Chapter 6: Hypnopompia

Makomo's ears were ringing; the red hot gun fell from her grasp. Blood spilled onto the floor, pooling in the center of the room. Sabito caught her before she fell to the floor. A loud scream filled the room.

"You… you!" The Nightmare shrieked. "That is not allowed!"

"I'm a lucid dreamer. Rules don't apply to me."

The Nightmare's left eye gushed blood. If there were more bullets, Makomo would have emptied the entire magazine into his face for causing so much pain and suffering. However, she was satisfied to see him simply bleed.

"Let's go," Makomo pulled Sabito's arm around her shoulders. "Before he tries anything else."

A doorway appeared on the opposite wall. They crossed the room quickly, hoping to escape.

"I find it amusing how you wanted to save someone who doesn't even exist."

The Nightmare's words made Sabito stop just shy of the door. Makomo looked at him and tried pulling him towards the opening.

"We both exist, thank you very much." Makomo shot a glare at the monster.

"Ah but this one, what does he call himself… Sabito!" The Nightmare chuckled. He only exists in this world as a false guide that I made!"

Makomo spun and kicked the gun from the floor. It hit The Nightmare in his injured eye. She dragged Sabito from the room as quickly as she could. She knew exactly why he didn't say anything. If she did not trust him, she would not have escaped the Unending Path and never would have found Emiko. Perhaps The Nightmare made him to trick others, but he was genuine in his care for her.

"Makomo, it's true."

"Shh! I'm getting you out of here anyways."

"But why?"

"I don't care what that things says," she huffed. "I will make you exist in the real world because you deserve to be free from this nightmare!"

Stopping, Makomo faced him. "Come back with me. You can teach my Grandpa's kendo classes."

He had no chance to respond. The ground began to crumble away as fire filled the space.

"It's useless to give him hope!" The Nightmare loomed over them. "There is no escape from here!"

Makomo leapt at him, a sword appearing in her hand. She lost control of her emotions; the rage drove her to attack recklessly. As she flew towards The Nightmare, she stopped in midair. A blade was embedded in her abdomen. Then she fell. Someone was shouting. The heat and blood loss made her dizzy. Makomo's head fell to one side and she made eye contact with Sabito.

You can't die here…

Everything will heal when you wake up…

You made a promise…

Sabito already had her sword, slashing at The Nightmare despite his injured leg. He was fighting a losing battle. The sword broke, blade clattering to the ground. Sabito fell next to her, breathing heavily. Makomo painfully pulled herself to her feet. Her legs wobbled as she staggered forward, but she was filled to the brim with determination. The flames burned her, but she continued forward.

That creature was going to die.

They're all counting on me. I can't give up. I have to stand and fight. Everything hurts but I'll wake up soon. It's going to be okay…

Makomo stood shakily, gripping a new sword. She reminded herself that ultimately, this battle was what she trained her entire life for. Closing her eyes, she replayed all of her Grandpa's lessons. Then she attacked. Something warm and wet hit her in the face. She'd severed many arms off The Nightmare, splattering his blood everywhere.

"You hurt them," Makomo took a threatening step forward. "You killed them."

"They weren't using their life force," he chortled. "It went to feeding me. Soon, I can expand the realm to overtake your world! Even lucid dreamers won't be able to stop me!"

Her blade swung down with great force, cutting another arm. The Nightmare jumped away, creating platforms for his escape. Makomo ensured Sabito had a small platform to rest on before following. She jumped and landed on a block. Steps appeared under her feet as the ground crumbled into nothingness.

"I must say, you're quite good at this!" The irritating voice came from above her.

Makomo jumped off the platform and willed herself to fly up after The Nightmare. Soaring high, she dodged his arms. A distraction was needed and she knew just what to do.

"La tee dah!" A chicken in a pink tutu appeared in front of him, singing. "Do re mi fa so la ti do!"

"What kind of useless attack-?"

Landing on the same platform, Makomo drove her sword into his other eye.

"I will heal when I wake up. You will have no such luxury."

She yanked her sword back with a fierce twist before swiftly decapitating him. The head howled as it fell into the endless abyss. A tunnel of light formed where the ground once stood. It was the way home. Thanking the chicken of her dreams, Makomo sent all personal items back to their owners. The walls began to crumble.

"We won," she was out of breath as she knelt next to Sabito. "Let's go home."

He shook his head. "I don't belong there."

"Of course you do!"

"No, I'm no different from those monsters The Nightmare created," He gave her a wry smile. "I should stay here."

"No, no you're a dream within this nightmare. You're the best dream I've ever had!"

She was crying. Hastily, she wiped the tears away only for more to flood her face. This was not how she wanted the nightmare to end.

"Makomo," he held her shoulders firmly. "Remember what I said? Everyone has an item that links them to your world. Even if I tried to leave, I'll just cease to exist."

"No, that… that can't…"

Tears blurred her vision and her head spun. She could no longer see. Sabito enveloped her in a warm embrace.

"Can't I make you something?" Makomo was desperate to save him.

"It has to be from your world." He leaned closer. "I wish I could go with you but I can't."

Sobbing aloud, she gripped his shirt. This couldn't be the end. Rubble fell around them but she didn't care. She didn't want to let go of him.

"Makomo, you have to go."

"I don't… I…"

"The Nightmare Realm is falling apart. If you don't go now you won't wake up."

He let go of her. Immediately she craved his warmth. With a single step forward, Makomo stood on the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. This was her way of saying goodbye.

Then she was falling.

Sabito pushed her towards the light. As she fell she instinctively reached out for him, as though he could help her.

Everything turned white.

"Makomo-nee?"

Exhaustion weighed heavily on her eyelids. Someone was shaking her. Even waving her hand dismissively did not deter their efforts.

"Wake up! Wake up!"

Makomo muttered something unintelligible and tried to roll away, only to drop a few feet and land on the hard floor.

"You fell asleep next to me!" Emiko giggled, snuggling her rabbit. "You must be so tired!"

"Emiko!" Makomo sat up too quickly, suddenly feeling faint. "Oohh dizzy…"

"Emiko?"

"Grandpa!"

Suddenly, the two girls were swept into a bear hug. Their Grandpa cried tears of joy and relief.

"Grandpa, I'm hungry."

"I just finished making oden, come downstairs."

Makomo was left alone. She walked around the room, hoping it was not another false awakening. Exiting the room did not spark a dream loop. Everything was real.

Then she remembered what she lost and crumpled to the floor weeping.

She failed.

Hypnopompia: the process of waking up