Chapter #5 Close Call

Sharlene watched the moonlight shine through her half-covered window and into her room. She didn't want to go to sleep. She was afraid to have the dream again. So, instead, she stared at the beam of light before laying on her back and stared at the ceiling. She silently counted the tiles in hopes of passing the time. But, by the time she reached to twenty tiles, she fell asleep.

"Hello Sharlene."

Sharlene woke up when she heard someone calling her name. She opened her eyes to see she was in a dark room lit with red light. She winced as she felt pain in her wrists and ankles. She saw she was chained to a metal pole in the middle of the room.

She groaned as she felt pain pounding against her skull. What happened? What's going on? Sharlene looked up to see a familiar person looking down at her. Grinnning evilly. Sharlene felt anger building inside of her.

"Paul," she said through gritted teeth, "long time, no see."

"Thank you." he said, ignoring Sharlene's anger. "It's has been a while. It's been what? Three or four months since our last encounter?"

Sharlene didn't answer.

"No matter, it's good to see you again."

"What do you want?" Sharlene asked.

"Nothing much," Paul answered, "except revenge against you, your sister and that pest dragon."

Sharlene felt the anger inside her growing, but she fought hard to hold it back.

"If that's so, then why are you only haunting my dreams and not Heather's and Figment's dreams?"

"Oh, but I have been visiting them on the Dreamscape," Paul repiled, "In fact, after I created this realm. I discovered there are two ways here and to the Dream Port: Through your dreams or through your imagination."

Sharlene swallowed hard. If what Paul told her was true, then that would mean she and Heather could've been traveling to the Dream port while they were sleeping and not know or remember it.

"This place is your realm?" she asked nervously.

Paul nodded, "Yes, it is." He answered as a wall of fire appeared and surrounded him and Sharlene.

"Welcome to the Port of Nightmares."

Meanwhile, in the Real World. Heather tossed and turned in her bed. Trying to find a comfortable spot on her bed. She knew it was time to get a new mattress, but she never had the time to go and buy one with work and all. But it wasn't only the mattress that was bothering her. She opened her eyes and looked around her room. She found nothing. Nothing but her furniture, the window and the half-open door that looked different when it's dark. She pulled the covers up to her neck and stared at the ceiling.

"Oh, why can't I sleep?" she wondered quietly. "Oh yeah, that damn dream!"

Heather didn't tell her sister or anyone else that she was having nightmares. Nightmares about Paul. She didn't want to worry anyone or make them think she was crazy. But, she also felt a little guilty for not telling Sharlene. Now, Sharlene must think she's jerk because she can at night and she can't because the dreams. But, she doesn't know the half of it.

"Heather?"

Heather gasped and covered her head with the blankets.

"Heather, it's me, Figment."

"Figment?" Heather said as she lowered the covers and saw a silhouette of a dragon hovering in front of her.

Heather reached over to a lamp on her nighttable and turned on the light. Once her eyes adjusted, she saw a Figment hovering above her, looking worried and scared.

"Oh, Heather I'm glad you're still here."

"Still here?" Heather asked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"He has her." Figment said, "Paul has Sharlene."

"What!"

Heather jumped out of bed and ran to the door. Causing FIgment to yell in protest and fly after her. Heather ran down the hall until she reached Sharlene's room. She didn't care if she woke up anyone below her. She had to see if her sister was ok. When she entered Sharlene's room, she saw Sharlene laying on the bed. Her body tense and stiff like she was made of plastic.

Heather stared at her sister confused before she turned to Figment, who appeared at her side. She looked at the small dragon annoyed.

"Figment, I don't know what the big idea is. But I'm not in the mood for this."

"I'm not kidding, Heather." Figment said. "Paul has Sharlene. In his realm."

"She's still here."

"There are two ways to the Dream port and Paul's Realm. One is through your imagination, the other is through your dreams and nightmares."

Heather swallowed as the color drained from her face. "You mean there's three ways to get to the Dream port? And how was Paul able to create his own realm? Didn't we drain his power the last time we met?"

"He was weakened when you and Sharlene trapped in that prison." Figment explained. "But once he escape, he went into hidding until he regained his strength and must've gain new abilities and was able to create his realm. The Port of Nightmares."

"The Port of Nightmares? How catchy. And how do you know this?"

"I was trying to get to the Real World a few months ago when I somehow ended up in Paul's Lair. I hid in the shadows and overheard Paul talking about his plan. His plan for revenge."

"Revenge?!" Heather excailmed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"It slipped my mind."

Heather groaned and went over to Sharlene's side and sat on the bed next to her. "So how do we get her out of there?"

"We have to wake her up." Figment said as he landed on Sharlene's pillow. "I know how."

He placed a paw on Sharlene's forehead, which glowed light purple for a millisecond before Sharlene's eyes shut open and she sat up, gasping for air like she held her breath under water for a long time.

"Sharlene?" Heather asked. "Are you alright?"

Sharlene turned to her sister. Her eyes bloodshot and looking scared to death.

"Do...I...look alright?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"Not really."

"That was a close one." Figment spoke up, as he flew up and hovered beside Heather.

"What are you doing here, Figment?" Sharlene asked, calming down a little.

"We should go somewhere where Paul can't hear us." Figment said. "Dreamfinder and I owe you two an explanation."