Was It Just A Dream

Chapter 34

Everything seemed to have changed at once. It was strange, just as the field around us. The Clandestine was now just a streak on the horizon behind us. In all other directions, I could see only rolling hills of golden grass. It was almost a relief, to finally be out of the forest and back in the expansive fields. But with the daunting task ahead of us, relief was limited.

Everyone was on edge, even the usually calm and cool Lincoln. Cali was beside herself with fear, her forehead always creased with worry. I knew how important getting home was to her; Not only was her life on the line here, but also the life of her father. Without her, he might just end up on the streets. Cali was the only one who could support him, and she had been fighting all her life to get the best grades and work the hardest to get a job that would give him a better life. But now, all of that was at stake.

At night, I could hear Cali crying, a soft, muffled weep. It tore me up and made me get up earlier and push everyone to walk faster. We were racing a time bomb, one that could go off at any moment. Time was precious, and we never wasted it. The day was meant for crossing the fields and checking our position, always making sure we were going east towards the desert. The night was meant for looking for food, which was always berries that grew in small patches every now and then. It rained quite often on the hills, and when this would happen we would put out the picnic baskets to collect water. We would all hold the picnic blanket over our heads, hoping to shield ourselves from the steady downpours.

I had grown quite in the couple of days that we had been walking on Ebony's golden hills. I was too focused on our destination, and on saving my friends. I also couldn't quite look at Lincoln. I had basically told him exactly how I felt about him, and he hadn't shared how he felt towards me. After we left Shoe behind, we were all too focused on surviving and continuing onwards to talk of a simple kiss. I tried to block the event out of my mind, but every time I looked at Lincoln all I could think of was the soft, simple bliss I had felt when I kissed him.

My silence forced Jimmy to be the main source of conversation. Even with our dire circumstances, he seemed quite chipper. Maybe it was the fact that he already cheated one of the possible fates Shoe talked about.

"I get it guys! I could have been one of the Monster of the Masks' freaky ninja friends, but instead, I escaped all because of you. That's pretty dope if you ask me." Jimmy smirked. Our picnic blanket was draped over his shoulders like a cape. The sky was pink above him, and the sun was just starting to set after a light rain. We were reaching the top of a hill, and the grass rolled like waves in the wind.

"Yeah, I think we all caught onto that." Lincoln sighed, flopping onto the ground when he reached the top of the hill. "I'm beat. We should rest." Jimmy sat down next to him, picking at a piece of grass.

"We really don't have time," I said hurriedly,  standing above them. "We have to keep moving. We don't know when-"

"I know, I know. Mira, it's going to be okay. We really need to take a break though. To talk. We need to slow down for a second, or we're going to die of exhaustion." I thought a moment, considering Lincoln's words. I also couldn't help but notice the way he looked at me when he said talk.Then, sighing, I plopped down beside them, giving in to my own weariness.

"We can't take a break. " Cali's voice was high pitched and sharp, and her eyes wide. "We're two days from the desert. Don't you guys understand?" She was seconds away from a breakdown, her arms crossed over her chest in determination.

I turned to both Jimmy and Lincoln, giving them a look that said, Get moving, idiots. They weren't wrong, we were in dire need of a break. But I couldn't let Cali's fear build up anymore. We had to keep moving to stay sane. Cali let out a little sigh, and I put my arm around her as we continued on. I was glad I could give her some amount of comfort, as small as it was.

~

"Hey M. Let's talk." The sky was finally dark above us, and little stars twinkled as far as the eye could see. We had set up camp onto of a grassy hill, our blanket laid out for us to sleep on. I nodded my head at Lincoln, and he motioned for me to walk down the hill. Jimmy waggled his eyebrows at us, a small smirk on his face as we walked away. I shook my head at him, glad that the darkness was concealing my red face. Cali, on the other hand, was just staring into space, her face entirely blank.

We didn't say anything for a bit, just walking down the hill, looking into the distance. I didn't know what to say. I just turned, looking up at his big eyes that gleamed through the darkness. I raised my eyebrows at him, daring him to go first. I was nervous, but I also had the feeling that what he was going to tell me was something good.

"I've been thinking," Lincoln starting, smiling down on me and slightly tripping over his words. "About- about everything that's happened, you know?"

"Yeah, I think sometimes. It's pretty great." My smile was now a grin, and he rolled his eyes at me. He was still smiling though, so I knew I'd done my job.

"I think you're an amazing person, Mira. You're brave and strong. And funny, sometimes I guess." Lincoln took a step closer to me, brushing a piece of my red hair behind my ear. "And maybe, when we escape this wretched place, everything will be better. And we'll be together." I fell into his arms, letting his warmth wrap around me.

"That sounds wonderful." My words were nearly a whisper, and they blew away with the wind. Over rolling hills and flower petals they flew, making the world of Ebony more beautiful than it had ever been before.

We were walking the wire, tiptoeing over a thin rope that could break under our feet at any second. Our fate was unknown, and we had no knowledge as to when everything would fall apart. I could barely sleep, scared I would wake up and find myself stuck in Ebony's Heart forever in the morning. But I had Lincoln, a boy who liked me for me, at my side. With him, I wasn't so scared anymore.

~

"Oooooooooh!" Lillian's voice cut through my words, bringing me back to the crushing state of reality. I had gotten so caught up in telling her my story I had forgotten her presence. "Mira! You have a boyfriend. Awh, so cute. Little freshman finally caught a man!"

"Oh, shut it." I turned away from her, my face growing increasingly warm.

"Is that what happened with him? Did you guys break up? Huh? Huh?" Lillian kept prodding, and it took five deep breaths to stop me from crushing my sister into oblivion. 

"No! If you'd just let me finish, maybe you'd know!" My voice was getting high, and I was trying hard to stay calm. But the stress of recounting what had happened was starting to wear me down. I knew what was coming, and it was inching way too close. Soon I would have to tell her what was wearing down on me, ripping me apart from the inside out. I didn't want to cry in front of my sister. I gulped, turning back to her, keeping my cool.

"Fine. Sorry, Mira." She looked almost sorry, but with my sister, it's really hard to tell. "You guys really had it rough. Either get kidnapped by a brother and become his minion, die in Ebony, or get stuck in the heart. Sounds rough. But you did survive, didn't you? You defeated the Warrior?"

"Not- not exactly." My voice cracked, and Lillian watched me curiously. I looked at her, and then, quietly I whispered. "You'll see."

Lillian's face was actually concerned, for once in her life. She watched, as the morning sun flooded in from my window and covered me in warmth. Even with the golden light shedding some warmth on my skin, I couldn't help but shiver.