Chapter 14: The Message

(Ivan's POV)

(?)

I woke up in a black space around me. At first, I thought I was at my home but I wasn't. There was nothing around me. It's just an empty void. I tried running towards a direction and found a chest. Before opening the chest, I tried to run back in a straight line and another chest was there. I scratched a mark on the chest and ran back to the first chest.

When I reached the first chest, I checked at the spot where I scratched on the second chest and the scratch mark was there. One thing's for sure, I'm running in an endless route taking me back to the chest. I ran past the chest three times to confirm and sure enough, it was. I wanted to open the chest, but as I touched the chest, a hand caught me and someone was holding me from behind.

I turned around and saw two ghosts who apparently looked like an old married couple.

Ivan: What's going on? Why am I here?

Male ghost: This is not a dream. We summoned you for a reason. And you opening that chest was not one of them.

Just as he said it, the chest was wobbling a little which got me a little scared.

Female ghost: We are aware that you are friends with our daughter.

Ivan: Depends, which one?

Male ghost: Her name is Amber Caeser.

Ivan: Yeah, I'm her friend. If you don't know, she's going through a rough time at the moment. Her boyfriend recently got admitted to the hospital because he damaged his arm.

Female ghost: Yes, we know. We were watching her.

Male ghost: How did you think we know you were her friend?

Ivan: Fair point. So why am I in this...empty void?

Male ghost: Ah yes. We summoned you here to send her a message.

Ivan: What is it?

Female ghost: Tell her that we're fine. And that we were forced to leave because we had a job to do.

Ivan: Leave for a job? What job is that?

Male ghost: That chest over there, it contains a very evil soul so villainous, it'll take a long time to put it back in the chest.

Ivan: Hope it's not that Riddle Master guy. He traded his life for black magic.

Female ghost: Yes, we saw the whole thing happened.

Ivan: So wait. Why did you leave her in the first place?

Female ghost: Because we saw her and Cato happy together. We didn't have the strength to break those two apart for something that can put herself in grave danger.

Ivan: And speaking of Cato, why didn't you summon him instead of me? Or anyone else for that matter. Lexy? Kelsey? Carrie?

Male ghost: Oh yes. That was her name.

Female ghost: I told you her name was Carrie!

Male ghost: My apologies. We wanted to summon her cousin, but I forgot her name. As for Cato, we're worried that he's too weak to step into this realm. Since you used to be a resident of the 5th Dimension, things like this should be normal to you.

Ivan: Okay, so you sent me here to send a message to Amber and that message is that you are okay and you had to leave for this weird job.

Male ghost: Weird, yet important. Trust me, I too thought it was weird.

Female ghost: Now, you must go. The door for you to leave is closing. You must leave at once to return.

Before I could say anything else, I suddenly woke up in my bed in my room. I started wondering about what happened.

Ivan: I don't think that was an ordinary dream. *checks alarm clock* Oh, no I'm late!

(School)

Gumball: So what's the plan for Christmas?

Darwin: Hopefully we get a peaceful Christmas this time and not Santa being brainwashed again.

Kelsey: Remind me again how that happened?

Gumball: No, we won't. It should be snowing out by this time, isn't it?

Carrie: It should be. It's December. How's Cato doing?

Amber: He's healing. I hope.

Anna: He's handled worse. I'm more concerned about Ivan.

Ivan: ...

Amber: Ivan, you alright?

Ivan: Huh? Wha? What happened?

Jake: You spaced out again. Is something the matter?

Ivan: Well, I had this dream earlier today. Or last night. Whatever.

Amber: Okay, what happened?

Ivan: Amber, when your parents went missing, did they like show any signs of leaving or something?

Amber: Um...I don't think so. Why?

Carrie: Does she have anything to do with your dream?

Ivan: She was all about my dream. Or a premonition?

Gumball: Well, what happened?

Ivan: I was in a white...field..thing? I dunno. It was white all around me. And then, I found this chest and two ghosts were guarding it.

Amber: And?

Ivan: Those ghosts, they're your parents, Amber.

Amber: What?

Ivan: I know it's weird. But one of them said it wasn't a dream. I just...I don't know anymore.

Darwin: What happened after?

Ivan: They told me to tell Amber that they're okay and the reason why they left you is because of some weird bodyguarding job.

Amber: They left me for a job? And they didn't tell me?

Ivan: I'm sorry but they had to. They said it was important though. Something very dark inside it.

Amber: Is it real?

Ivan: Can't say for sure. My dreams can get real crazy sometimes.

Dante: So what do we do?

Amber: I might need to ask Cato about this. Maybe he knows something.

The school bell rang and minutes later, Mr. Baxwell came in.

Mr. Baxwell: Alright, everyone. Good morning, take your seats.

Carrie: To be honest, this would've been a good time for Kira to be here.

Amber: Well, it's my parents, so she's not to fond of stuff like this.

Carrie: Hmm, true.

Amber: (thoughts in her head) What job did they have? And, why now?

And that's the end of this chapter. So sorry for updating it so late. I know I've been out for a while but I'm gonna be busy for the next few months. I might be active again in October till the end of the year. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think of the story so far. As always, I'll see you in the next chapter. Peace out!