A Chat About Dreams


Review Responses:

Azarath Cat: Thanks for the review! Glad you're enjoying it. Good to know about Beast Boy's description. I knew I would mess something up so I figured basing it off of Young Justice's would help me some.

ColoredKittens: Thanks for the review! Cliff hangers are the worst. At least I'm staying on schedule so far so hopefully it won't be too bad.

buttermilk: Thanks for the review! Glad you're enjoying it.


My breath is coming out in short spurts. The sounds of the hallway are muted except for a distant beeping sound that I can't place. I lick my lips but it does nothing to get rid of my dry mouth.

I'm dreaming? That's not possible. My dreams don't make sense. They are generally about purple dinosaurs doing the can-can while a giant ice cream tries to eat me. They aren't this complex, this…normal.

The beeping is louder.

I squint at the paper in front of me. The words seem to mock me. Wait, aren't you not supposed to be able to read in dreams? Wasn't that a rule? Someone's playing tricks on me. I'm being picked on.

The beeping stops.

Wake up…

I shove the paper in my pocket. I need to process this, time to think. I turn around to find the entire school hallway deserted. That's strange, I never heard the bell.

I frown. Come to think of it, I'm not hearing any sound. No muffled sounds coming from the classrooms. No ticking of clocks. No sound except for my thoughts which seem to echo down the hallway… which absolutely makes no sense. I may or may not being sleeping but I definitely feel like I'm going crazy.

The sound of footsteps snaps me out of my stupor. They sound like they're coming from the end of the hallway. Looking up, I feel myself tense.

Someone is standing at the end of the hallway. Judging by the body shape, the person appears feminine. I can't be sure though because the figure wears a hooded white cape that covers any distinguishing features.

What I can tell is that the figure is looking right at me.

I need to calm down. This is probably nothing. There's a small part of me that hopes that it might be Raven. Granted she prefers black, but the hooded cape looks eerily similar to hers. Of course the Raven here is a shy library nerd, but you never know.

Suddenly the figure motions me to come toward her.

Could it be? Was I right?

I take a step forward and the figure takes off running. "Hey wait!"

But the figure ignores me as she heads to the hallway on the right. Not wanting to lose her, I chase after her.

What I wouldn't give right now to have my transformation powers. I could transform into a cheetah or hawk and catch her in a heartbeat.

But, because of my current condition, when I round the corner, she is already at the double entrance doors and pushing them open to head outside.

Charging after her, I can feel sweat forming on my face as my breathing came out in short spurts. Why am I so out of shape? The way my legs feel, it's like I'm trying to run through waist deep muddy water. What is wrong with me?

We're running down a sidewalk now. She's a few feet ahead of me. It's strange but the sidewalk, road, everything seems deserted. Not a soul in sight. I'd stop to ponder it if I wasn't so determined to catch the hooded figure.

Why am I so determined to follow her? Because her cloak reminds me of Raven's? For all I know, she's just some lunatic with a cloak fetish.

I come to a stop and bend over to catch my breath. As if sensing me, she stops as well. Turning back to face me, she motions me to follow her.

I shake my head. I'm tired of this cat and mouse game. "Hey. Why-"

I never get the chance to finish my sentence. I barely blink and she's in front of me with one hand clamped over my mouth and the other in the shushing position.

I raise my eyebrows. What the heck? Now I can't speak?

She must realize that I'm about to protest because she makes the shushing gesture again. Despite the hood hiding her features, I get the distinct impression that whatever her reasoning for the quiet, it's urgent and she's desperate for me to understand this. And, despite the warning bells going off in my head, I feel like I should listen to her.

What can I say, I'm a sucker for a damsel in distress.

Again, she must sense my decision because she takes her hand off my mouth and grabs my hand. Giving my hand a gentle tug, she motions to a small outdoor cafe on a side street up ahead.

I shrug and let her lead me there. Maybe then I'll get my answers.

There are still no people around. The cafe itself looks closed. The hooded figure ignores all this as she takes a seat at one of the tables. She motions to the seat across from her.

I sit down and nervously glance around. What am I doing here? What do I expect out of all of this?

I jump when a small brown cat hops on to the table. Its tail swishes as it watches me with golden eyes.

Uh…

"We should be okay for now," The figure voice is barely above a whisper. I had gotten so used to the quiet that her voice is slightly disarming.

"Okay." I don't know why I'm whispering. It's not like anyone's around.

The figure takes off her hood. She's my age with pale white hair pooling over her shoulders. Her eyes, bright blue, are practically glowing from her pale white skin. I would have thought she was a ghost if she hadn't grabbed my hand earlier.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Clara and we don't have much time." Her eyes dart around the cafe. "He'll notice soon."

"He? Who's he?"

She turns back to me. "The one who's keeping you in this dream."

I laugh awkwardly. "How can this be a dream. It feels so-"

"Real?" Her eyebrows quirk. "That's the point." She motions around her. "Isn't it strange that there's no one here even though this area should be busy at this time of day?"

I bite the inside of my cheek. I had noticed. It was weird, disconcerting. "But how-"

"You were probably knocked out somehow. He" She practically spat the word out. "took advantage of that and brought you to this dream world leaving your body in a coma."

My eyes widen. "Dr. Light's beam?"

She nodded.

I glance back at the cat.

It's now a blue bird. It cocks its head at me.

"Don't mind Figment. He changes in response to the subconscious of people around him."

So, he's an animal shapeshifter, just like me.

Figment suddenly transforms into a small box. Or maybe not.

"Wait, so you said subconsciouses. That means you are-"

"A real person," she nods. "Yep, and just like you I'm stuck in this dream world that he created." Her expression darkens as if she's reliving a bad memory.

I shift uncomfortably in my chair. "You keep referring to a he. Who exactly is he?"

Clara snaps out of her stupor. "He goes by many names. Nightmare. Illusion. Sandman. Morpheous." Her lips twitch. "Though those last two I think are used to tick the real one off."

"And he captures people in dreams?" I lean forward. "Why?"

Clara shrugs. "That I'm not sure of. Perhaps it's to steal your life energy. Perhaps if he traps enough people here, it'll somehow allows him to slip into the real world. Your guess is as good as mine."

I resist the urge to shiver. Being stuck here while in the real world, my body is slowly wasting away? The thought is too morbid to think about.

The sound of a bird chirping causes both of us to start. Tense, Clara glances at Figment.

Figment, still in box form, hops of the table. By the time he hits the ground, he's a small gray wolf. He nods his head at Clara before trotting toward the street.

"Where's he going?"

"To provide a distraction." She turns back to me, suddenly serious. "You can still escape this world, but there isn't much time left. By Friday, you will have to gather the Teen Titans…"

My eyes widen. She knows about that then…

"Yes, I am aware of who you are and of your team but that's besides the point." She leans forward. "You need. to convince them to gather with you at the place were you finally became a team. Only then can you break his hold over your dream world."

I frown. "Why do I have to do that?"

"Because it is a memory. And memories are more powerful than dreams just as reality is more powerful than illusion."

"Easier said than done. They all think I'm a freak."

Clara tilts her head to the side. "They may not be real but they are still manifestations of your friends. Which means they will still act like the real ones."

I sink back in my chair. "Still… Wait, I only have three days? That's ridiculous."

Clara's lips quirk. "You're a superhero. You've worked under worse time restraints."

I swear, she's mocking me. Why is it I finally get help and the person mocks me.

A distant howl causes us to stiffen. Clara gets to her feet. "It's time for me to go."

"Right now? But there's still so much-"

"Just do as I say and everything will be fine." She grabs her hood and pauses, "don't tell anyone of our discussion. They're manifestations but he can still eavesdrop through them. Trust no one."

"Then how do I convince the Titans to work with me?"

She doesn't say anything as she puts her hood on. " That's up to you. Good luck."

I blink and I'm back in the school hallway in front of my locker with students running to get to their class before the final bell.

Did I just imagine all that? Had that been the dream or am I now going crazy? I shove my hands into my pockets. My eyes widen when I feel something in one of them.

I pull out the note and smooth it out.

WAKE UP.

I clinch my fists, the paper making a satisfying crackle. I may not know what is going on, but I'm determined to find out.


L.A.: Yay! I'm staying on schedule!

Amu: It's a miracle. No, seriously, it is.

L.A.: Anyway, you know what to do Read and REVIEW!