I woke up this morning and noticed immediately that something wasn’t right.. I kicked the covers off of me as I started to look around my room for what ever seemed off. I looked inside my closet, underneath my bed, behind my dresser. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but what ever it may of been, I needed to find it.. The dreadful feeling of something off has been eating at me slowly as I kept looking around the room for what it was. I looked over at my husband, maybe he knew. I tapped on his shoulder, “Hey, hon. Mind helping me find something really quick? I think I might’ve lost something..” No response. I straightened my back as I looked over at his glass of water, his empty glass of water as I let a small smirk spread across my face. The poison worked a lot faster than I thought it would. I let out a small shriek as I look up at the cameras above our bed, running out of the bedroom as I start to dial 911. My heart ached for my dead husband, but I knew he should’ve never left with that woman last night. Hopefully my next husband won’t do the same thing as the other men.

I wake up in a room but all my furniture is removed. The covers aren’t my specially themed Mario covers. They are only gray. I get out of bed and turn on the lamp. The lamp is just a lava lamp, not a furniture lamp. I look outside, and the sky is red with black clouds. I’m unsure of what to think of it. The landscape is entirely black as well, which includes the trees. Am I in a dream? Am I awake?

“I… I’m not lying to you. It’s the truth, it’s the truth, I swear!”

He kept his hand on Rian’s shoulder as the taller boy (but he’d curled up to a point where Aster felt as though he was the taller one) shuddered. Whatever nightmare had woken him, it was pushing into reality a little too hard.

Aster didn’t like that.

And anyway, he knew Rian could, and would, tell him lies probably more often than not. Swearing honesty when this was the most blatant lie yet was… off.

“Look at me.”

It was dark, the only light being the faint one of the sun just beginning to rise, but he paid close attention to how Rian rolled over in order to face him without apparently thinking too hard about it. Something else strange, because he just didn’t act like that.

Something flickered out of his eyes when he made eye contact with Aster, looking suddenly much more relaxed than he had seemed before. Which definitely meant it was some sort of nightmare, one he’d been very convinced was reality.

That… that definitely wasn’t good.

“You alright?”

“I’ve been better.”

“Sorry if I… uh, hurt you.”

He’d been slightly terrified when Rian began thrashing around in his arms, and more so when he heard him beg to be released. Maybe he’d been hugging him too tightly or something — maybe Rian’s nightmare was more than that.

Which made a lot more sense when he thought about it.

“Where were you?”

“What?”

“For the last… the last month. Where did you go?”

Rian twisted a lock of hair around his finger, staring at it far too intently. Instead of giving him a straight answer, he sighed. “I’m going to cut this.”

“Your sister said you were terrified of haircuts.”

“That’s why I said I’d cut it,” he mumbled, starting to look a little more uncomfortable. “Me, Aster. I’ll do it.”

“That’s a really bad idea.”

“And my hair’s been way too long for years, I do need to cut it.”

“It’s not-”

“You thought I was a girl when we first met.”

“Fair, fair. D’you want to get that done when more people are awake or in a few days?”

“I doubt you keep scissors in here.”

There’s something very wrong with all of this. But Aster couldn’t quite work out what it was.

He woke with a start, fighting against the remnants of a nightmare, struggling desperately against the chains, the restraints, the —

Oh.

No, he wasn’t with the Fara, not anymore. He wasn’t about to be shocked, wasn’t about to be poked around by people looking for the source of his ‘sin’.

But something still held him tightly.

Too tightly.

So… so maybe the dream had been his escape from them.

He choked out a weak plea for release, already knowing it was futile, already knowing that he was caught again, already knowing that the leather or metal crossing over his chest wouldn’t listen.

With his eyes still tightly closed, he lay still, terrified.

His restraints moved a little, and he tensed, trying to shrink himself as much as possible. It never helped, but he just couldn’t stop himself.

And he braced himself for the shock, the sparks, the burning up and down his whole body.

“Rian?”

Don’t reply.

Everything in him — brain, heart, gut — was telling him to answer, say the name of the person he longed to have with him now, but that was akin to signing his own death warrant if he was right about where he was.

“Rian, are you okay?”

He kept his mouth clamped shut, still locked in a debate over what to do.

“Please, talk to me.”

And there it was, the order.

“I’m okay,” he lied. They always liked to hear that. It meant they’d hurt him more, which wasn’t exactly good, but if he told them the truth they’d do it in worse ways.

Or try to correct-

Don’t.

Then the restraints moved away entirely, and instead a hand rested on his shoulder.

The speaker’s voice had been calm, but now it grew heavy, dragged down by worry.

“I think you’re lying, you know.”

“I… I’m not lying to you. It’s the truth, it’s the truth, I swear!”

[S.C, Bloodlines. CH 3]

Abruptly Sam pushed Amelya off the couch onto the floor. Causing a loud crash to wake up the other girls. Off course looking over at her bed Sally was cuddled up with Maddness laying on her stomach. Both looked fairly awake already.

“Where’s that girl?” Sam asked looking around the room. “What girl?” Everyone spoke in unison. “She was….. well. Maybe I was dreaming.” “Dreaming about girls ehh” Sally laughed. “Not like that” “Lesbi-honest. Y’all ain’t right” Amelya shook her head, yawning and stretching. “Not cool” Maddness tossed a pillow with so much force it blew Amelya’s hair as it passed her face. “Why you mad though?” Sam shook her head. “Everyone in this room knows you be tasting each other’s cookies”

Sam burst out laughing as they both turned bright red.

“Your just mad nobody’s tasted your cookie” Maddness spat back. “Do you want to?” Sam shot back and Sally took the bait. “Is that an offer?” She giggled causing Maddness to crack her in the ribs with an elbow. “Ouches”

“So what we doing today?” Sam tossed the covers off the couch and stretched. “Stay in bed?” Sally gave Maddness a wink. “Not in my bed. Ya little nasties!” She threw the pillow back, catching them both off guard. “I need some Tylenol, my brains throbbing “ “Don’t you need a brain to say that” Sam shouted and Maddness snorted. “Snappy now aren’t you” Sally joked, pushing Maddness to the edge of the bed.

Nearly sending her spiraling down onto the floor. Maddness wasn’t giving up without a fight, which took a turn for the worst when Sam pushed them both over the edge.

“See I win” She giggled walking out into the hallway with her cami and baggy sleep pants combo.

Slamming into Gabe who just left the bathroom. Knocking Sam to the floor he stood over her. His mouth sitting right against her neck.

“Sorry” he mumbled, pulling himself off her. Sam just layed there. The girls all cracking up from the open room door. “Not exactly how you wanted it” Sally called back and Sam let out a loud exasperated sigh. “Shut up.” She snapped, catching her bearings.

After about an hour more of the girls teasing Sam about Gabe. They were all packed into Sally’s four door jeep. Which of course had been a gift from her rich uncle Chad.

The mall was only about a half and hour drive, which was made in complete silence. Sam was still fuming at our lovely friend couple for always teasing her.

Stepping into the mall a red haired girl nearly ran into us. Sam was the first to speak.

“Watch where your going!” She shouted after the girl that nearly knocked Maddness down. “You okay?” Sally asked, gripping her cheeks. “That was rude” She huffed, starting off towards build a bear.

Maybe we were way to old, but it was still cool watching the little kids excitement. Watching from the window, they heard a gasp behind them.

“No, we shouldn’t. She’ll be pissed.” One of the boys voices spoke. “She’s mine” The other one seemed to be arguing as we turned to him pushing Gabe almost clearly across the long mall benches. “Great, Gabe” Sam slightly fell back as he came closer. “Your very pretty” Gabe’s friend looked intently into Amelya’s eyes. “Jayden. Your sister will kill us both. Let’s go!” Gabe grabbed the boys arm, forcefully pulling him away. “Sorry guys” Gabe mumbled.

“Why’s your brother so weird?” Sally was the first to speak once they were far enough away. “New friends seem just as weird” “Enough about Gabe!” Sam shouted, storming off toward the open shops. “Not sure. Jayden’s cute though” Amelya giggled as Sally fake vomited.

After hours of walking through stores, trying stuff on and ultimately only finding a few outfits each that they liked. They were sitting in the food court waiting for the couple to return from the bathroom.

“I’m so mad your brother fell on me this morning” Sam started out. “You been thinking about that all day haven’t you?” Amelya giggled a bit, slurping up her pineapple smoothie. “Yesss….. kinda.” Her face was a little red as Amelya made eye contact. “Like all crushes, it will go away” “What if it doesn’t? What if he never sees me as more then his little sisters friend” “Girl code states, brothers are off limits anyway” Sally added in leaning over the banister with Maddness in toe. “Does the girl code even apply to Lezzies “ Sam pushed off the bench and disappeared into the crowd of people in the mall. “Rude!” Maddness shouted after her but it fell on deaf ears. “You know I don’t care right?” Amelya wasn’t looking in their direction, but focused on where Sam disappeared. “I’d be happy one of my best friends is with my brother” “Speaking of brother” Sally was looking at Gabe and a red haired girl walking in the crowd. “Looks like Sam has some competition now” It was almost as if the red haired girl heard her, because she looked right at Sally with an intense glare.

Freaky right, they were way to far away for that to be possible. The Sam and Gabe thing, had started a year or so ago. After a late night party became Sams first kiss and crush. Of course she hadn’t told anyone else but I heard it from Gabe and his friends.

Weirdly though it had always seemed he enjoyed their little cat and mouse game. Guess he found another cat.

“Sooo what’s next?” Sally bubbled looking at a cute outfit in Victoria secret. “Cute undies” Maddness giggled and I was quickly the third wheel.

Watching them flirt and pick out stuff was getting tiring. I needed to text Sam and see where she’d gone off too. Grabbing a few cute items to try on I left the trio. Headed straight to the changing rooms.

“Only those four items”the counter girl asked as I stepped into the closest changing cubicles.

Changing into the first two sets I found them to be a bit small. Maybe my bum was finally growing.

“You have a cute bum” A voice said without a single sound of movement. “Who are??” She managed to blurt out nearly falling to her but watching every angle.
“Of course you silly” “Sally Maddness. This isn’t funny” “Calling me other girls names. Also rude, for future reference “ A giggle and then the door opened into my cubby.

Her gaze seemed familiar, eyes dancing across my body. Leaving warmth wherever they stopped. Purplish eyes, must be contacts. But other then that she was flawless, definitely a fifty on the scale to ten.

“That looks amazing. You should buy it” She cooed, slipping into the cubby and right into Amelya’s personal space. Inches from her personal space, only a lips length away. Kissing and biting her lip while she inched in. “Our first kiss last night was spectacular….. I need you” “Wait first kiss” Before Amelya could file a complaint, the girls lips where pressed against hers. Memories started to flood back.

There was glitter on the ceiling. Golden glitter.

Aurelia frowned, still half asleep. Her ceiling was covered in strange swirling patterns, all marked in the strange gold glitter. When she went to sleep, it had been clean and all entirely white.

What had happened?

Was she hallucinating? It happened from time to time, her seeing odd flashes of gold. But… this wasn’t going away.

She sat up, fumbling around for her glasses as she closed her eyes, praying to every god she could think of that the patterns would be gone when she opened them.

They weren’t.

I struggle to open my eyes as my obnoxious alarm goes off. The time on my phone reads 5:00 a.m. That’s too early to be up, so I click the snooze button and try to get a bit more time to sleep. Unfortunately the snooze only works for about five minutes before it goes off again, but I don’t think about that when I click it. I just want it to stop. After sleeping another hour and getting through what felt like countless snoozing cycles, I decide it’s time to get up. A timid long yawn exits my mouth and I stretch my arms up as far as I possibly can. I sit up in bed and take a few seconds to really wake up and get my thoughts in order to start my day. A couple of small rays if sunlight creep into my darkened room and I can see small particles of dust floating freely through my room. Usually by this time I can hear the morning birds chirping and singing away. All there is, is silence. No birds. Something doesn’t feel right. I feel, alone. My stomach suddenly aches and I curl up into a ball on the floor of my room. It’s not pain. It feels empty. Why do I feel this way?My foreheads begins to sweat and I get, cold. After a few minutes of laying on the floor, I get enough energy to grab my phone from under the sheets. Theres no signal on it and it looks like the wifi might be out. I start to wonder if I forgot to pay the internet bill. I should’ve. It’s almost the end of the month. Somehow I gain enough energy to get up off the floor and make my way out into the living room. I stop and stare at the furniture in the living room one by one for a few seconds trying to remember if I I forgot to do something last night. Everything looks the same. It all feels so different. Theres barely any light coming in from the outside so I then go spread the drapes apart to let more of it in. From my living room window I can see the courtyard filled with red, brown, and yellow leaves covering most of its surface. There’s something missing. There’s no movement. No wind. No life. I grab my worn out denim jacket and pair of slippers from the living room closet and head on out into the courtyard. There’s usually quite a bit of activity at this time around the complex. I have yet to see or even slightly hear a neighbor since I woke up. What’s going on? I walk towards the leasing office which is a few feet away from the courtyard and away from the tall trees blocking the morning sky. There’s no noise coming from the main street that passes in front of the complex. No cars. No people. Nothing. I walk onto the middle of the street to look down it both ways. Nothing. Where is everyone? Am I dreaming? I can’t be. I know I’m awake. This is real. This has to be real. My anxiety instantly hits me and I collapse onto my knees. I start to cry and weep. Where is everyone? Why am I alone? Why me? As I clean my face with the bottom part of my shirt I notice someone on the other side of the street across the complex where the cemetery is. I jump up onto my feet and run towards them as fast as I can. As I get closer I notice it’s a man. He’s wearing a black suit and bright red dressing shoes. He’s just standing there with his arms behind his back looking up at the sky. I slowly approach him and as soon as I open my mouth to ask what’s going on, he speaks. “It is time.” He turns around and looks at me. His eyes as blue as the morning sky. He looks deeply into my eyes and speaks in a gentle manner, “For centuries humankind has been on the path of destruction. Your leaders have caused nothing but pain and harm to the world. Now, we will start a new beginning in hopes of saving this planet. You have been chosen to lead the new world. Make life thrive as it should. We will be back for judgement.” The man looks up to the sky and disappears instantly. I look up and see what can be easily over twenty starships blast their way out of the atmosphere. I sit down where I stand and cry. Life will thrive again. It has to.

Opening her eyes, Maura was immediately assaulted by the blinding sun. “Damn! I meant to close those blinds before I went to sleep.” Her first Saturday off in weeks, and after dropping Bill off at the airport last night, she was looking forward to sleeping in.

Wait…something was off. Her bedroom did not face directly East. The sun should not be that strong. How late had she slept? Looking at her watch, she saw it was 5:30…am or pm, it shouldn’t be this bright. Not in New Jersey in December.

Getting her bearings, Maura stepped out of bed onto a hardwood floor. Except…her bedroom was carpeted.

Okay. Something was wrong. Now that she had her eyes open, she could see she was not in her own room. The elaborate furnishings and exquisite bedding gave away the fact that wherever she was, it was upscale. Seeing a lush robe thrown over the one chair in the room, she put it on and walked to the window.

When she looked outside, she had to blink. Was she seeing things? The view was gorgeous. The view from her bedroom was decidedly NOT gorgeous.

Okay. She looked around. It didn’t appear that there was anyone else in the room, and she couldn’t find a camera. Was someone playing with her?

She turned back to the window and looked at the strange but beautiful surroundings. Colorful flowers she’d never seen before sent waves of delicious fragrance through the air, and the bright gold and red of some of the buildings were simply stunning.

She was not home. She was not in New Jersey. Hell, she’d bet she wasn’t even in the United States!

Where the heck was she, and how did she get here???

Aria’s father used to tell her stories. Every night, he would settle at the end of her bed, his leather-bound book cradled tightly in his arms, reading words written on the pages she was never allowed to see.

All through her childhood, Aria wondered where the stories he read came from—who wrote them. Once, on a night when bravery bubbled, she snuck into his office after dark and carefully opened the drawer on his desk. The book sat nestled on top of a green cushion. Golden edging claimed the corners of the worn brown leather, and three vibrant, emerald gemstones formed a triangle in its centre. But despite the elegance of the cover, it held no title or author, and the back offered no blurb and told none of its secrets. Aria’s father had caught her before her fingers could even brush the first page, her head stuffed deep into the drawer. She never tried to look for the book again—his disappointment in her enough to squash even the smallest flame of curiosity.

After he passed, still Aria left the book untouched. She now kept it locked in the chest at the foot of her bed, surrounded by the rest of his handed down possession. Aria hoped that one day she would have the courage—as she did on the night when she was young—to open it, to read it as he once did. But for now, all Aria cared about was sleep.

Darkness still claimed her room in a quiet blanket of peace, and she buried my face further into my pillow. The fabric came away wet, and Aria realised she had dribbled.

Moaning and highly repulsed, Aria twisted onto her back, stretching out her legs. Something solid blocked their trajectory, and she froze. Her eyes widened. It couldn't be the end of her bed; she wasn't that tall.

Aria kicked again, and the mass squeaked. What if it was a rat? Ravenous for milk... Or her. Keeping her body tightly wrapped in the embrace of her covers, Aria peered over the top, her eyes squinting in the dark. Her breath caught, lodging in her throat. A shadowed figure perched, hunched over at the end of her bed. Aria jolted. She scooted up, tugging her knees close to her chest. “Get out!”

Springs creaked, and the figure leaned forward. “Milk?” They asked, their voice reminding Aria of grating rocks, rough as salt.

In the stories her father told, he would often tell tales of Brownies and hobgoblins—household spirits that came in the night to complete various chores and duties. So, every night before bed, Aria would leave out a bowl of milk or cream as an offering to the helpers that cleaned her room. She believed him, his stories, until one morning when she woke early and found not a Brownie enjoying the milk, but three giant rats, their tiny feet and whiskered noses submerged deep into the white liquid.

The figure before her couldn't be a Brownie, could it? No! No, it couldn't. She had forgotten that nonsense long ago... But then again, thinking the figure at her feet was indeed a mystical Brownie felt much better than thinking a creep from the street or Dave from a few doors down had broken into her flat asking for milk.

Aria opened her mouth to speak, but the figure shushed her. “Speak not,” they said, “or the shadows will wake.” “Wha—” The figure lunged forward. A cold boney finger—claw?—pressed against Aria’s mouth, and her head met the headboard with a hard crack. “Not, I said!” The figure hissed. Rancid breath, rotten and sour, invaded her space and an involuntary squeal escaped her sealed lips. Did they not own toothpaste? Mouthwash? Any common courtesy?

The figure shifted their weight, the mattress beneath groaning. Their finger slipped away, but Aria could still taste the unpleasant clammy woody tang of their skin. She definitely needed toothpaste—no! What was she saying? This figure needed to get out!

“You wanted milk?” She swatted the figure's arm away. Its form was now a solid silhouette against the growing blue light of dawn in her room. A bead of sweat rolled down her back, and she shivered. “Yes?” She asked, her voice shuddering, “Milk?” “Human quiet!” “No. You’re... You’re a Brownie, aren't you? A creature of the fey?” Gods, she seriously hoped the figure was a Brownie; she sounded ridiculous. “If I give you milk, will... will you leave me alone? Please? Leave my flat?” “Milk, yes. Talk, no. You must follow.” the figure said, “Before died, he came to us, Sir Edward. Told us to find you, his daughter, if trouble come. Trouble has come, and I found you, daughter. You must help us.” “No.” “You believed once. Once left milk, yummy delights, by window in room. You will believe again and come. Before shadows arrive.” “No.” “Sir Edward—” “My father was crazy,” Aria declared. Tears pricked her eyes, and she curled her fists in the warm material of her duvet. “He saw things that weren't there and believed stuff he shouldn't. Actually,” She shook her head. “why am I talking to you? Get out, whatev— whoever you are!” “No speak, daughter! Sleep now. I bring you and Sir Edwards book. Both much needed.”

This had to be a dream, Aria thought. Yes! She couldn't understand why she hadn’t realised it sooner. Asleep. A dream. As simple as that. She’d wake soon, laughing at the stupidity of this fantasy.

The silhouetted figure raised an arm and blew a cold, horrid breath into her face. Something soft, sweet and smelling like poppies tickled her skin. She sneezed, and her body flopped, falling like a dead weight. Her eyes drooped, and the blue light and the darkness began to fuzz, swirling together in a vortex of sleep.

Before she drifted off, she felt two small hands wrapped around her shoulders, lifting her from the warmth—the safety—of her bed, pulling her to who knew where... Maybe the land of the fey.

I feel the damp heat and stagnant air before I realize I’m even awake. It’s suffocating. It bears down on me like the coat of some heavy beast who has just run through a torrential downpour. The smell is similar to that of a beast as well. Poignant and overpowering, it creeps into my nose like worms crawling through the earth. I become aware of the platform beneath me, rigid and uneven. Pain begins to shoot through me from the unnatural position of my body. I’m fully awake now, but too terrified to open my eyes. Where am I? I try to remember the day, the moment, anything before, just and glimpse or clue that could tell me what happened or my location. I’m met with nothing but an impenetrable fog. My mind is completely vacant aside from the dread welling inside me. I try to remain as still as possible, listening for any sign of movement or life around me. I hear the wind, blowing soft outside a nearby window. It whistles slightly. Maybe I’m in an older building. Birds sing in the distance, a bright chirp in the dark foreboding of my mind. That simple sound brings with it small hope. I strain to hear anything else. Someone breathing, light footsteps, the creak of floorboards, anything that will indicate I’m not alone in this place. I hear nothing but the sound of my own erratic heartbeat. There’s nothing left for me to do now. I hold my breath, and I open my eyes.