PHASE 31 - I DON’T WANT TO SLEEP ANYMORE

I’m certainly dreaming again.

Here am I, in this world full of ice. Everything is white nothingness, except this giant diamond crystal in front of me. Inside it is the silhouette of a beautiful woman, singing her wonderful prayers for all eternity. I can hear her beautiful voice inside of my head. It soothes like I’m already in heaven.

It is the Frozen Soul. Last time, The Outsider would creepily accompany me in this realm, but right now, I’m completely alone with this conscious frozen crystal.

My mind is clear in this realm. I can remember everything that I have forgotten, and see the future events I will forget once I wake up. But still…

Why is the thing called Frozen Soul easily forgotten? I would bring up the topic for it, but as time goes by, I forget its existence? I have heard The Outsider babble about the Frozen Soul. But the thought of it would simply be swallowed into oblivion.

I will never know the answer for sure...

Suddenly, reality broke, and I was delivered to a completely different realm.

<>

I was outside a burning house. The skies are dark, but the flames of despair are making this environment a truly horrifying scene.

There is five burnt corpse in front of me. I can’t distinguish who are they because they are completely charred.

I looked at my hands and saw that it was covered with blood.

And then in front of me, is a mysterious man wearing a black robe. I can’t see his or her face, but his red eyes are glowing, staring at my soul. He is wielding a dark katana that has glowing red linings on it.

The mysterious man walked towards me, but I couldn’t move an inch! Suddenly, he grabbed my neck in one hand, and my vision was blocked by neverending flames.

Reality shattered once again without me able to analyze what’s happening.

<>

I’m completely in a different scenario. Crimson blood moon. The skies are red, just like the bloodstained barren wasteland. I was lying with my back flat on the soil, unable to move or struggle. In front of me is an unconscious beaten-up Amy and Key.

I used my remaining strength to turn my head to the other side and I was about to see a horrible death.

Brrrrrr!!! It was the sound of a chainsaw engine.

Helena is sitting on the ground with her bloodied face. She can no longer move nor see what’s in front of her. It was a Cursed Guardian that we have met before. He was wearing a skull of a canine. It was Void Wolf.

Void Wolf raised his chainsaw broadsword and made a clean slice to the stunned swordswoman!

I closed my eyes just to evade this merciless scene. I know my mind and my stomach won’t be able to handle this. I shifted my glance to the empty field just to avoid traumatizing myself. But I still have a glimpse of the horror. Blood showered all around the place as the sands were tainted red.

Everything faded once again, and I was in a different time frame.

<>

I was still in Yami, and I was on my knees unable to retaliate. My right arm has been blown off by an unknown attack, and my left eye can no longer see.

And in front of me is the Goddess Freya, who has been wrapped by disgusting tentacles, which are secreting sticky fluids. The tentacle’s grip became tighter and tighter until the goddess spurted blood from her mouth, nose, ears, and eyes. I can see her tearful compassionate purple eyes, staring at me.

“R-Ric… I… I love you, Ric… always… And I’m sorry… for my sins... ”

Then the tentacles devoured her completely.

Just before I could scream for her name, reality shattered.

<>

I was in complete darkness.

Suddenly, red glowing eyes gave off a light in this dark world. It was depressing that the only source of brightness is the eye of a Cursed Guardian.

“You’ve been sleeping a lot lately, Rikkun.” It was Tiara’s voice!

Suddenly, the magical torches around me were lit and I realized I was in an underground room of a Japanese shrine. The wooden walls and floor have been tainted by blood. But the person in front of me, who is holding my cheeks, is none other than the shrine maiden friend of mine.

But everything seems to be different. She now has a glowing silver-white hair. Her eyes are like those Cursed Guardians. She’s giving off an aura of malice.

I realized that all that’s left for me is my head! I can no longer scream or breathe! I could no longer feel anything, aside from her dark claws which are squeezing my brains out!

The worst part is I’m completely conscious and feeling all the excruciating pain!

“My poor Rikkun…” The silver-haired witch made a smug. “You should have changed the future when you had the chance. You considered an enemy to be your friend, and you cast off a friend and considered him an enemy. And now, here am I, the Witch of Brightmore Town. You will be here, alive, as only ahead, for all eternity. Don’t worry, I will torment you until the time ends.”

Then Tiara chuckled maliciously as she continued.

“You have made the greatest mistake. You should have let me die.”

>

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

I smell corned beef.

The noise was my morning alarm app on my phone. I immediately got up and snoozed it. I noticed that I was heavily sweating that made my back soaked with salty water. I immediately opened the window for fresh air. And I sighed heavily, trying to calm my nerves.

That dream was a lot weirder and darker than when The Outsider accompanied me in the realm of the Frozen Soul. I don’t want to accept that it was the product of my . I don’t want to…

“Hahaha…” I laughed softly like a retarded person.

What am I saying? All those things are impossible to happen! Too many death flags are just impossible to even for a TV series! I have more realistic problems to solve! I have to go to class early! Midterms are within a couple of days, I don’t have time to fool around!

I immediately went outside my room to do my morning routine. But the thought of my extreme nightmare never left me.

<>

I rode the bus alone. Amy was still busy in her investigation and I know she’s being eaten by this work, but she said that she will attend classes tomorrow and take all the exams. She’s a smart girl so I don’t worry a thing about her grades.

The thought of Brightmore Town crossed in my mind. During my dream, the Cursed Tiara told that she was the Witch of Brightmore Town. In order to make myself calm, I have to see if it is really an existing place. If that was a supposedly imaginary town, then that will ensure that my nightmare last night is not a .

I searched through the internet, and nothing worthwhile pops up. All I had is the Wikipedia article describing the town in just one paragraph such as total area and population. I also got the exact location of the town, which is a twelve-hour ride from Dradecim, or if I’m from Mirose Grande, 14 hours. That town must’ve been outside our human civilization.

My heart started to beat faster. I can’t believe that a town in my dreams is real. I inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm myself once again. Relax, Alaric. Maybe it’s just a coincidence.

I will just have to ask Tiara later.

<>

I was surprisingly early in our classroom. Heushac was already there on his seat, but he seems busy playing his phone so I didn’t disturb him. I just gazed at the windows to kill some time.

A few minutes later, Tiara came in with a buttered toast on her lips. When she saw me, she greeted with her mouth full. “Gwood mownin Wikkun.”

“For the love of God, eat that thing first before speaking.” I coldly scolded.

Suddenly, she chomped it down like a hungry dog! I’m not sure if she even chewed it! She swallowed it whole!

Tiara tiredly laid on her desk. “We practiced our singing and dance steps until it was 1 AM. I didn’t even get enough sleep thanks to a Level 1 Eidolon next door. I’m so hungry…”

“Did you mean exhausted? You just had your breakfast.”

“I’m hungry… “ Tiara repeated. Maybe she converts her exhaustion into stomach acids, which may be a logical reason why she’s not getting fatter after eating like a pig.

Wait, I remembered that I have to ask her something about my dream!

“Hey, Tiara… “ I made a pause to swallow my saliva. “Have you been to Brightmore Town?”

Her expression changed into a life-threatening one. She glared at me as if she’s just waiting for me to say a word that will make me killed. And her tone completely changed, from cutesy Japanese schoolgirl, into a seriously creepy voice like those of a witch. A chill went down to my spine as she opened her mouth.

“I don’t remember telling anyone about that horrible place.”