Chapter Five: Isle of Dreams and Entrapment
She woke as she had for the past week, shivering, the same fear clutching her heart as she wildly stared about. Discovering that she was no longer in that odd danger she could barely remember, she turned into the warmth beside her and found that Jack was still with her, much to her surprise. She didn't even bother to ask herself why, so grateful was she that he was there and comforting her. Snuggling into him, weariness now taking hold of her limbs rather than that cold fear, she knew that she could not handle many more nights like these past had been. They seemed to be sapping her of all vitality and strength.
She forced a smile onto her face when he tilted her chin up to look at him, but by his expression she knew that he wasn't fooled a bit.
************************
Her weak smile only made his concern--and therefore the frown upon his face--deepen. As much as she tried to shrug it off during the day, he knew that the fear from these strange dreams gnawed at her, and the obvious lack of energy she showed only convinced him more. He had stayed beside her this morning to see for himself the first moment of her waking, and it had horrified him.
What were these dreams that could frighten this woman so? She had always been practical, and she was the most cunning individual he had ever crossed paths with. He had not even thought beyond steering his ship of the Fount, he was so concerned for her.
"Tell me," he whispered to her.
When she shook her head, he thought that perhaps she didn't wish to tell him, but then she said, "I don't remember."
"You don't remember?" he asked, incredulous. These dreams had made her start awake gasping for air for the past week and she didn't remember?
She sighed in exasperation. "I know it's ridiculous, but I can't remember much of the dreams! I know that they have changed, but I don't know how." She laid her head down, closing her eyes in weariness or disgust. He stroked her cheek.
"You need rest, love. You can't keep a good watch if you're half asleep all the time," he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Stay in here today, get some peaceful sleep."
She opened her eyes, looking up at him with so much hope and gratitude that he felt a deep pang of sympathy. She needed this. Kissing her forehead again, he whispered an endearment into her ear and left the cabin.
************************
She lay in the same position he had left her in for a long time, wanting to sleep but unsure of whether the night horrors could find her during the day. She feared that with as bone-tired as she had become that she wouldn't be able to break free of the grip of fear.
As hard as she tried, however, she couldn't quite keep her eyes open, and slowly they drifted closed as her thoughts drifted...and drifted...
...She was drifting in what appeared to be a small boat, the sun shining brightly--so brightly that it hurt her eyes and she could barely see anything. As real as everything seemed, still she knew that she dreamed, though she could even feel the pulsing heat beating down upon her hair. Pulsing? Since when did the sun pulse? Even as she asked herself these questions, the pulsing grew more intense, as did the immensely bright light. She covered her eyes with her hands, trying in vain to ward off the blinding light.
All of a sudden, the light was gone. All of it. It was so dark she could not see her hand in front of her face. So dark. She realized then that she could no longer feel the boat beneath her, nor could she hear the ocean's steady beat around her. The voices were suddenly there. They did not approach from afar, but crowded about her, touching her hair, her skin, making her shiver. They whispered their fears to her, their dreams, and hearing them made her shiver all the more. They no longer sought to warn her, as they had so many times, she realized.
Were these the dreams she woke from in such a manner? Hardly something to keep her abed trembling with fear.
Soon the voices began to fade, the ethereal fingers that stroked her and caressed her hair became barely more than a weak breeze. She felt something beneath her feet--rock, perhaps--and realized then that she could see vague shapes.
She stood on the highest point of a small isle that seemed to be made entirely of rock. It was night, the moon full. Some small part of her mind realized that this very night the moon would indeed be full.
The night, smelling of salt and fresh life, made her giddy. She reached up to the moon as if she would pluck it from the sky and danced about on her tiny perch. She knew a moment of fear when she fell off of the precipice, but the wind caught her and bore her down to the sea level, landing her softly in a small boat.
The boat moved of its own accord through the completely still water of the ocean, making a course for the yawning mouth of what must be a cave. The cave was familiar to her, and seemed welcoming in spite of its darkness. She smiled as she drew ever closer. Perhaps now she would finally see what was inside...
She partially woke, half of her still caught in the dream, the other half realizing that it was night--had she slept so long?--and that Jack was beside her, his arms wrapped tightly around her. Some urge made her hand move to entwine her fingers with his before
she was wholly immersed in the dream once more, leaning forward in the boat excitedly as she drew closer and closer to the cave. When she heard a slightly strangled noise behind her, she turned with some irritation to see Jack sitting at the very back of the boat, fear lining his handsome features.
She stared at him with confusion, unsure of how he had gotten here. Her thrill at finally finding out what was in the cave dimmed when he continued to stare at the mouth of the cave in terror. Reaching back, she took one of his hands in hers. He finally looked at her and his fear seemed to recede just a bit, but not enough for her satisfaction. When she spoke what she thought were words of comfort, he stared at her with horror and disbelief on his face, reaching out to pull her into his arms as if to protect her from some evil.
She simply sighed and turned in his arms so she could see as they finally entered the cave she had so longed to see.
************************************************************************
Alrighty, this one took FOREVER to flow, dammit, but the next chapter should be coming shortly!
She woke as she had for the past week, shivering, the same fear clutching her heart as she wildly stared about. Discovering that she was no longer in that odd danger she could barely remember, she turned into the warmth beside her and found that Jack was still with her, much to her surprise. She didn't even bother to ask herself why, so grateful was she that he was there and comforting her. Snuggling into him, weariness now taking hold of her limbs rather than that cold fear, she knew that she could not handle many more nights like these past had been. They seemed to be sapping her of all vitality and strength.
She forced a smile onto her face when he tilted her chin up to look at him, but by his expression she knew that he wasn't fooled a bit.
************************
Her weak smile only made his concern--and therefore the frown upon his face--deepen. As much as she tried to shrug it off during the day, he knew that the fear from these strange dreams gnawed at her, and the obvious lack of energy she showed only convinced him more. He had stayed beside her this morning to see for himself the first moment of her waking, and it had horrified him.
What were these dreams that could frighten this woman so? She had always been practical, and she was the most cunning individual he had ever crossed paths with. He had not even thought beyond steering his ship of the Fount, he was so concerned for her.
"Tell me," he whispered to her.
When she shook her head, he thought that perhaps she didn't wish to tell him, but then she said, "I don't remember."
"You don't remember?" he asked, incredulous. These dreams had made her start awake gasping for air for the past week and she didn't remember?
She sighed in exasperation. "I know it's ridiculous, but I can't remember much of the dreams! I know that they have changed, but I don't know how." She laid her head down, closing her eyes in weariness or disgust. He stroked her cheek.
"You need rest, love. You can't keep a good watch if you're half asleep all the time," he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Stay in here today, get some peaceful sleep."
She opened her eyes, looking up at him with so much hope and gratitude that he felt a deep pang of sympathy. She needed this. Kissing her forehead again, he whispered an endearment into her ear and left the cabin.
************************
She lay in the same position he had left her in for a long time, wanting to sleep but unsure of whether the night horrors could find her during the day. She feared that with as bone-tired as she had become that she wouldn't be able to break free of the grip of fear.
As hard as she tried, however, she couldn't quite keep her eyes open, and slowly they drifted closed as her thoughts drifted...and drifted...
...She was drifting in what appeared to be a small boat, the sun shining brightly--so brightly that it hurt her eyes and she could barely see anything. As real as everything seemed, still she knew that she dreamed, though she could even feel the pulsing heat beating down upon her hair. Pulsing? Since when did the sun pulse? Even as she asked herself these questions, the pulsing grew more intense, as did the immensely bright light. She covered her eyes with her hands, trying in vain to ward off the blinding light.
All of a sudden, the light was gone. All of it. It was so dark she could not see her hand in front of her face. So dark. She realized then that she could no longer feel the boat beneath her, nor could she hear the ocean's steady beat around her. The voices were suddenly there. They did not approach from afar, but crowded about her, touching her hair, her skin, making her shiver. They whispered their fears to her, their dreams, and hearing them made her shiver all the more. They no longer sought to warn her, as they had so many times, she realized.
Were these the dreams she woke from in such a manner? Hardly something to keep her abed trembling with fear.
Soon the voices began to fade, the ethereal fingers that stroked her and caressed her hair became barely more than a weak breeze. She felt something beneath her feet--rock, perhaps--and realized then that she could see vague shapes.
She stood on the highest point of a small isle that seemed to be made entirely of rock. It was night, the moon full. Some small part of her mind realized that this very night the moon would indeed be full.
The night, smelling of salt and fresh life, made her giddy. She reached up to the moon as if she would pluck it from the sky and danced about on her tiny perch. She knew a moment of fear when she fell off of the precipice, but the wind caught her and bore her down to the sea level, landing her softly in a small boat.
The boat moved of its own accord through the completely still water of the ocean, making a course for the yawning mouth of what must be a cave. The cave was familiar to her, and seemed welcoming in spite of its darkness. She smiled as she drew ever closer. Perhaps now she would finally see what was inside...
She partially woke, half of her still caught in the dream, the other half realizing that it was night--had she slept so long?--and that Jack was beside her, his arms wrapped tightly around her. Some urge made her hand move to entwine her fingers with his before
she was wholly immersed in the dream once more, leaning forward in the boat excitedly as she drew closer and closer to the cave. When she heard a slightly strangled noise behind her, she turned with some irritation to see Jack sitting at the very back of the boat, fear lining his handsome features.
She stared at him with confusion, unsure of how he had gotten here. Her thrill at finally finding out what was in the cave dimmed when he continued to stare at the mouth of the cave in terror. Reaching back, she took one of his hands in hers. He finally looked at her and his fear seemed to recede just a bit, but not enough for her satisfaction. When she spoke what she thought were words of comfort, he stared at her with horror and disbelief on his face, reaching out to pull her into his arms as if to protect her from some evil.
She simply sighed and turned in his arms so she could see as they finally entered the cave she had so longed to see.
************************************************************************
Alrighty, this one took FOREVER to flow, dammit, but the next chapter should be coming shortly!
