Chapter #7 The Door To The Forbidden Area
Sharlene dragged her feet into work and went into the kitchen while Heather went to the cash register. It was her turn to open the restaurant and Sharlene's turn to open the kitchen. While Heather got the key to the bathrooms, she turned to see Sharlene trying to open the kitchen in frustration. She shook her head. Her sister needs sleep. She can't work like this. She went over and opened the door.
"Thanks." her sister replied through gritted teeth before she went in.
Heather watch Sharlene trip over her own shoe lace and fell. She reached up and grabbed the counter before she hit the floor.
"She can't work like this." Heather thought. "I have to do something. But what?" Then it hit her. The Imagination Gem on her wirst. "Of course, I can use the gem to put Sharlene to sleep and get her home before everyone gets here. Then I can say Sharlene is sick or something."
She fingered the gem that dangled from the bracelet around her wrist before she went into the kitchen. She found Sharlene trying to get everything ready to cook the today's specials but was having difficulty with it.
"Hey Sharlene." Heather said, getting her sister's attention.
Sharlene looked up from her work, the white of her eyes covered in red lines.
"Yeah?" she snapped.
Heather aimed the gem at Sharlene. "I hate to do this, Sharlene." she thought as she imagined her sister felling asleep and a invisible surrounded her. The gem glowed and a light pink beam shot out and hit Sharlene.
"Hey, what...?...ohh." Sharlene started to say before she passed out. As she hit the ground, a white light surrounded her protecting her from the impact.
Heather stared at Sharlene's motionless form on the floor before she lowered her hand and the gem stopped glowing.
"This is for your own good, Sharlene." she said quietly. Even though her sister couldn't hear her. "You can't go without sleep for this long."
She grabbed Sharlene's wrist and used the gem again to teleport both her sister and herself to their apartment. She just placed Sharlene's motionless body on the bed when an audible pop was heard behind her. Heather turned around to see a familiar purple dragon hovering in front of her.
"Hi, Heather." he said cheerfully. "You're home early. What's..."
He stopped when he saw Sharlene sleeping.
"Oh."
Heather nodded. "Yeah, I had to use the Imagination Gem on her. Now, I'm not sure of I should've done it."
"You did what you have to do." Figment said. "She looks like a zombie when she hadn't slept in two nights."
"Yeah. So what brings you here?"
"I have to show you and Sharlene something." He looked at sleeping Sharlene for a second before continuing. "But maybe now I should just show you then show Sharlene later."
"Alright." Heather said. She looked at her watch. "Oh, but my shift starts in a few minutes."
"Make a clone of yourself and send it to your job for you." Figment said. "The gem can create complete replica of anything, even it's possessor."
Heather bit her lower lip. The thought of cloning always made her feel uncomfortable. Why would anyone want to make clones of anyone? she once thought when she and Sharlene saw a documentary on cloning sheep. She looked at her gem, then at Figment.
"Well, what choice do I have. Paul is out there and he's after Sharlene. But why he is only after her? Only one way to find out."
She closed her eyes and imagined an copy of herself standing in front of her. A complete copy. She pointed the gem at the wall in front of her and a multi-colored light shot out. A ball appeared in midair and slowly formed into a person. It glowed brightly for a second before it took form of Heather Lane.
Heather stared at the copy in shock while Figment smiled.
"Not bad for your first try." he commented.
Heather wanted to say thanks but she didn't say anything. She just stared at the person who looked like her in every way. Same hair, same eyes, same waitress outfit everything about it was the same.
"So want do I do now?" she asked.
"Just tell me what ever you usually do during the day and I'll do it for you while you're away." the clone answered.
Heather jumped once the clone spoke. It was awkward seeing a version of herself talking to her like it was someone else. Sharlene wasn't this identical to her as this clone was and they're twins.
"Oh...ok." Heather said, still uncertian about sending this stranger that looked like her out to the restaurant where she and Sharlene worked. "My sister Sharlene and I work at the Denny's restaurant a few blocks from here. My shift starts at nine a.m. and ends at eight p.m. Sharlene couldn't make it because she's wasn't feeling well and needed rest."
Heather-clone's eyes glowed a bright pink before returning back to normal in a second.
"See you later." The clone said.
"Wait, you don't know where the restaurant is." Heather protested.
The clone giggled. "I'm you, silly." she said. "I know your thoughts and your routine now. I just needed what you told me to access it."
Heather bit her lower lip again. This was too much. She watched as Heather-clone walked out the room and down the hall. Heather went to the door to see her clone walked out the door.
"Don't worry." Figment told her. "She's you remember? She won't do anything you don't do."
"That's...good to know." Heather said, still uncertain. "So what do you want to show me?"
"It's in the Dreamport." Figment said. "Follow me."
He disappeared in a puff of purple smoke. Heather went to the nearest closet and went through the door to the Dreamport. Once she got there, she found Figment hovering in the doorway to the Storage Area. Heather followed Figment through the Art Room, the Literature Room and the Drama Room. Once they reached the Science Room, They turned a corner and went down a strange corridor that was not seen on the ride. Heather knew this hallway well. It was the same one Sharlene told her about after they defeated Paul last time.
"Why are we here in this part of the Dreamport?" Heather asked as they passed the Prison Room that she and Sharlene sealed a few months ago.
"You'll see when we get there." Figment answered.
They stopped when they reached the end of the hall. Figment raised his claws and the wall started to simmer and glisten like it was made of water.
Heather stepped closer to get a better look but Figment stopped her before she got too close.
"Don't get too close." he warned. "At least not without protection."
"Protection?" Heather asked, raising an eyebrow.
"This portal leads to the Forbidden Area. It's where the negative thoughts are stored so they don't cause trouble. Not everyone can handle the effects of these thoughts to well. I know I can't."
"So what should I do?"
"Form a protective barrier around yourself just like you did for Sharlene."
Heather bit her tougue in annoyance. Why didn't she think of that before? She imagined a barrier surround her and protecting her from anything that wishes to cause harm. She felt a warm force brush against her skin and hair and traveled down her body. She looked down at herself to see greenish-blue mist surrounding her body, then turned invisible. She turned to Figment to see he glowed a bright purple for a second before returning to normal.
"Ok, now we can go in." he said. "Be warned, Heather: Things are not what they seem in there so don't let your guard down."
Heather nod as she watched the small dragon fly into the portal and disappeared. Heather walked up to it and carefully put her hand through it. It felt like she put her hand in hair gel, only it wasn't sticky. She pulled her hand out to see it was unscathed, then walked through the portal. She shivered as she did. It felt like she was walking through water. Once she was on the other side, she followed Figment down a dark stone-like corridor until they reached a old wooden door fillled with cracks and peeling splinters. Heather was about to get closer when Figment flew ahead and hovered in front of her.
"I wouldn't go in there." he told her. "Only the Dreamfinder can go in there. It's the Forbidden Area."
"The Forbidden Area?" Heather repeated. "Why did you bring me here?"
"I have to show you the damage." the small dragon answered. "Since Paul took over the Dreamport, this room wasn't maintain and most of the energy inside escaped. Paul absorbed most of it before he escaped and some of it is still escaping. Even though Dreamfinder repaired it after you and Sharlene returned to the Real World."
"That didn't sound right."
"It's not." Figment agreed. "Usually I don't come in here. But I need you and Sharlene to help repair the room."
"But Sharlene is in bed."
"We'll get her when she well enough to stand again. But for now, I need you to help me put a temporary barrier on the door so the rest of the energy won't get out."
"Oh, alright."
Heather grabbed the gem and point it at the door. Figment raised his right claw, which started to glow a light purple.
"Ok, now!"
Heather imagine a barrier forming on the door and a multi-color light shot out. A light purple beam shot out of Figment's claw and both blend together before they hit the door. The door glowed brightly for a few minutes before returning back to it's normal state.
Heather moaned as she started to feel weak and her vision became blurly. She was about to pass out when Figment noticed and grabbed her shoulder to keep her from falling.
"Whoa, girl."
"So...tired." she moaned as her eyelids became heavy.
"Don't worry, it'll pass." Figment said, as he struggled to keep Heather from falling over. "You just used too much creative energy. You'll feel better after some sleep."
"Good...to...know." Heather said weakly before she passed out.
Paul frowned as he saw the small dragon and the young girl in the pool of water.
"So, they sealed the door and I still need more negative energy from there to finish my plan."
He stood up and sent a beam of grey light at a nearby wall, which blew a burnt smoking hole in it the size of a garbage can lid.
"And I can't get to Sharlene thanks to that brat of a sister of hers. And I bet that dragon is going to protect them until they wake. I think it's time to bring them here once they wake from their slumber."
Evil laugher filled the air as Paul waved his hand over the pool and the image of Figment and Heather started to swirl and become a black whirlpool.