Levy gripped the edge of the dirty blanket tightly and tried to scamper up the side of the BED. Her hands shook and trembled, both from fear of running into the strangers from the lower floor, and the static-inducing kiss from Gajeel. Her body tingled at the memory and she shook her head, trying and failing to dislodge the feeling of Gajeel's warm lips against hers.
After what seemed like ages, she finally reached the top of the BED and rushed to the sleeping child's side. She patted her plump cheeks gently and tugged on the girl's Dreamland clothing.
"Wendy...Wendy dear, you need to wake up!"
The child shifted and turned on the BED, her eyes widening when she caught sight of Levy standing next to her. The girl reeled backward on the bed, whimpers escaping her trembling lips. Levy hated seeing her usually sparkling eyes filled with terror and despair, but the fear turned her growing mind young again, young enough to still believe in magic and Imaginary Friends. Levy channeled her magic into herself to grow larger until she was the size of a small doll.
"No, no it is alright! I am here to help you escape! Do you remember me?"
"Who are you," the child whispered, holding arms close to her chest.
"I am your Imaginary Friend, from when you were small. Do you not remember me?"
Wendy shook her head, her hair falling into her face. Levy felt a pang in her chest but quickly pushed it away.
"That is alright, I am going to help you. I need you to follow me, can you do that?"
At the girl's nod Levy ran back across the blankets and jumped off the BED. Wendy followed close behind, her bare feet padding quietly on the wooden floor. They had just rounded the BED when the girl gasped.
"What is that!?" she whispered, pointing a trembling finger to the door.
Levy turned from the wall-portal to the room-portal, seeing Gajeel's vaporous form hiding in the shadows. "Oh, that's my...friend. He is guarding the room-portal so you can escape. Hurry now!"
Tugging on the girl's clothing, Levy finally managed to get her to the wall-portal. "Now this part will be a little bit scary, but I know that you are such a brave girl and can do it. I need you to open the wall-portal. You will see a pole on the side, just like the one at the park! You must climb down it to the ground, do you understand?"
Wendy shook her head, taking a step away from the wall-portal. "I've never been able to play on that part!"
Levy ran to her side and scurried up the Dreamland clothing until she sat on Wendy's shoulder. "I know, Sweetie, but you can do it! You are brave!"
"But I'm scared. What if I cry, or scream?"
"Then that is alright. You are allowed to be scared and to cry. I screamed many many times while we tried to find you and do you know what Gajeel said?"
Wendy turned to her, sniffing back tears. "No?"
"He told me that since I was scared but still faced my fears, that meant I was the bravest person ever." Wendy only stared at her and Levy placed a hand on her pale cheek. "Do you think you can face your fears, just this once, if it means you can go home?"
She watched Wendy look at the wall-portal, then back to her. She nodded her head and Levy rose and fell on her shoulder when Wendy took a deep breath.
"That is my girl. Now let us get that wall-portal open, shall we?"
She smiled widely, keeping a tight grip on Wendy's clothes to let the girl know she was still there. Wendy moved to the wall-portal and pushed her hands on the crystal surface. The opening didn't budge.
Levy jumped off Wendy's shoulder and pushed on the surface. "Gajeel, it is stuck!"
His body slid across the shadows and next to the wall-portal. With only a brief glance at the monster next to her, the three pushed on the wall-portal frame. Levy jolted when the wood cracked, causing the wall-portal to break out of its hold and crash to the ground below. Shouts sounded from the bottom of the stairs. Wendy hiccuped, eyes welling with tears.
"I'll hold them off. Remember to find that communication device!" Gajeel shouted, rushing for the door.
Levy turned to Wendy. "Ok sweetie, we have to hurry now. You can do it…"
She led Wendy across the wall-portal and to the small ledge outside of the house. She climbed to the girl's shoulder and held on tightly.
"Now remember, it is just like the playground. Do not look down and hold on with your hands and toes."
"But I'm scared!"
The shouts became louder and footsteps pounded the stairs outside the room.
"I know, Sweetie...I know. But we need to leave!"
With fresh tears streaming down her face, Wendy reached out a hand and carefully grabbed the pole. A door slammed inside and Wendy shrieked, jumping onto the pole. In the heartbeat before she began her descent, Levy peered into the room, seeing Gajeel's shadows shift until he stood as tall as the strangers. With a small scream, Wendy slid down the pole, landing on her bottom when they reached the grass.
Levy tumbled off her shoulder, landing in the bushes. Small hands grabbed her and she was tucked against Wendy's side. Lily's dog-like shape scurried across the building and followed them as Wendy ran into the safety of the night.