The Dream Real

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, events, and organizations in this story are products of the author's imagination. This series contains fantasy, mystery, supernatural elements, adventure, emotional themes, and fictional world-building. It is intended for entertainment purposes only. Please do not copy, reproduce, or repost any part of this story without the author's permission. Thank you for supporting the original work. Cast Zhyrelle Meriza Drevon Kaelith Elias The Keeper Liora Adrian Valerian The Shadow Beast PROLOGUE The first dream came on the night of her eighteenth birthday. It wasn't like the ordinary dreams that faded away before sunrise. It felt real-so real so that when she woke up, she could still smell the scent of rain and hear the whisper of leaves dancing in the wind. She stood alone in the middle of the vast field surrounded by towering acacia trees. Golden sunlight filtered through the branches even through tiny raindrops continued to fall from the sky. The weather didn't make sense. It was raining. Yet the sun shone brightly overhead. She slowly stretched her hand and watched the raindrops land in her skin, They were warm instead of cold. Each drop shimmered like tiny crystal before disappearing against her fingertips. The field stretched endlessly in every direction. No houses. No roads. No mountains. Only the whisper of the wind and the rhythmic sound of rain kissing the earth. "Where am I...?" Her own voice seemed to disappear into the silence. No answer came. Instead... A soft breeze carried the scent of wild flowers through the endless field. She tuned. Someone standing beneath the largest acacia tree she had ever seen. A young man. He looked to be about her age. His dark hair swayed gently with the wind, while his coat fluttered behind him despite the absence of any strong breeze. For reasons she couldn't explain... He looked familiar. Not because she had met him before. But because her heart recognized him before her mind could. The young man smiled.6 Not a wide smile. Just enough to make her sadness in his silver gray eyes even more noticeable. "You came." His voice was soft. Gentle. Almost relieved. Zhyrelle frowned. "...Do I know you?" The smile slowly faded from his face. "It seems..." "...You still don't remember." A strange ache settled in her chest. "I've never met you." "You have." His answer came so natural that she almost believed him. "But not the way you think." He slowly stepped closer. The distance between them grow shorter. With every step. The rain became quieter. The world itself seemed to hold its breath. "I'm sorry." His barely rose above the whisper. "I couldn't stop it." Zhyrelle blinked in confusion. "Stop what?" Instead of answering... He raised his hand. Slowly. Carefully. As though afraid she might disappear if she moved too quickly. Without thinking. She reached out as well. Their fingerstips were only inches apart. She could almost feel the warmth of his skin. Then- A deafening c***k echoed across the sky. The sunlight disappeared. Dark cloud swallowed the golden horizon. The acacia tress bend violently as power winds swept across the endless field. The young man expression changed instantly. Fear. Real fear. "No..." He looked toward the darkened sky. "They found us." The ground trembled beneath Zhyrelle's feat. The warm rain suddenly turned icy cold. Far beyond the trees... Dark figures emerge enough from the mist. They had no faces. Only shifting shadows that moved unnaturally across the field. The young man stepped in front of her. His eyes never left the approaching darkness. "You have to wake up." "What?" "You must wake up!"-* "I don't understand!" "You will." He turned toward her. For the first... There were tears in his eyes. "If you remember me now..." "The'll find you." The shadows drew closer. Their whispers echoed through the storm. They weren't speaking words. Yet somehow... She understood them. "She doesn't belong here..." "Erase her..." "She must forget..." The young man grabbed her hand. His touch was warm. Real. So real that it frightened her. "Listen carefully." His voice trembled. "No matter what happens..." "No matter what anyone tells you..." "...Find me..." The shadows lunged forward. The world shattered like broken glass. Everything disappeared. Zhyrelle gasped as she sat upright in bed. Her room was dark. Rain tapped softly against her window. Her heart pounded wildly inside her chest. She looked down at her trembling hand. It still felt warm. As though someone had been holding it only seconds ago. Outside the rain continued to fall. And somewhere... Far beyond the world she knew. "Zhyrelle..." Then he smiled sadly. "I'll wait." Even if it takes years. Even if you forget me. I'll wait until you find me again