The unending expanse of sand before her was vast, that much Vithya could tell easily. Beyond that though, there was little to indicate her whereabouts. No boiling sun, no moon, beautiful or otherwise, not even a familiar constellation in the gaping void to help guide her way. That last part was just as well really. The stars above her, all around her actually, were unsettling for some reason. She knew she'd never seen them before, but for some reason they gave her a strange sense of familiarity. …Huh. Maybe she had seen them before. Dreams were funny that way.

She'd always known the difference between dreams and consciousness. She wasn't sure why she was a lucid dreamer, but she'd learned at a young age it was an unusual trait. According to her mother, her great aunt had been some sort of prophet, able to catch glimpses of the future in her dreams. Lucky. The only things she'd ever learned was that it was a bad idea to watch "Chucky" right before bed, and that her missing left sock was wedged behind the water heater. Although that second one might have had more to do with someone leaning over her and whispering it repeatedly in her ear until she woke up. Thank you, Faceless Old Woman.

Lucid dreaming made for some interesting decisions at times like these though. Dreams almost always had a purpose, that much she knew for certain, which meant that before she woke up either she needed to find something or something needed to find her. She didn't feel a nagging tug in her mind pulling her in any particular direction, so it seemed that this dream was one of the latter. As she waited, she dared another look up at the stars, and was reminded of nights spent gazing at a different sky. Nights spent on a rooftop, listening to another voice point at the unknowable lights illuminating the void and give them names and meaning. A voice that rose in whispered excitement at the idea of all that could not be known, and all that could be imagined in the place of knowing. A voice that had once been so reluctant, so learned in following only what was allowed to be known that it could have been mistaken for nothing more than a meaningless recitement of words from a script. A voice that despite its hesitance was underlain with strength, even then. A voice that overtime had become stronger and certain and filled with emotion. A voice that she very much wished she could hear right now.

She blinked, and frowned. That was odd; she could have sworn the stars were…moving. Wait, they were moving! Quite quickly in fact. Or were they falling? She gasped, as a patch of the void detached itself from the sky and descended before her.

As the stars grew nearer, she realized they were not stars at all, but eyes. Dozens of glittering eyes all amassing to create an unknowable force that watched her as if it knew her every secret, even the ones she didn't yet know she possessed. The eyes belonged to a towering being whose color was nearly identical to the sky above. The being had great wings, which she noted were filled with even more eyes. They reminded her of a book she had once read. Well, more than once. She had poured over the pages dozens of times alone in her room, hiding under the covers of her bed from the watchful gaze of the Sheriff's Secret Police. But it was only the one time that had truly mattered, since only once had she had someone to share her discoveries with. After that there had been other books shared, hours spent marveling together in the wonder of all they had never known, but those books weren't relevant right now. What was relevant was this, the discovery standing right in front of her!

"You're an Angel," she blurted out, unable to withhold the excitement in her voice.

Yes.

There was a tinge of relief in the Angel's voice, as if they were glad not to have to explain themselves. Actually, if they ever spoke to the other people of Night Vale they probably did have to constantly explain themselves… Oh my gosh, she thought to herself, Imagine them trying to talk to Cecil. Pfft, that would be something. Dana had finally convinced her to apply for an internship at the radio station, and wow. Cecil was a character. She had always figured most of Cecil's eccentricities were an act for the show, but no. He had a great voice though, she'd give him that.

The figure had no face exactly, but its voice seemed to come from a space just above its left wing, so Vithya directed her attention there. Manners first, she thought half-jokingly. Her girlfriend always bugged her about that.

"Why are you visiting my dreams?" She asked.

I am here to speak to you.

"Riiiiight," she replied, unsure of what else to say. Ask an obvious question… If only Dana were here, she would be so much better at this. She really had an amazing mind for public speaking. And with all of the Angel's eyes it certainly felt like she was speaking to a crowd…

"Your name is Erika, isn't it?" She asked, trying to fill the silence.

Yes.

Apparently angels weren't much for casual conversation.

We do not have much time, even by your standards.

"Oh, alright," Vithya said, surprised. The Angel took a step towards her. "Right down to business. G-got it," she stuttered. She couldn't shake the sudden shift of emotions within her. It felt like all of her nerve ending were suddenly on high alert, like she'd been shocked. There was a prickling sensation behind her eyes; almost like she was about to- wait a second…She brushed a finger across her cheek. Am I…crying?

I am here to tell you of your future. It will be easier to show you. The Angel said, spreading its wings.

"What are you-" she began to ask, taking a step back. The Angel's wings were suddenly all around her though, and there was nowhere to go.

There is much to prepare you for; though in time, you will understand all.

With that the darkness of the Angel's wing engulfed her, and she was surrounded by a million glowing eyes. They glowed brighter and brighter until she thought she would go blind, and then she saw. She saw herself, at the radio station; she saw herself, standing amidst dozens of books scattered across her bedroom floor in disarray; she saw herself crying, as the same word played endlessly in her mind. Chosen, chosen, chosen, chosen. She saw herself running down a road in town, and a brilliant light blooming around her; she saw herself, and then she didn't. She saw herself change and become someone else, something else. Throughout it all she heard the Angel, now a looming figure beyond her limited sight; speak of what was to come. The figure whispered to her of her future; and she began to cry, because she knew she was destined for great things.