Chapter 11: Arabian Dream

AN: Well now! This chapter I find so much better than the last version. And poor Elena. Ah well. Enjoy! Keep an eye on my profile for updates.


-April 2, 2009-

Elena's POV

When I awoke from the apparent slumber I had been in, as I could tell from the groggy feeling that more than usual came after sleep, I immediately came to the conclusion that someone needed to put on the air conditioning or grab ice or something cold in general.

With a low moan, I forced my eyes to crack open, only to immediately regret the action. Blinding sunlight was beating down. I could almost feel my skin wanting to dance off in strips and run away from the immense heat. I twitched feeling back into my fingers before clawing beneath me. I gasped at the white hot sand shifting beneath my touch. I manoeuvred myself onto my stomach and blinked around me. Sand blew gently in the hot air for miles. There wasn't a sign of civilization for miles.

What on earth was I dreaming about an endless desert for?

I struggled to my feet only to fall back down onto my knees. I guess I hadn't entirely woken my muscles yet. I frowned down at my jeans. Fire felt like it was licking at my legs. I swallowed thickly at the increasing pain.

Wait... Pain? But this was a dream!

I was just getting a painful injection at the hospital. That was it. Just a dream.

I chanted the three words under my breath as I finally managed to get to my feet and began to walk.

I was starting to feel sick to my stomach after much time had passed. I couldn't tell what time it was, and there was still sand everywhere I looked. I fell to my knees, my head starting to pound. I could feel my vision beginning to blur.

"Hey, are you okay?!" I looked up weakly to see a blurry dark haired man hovering on a purple carpet approaching.

I coughed, my answer mumbled, before I fell forward onto the burning sand. I felt hands around me moments later, lifting me and setting me down onto a soft and cool surface. I sighed quietly, my eyes closing the last inch.

I felt a hand on my forehead before the man spoke, "Jees... How long were you out there? And in those clothes. Do you have a death wish or something?"

I groaned weakly, "S-Shut up..."

When we stopped moving, I forced my eyes opened if only just to see my surroundings. We were in a small building with tattered drapes of fabric strewn everywhere on the walls and floor. The man carefully set me down on a ring of pillows and blankets before dabbing a small cloth in a barrel. Cool water was set on my forehead.

I felt much better, "Um... Thank you..."

He grinned, "No problem. You looked like you were in need of some help. What were you doing out there anyway? It's the middle of the day and with those clothes, it'd be really stupid to go out there on foot. What gives? And who are you?"

I snickered slightly, regretting the pounding the action sent to my head, "I'm Elena... And I have no idea how I ended up in the middle of the desert." I mumbled to myself, "Some weird dream..."

He raised an eyebrow, "Dream? Jees. You must have gotten a lot of sun. Well, I'm Aladdin. Are you not from Agrabah or something?"

I gasped immediately before he finished his sentence and sat up, ignoring the headache and nausea, "Wait, Aladdin? Agrabah? No way. No way in hell."

"You... know me?" He asked warily, "Um... Might want to lie down until you cool down..."

I heeded his suggestion, putting a hand to my forehead, "You gotta be kidding me... this isn't real... I'm dreaming... Only a dream..."

"A dream? What are you talking about?" He tilted his head.

"I'm... I don't know. I wasn't in a desert before. I just appeared on the sand. Something was going on with my friends and I. I don't know what I'm going to do..." I closed my eyes with a grimace.

"Well first things first. Here." I heard rustling on the other side of the area before he kneeled down next to me once again with royal purple fabric. I gave him a questioning look. He smiled, "Appropriate clothes. You might want to change. Those clothes you have on look like they might kill you."

I bit my lip before accepting the clothing. He turned his back to me. A dark red crept across my cheeks, but I slowly stripped down, careful not to rattle my head too much. I whimpered as the major waves of pain caught up after I was done. I squeezed my eyes shut, lying down immediately. Although I felt a bit better with cooler clothing.

Aladdin put another cloth on my neck, "It's best just to sleep it off." It took quite awhile before I could ignore the pounding waves wracking my brain, but I finally fell asleep.

When I awoke once more, I was immediately greeted by the sight of a small monkey in my face. I screamed loudly. It chattered loudly and scrambled off my chest, running over to Aladdin next to the ledge. It climbed up his back, hiding inside the back of said man's vest.

"Abu!" Aladdin chuckled, "You just scared her is all! Chill out. You feeling better now?"

I nodded, sitting up, "Yeah, I think so. Damnit. That was really painful. And now I'm pretty sure I'm not in a dream." I sighed deeply, running a hand through my dark hair – which in retrospect is never a good idea to have in the middle of a desert – mumbling to myself, "Things are going to get worse I just know it..."

Aladdin tilted his head unsurely, "So... What's your plan then?"

I blinked three times before frowning, "Ah... Plan... Um... I don't know. Wait. Have you seen my friends? Three girls. A short brunette, a tall long golden brunette, and a short forest brunette with an attitude problem."

He shook his head. My heart sank, "No, but it's a big desert. We can start looking in town if you're up to it."

With a nod, I followed him across planks, down staircases, and around corners. We trailed through the city with my clinging to him almost the entire way. When we had made it to a group of market stalls, there was a blur of shouting and then we were running.

I was confused and more than a little disorientated. Aladdin took a sharp turn, my hand in his, down a small crevice alleyway. It turned out to be a dead end. Three large men arrested Aladdin. They grasped my wrists and protested loudly.

"Hey, get your filthy hands off me! I've done nothing wrong!" I struggled in vain.

"With charges of assisting this street rat, you are under arrest." The largest man snarled, his rancid breath tickling my nose.

"Hey, what?! No!" I struggled and struggled, but in the end, we were both thrown haphazardly into a dark murky cell our ankles chained together and to the wall.