Chapter 4: False Awakening
Sabito had to grab Makomo's waist to stop her from leaping into the pool. She screamed and flailed, trying to reach her cousin, but to no avail.
"Emiko! Emiko wake up!" She cried.
"Makomo, stop it!"
With all of his strength, Sabito threw them back towards the ground. The impact snapped Makomo out of her hysteria. Taking a few deep breaths, she managed to sit up. Sabito kept a firm grip on her arm in case she tried to jump again.
"We need to get her out!" She spoke more calmly, yet a note of panic remained in her voice.
"This is the one area I skipped." He sighed. "I don't know…"
"I'm going in," Makomo decided.
"What!? Didn't you hear what I said?"
"You're pulling us out," she held out a rope she summoned. "Emi's already sunk quite deep."
A large crack opened in the ground next to them, spitting out smoke.
"What if I go in?" Sabito offered.
"I'm the lucid dreamer," Makomo reminded him. "A false awakening is basically a dream within a dream cycle. If monsters attack me, I can fight them."
"Just… don't forget that you're still in the Nightmare Realm." He sighed. "Anything you do within the false awakening will still impact the world here."
"Okay, I'll fight them with my bare hands." She was already tying the rope around her waist.
"Be careful."
Turning back, Makomo smiled brightly. "I'll be fine. I fully trust you!"
When she realized what she said, she felt her face grow hot. Why was holding hands not embarrassing but saying something aloud was? Flustered, she didn't wait for his response and dove into the pool. Sabito barely had enough time to hold onto the rope.
For the first few seconds, Makomo felt calm, swimming further into the pool. Since it was a dream, she was able to breathe despite being under water, if it was considered water. It felt like she was floating through air. Suddenly, she began to feel drowsy. Her eyelids started to close.
Stay awake, it's only a bit further!
When she opened her eyes, she was in her bedroom. Emiko was jumping on the bed, trying to wake her up.
"Wake up! Wake up!" She giggled. "Let's play at the park today!"
Makomo sat up with a full smile. "You're so full of energy."
"Because I want to play!"
Rolling out of bed, Makomo opened her door to head to the bathroom-
Sunlight spilled through the window waking her up. Didn't she already get out of bed? It didn't matter. Sitting up, Makomo stretched and saw Emiko throw open the door.
"Wake up! Wake up!"
"I'm awake."
"I want to play at the park today!"
Nodding, Makomo threw off her covers and-
The dimly lit room was unnerving. Makomo could hear her Grandpa speaking with someone. She felt sore from sleeping in a strange position. Twisting her upper body, Makomo stretched to ease the pain. Did her closet door just move? It didn't matter. She crossed the room and opened the door to-
Someone was sobbing. Makomo's eyes snapped open. Her Grandpa sat on a chair next to her bed.
"She was so young," he shook his head. "Why did it have to be her?"
"Grandpa?" Makomo sat up, concerned. "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" He asked in shock.
It was difficult to read his expression as it was hidden behind his tengu mask. Swinging her legs off the bed, she knelt in front of him.
"Emiko died yesterday."
She stopped breathing for a moment. It seemed the room was spinning. The tears flowing down her face were not enough to convey her sorrow. She needed to scream out the despair she felt. Resting her forehead against her Grandpa's knee, she wailed. The walls shook from the volume of her cries, cracking. Everything was going to crumble around them-
She woke up crying loudly. Looking around and seeing the blood stains on the walls only intensified her screams. Where was everyone? Makomo threw off her covers and ran to the door. The hallway of her Grandpa's home was stained in red. Claw marks were etched into the floor and the ceiling. She broke into a run.
"Grandpa! Emiko!"
Makomo's rapid heartbeat was deafening in the silence. She threw open doors trying to find any sign of her family.
Then she found Emiko.
With a horrified gasp, Makomo fell next to the small girl. Her eyes were open but held no life. The claw marks on her chest were still spilling warm blood. Cradling the body, Makomo could only scream in desolation. Her own heart felt as though it were torn by the same claws. Who would do such a horrendous thing?
A shadow loomed over them and Makomo almost didn't care. She spared a glance. The hulking monster seemed familiar as if she'd seen it before.
Then she knew.
This was all just a nightmare.
Slowly, Makomo raised her head. Her eyes held an icy chill that stopped the monster from moving forward.
"I will split you in half, you filthy creature!" She spat.
With a roar, the monster was slashed by an invisible force. The two halves gushed blood, but none of it reached her. Everything was dark. It was as though she was floating amidst nothingness.
What now?
Looking down, Makomo realized Emiko was no longer there. Jumping to her feet, she searched for any leads on where her cousin may be. There was a light in the distance. Sprinting towards it, Makomo called for her.
"Emiko! Emiko! If you can hear me, please tell me!"
The light was coming closer. Makomo kept yelling.
A faint voice responded.
"…here…"
Shocked, she pushed herself to run faster. Makomo was almost there.
This is a dream! I can run as fast as I want!
Each step sent her further ahead. Soon she was gliding across the ground. The light was almost within reach.
"Emiko!"
Makomo reached the light and saw a small figure. Reaching out, she embraced-
Her eyes flew open with a gasp. She was lying on the ground, a small weight on her chest. Looking up, Makomo saw Sabito letting out a sigh of relief. Looking down she saw Emiko crying into her shirt.
She was safe.
"Emi," Makomo sat up carefully. "You're alright, I'm right here."
"Ma… Ma…" the small girl couldn't form words between her sobs.
Holding her close, Makomo detached the rabbit from around her neck. "Look! I found your bunny!"
Emiko reached up and took hold of the toy in a shaky hand. She began to calm down.
"Makomo-nee," she looked up with teary eyes. "I had a bad dream. A monster took my bunny. I chased after it and held onto its leg but then it pushed me into the water. I couldn't swim and kept seeing scary things."
"Emiko," Makomo hugged her. "It's over now. You can wake up and go home."
"I want to wake up."
The stuffed rabbit began to glow. Emiko smiled and held it tighter. Light filled the area. Once it died down, Emiko was gone.
She woke up.
False Awakening: feeling of waking and going about your morning routine when in fact you are still dreaming
A/N: Anyone else experience false awakenings? I find it irritating because I think I'm getting ready for the day but I'm really still dreaming...