Realm of dreams

⬺11⤕

"Rei's test began, you have 6 hours to pass it and if you don't, you will face a lot of consequences when you wake up. Good luck."

What test? Who was that? I looked once again up, searching for that person who told me this was a test, but was once again met with the terrifying sight. My brain wasn't working, I couldn't process anything. I pinched myself, wishing for this to just be a stupid dream and wake up after that, but nothing. This was real, and I couldn't do anything about it. Suddenly the ground under me started to change too.

The feeling of disgust and fear filled me up. I closed my eyes. If I opened them, I was met with all the different disgusting holes that were triggering my brain and whole body. I started to shake and sweat, typical symptoms of trypophobia (fear of holes). This couldn't be happening. I had to face my fear, but why? I can't, I just can't...

My whole life I had to watch out from holes. I don't even know how I became this phobia, it just came when I was younger. I was in many situations where I had to face my fear, but I never overcame it. I mean, how should I? Normally when people need to face their fear, they run away and that's exactly what I did, so why face it now?

The problem was that I can't. I just can't. The pain in my head came back and increased in seconds. My whole body felt sticky and the urge to scratch my skin grew. "What should I do? I can't do this." I whispered that multiply times in front of me as I was balling my eyes out. "I have no one. I'm alone." Oh, no... I felt some crawling on my whole body. This was not good. From slow crawling to fast crawling.

Out of panic I started scratching my whole body, feeling holes everywhere but no matter what, I couldn't open my eyes because I knew if I would open them, I would pass out immediately. My hands were feeling sticky and even on them, I felt the crawling. I started screaming, not wanting this to continue any further, but even that had brought nothing. My heartbeat was beating a lot faster than normally, and I felt another panic attack coming.

Suddenly I was being lifted, and it felt like I was flying. Maybe the test is done? I opened my eyes and was even more shocked than I was earlier. I wasn't on the ground anymore, I was standing on a cliff with hundreds of meters depth. The whole place still filled with the most disgusting holes, which didn't help at all with the height. First my fear of holes and now my fear of height?

A strong wind tried to push me forward, and I couldn't hold myself anywhere. I was slowly getting closer and closer to where the cliff ended, and then absolutely nothing but just the falling part would come. Falling in the void and just emptiness. I was continuously shaking my head while more and more tears were streaming down my face. "No, please just STOP." the screaming got louder the closer I was getting to the cliff. Why? Just why?

I was mentally preparing myself to fall down when I suddenly heard someone calling out for me. "Pull yourself together! You can't give up Rei. Not now." someone grabbed my wrist that was stopping me from falling down and turned around, but I was too tired, I couldn't do this anymore. "Rei open your eyes, I'm here now." wait that comforting voice, it was his. "I can't. I just can't anymore." I said, still not daring to open them.

"Rei please. Just focus on me, I promise we will figure this out together. You need to be strong... at least for me." his soothing voice was calming me down. I took a deep breath and looked at him, just at him. He smiled at me as soon as I opened my eyes and held my hands tightly, not planning on letting them go. "It's okay Rei. This will soon be over, you just need to endure it a little more." I nodded my head tiredly and forced a little smile.

"I don't know in how much pain and fear you must be right now, but we can do it. You are not alone, Rei. I am with you." he said as he wiped my tears away. "B-but how?" I asked, still not being sure as my hands continued to shake. "I know this sight might be the worst for you, but you need to try to embrace it. Remember, this is all an illusion. You are in your world and in your world you have the rules, so try to look at it differently. Nothing can happen to you because I am here. Just like on the roller coaster, I will hold your hand."

I nodded my head and took deep breaths. I can do it. It's not as bad as it seems. I tried to convince myself and as soon as I felt ready, I turned my head and looked around once again. It didn't seem as bad as earlier anymore. There were still holes, but more like a pattern which wasn't as triggering as earlier anymore. It was getting better...

"See? It got better, right?" asked Kai, still holding tightly my hand. "Yes, a lot better." I agreed. There was that feeling of hope that was slowly filling me. Try to embrace the picture, Rei... just like Kai told you. I took another deep breath and kept looking around with Kai beside me that reassured me all the time. "It isn't that bad anymore." the shaking stopped, and the fear started to disappear slowly.

"Shall we?" I nodded in silence, and we started walking with slow steps forward. We stopped when we got close enough to look down. "You are free, Rei. There is no one that can hurt you anymore. You can look down whenever you feel safe enough. I am here, and I won't leave." he squeezed my hand and smiled at me. I smiled back and finally looked down. "We aren't even that high." I said relieved, finally feeling better. "That's because when you fear something, you imagine it much worse than it actually is." he explained, and it made a lot of sense.

"After 2 hours and 53 minutes, Rei has passed the test. Congratulations. You will wake up without consequences. You have overcome your fear."

2 hours and 53 minutes? That's how long I was stuck here? Tears of joy started to well up in my eyes, and I didn't hesitate one more second and jumped into Kai's arms. I didn't utter one word, just cried into his arms. He went with his hands through my hair and held me close. "It's okay. It's finally over." he whispered into my ear. "Thank you. Thank you so much, Kai. Without you, I wouldn't have made it. Thank you truly." I said continuously, but he shushed me down.

"There's really no need to thank me. You were the one that made it, I was just here to support you." he said as he scratched his head with a nervous laugh following afterwards. "Yah, but without you, I would have given up a long time ago, so of course I need to thank you." I stated while still protesting, and he finally gave in. "Okay, okay, if you say so." he said with a chuckle.

"There's actually something I want to tell you-" Kai started his sentence, but got interrupted by another strong wind.

"Kai's test began, you have 6 hours to pass it and if you don't, you will face a lot of consequences when you wake up. Good luck."

I widened my eyes as the exact same voice that announced my test earlier, was announcing Kai's test now. No, no, no, not now. This time it was me that held Kai's hand firmly, but it was no use since he was slowly getting pulled away from me. "If I might not pass it, just know that I love you, Rei. I always did, and I will always love you no matter what. I wish we would have had more time to talk. Please take care." he gave me that sweet smile of his and disappeared slowly.

The sudden emptiness was filling me and panic started to slowly overcome me.

"What about you? Where is your home, Rei?" she asked, looking now with curious eyes at you. Still not being sure about that question, you looked at your hands. "I guess I still need to find out, but my family was always at first place. Especially my brother Daniel. We grew up together and were always together. We have our backs no matter what happens. I was sad when we had to split because of college, but that's no problem because we promised that we still are going to FaceTime every day." you smiled, being satisfied with your response.

My home is wherever you are, Kai. You are my home.
"I also love you, Kai."

Dorm

You woke up and blinked multiply times before thinking what just happened. You sat up and rubbed your eyes. What time is it? You grabbed your phone and looked at the time. 3:41am. Wait, why did you wake up all of a sudden? And why at this time? In a sudden flash, all incidents started to fill your mind. Kai's test began. He is facing his fears right now. An uneasy feeling started to fill you. "I need to go to his place right now." and with that you stood up, grabbed your jacket, wore your shoes and run out of the building to Kai's house.

"I won't leave your side, Kai."