A/N- Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait. Had a minor crisis at home that needed my attention. But now that that's over with, onto the story! I don't own 'Fiction (Dreams in Digital)' by Orgy. Enjoy!
Astaider and Hodoer are in complete and utter panic.
I don't blame them. After all, I'm the one quickly bleeding to death.
"Oh Eru, please hold on, Siren!" Astaider begs. Gee, I didn't know that I wasn't trying to! "She needs a healer, quickly! Where is Olos?" Who gives a damn about him? Fix me! "Killed him," I choke out and grasp tightly onto Hodoer's sleeve. They look at each other for a moment before nodding. "That doesn't alter our current situation. The nearest kingdom is still weeks away! I don't know if she'll last a day!"
I don't know if I'll last five minutes!
"The dwarves." Hodoer and I both look over at the blonde with eyebrows cocked. She rolls her eyes at our faces and nods to the mountains. "Dwarves live only a few hours away! They may not be as skilled in healing as the elves, but it'll have to do." I reach out and grab Astaider's arm. "Somebody write down today's date. Astaider just had a brilliant idea," I rasp. Astaider quickly begins gathering and packing our things and Hodoer lifts me up. I attempt to walk and stumble. "Do you think that Legolas got very far?" I ask as Hodoer lifts me into her arms. "Most likely, yes. Once we reach the dwarves we'll send word to Mirkwood, explaining our current condition. If we're lucky, they'll send over a more skilled healer."
I try to pay attention to what she's saying, but sadly I find that the world is suddenly leaving me. Or am I leaving it? Either way my sight is hazy at best and my hearing is almost gone. I can hear the blood pounding in my ears and taste something coppery and unpleasant. Blood?
"Siren? Siren, open your eyes!"
I thought they were open.
"Astaider, she's becoming cold! We must leave now and make haste!"
Yes, haste would be a very good thing right now.
All feeling and sense of existence leaves me and for a moment I feel worried. Is this really happening? Am I really dying? Does it matter anymore? Even in death my mind seems to be busy.
"Siren, get up! It's time for school!"
Oh dear God, I've gone straight to hell. I force an eye open and find myself in a very non-hellish environment. I'm staring into the eyes of the Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom poster pinned to my ceiling. Gotta love pirates and yaoi! Frowning, I open my other eye and glance to the side. I find myself looking at my nightstand. What the hell? I sit up and shove the covers away. I grab the nearest photo and look at it intently. It's a picture of me, Sean and his younger brother on my birthday last year. He had taken me to meet Carson Kressley from 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'.
"Siren, you'd better be up!"
I look over at my door, still not believing what I'm hearing. "Okay mom!" I shout back. I put the photo down and walk over to my closet. I pull the door open and stare at the mess in front of me. Seems genuine enough. I grab a pair of ripped jeans and a t-shirt and make my way to the bathroom. Everything feels real. I lock the bathroom door behind me, lay my clothes down and turn on the shower. Standing in front of the mirror, I take off my shirt. I look at my abdomen and find that the skin is fine. There's no gaping wound or scar. I'm fine.
Huh.
I remove the rest of my clothing and look down at my hands. The ring I thought I had given Legolas is still on my finger. How did it get back to me? Steam starts to fill the room and I step into the shower. The heat is certainly real! I gasp as the hot water beats down on my back before leaning into it with a sigh. If everything is real, then I'm back. I'm home. Galadriel must have been mistaken. Maybe that's how it works. Every time something becomes too intense, I'm brought back. Last time I stopped Olos, and this time I did too. Maybe now that he's dead, my purpose in Middle Earth is complete and I'm no longer needed.
I turn off the shower and dry myself off before getting changed. I run a brush through my hair, slip on a pair of shoes and run downstairs. My mom is handing lunch money to my sisters and an intense feeling of happiness consumes me. With a shriek, I run at them and hug them all tightly. They yelp in surprise, but return the hug. "Um, good-morning?" my mom greets. "You're damn right it's a good morning!" I say with a wide smile.
"Siren, what did I say about cursing?" my dad shouts from the basement.
It's so good to be back!
"Take your money, you're going to be late!" my mom says and presses the money into my hands. I take it, grab my backpack and leave the house. I see Sean's car in my driveway and yank the passenger door open. "Easy on the door!" he shouts as I hop onto the seat. I latch onto him with a squeal and hug him tightly. He lets out a grunt of surprise and hugs me back. "What pills did you pop this morning?" he asks when I let him go. "Nothing. I'm just happy," I say with a grin. He shakes his head at me and backs out of the driveway. "Whatever you say, Si."
As the scenery flies by us, I reach down and turn on the radio. Techno fills the car and while I like it, I'm in the mood for something else. "Can I change this?" I ask. He shrugs his consent and I flip to the local rock station. He cringes at the sound of it and simply shakes his head. I know he doesn't like it, but he'll have to deal with it for today.
She's lost in coma where it's beautiful.
Intoxicated from the deep sleep, deep sleep.
Do you wonder what it's like...
Living in a permanent imagination?
Sleeping to escape reality, but you like it like that.
The sound of Orgy floods the car and I frown at the lyrics. Sean notices and smirks. "I thought you liked this crap!" he shouts over the music. I nod. "I do, it's just...nevermind." We pull into the school parking lot and are lucky enough to find a space. I hop out of the car and sling my backpack over my shoulder. I walk around the car to meet him and then start walking into the school. He bumps into me to gain my attention before grinning. "So what's up with you this morning? You're so happy. Not that I'm complaining!" he says with his hands raised at my glare.
I shrug and adjust my backpack. "I don't know. I just woke up and was happy to be here and alive." And not in Middle Earth, dying of a stab-wound. He nods. "Nice to hear," he says and nods to some friends. I can't get the song out of my head. She's lost in a come where it's beautiful... That's not me, right? I mean, coma-patients don't feel when they dream, right? I shake my head and make my way to english class. I take my seat and Sean takes one across from me. I smile briefly before pulling out my notebook. I look at my teacher while she starts writing notes and assignments on the board. I try to focus, but once again that song weasels its' way into my mind. I glance down at my paper and notice that I've started scribbling out the lyrics.
Guilty by design.
She's nothing more than fiction.
She dreams in digital.
'Cause it's better than nothing.
Now that control is gone.
It seems unreal.
She's dreaming in digital.
She dreams in digital.
Nothing more than fiction... I shake my head and look back at my teacher. She's begun giving a lecture on the Salem Witch Trials and how they relate to the story we're going to be reading. Something hits my hand and I look down to see a folded piece of paper. I unfold it and read its' contents.
Si- What's up w/you today? You look like you're spacing out. Are you okay? 3 Sean
I look over at him and nod, smiling. I'm fine. Just feeling a little wierd. -Si
I throw the paper back at him and rest my chin on my palm. I look out the door and feel my breath catch in my throat. Was that a...it couldn't have been. Impossible. I left all of that behind! I ignore Sean and my teacher and leave the classroom. I follow my elusive companion through the hallways, feeling stranger by the second. "Wait a damn second," I pant. I feel as though I've been chasing this person for hours!
"Siren, stop it."
I tense and turn around to face Sean. He looks desperate and disappointed. "Sean?" He sighs and walks a few feet closer to me. "Why couldn't you just forget? You could have stayed here forever. But now..." he looks down at my stomach. I frown at glance down. I gasp when I see blood soaking my shirt. I press a hand to it and start hyperventilating. "What's going on? What's happening?" I ask. Sean looks at me sadly. "You're dying, Si. All of this is your subconscious trying to escape experiancing it. But you wouldn't allow yourself to escape." I back up against the wall and slide down. Oh Jesus, it hurts. Noticing my pain, Sean rushes forward and pulls me into his arms.
"You're not real," I say and spasm as a wave of pain rolls over me. "Siren, shut up and stop wasting your energy," he scolds lightly. That sure seemed like him though. "I'm sorry that you can't be spared from this," he says. "Oh come on, Sean. When have I ever made things easy for myself? You know me better than that," I say with a shaky chuckle. Ow. That hurt.
And your pixel army can't save you now.
My finger's on the kill-switch.
I remember I used to compose your dreams.
Control your dreams.
And don't be afraid to expose yourself before I shut you down.
You made some changes since the virus caught you sleeping.
I grab onto Sean as a particularly painful spasm overcomes me and I shut my eyes tightly. "Make it stop, please!" I beg. It's too much!
"Siren, just a little bit longer. Please hold on a little bit longer..."
That voice was female!
"Hold on, child. We're almost done."
Okay, that one was distinctly male.
I open my eyes and find myself staring at Astaider. Her eyes and cheeks are red and puffy from crying. She and Hodoer are gripping my hands tightly and I shriek as I spasm. "What's happening?" I ask. Hodoer smoothes the hair away from my forehead. "Hush, Siren. They're almost done." They? Who's they? I lift my head and nearly faint. Two dwarves are holding down my leg while another one is sewing up my damaged stomach. He's coated in blood! My blood! "I'm sorry about the pain, lass. Just a few more to go and then we can give ye a sedative. I'd give ye one now, but we don't want ye dying on us," he says in a gruff voice.
I let my head fall back on the stone slab I'm on and look up at my friends. "Where are we?" I ask. "In the Misty Mountains. Gimli has sent word to Mirkwood concerning your condition. He has also sent word to Rivendell and Gondor. Now rest," she says in a soft voice. "Only a few more stitches to go, lass." I try to lift my head, but find that I'm unable. "Astaider, please...make it stop," I plead. "I wish I could," she says sadly. I close my eyes when my body begins to feel heavy. Thank God. I feel my breath hitch in my throat when blessed exhaustion claims me.
Guilty by design.
She's nothing more than fiction.
She dreams in digital.
'Cause it's better than nothing.
Now that control is gone.
It seems unreal.
She's dreaming in digital.
She dreams in digital.
She dreams in digital...