Chapter 4: The Third Dream With A Strange Tale

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Elena's POV

My hurried steps away from the girls and the park gained speed the further I got. I had tripped so many times by the time my house came into my blurred view, that my knees and palms were covered in dirt and cuts. My shirt and skirt had a few tears in them at the bottom. I fumbled onto my porch and slammed the door open, loud sobs echoing into the empty house.

With uneven footing, I rushed up the stairs and into my bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me. Collapsing onto my bed, I curled up to my pillow with eyes squeezed shut, my cries vibrating my head painfully.

I cried with guilt of my words, for our friendship that was in shambles, for fear of what was happening, and who knew what else. I didn't stiffen at the touch of someone's hand rubbing my back soothingly.

Nothing was said for many hours. When my sobbing had eventually quieted to silent sniffles, but tears still falling, I looked up at my mother. She stayed quiet, continuing to rub my back.

"Why do we fight, mom?" I stuttered out quietly.

She kissed my forehead, "It's perfectly natural, sweetie. You are all very different girls. It's inevitable really. But you girls have been friends for a very long time. You can get through this. I know you will." She picked up my book from the nightstand.

She opened it and began to read. It was a tale of far off places, sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise, and a twist ending. But I was still staring at my hand next to me.

My mother hummed before tucking me in more comfortably and lying next to me properly, "Once upon a time... There were four magic princesses. And one day they realized it was time for them to pass on their power. They traveled worlds not like our own, as well as our own searching for a suitable prince to give them the child. One by one they had found their suitable lover. But there was a catch. A man was after them. It was an evil man. And he happened to be in love with one of the princesses. Now. Each time a princess had birthed their child, they were forced to flee to a different world. Three of the four were born. One was left. But before they left, something happened..."

I frowned after a moment and faced her, "What? Why did you stop? I've never heard this story. I want to know what happens."

She looked sad of all things. She shook her head and smiled weakly, "Yes. I'm sorry. Where was I? Oh, right. Yes. Something horrific happened. Ta- The last princess was given a child. But in the worst way. I can't even begin to describe what you seem to realize had happened. They were forced to flee the world until the child was born. They met new friends and after the last child was born, they returned to their home world. This is where the princesses wait to this day."

I blinked after a moment, "Wait... that's it? That's... That... What happened to the man?"

Her expression grew darker. It scared me, "No one knows. He disappeared. And I hope that bastard is gone for good." She shook her head, "I-I mean I don't know. Maybe the story will be continued some day." She pressed a shaking kiss to my forehead and all but ran out of my room.

Well, that was quite odd. I curled up to my pillow, her story swirling in my mind. Why had she never told that story before? It almost seemed like she knew that one like the back of her hand. And such a strange story. It confused me to no end. My confrontation with Sylvia ran circles in my mind once more. I thought and thought and thought until I felt the darkness creeping in.

-Dream-

The white empty state of the dream faded into a grassy scene of forest green almost black. The starry night sky twinkled like fairy dust. The moon shone in the sky, casting the area in an eerie glow.

Ahead was a hill to a familiar cliff overlooking raging icy black waters. Two figures stood ahead of me. First, who stood further away from the cliff, was a female in an asymmetrical silver tinted dress. On her back was a bow in an odd white tree and cross-like symbol, dark grey and black butterfly wings extruding out the sides like wings. The second figure stood at edge of the cliff in a red halter dress, with a spiked heart bow and claws like wings. I gasped at the realization.

"Kassy! Sylvia!" I ran towards them, my clothes fading to a thigh high black off shoulder v-dipped dress with long sleeves that ran down to hug the middle knuckle, covered in navy and violet sparkles.

But no matter how quickly I was, I came no closer. "Don't be afraid..." Four female voices spoke at once. I couldn't move my head to search for the voice, "You will be there soon."

"Who are you?" I questioned even before they finished speaking.

"You will discover the truth soon. You must know where your loyalties lie!" The voice echoed.

My eyes narrowed in worry as Kassy's arms raised parallel to the ground, her feet almost curled over the edge, "I'll never betray my friends!"

"You must be loyal to them! They need you! Because you need them..." Kasandra fell from the edge. Screaming, Sylvia dove in after her. I wasn't far behind. The water rushed up to meet me. I woke up screaming.

-End Dream-

I fumbled with my covers that had become entangled with my limbs. When I was free, I struggled for breath. When I had sufficiently calmed down, I blindly searched for my phone in my bag next to the bed. The girls met me at the park in a very short amount of time.

I opened my mouth to speak to Sylvia but she held up a hand, "Don't bother, Evans. Just think before you speak next time."

After a moment I nodded. Kassy whimpered before launching herself, arms around me, "Tell us what's wrong!"

After I explained the dream, Sylvia smirked, "Still convinced it's just a coincidence?"

"I'm... skeptical..." I offered, "It's abnormal. Things like this don't just happen. But that's not just the dream. My mother told me the weirdest story. I can't remember it now but just trust me when I say it was overly strange."

Hazel ran a few feet away from us to hop on the swing set, "I think it's great we've all made up. But now I'm scared. I guess I'm getting the dream next aren't I?"

I shook my head, watching her increase in height, "Maybe maybe not. We don't know until you sleep tonight. And as we have school tomorrow, inform us then."

Hazel grinned, "Of course!" But as she let herself jump from the swing, she lost footing. She was left tumbling down the short inclined hill. Her scream would haunt us for a couple days.