His oppression

Dream

Chapter Sixteen: DREAM

What I woke up to was the most bizarre place I’ve ever been. My body lost its function for a few seconds before I could actually move a finger slightly. Eyes have been wandering everywhere but in reality, there wasn’t a single thing in sight. Just pure darkness. The most odd thing was that there wasn’t a source of light but I could see myself just fine. The minute that I sat up, my head started throbbing against my skull and I don’t think that’s normal. Especially in this case. There just wasn’t a single rational and reasonable explanation as to why I’m in this situation and how I got into it except that it may be a dream.

I remember the last thing that happened is that I drowned in the bathtub and Radcliff’s alarmed voice as he was pulling me out.

So how did I get into here? I’m dreaming. That’s the most plausible thing I could ever come up with in this circumstance.

When I finally got up on my feet, I looked at my clothes and was puzzled when I took notice of what I’m wearing. A silk dress that stopped mid thigh and I don’t really seem to be wearing anything underneath because I really feel exposed. It didn’t help when I felt how the surrounding was freezing and I could see a fog of breath whenever I breathe out.

I wasn’t comfortable with it either but I just went along with whatever’s going on before taking cautious steps even though there wasn’t an obvious path ahead. My gut instinct was just to go forward and never look back because I don’t want to spook myself furthermore if something is really there. But it’s my mind, I can think or imagine it to go away right?

Or am I even inside my mind at this point?

No matter where I look, it’s just black. Not a single thing was seen and I’m beginning to think that I should be worried, probably not, but then again if something comes out of nowhere and scares the living crap out of me, it’s two things: it’s either I die from shock or wake up from the nightmare. On second thought, please wake me up.

It appears that the world I was in was so spacious yet why do I feel so claustrophobic? The air was humid and didn’t feel nice. It's almost as if it strangles my throat, making it feel like I’m trapped in a closed off room. The overall vibe of the current condition doesn’t really sit well with me. What person thinks this is okay?

What feels to be a walk of a lifetime, at last there was something I can investigate with.

A strange door just appeared out of nowhere. When I thought nothing else was present, there was apparently smoke wrapping around the door that was left ajar. The paint on the door itself was black too but the basis on how I got to see it was the light that was shining down on it. If this was real life, in no hell would I go inside, but since this is a mind trick I approached the door with no further and extra thought or hesitation.

Upon pushing the door, the creak was almost deafening which caused me to put my palms against my ears to block it off. But that perhaps is a bad decision when it got louder. The creaking noise conceivably is in my mind and within not the surroundings. Once I managed to calm myself, I looked around the next room and got confused.

It was a massive field filled with blooming and colourful flowers. The sky was beautiful and blue. But what really caught my attention was the person standing in the middle, his head tilted upward toward the sky. He didn’t seem all too familiar to me.

“Hey!” I called out to him, truding my way to him as best I could as the grass were almost as tall as I was. “Hey! Hey!”

That was a long journey and he wasn’t even that far from where I came from. Speaking of what I came from, I looked back to see that the door had managed to dissipate and in broad daylight too. Well, so much for looking back.

The dude turned his head to where he had heard my voice and his eyes were still closed. His skin was pale as snow and he looked like, not to offend him too much, haven’t eaten in days or even weeks. I know I’m small enough but if you compare this man to Radcliff then me?

He’s colossal and I don’t think he’s even human to start with.

I really have to look up to him which caused my neck to hurt and maybe because I was a little closer to him so I have to back up a few steps before I can see him properly.

“You do not seem to show fear.”

His voice sounded like there were two people talking- one with a normal talking voice and one that was as deep as I could describe it. It’s terrifying and I have to remember that I was dreaming.

Or am I really? This feels like real life because my dreams are always vague and overall weird but this- this is… it comes with a different feeling and I’m not sure if I’m ready for that.

“Do I have to fear you?” I asked. “Or anything that’s happening here?”

“No, it is just in the expected.” he ‘looked’ at me. His eyes were still closed. “How are you, Aria?”

“Uh.. fine, I guess?”

What was I supposed to answer to that? It came out of the blue when he asked me how I was feeling like we’re friends? Is that it? Was he an imaginary friend I made up with when I was 5 years old? If yes, then man I don’t know other people because look at him? No one is this tall and slender!

“Splendid. Could we take a seat, it’s going to be a long talk between us two.” he offered, a small smile on his face.

My eyes narrowed at him but nevertheless I nodded my head.

He reached out his slim arm and I had second thoughts whether or not I should take his hand but even so I took it and his hand was cold and it stung my skin. Just like Radcliff’s but much much worse. 

Even his walking was otherworldly and I choose not to speak against it because I believe this man is capable of hurting me.

I put in as much effort as I can to seek out where we’re going but the environment was changing completely. It transitioned to a dark and ominous place high school students would probably dare each other to go to just to chicken out in the end. My intuition was to get closer to him in case something else might try to grab me and so I did.

We've arrived at what looks like a castle or a villain lair, I don't know, it really reminds me of one. When we came to a room, the man let go of my hand and pushed a chair towards my direction.

"What's this about?" I just asked, taking a seat whilst I was taking in my surroundings. 

Looking back at the strange man, my eyes widened slightly when he finally opened his.

He has no eyes. Just gaping black holes that his eyes used to be in.

How can he see!? Don't tell me he uses his hearing to maneuver over places? You know what, don't tell me. This is a dream. I don't have to be surprised that he has no eyes.

"You really have a curious mind, don't you?"

"Huh?"

Can he read my thoughts?

He can read my thoughts.

"It's been very difficult for you since you were a child and your grandparents passing away just made it worse."

I get it, he's my conscience.

"Yes, as much as I don't want to admit that ever, it's been very hard for me because I have no one else to lean to when I have a problem occuring.. or just someone to talk to, you know?" I replied like he was really an old friend of mine. 

This just proves how alone I am when I'm talking to my own conscience. Dreams are just your conscience, right? I read that somewhere. My conscience looks kind of cool though.

He nodded his head, the corner of my mouth twitching upwards. "And you've encountered another circumstance along the way. Has it been good?"

I nodded my head slowly, giving a thought to it. "The first time, it's been a headache but I'm getting used to it. I have someone to talk to again and he listens."

"Do you think that you can break the curse, Aria?"

"It's nearly impossible, they said, but there's no harm in trying, right?"

"That is correct." he implied. "But don't you think that you want to keep him around for a little longer?"

"Radcliff? Keep him around longer? Not really. That would be selfish." I said with a frown.

"But that is not what you think nor feel." his eyebrows furrowed. "It's a rather pleasant feeling to have someone by you."

"Yes it is, that's very hard to deny but Radcliff is not a person, I mean he doesn't exist anymore. He's been cheated by people he didn't even know that much. So I'm not wasting anymore time and just want him to be able to rest." I sighed a bit. "He deserves that."

"That's a selfless thing to do for someone who claims to be selfish, is it not?"

"Yeah, yeah!" I laughed a little, pulling my legs up and hugging them. "But when it comes to meeting people and commitment, I could take my time with that. That's something that needs to be thought carefully. At least for me. I don't care about experiences. I care about not getting myself hurt."

"You really treasure time." he looked at me.

"I value time!" I told him. "I will kick back when I'm sure I can afford it."

"Don't you think you're being too hard on yourself?" 

"You have to put extra time to grind in order to strive in life. You can let loose later when everything is stable, financially, emotionally, physically… everything in that aspect." I frowned again. "You know what old people say, money doesn't grow on trees."

"Then you're not really enjoying it if you keep putting yourself under pressure." he pointed out. "What you say you'll get later in life isn't what you'll get."

"Then what will I get?"

"You'll get pushed further back down in your hole because you got used to working and working that you don't know how to relax anymore."

A sigh escaped my lips. "I only have myself to rely on, I can't really relax."

"You have tried once with Diana."

"Yes. But she suddenly went out of the picture. I'm too shy to check up on her. I-I'm fine with Radcliff for now."

He nodded his head. Ir was a few minutes before he could speak up again.

"I don't mind you being too cautious because some people aren't trustworthy and take advantage of another for their own gain."

"Are you saying Radcliff is using me?"

"I am saying that you should still be wary and not put your guard down. If you're fixed with the future you've been imagining it to be, do not get too caught up." he reminded me. "Or it gets worse."