2022-01-07 - When it's time to feed

It reaches out through the night

To acquire that of which it has no right

A dreamer no longer safe in bed

For it demands to be fed

Into one's brain it pulls it's fingers

Waiting for the right moment, it lingers

One could try to resist, but would fail

As they are pulled into the Veil.

It's always so far, so near

Waiting to feed upon your every fear.

It was the last chapter of the book that finally allowed Gabriella to fall asleep. She curled up in her bed and turned out the light not realizing what was going to happen. In fact, she's still not aware as her brain is trying to fight off the Veil pulling her into the 'Dream'. Now in her bed, is just an imprint of where she was lying. Perhaps she's gone out running the streets and looking for trouble. Now for Gabriella though, it's slowly becoming clear that she's no longer in bed.

No shock of just appearing awake. This time it wants her to slowly emerge from her sleep to her sleeping awakeness. Gabriella feels the temperature slowly lowering around her and in her 'sleep', her brows furrow. Her mind is trying to keep her asleep. To keep her from what is sure to come next. A defense of sorts to try not to give into it, but... then he is there.

She can sense him. He hasn't even spoken and she feels him. Her body knows him. Her mind knows him. Worse. Her heart knows him. Gabby's heart starts to beat faster and faster with each passing second. His scent fills her nostrils. She feels the longing of just getting to him. She has to go where he is. However her mind is screaming at her to stop. It's telling her it's an illusion, it's a lie. Sadly though, the heart wants what the heart wants. So Gabriella opens her eyes.

A few moments of confusion fills her as she is now standing and not in her bed in her grandmother's house. She is not in the faded motorcycle t-shirt that she went to sleep in. She's wearing jeans and a white cable-knit sweater. As she looks around, she becomes aware that she's in her own mindscape. The misty fog rolls over everything and conceals it. A few more moments and she's not sure what she's looking for. The racing heart is screaming to tell her but the mind tries to shut it down. It does not want to do this again. Then... he speaks.

Ella, come find me. You know you can.

Everything in that moment freezes. Everything becomes so clear and so shaded in the same seconds of a breath. Gabriella stops. His nickname for her. His voice that calls from the mist. While IT tempts her to use her powers and give it more strength. She could find him. It's only a little use of shine. Just a little moment to give her everything she wants. Doesn't she want that? It's like a voice in the back of her brain that doesn't exist and yet does not stop.

Gabriella is quite aware that she shouldn't use her shine. She knows that it is just going to feed those that should not be fed, but she is no longer in control. Her mind has been silenced by her heart as she takes a breath and reaches out with the physical aspects of her skills. Show me. She speaks in in her mind with her eyes closed. Concentrating as she is now channeling it, making it work for her. No longer passive to the skills and powers. SHOW ME.

It is almost like a lost battle as she can feel his presence behind her closed eyes. She doesn't have to open them. She knows. She knows it all. Her mind begs her one more time to keep her eyes closed. The adrenline ripping through her veins as her eyes open. The green almost glowing in the dreamscape as she wills the mists to part and to let her see it. To find him. Silence.

Then he walks out of the mists.

The man is known to no other but her as Gabriella feels her heart stop. It's not fear that stops it. It's pain. Pain that she cannot bear. It pulls at her to destroy her. It consumes everything about her. She can feel her knees going weak. She feels her body starting to reject this. Gabriella doesn't care. She doesn't care how it feels. Her lips part to say something. Her heart demanding she cries out to him as her body hits her knees. Screaming at her to go to him as her mind tries to shut down her function to talk.

"Luke."

The name seals it. She can't wake herself up now. She's fully into the dream, but this time as she falls; he catches her. He holds her up and shakes his head in humor. Always falling for me.

Gabriella can feel his arms and she's supposed to rejoice. The dream is giving her what she desperately wants. However, she knows the truth even in these moments and the sorrow steals everything she is as she reaches out to touch his face feeling her heart shatter all over again. "Are you really here?" Even as the question leaves her lips, she knows she should not have asked it. She played her hand. Let the cruelty begin.

Only if you deserve me to be. Do you deserve it, Ella?

In the next flash, he's just out of her reach. Gabriella lifts her hand to touch him, but he's just outside of her touch. The frustration building as she tries harder to reach him. To feel him beneath her fingers again.

Do you remember when we use to play here?

Remember it Ella. Let's go back.

The heat of summer surrounds them now as Gabriella looks around. It's like watching another life but knowing it is hers. Luke is laughing as he sits in a tree. You mean we can really do anything here, Beautiful? Be away from the crowds? Away from your mother?

"Yes. I don't know what causes it. I just.. I don't know. I step into another dimension of sorts. I just sort of get pulled into it. Although, I should warn you it's not always a good thing. People think I run away when I'm here. I wasn't sure you would be able to come into it with me. I think it's our own place."

STOP! STOP! STOP! Gabriella puts her hands over her mouth to try to stop the words as they flow out. She tries to get out of the dream. She can't do this. She can't do this again. Her eyes are widening as her emotions run wild. The sheer terror and heartbreak that she can feel her person as she tries to stop it. She tries not to replay. However, that's the best kind of horrible dream. It's a great one to feed on. One that is real. One that is a memory. It's like a drug to those that would feed upon the emotions of those in the town. Craving. Pushing Gabriella further and further into it.

The scene shifts again. This time Luke is spinning her around faster and faster like a circus carousal. Faster, but she can feel the emotions of happiness coming off of her that he brings out. The dreamscape being what she thinks she controls.

This is all just a dream then? Do you think you really die if you die in a dream? There are theories on it, Ella. I think you'd survive. You are stronger than you think.

He moves in to kiss her on the lips and Gabriella embraces it. Her eyes close to press her lips to his and then... nothing. Her hands are warm. Gabriella stands there refusing to open her eyes. She's had this dream before. She can feel the shards of her heart shimmering in the lights. However, she's never been in control. It had been them the whole time. So, her eyes are forced open. She looks at her hands.

Red.

Sticky.

Wet.

Don't look anywhere else. Maybe she'll wake up. Slowly, her head is forced up as she looks over at Luke. He's not smiling at her anymore. There is a look of betrayal and confusion. Still, he reaches for her from his place at her feet. He moves his lips to say he loves her. His hand held up for a moment as Gabriella shakes her head. Her white sweater now crimson. Her hands red and yet, they hold the weapon.

"NO!"

The shattering of her own scream is complete anguish as she falls to her knees again. The tears falling down her cheeks as they burn her. She shakes as the sorrow racks through her over and over again. She can't breathe. She can't save him. She sobs as if the world has ended.

"I didn't know. I didn't know."

It has been fed and It returns her to her room.

Gabriella bolts awake in her room. She still sees the dream for a few fading moments before she's back in the house. She's back in her room. Her eyes drop to her hands. She can still feel the warmth. In the silence of the house. Alone. She offers.

"I didn't know."