I sit up abruptly, fear washing over me again but to my relief the room I'm in is my own. My brain feels foggy again but clears shortly. I try to shake the remnants of my dream away but the echo of "don't tell anyone Princess" and the feeling of someones hands gliding down my body won't budge. I crawl out of bed, wincing as I try to read the alarm clock from across the room. I rub my eyes, trying to get them to focus but give up and shuffle to the shower. I glance in the mirror and breathe out, no makeup, I didn't forget to take it off!
I throw my clothes to one side and step into the shower, turning the heat up and sigh, the stress finally being released from my pent up body and mind. My brain wanders to the family in the woods, wondering how they are doing. It annoys me I still can't place why they look familiar to me... maybe it was just a dream. The phrase Vanessa stated in the woods won't leave my mind. What did she mean by he won't hurt you? Who was she talking about? I pull myself out of my head before I wander too far into it and get lost again. I whack the shower off, dry myself and continue to get ready for the day. I glance at the clock. The numbers gently blink 06:45 and I grin, I'm on time for once and up before Ryan! I head downstairs, turn on the coffee machine and sigh. I have no idea why I feel so peaceful but I will enjoy it while it lasts. The machine pulls me out of my thoughts, beeping softly, alerting me that the steaming coffee in my purple mug is done. I reach for it and flinch as things flash before my eyes.
"What do you think you're doing?". Someone screams. I shrink back, hitting a wall as a shadow approaches. "Please don't" I hear myself say. Someone grabs my hand, pulling me towards them and I cry out. Someone touches my shoulder.
I shriek, lashing out. My fists hit something solid. I panic, struggle and the world goes quiet. The noise literally stops, as if someone has pressed the mute button on the TV. I open my eyes, wondering what has gone on. And find myself curled up on a sofa, watching Ryan calm me down in the kitchen. I blink, thinking I'm imagining it but the view stays the same. I glance around the room, it's small and cosy and feels safe. The chair I'm curled up on is a muted grey, covered in a light blue fluffy blanket, so it feels like I'm sat on a cloud. The walls are a gentle lilac in colour, with pictures of the woodland and my house plastered all over them. There's an unlit fireplace to the far right of me, with a willow basket stacked with logs sat against the wall. A bookcase is leaning gently against the wall to the left of me. Brightly coloured books of all shapes and sizes are haphazardly strewn across its shelves. There's a little basket at the bottom of this bookcase, filled to the brim with soft toys. I gasp as my eyes fall on a tiny little bear, dark blue and slightly scratty with one eye missing and an ear half torn off its head. "Oh my god" I whisper, rushing over to pick it up. "Lil Ted, I thought I'd lost you" I murmur, hugging the bear close to my chest. I glance back at the film playing of Ryan and I, noticing the wall simply looks like a projection of Ryan and I. We're still in the kitchen and the sound is still off. I head back to my armchair, Lil Ted held to my chest and I sink back into the softness of the blanket. I go back to taking in the room, spotting a series of chairs, beanbags and cushions strewn across the floor. Some have books left open on them, others have blankets, cushions or toys on them. There's a beautiful purple rug on the floor, deep and dark and soft, it spans the floor like a sea of raggedy purple. And the light in the centre of the ceiling is a literal cloud and seems fluffy.
Footsteps pull me from my observations and I glance up to see Lucas stepping into the room. He doesn't say anything, opting to sit besides me on a leather beanbag. He hugs a cushion to his chest, suddenly looking small and tired and glances at me, meeting my eye and offering me a small smile. "You're back" he states and I nod. I look back at the wall of Ryan and I, who are now sat eating breakfast and laughing together. "What is that?" I ask Lucas and he frowns "I can't tell you that Sharpay" he responds and I sigh "why though? What's going on? Is that real? Is this real? Why can't you tell me what's going on?" I ask, trying to ignore the panic building in my chest. As if Lucas can sense what's going on inside my head, he stands up and motions for me to budge up on my chair. I curl myself into one corner and Lucas sits besides me, pulling me into a gentle, calming hug. "I can't tell you because you're not ready" he states, kissing my head. I stare at him "Not ready?" and to my surprise he smiles "Yes, you're not ready. But both here and out there are real." I go to cut him off and he stops me "I know how that sounds but try to trust me?" I grumble and he laughs, before we lapse into silence, watching the other version of me going about her day. "I have someone I want you to meet" Lucas murmurs a while later, "Come" he states extending a hand to me and I grasp it, letting him help to pull me up. I follow him as he leads me back to the kitchen. It's empty bar a single man, who stands by the kettle as it finishes its whistle. He pours himself a mug of something and hums something under his breath. "Lucas" the man grunts, never turning around. Lucas motions for me to sit and he heads down towards the man, who towers above him. They talk softly for a short time, before they both turn around.
I stare long and hard at the new man, who lumbers towards me. He towers above me and I shrink back into my chair. Lucas sits next to me "it's ok" he whispers "he's safe". "Why does he look like...?" I trail off, unsure how to finish my thought without hurting Lucas or this new man. The man sits down, the chair groans beneath his weight and he huffs. His beard is neatly trimmed and plaited. His long chestnut hair is swept back into a low ponytail. His pale face is marred with a long scar, trailing from the end of his nose to his chin. He had a nose ring and a singular lip piercing. His eyes are dark, so dark you could hardly see his pupils. And there's a tiny little star tattooed on his cheek, just above his beard line. He's the splitting image of my uncle, someone I haven't seen since him and my dad vanished when I was small. Or at least, that's what my mother told Ryan and I. I can't remember them leaving or what happened but my uncles face burns bright in my memory, never fading as the years edge on. I feel Lucas grasp my hand and squeeze it "Sharpay?" he asks and I pull my eyes off my not uncle, uncle who towers over me. I blink "sorry" I mutter and Lucas smiles "it's ok, you've done this before" he states and for once I don't question it. "Who is he?" I ask, trying to ignore the presence of this man. "This is Jasper" Lucas states, motioning to the man loitering behind him. "He's safe". I frown, unsure how to process the information. "What do you mean, he's safe? Why wouldn't he be?" I stammer and to my surprise, Jasper responds, his voice deep, like an ocean. "I keep you safe" he barks and I flinch, which he notices. His face falls and he immediately drops to his knees "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you" he says softly and I blink away the forming tears. "Why are you here?" I ask and he shrugs "I don't know. But I'm here to keep us all safe". "Safe from whom?" I inquire and Jasper glances at Lucas who shakes his head gently. "Outsiders" Jasper eventually states. I accept that I won't get clarity. The clock on the wall ticks softly as silence encases the room.
...
After a while of silence and Jasper sipping his coffee and Lucas staring at the wall, I break the silence. "So why are you here Lucas?" I ask and he jolts "What?" he asks, staring at me. "Why are you here? Jasper's here to protect... us? Me? You? Whatever this space is. He has a role, so why are you here?" He doesn't respond "Sorry, forget I asked" I stutter. Lucas sighs "I'm here to make sure everyone is well. I care for Jasper and Vanessa and Ashley and Ni and" he gestures to the room "keep this place tidy and safe for them". "So... like a stay at home dad then?" I ask and he smirks "sure". I suddenly realise the others weren't around and before I can stop myself, I blurt the question out. "They're outside in the garden" Jasper responds, before Lucas chimes in "Ashley is out front" and I nod. "When can I leave?" I ask and Lucas grins, glancing at Jasper for confirmation and he smiles softly too. "Come, we'll show you" they say and I follow them back to the sitting room. Jasper and Lucas lead me to stand in front of the projection screen. "Ashley is out front but she'll be more than happy to come back in, just ask her". I stare at them both "What? She's not here, how on earth can I ask her something?" I growl "Just do it" Jasper states. "uh... ok... Ashley if you can hear me, I'd like to leave please?" I ask and my vision shifts a little. I hear her voice "Fine with me, this girls boring me half to death anyway" she responds and my vision blurs again. I hear Lucas and Jasper saying goodbye before my vision goes black.