Chapter 27

He could feel himself waking up. His eyes weren't opening yet, but his consciousness was returning. His senses were beginning to instruct his mind once more. Tenderly Danny opened his eyes, wincing as a bright light entered his vision. The light of day. He wondered exactly how long he'd been asleep. The last thing he remembered… was fighting Jerad. He must have gotten his ass kicked.

"Oh! He's waking up!" A female voice said, if Danny had been in a sharper sense of mind he would have jumped. As it was, he groaned and tried again to open his eyes, squinting and lifting his arm to block some of the light. Immediately he felt a hand push his arm back down.

"No, Danny… not yet." The same voice. It was Aeris… he was sure of it. He was somewhat comforted that she was there. She and Jerad hadn't left, yet. He tried to speak, but his mouth was very dry, and it hurt to move his lips. He made a kind of gurgling sound, then tried opening his eyes further. It stung at first, but gradually his eyes got used to the light. He looked at Aeris, she was a little blurry, his sight wasn't perfect yet, but he was sure everything would be alright. Jerad couldn't have done too much damage… she wouldn't let him, would she?

"Just relax, Danny. You're going to be fine, you just need to take this slowly." She held his hand tight and stroked his face. From what he could make out, Danny thought he could see an expression of calm on her face, which encouraged him. He groaned again and made an effort to sit up a little, but again he felt her hand, on his shoulder this time, gently pushing him back down. He tried to protest but still couldn't form any words. With a growl he stopped making an effort and lay still, regulating his breathing and getting his vision back to normal.

"That's good… you're alright. Don't worry… you're fine. You'll be back to normal in no time!" Her constant encouragement was beginning to make him a little wary. He turned his neck, which was extremely stiff, slightly downwards… he could see the outline of his legs… he could feel all his body parts. Then again, he remembered, many people could still feel body parts that had been cut off or amputated. However, he managed to move both feet and already knew he had both his hands, and could see the sheets moving as he moved the corresponding limb, therefore he was pretty sure all of his limbs were in working order. Though what condition they were in was a different matter. He licked his lips, but his tongue was dry too, so it didn't make much difference. Aeris got up, walking out of his vision, swiftly returning however with a glass of water.

"Come on, open up." She smiled, as if talking to a child. He suppressed his anger and forced his jaw open, though it hurt somewhat to do so. She held one hand under his chin, and with the other poured a little water into his mouth. Danny's throat felt very tight, and sore, but he eagerly gulped down the drink, and continued swallowing until the glass was drained. Aeris set the glass down next to his bed and sat back down on the small stool he had only just noticed next to the bed.

"Well done… do you feel better?" She patted his hand, picking it up again. He cleared his throat, managing a scratchy reply, barely audible, but Aeris nodded anyhow.

"Yes." He could say no more. His throat seemed to close up after he had breathed the word and he coughed. Closing his eyes, he felt himself drifting off again. Maybe he was a lot more beaten up than he'd realised… just a short nap, then he'd feel much better. He felt Aeris squeeze his hand tighter, and then a strange sensation, as if the darkness in front of his eyes were somehow shimmering, moving… he noticed it was no longer the colour black he was seeing, but a glowing white. Had somebody turned on a light? Confused, he opened his eyes, only to now find himself standing, in a place that was simply white. There seemed to be no end, no limit to anything… even the floor he stood on was white, and appeared to blend in with everything else. If Danny hadn't been able to walk, and feel some kind of solid surface beneath his feet, he would have assumed he was floating.

"What is this?" He said, hearing his voice echo, then slowly fade out. As he prepared to yell for help, a bright flash caused him to cover himself and step backwards. Putting his arms down, he was relieved to see Aeris standing a few metres away from him. His relief turned to embarrassment rather quickly though, as he noticed she was naked.

"I must be in a dream or something…" He said to himself, looking sideways and trying not to glance at her. She giggled, smiling.

"No, this is real… although I do apologise for my lack of clothing…" Another flash, and she was suddenly dressed in her usual clothes. "There!"

"What is this place?" Danny asked, feeling slightly cold, and noticing Aeris was still looking at him with a mischievous smile on her face. He was confused for a few seconds, then looked down and realised he too had no clothes on. He covered himself with a growl and glared at her. "Clothe me immediately!"

"Alright, alright!" She chuckled, shaking her head and pointing at him. Clothes accordingly faded onto his body, the same ones he had worn before his fight with Jerad. He doubted that clothing was in good enough shape to wear anymore.

"Thanks…" he muttered, brushing his clothes off, despite them being in perfect condition, and still feeling a little embarrassed, but more perplexed about what was going on. He prayed this was all some kind of really strange dream. "So, what is this… place?" He asked again, looking around with a bemused expression on his face.

"Well… it's somewhere… inside you." She said simply, shrugging. "It's a place we all have inside us… not many people know it exists… this is where we go when we sleep. Here, you can create anything you want. Do anything you want… find out things about yourself." She looked at him directly after this statement, awaiting his reply. He shuffled his feet and shrugged.

"How did you get here then? If this is my place?" He didn't ask with any anger, he was purely curious, and still didn't completely believe what was happening.

"It's a… gift I have. I'm here to help you, Danny…" She held his arm gently, trying to reassure him with a smile, but he looked worried, and stepped back from her defensively.

"Thanks, but I don't need any help." He turned away from her, beginning to walk away, only to find her in front of him, making him jump a little.

"Danny… I can see you're scared… I'm scared too… we all are… I can help you find out what's happening to you." She reached out to touch his arm again but he pulled back sharply this time, a slightly more fierce and agitated look in his eyes as he began to raise his voice.

"Listen! There's nothing wrong with me! I just blacked out a couple of times! I'll be fine…" He turned his back on her, folding his arms. She didn't respond for a minute or so, but eventually sighed and nodded.

"Alright, Danny. I'm always here... if you want my help..." Another flash, and she was gone, leaving him alone in his own mind. He decided if anyone was going to find out what was happening here… if anything was happening at all… it would be him. Nobody else needed to worry, or care. He cursed himself for driving her away so hastily, he hadn't even found out what condition he or Jerad was in because of his anger. The brightly lit world was now fading out around him, as darkness surrounded him, he succumbed to a peaceful slumber.