The real world - reality. It felt so simple after dabbling in the subconscious realm. Amazing, how something so simple could also be so complex, so riveting, alluring, addicting...

I wondered why people would want to exist in reality, when your perfect world could be closer than you ever imagined.

Dom did all of this because of his family, he wanted to be with them again, so that could be one reason why one may want to actually exist

I wanted to go home to my family too... See their glowing faces with smiles stretching from ear to ear...Be hypnotized by the sparkle in their eye, feel the warmth of their hugs...Their love.

I heard a thump on the floor and realized the mail had come. I picked it up piece by piece... and rolled my eyes, bills, bills, and more bills. See, this would be one of the advantages of living in a dream! I wouldn't have to pay these things... I was barely in this house anyways..

My fingers brushed over another letter, it didn't feel like the thin, regular envelope that bills came in. The paper was thick, and it wasn't the normal color either. It wasn't quite yellow, nor white. It was closed with red candle wax, and had no return address. My name was written in beautiful calligraphy, though I had never quite seen this style before...

Piece of parchment paper was inside, with the same calligraphy inscribed on it. It was from Dom... The phone rang simultaneously as my eyes ran across his name.

"Hello?"

"Arthur ... how, how are you?"

"Ariadne, I'm fine, how have you been holding up?" My heart was racing, but I wasn't too sure whether it was from the sudden ring of the phone, or something more.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about..."

"What, is reality too bland for you now?" Arthur chuckled

"Not exactly... you see, I've been experiencing side effects..." Her voice suddenly dropped, not a serious tone, scared more than anything.

"What kind of side effects?"

"I don't think it's anything serious, just, I wanted to check if it was normal"

"Ariadne, tell me, what side effects, I NEED to know" My heart began to race again, and this time, it wasn't because of a ringing phone

"Well..."

And all I heard next was a blood curdling scream, and a dial tone.