she sniffled and tears ran down her cheeks. “Well now is the time to explain everything to you. The bad man is a Hunter and he wants to kill our kind. See we can become big cats like you saw at the zoo the other day.” A look of confusion crossed over her little features. “But Mama we are people not animals.” 

    “Yes Angel we are people but we can also become cats. One day you will too. It also seems you will be just as special as your Mama is.” Her Papa gently patted her little hands. “When you heard Mrs. Strauss’ baby talk it was more her animal spirit reaching out to you. I know this is confusing but one day you will understand.” 

    Marie continued to hold her precious child close and rocked her as they continued to talk. “There is nothing to be scared of Akira so you keep your chin up.” 

    “But Mama what about the bad man? Will he want to hurt me too since I am like you?” As her current day self watched the dream continued. She felt the fear all the way to her bones. “Can I see your cats Mama? Papa?” There was a look of skepticism and awe on her little features at the thought of seeing her parent’s cats. Or perhaps it was more along the lines of yeah right they could shift but she would not believe it until she saw the shift herself.  

     Todd nodded and scooted back just enough so he could shift. Akira watched in amazement as her Papa’s body began to shimmer with sparkling lights. “Oooo Mama are those sparkles fairies?!?” Only in the mind of a child would the thoughts of fairies come forth. Chuckling softly at her daughter she continued to watch as her husband made his shift. After only seconds, in fact by the time Akira’s question was finished, there stood in front of her a beautiful black panther. “Papa?” The cat moved forward gently licked her cheek causing Akira to giggle. “So pretty Papa! Can I become a cat now? Please Mama and Papa?” Excitement rolled off of Akira as she reached over and patted her Papa on the head like he was the kitten she often held in her arms. 

     As Todd made the shift back to human with clothes intact, a task that was not easy but only stronger shifters could do, Marie laughed softly and began to explain things a bit more to her little Angel. “My precious little Angel I know you are excited but please calm down and listen to us for now.” Akira looked up to her Mama and smiled as she nodded. “You cannot change yet you are not old enough.” Then she thought for a moment on how to explain things to her. “Do you remember the fairytales that tells of a Prince coming to save the Princess?” After Akira nodded her Mama continued. “See you have to wait for that day to come too. Your Prince will come and when he does you two will live happily ever after together and then you will be able to shift into a cat too. Now your Prince will already be able to shift because it is his cat spirit that will call forth your cat spirit so you can change.” That was the easiest way to explain it to her now but Marie knew that as their little Angel grew up others would explain it more fully to her. For now the hope of a fairytale ending was the best gift she could give Akira. 

    “Mr. and Mrs. Strauss are our Alphas. You should start calling them Alpha and Prima Strauss when they come to visit. That means they are our leaders for this area and should something happen to us they will be here to help you along the way. If the Hunter comes here there is a special place I want you to hide Angel and he will not be able to find you so you will be safe.” Fear replaced the look of awe on her little features as she looked to her Papa and waited. Todd got up and held out his hand to Akira who took it immediately. Together Todd and Marie showed their little Angel to a spot in her closet. “If you put your hand right here,” gently Marie guided her hand to the spot that looked like a little star painted on the wall, “and say Angel a special spot will open up. Try it and see what happens.” 

     As her little hand touched the star Akira whispered softly, “Angel.” Then a door slid open to show a little room with some toys and even some snacks that she liked. Slowly she stepped inside and looked around. There were no windows, television, or her favorite toys in this room. “What about my kitten? What about you both? Can I bring you in here with me too?” The room was not all that big and it worried her that she would not have room for her family in there. 

    “No Akira we will not be going in there with you. See your Mama and I will be trying to make the bad man go away. But you can bring your kitten with you. I am sure she will keep you company. Now listen to me carefully Angel. When you come into this room see the star over on the far wall? Run over there and put your hand on it and simply tell it to close. You will not be able to get out of there until one of us or our Alpha or Prima come for you.” Those mismatched little eyes grew round with shock. “And I promise one of the four of us will come for you immediately when we know it is safe. Rest assured you will not be in there to long perhaps a few hours at most. Do you understand?” 

     “Yes Papa I understand. But you and Mama will come back to me right?” Fear radiated from her once again. A fear that went so deep even Akira in her present day form felt causing her to whimper in her sleep next to John. “Sweet little Angel no matter how near or how far we have gone we will always be with you in spirit and in your heart. All you have to do is talk to us like we are right there with you and you will feel better. Now come let’s go have some spaghetti. Your Mama made it special for you for dinner since she knows how much you love it.” 

    Akira raced out of the room right into her Mama’s arms with a giggle. “I love you Mama and Papa. And thank you Mama for making me my favorite!” The scene faded and the pain of reality hit her once again.