Transitioning into the past was like moving through a dream. For a moment the world around her was a fuzzy blur, as though Claire were looking at it through a foggy window. As the fog faded, the world became sharper, the colors brighter and she realized that everything around her was moving in slow motion.

Everything except for her.

She floated above it all, watching her physical form as it moved into the room. The door creaked slowly, loudly, and Claire tried to recall if she had noticed the sound the first time or if it was simply the new angle that made it so obvious.

Well, well, aren't you a creeper.

Claire scowled, turning her thoughts inward.

I thought you were gone.

Nah, just lost touch for a moment. What is your plan?

I'm going to try to talk to Alek. Claire explained, turning her attention away from herself and towards the man sprawled out across the length of a dusty, faded couch.

How do you intend to do that? Even if he could hear you, he's asleep.

I told you, I'm going to go into his dreams. If the Mare can do it, why can't I?

I mean, I guess that makes sense.

Do you have any better ideas?

Draz's silence was answer enough. Claire drifted towards Alek and hovered over him. He looked much younger when he was sleeping. His face was more relaxed and peaceful. She found herself reaching out instinctively to touch his cheek, her fingers, barely visible, passed right through without making contact. A sadness gripped her heart and strengthened her resolve to save him.

If only she could figure out how to get inside his head.

Almost as soon as she thought it, Claire felt a tug on her navel. It reminded her of the pull she'd felt on her hand just before she went tumbling into the river. She resisted the urge to fight it, and found herself spiraling downwards, colors flashing all around her as she fell. Several seconds later she hit the ground with a heavy thud. As she pushed herself upright, a room began to materialize around her. It was the attic room, she recognized the color carpets almost immediately, but there was something different about it.

Sunlight filtered in through the windows, tiny dust motes dancing lightly through the warm rays. The desk and shelves were not laden down with books and papers, but toys and trinkets. The dusty couch was gone and in its place were two tall, wingback chairs decorated with colorful afghans and mismatched pillows.

The room was empty, but it wouldn't remain that way for long. As Claire slowly rose to her feet, she heard the sound of pounding footsteps coming up the stairs. Her first instinct was to hide, but there was no time. The door burst open and Alek ran in. He looked much younger, about fifteen or sixteen if Claire had to guess, and he looked quite distraught. He moved right past her without offering so much as a sideways glance, and paused in the center of the room.

As Claire watched, Alek balled his hands into tight fists. He lifted them to his face and ground them against his eyes in an effort to crush the tears rolling in thin streaks down his cheeks. Without thinking, Claire reached out and placed a hand on Alek's shoulder. To her surprise, he turned towards her and stared.

"Who are you?" He asked. "What are you doing here?"

Claire was at a loss for words. She hadn't thought he'd be able to see her let alone feel her touch.

"C-Claire, my name is Claire."

"What are you doing in my room, Claire?"

"I thought you might need someone to talk to," Claire replied, unsure of how to proceed.

"You shouldn't be here," Alek replied. As he spoke the room around her began to shift, the floor changed from hardwood and carpets to dying grass and weeds. The toys began to crumble and rust, falling from the shelves in melted, warped clumps. The chairs began to twist and reach skyward with gnarled, crooked finger-like branches. The sky itself was black and starless. A low hanging moon stained crimson cast a ruddy orange glow on the earth below.

"You shouldn't be here," Alek said again, his voice sharp.

"I have to tell you something," Claire said. She took a step closer and the ground beneath her feet began to tremble and then roll. Alek was watching her expectantly. Claire tried to ignore the increasing vibrations and focus on the task at hand.

"You have to-" a rather violent jolt nearly sent her toppling over. "You have to watch out for Sevik! Alek, he's going to try and-" another rocking wave sent her crashing to her knees. The ground began to break apart leaving jagged gaps between large chunks of decaying earth. "He's going to kill you!"

A low howl broke through the darkness and Claire felt a shiver race up the length of her spine. She looked over her shoulder expecting to see the Mares bearing down on her. Their screeching, dog-like howls echoed all around her and when she turned back towards Alek he was nowhere to be seen.

"Alek?" She called, her voice falling flat. "Alek!"

She began to run in the direction she assumed he had gone -- away from the howls that grew louder and more savage with each passing moment. As she ran, the ground seemed to come alive beneath her feet. It shook and rolled, rising and falling like waves in the sea. Claire tripped and stumbled as she ran, and once or twice she was brought momentarily to her knees.

Without warning the ground in front of her split open with a thunderous roar. The broken edges of dirt and rock reminded Claire of a jagged, gaping maw. She tried to stop, but the ground rose violently beneath her feet, pitching her down into the silent darkness.

Claire fell for what felt like hours and just as she was about to give up hope of ever reaching the bottom, she was suddenly submerged beneath the surface of a placid pool.

Claire?

Draz! Where have you been?

Where have I been? You've been quiet since your bright idea about the dream.

Claire frowned. Perhaps Draz hadn't been able to follow here there? It was likely for the best all things considered. If that were the case, however, how come she could hear him now?

You were ejected from the dream, I guess, and you ended up back in the river.

Even as Draz explained, the lights, the moments in time that called the river home, began to wink back into existence. Within a few minutes, Claire found herself once again surrounded. Draz was right. She had somehow ended up back in the river.

Did you warn him?

Yes, I mean, I tried, I'm not sure...

Claire glanced into the lights floating around her and managed to find the cluster she had entered. Alek was no longer sleeping, but standing and pacing the room in front of a mortified Claire. That explained why she had gotten tossed out. Alek had woken up and caught her rifling through his things.

You went through his stuff?

Draz's question caused her to scowl. It wasn't intentional, not that it matters, it's none of your business. With that said, Claire released the memory back into the swirling pool of colors.

Focusing on getting out of the river, Claire slowly began to rise upwards. No sooner had her head broken the surface than she heard that bone chilling howl echo around her.

Mares, we should hurry.

I heard them, in Alek's dream.

Not good, Claire. They've realized you are here. You've got to get back to the shore and get to the beacon.

Claire struggled to contain the panic rising within her and focused her attention on the grassy embankment a few yards to her right. Without hesitating, Claire began to swim. As she drew closer to the shoreline, she could make out dark clouds forming against the otherwise serene horizon. Brilliant streaks of red and green flashed across the sky followed by the low rumble of thunder.

Reaching the riverbank, Claire began to drag herself onto the shore. The river seemed reluctant to release her, pulling back as she tried to pull free. The more she fought, the more the river resisted. Another series of howls were carried towards her on a rolling wave of thunder and Claire felt not only her own growing panic, but Draz's as well.

Hurry, Claire!

Don't you think I am hurrying as fast as I can? This damn river just won't let go!

As if all the river needed was a good scolding, a series of small pops followed her protest and Claire suddenly went tumbling forward, finally free. She remained there for just a moment, sprawled across the warm grass, trying to catch her breath.

After a few seconds, Claire pushed herself to her feet. In the distance, standing out against the darkening sky, was a thin beam of light.

Is that it?

Yes, Claire, go. Go now!

Claire ran towards it as fast as her feet would carry her. With each step, her heart slammed violently against her ribs and her breath forced itself from her lungs in short, ragged gasps. For once the strange world in which she found herself in seemed to take pity on her, and the beam of light grew wider as Claire actually got closer.

You're almost there, Claire, just a little further. You're kind of out of shape, you know that?

Shut up, Draz.

Really, I mean--

SHUT UP, DRAZ.

Claire shoved against his presence with as much mental force as she could muster. She heard a phantom chuckle and did her best to ignore it. She was so close, the beacon was yards away, any minute and she'd be-- her toe caught an upturned stone and she tumbled gracelessly to the ground. Claire rolled onto her back and laughed. It was an odd mixture of relief, joy, and disbelief. The kind of laughter you might hear from the patients of an insane asylum before they closed the door to their white padded room.

What's so funny?

Nothing, everything, we did it, Draz, we did it.

We aren't out of the woods yet, Claire. We need to trigger the beacon. We need to get you out of there.

Despite his foreboding warning, Claire couldn't help but feel elated and laughed again.

You're really scary sometimes, you know that?

Claire didn't answer.

She heard the low growl to her left, and another to her right. Her heart went still and she slowly sat up. Very slowly, Claire rose to her feet, fear threatening to overtake her.

From the long grass came three hulking, hunching dog like creatures the size of bears. They were hairless save for a row of black needle-like hairs running down the length of their spines all the way to the tips of their long, whip-like tails. Their skin was a mottled gray and decorated with long, jagged streaks the color of dried blood. They swiped at the ground with claws six inches long at least, while snarls and growls escaped from sharp, angular jaws filled with rows of razor sharp teeth.

The most striking thing about them were the eyes, or rather, their lack of eyes.

They have no eyes.

They have no need for eyes. For the first time since this entire adventure began, Draz sounded genuinely frightened. They are creatures of darkness, Claire. They do not need to see you to sense you.

What do I do? Why aren't they moving?

I don't know.

Claire shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The movement caused the Mare to her left to snarl and step closer. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. She could feel the beacon at her back, the warm light beckoning her to safety.

You need to get to the beacon, it's the only way.

How?

Run, Claire, run now.

So she did.

For several seconds all Claire could hear was the blood as it rushed past her ears. She knew the creatures were following her. She could practically feel their hot breath on the back of her neck. At one point she felt the pressure of claws catching in the fabric of her shirt, but she didn't take the time to look back. The light was looming in front of her and when she was a foot or so away, she dove forward. As the light engulfed her, Claire felt a burning sensation across her back where the Mare made one final attempt to stop her escape.

For several moments the light encased her and Claire wondered if she had actually managed to get out. She could no longer sense Draz and she gradually felt herself growing heavier, and more dense. As the light faded and the world around her came into view, Claire found herself confronted by a very familiar scene.

"You have what you want," Alek called out. "Now, let us go."

Claire felt as though she were waking from a dream. Her mouth felt dry, her body weak, and her thoughts seemed to be floating just out of reach.

"Let you go? I'm afraid that won't be possible. I'm under strict orders to make sure you never leave this place alive. I intend to see this mission through to completion. Goodbye, Aleksandr."

All at once everything came snapping back, like a rubber band stretched too far. It was startling and painful and caused Claire to physically stagger back a step. She was back, back in the moment she had been trying to prevent. It hadn't worked? How come it hadn't worked?

Why then had she ended up here?

Without thinking, Claire leaped.

This time, instead of jumping on Sevik in an effort to stop him, she leaped towards Alek. She landed on him just as Sevik unleashed his fury, purple and black energies engulfing them.

"I tried to save you, Alek, I'm so sorry," she whispered before she closed her eyes, clinging to the man she had failed to save, and waited for the end.