Hey guys! I'm back, here's Chapter Seven Enjoy!

A Dream?

Slyder's POV

"Sorry!" I apologize after the crystal's light fades. "I'm not sure what I was doing. Um..."

I decide to tell her about the crystal. I probably owed her an explanation.

"The crystal seems to have a mind of it's own and..." I pause, noticing the dead weight leaning against me. "Holy fish fingers! Hey, are you okay?"

I look at the girl's face and notice that her eyes are shut. I sigh, thankful to see her still breathing. Her green puffle hops over to us and nudges the penguin.

"Hey, I can't help but notice..." I stare at the puffle and then at the crystal, lying on the floor a few feet away. "You have the same green glow. Do you know about the crystal? Is it yours?"

It may have been my eyes playing tricks on me, buy I could swear the puffle smiled at me.

"Is she going to be all right?" I asked the puffle.

The puffle began to roll around, distracted by some toy.

"Why am I even talking to a puffle?" I sigh. "I need to get her to a hospital."

I carefully lay the penguin down and then I hurry for the phone. Interesting...the phone is off the hook. I pick it up and then dial 911.

Lily's POV

Where am I? I find myself walking around in the dark.

"It's here," a voice mutters up ahead. "It's right here. Now, where's my match?"

Suddenly a small flame flickers to life.

"Hello?" I call out.

"Where's the torch?" The voice asks.

"Hello!" I yell louder but it's obvious that they can't hear me.

The flame moves and then becomes an even bigger light, as it touches the tip of a torch. I gasp. No...no, it can't be. I watch, frozen, as the penguin's back faces me.

"This is remarkable!" They exclaim, "what a find!"

The penguin brushes their hand against the wall. I try to walk toward them but my feet feel like they are glued in place. I watch as the penguin looks at the wall with great interest. One word forms on my lips but no sound escapes my mouth.

I shake my head. Am I dead? This can't be real...he can't be here. He...he can't be alive. The penguin turns and now I can see his face illuminated by the fire. The word screams from inside me and then I finally find my voice again.

"MATTHEW!"

Slyder's POV

I jump when I notice a tear sliding down the penguin's face. We had just arrived at the hospital and they let me stay with her. Thankfully enough I remembered her name or I would have had a difficult time explaining to the medic that she just fainted. I'm not willing to tell anyone, who I don't trust, about the crystal. I'm just hoping that Lily will just wake up soon.

I watch as another tear rolls down her face. Why is she crying? I feel a steady pulse of heat radiate from the crystal again. What's going on? Suddenly a memory rushes through my mind but I don't think it was mine at all. I watch as another penguin places their hand to the crystal and then touches another penguin's fin. On a hunch, I repeat that action and then I touch Lily's hand.

I find myself in a dark cave and I hear voice.

"That puffle was special after all," the voice remarks.

I look to see a blue penguin examining what looks like paintings on the cave wall.

"MATTHEW!" Another voice yells, startling me.

I turn to see Lily standing just a few feet away.

"Matt, it's me Lily!" She exclaimed, "can you hear me?"

I take another glance at the blue penguin who didn't even flinch at her words.

"Lily?" I state calmly.

Lily takes a wild look around and then her eyes land on me.

"What...what are you doing here? You can see me?" The girl looks so confused.

"Lily...you're dreaming," I say. "I can't explain it just yet but I brought you to the hospital after you fainted and..."

"I'm not dreaming!" She answers back, coldly.

"Lily! You need to wake up!" I exclaim.

"No! This is not a dream! He's alive and I have to find him!" Lily quickly looks back at the blue penguin in desperation.

Oh I get it. I slowly walk over to Lily and touch her hand.

"Lily, get a hold of yourself." I announce, "he isn't here anymore. Let him go."

Lily takes a step forward to be closer to the blue penguin.

"Matt!" She yells, "Matt, I'm here!"

I try to grab her arm, before she can pursue the illusion any further but suddenly I find myself back in the hospital room. This is bad. I notice that the crystal is no longer warm either. This is really bad.

Lily's POV

Just as Slyder appeared, he easily disappears and I am left alone with Matt.

"Matt...can you hear me?" I plea. "Say something to me!"

I watch as he continues to examine drawings on the wall. I step forward to take a look as well. There are various drawings but the one I recognize, also seems to catch Matt's attention.

"That's new," he adds.

He shakes his head and then turns his attention away from it. I hurry over and touch the wall.

"Impossible!" I exclaim, "it can't be!"

I watch intently now as Matt continues to look over more drawings.

"Is this what I think it is?" I ask myself.

Suddenly snapping twig echoes throughout the cave. Matt immediately extinguishes the torch

"Matt!" I call out in the pitch dark.

I begin to hear approaching footsteps from in front of us.

"Matt!"

I hear scuffling noises and then silence. I'm left alone in the dark, unsure of where I am or what has happened.

"Matt?"

What's going to happen next? Will Slyder be able to wake up Lily? Is Lily really dreaming or is it something more? What are the drawings on the cave signifying? Find out next time on February 3rd.