They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

On that night I have a dream. Again. And I don't need the garbage bath this time. At first, I can't see anything. I feel like I'm floating. Except the ground I'm standing is a bit mushy and is trying to swallow me whole.

I flailed, I screamed, I stretch my hand at the dark shadows that feels like choking me and when I thought no one's gonna help me as I drown in dread hollow…someone pulled me up.

A soft hand, with a strong grip and delicate features I'm scared I'll break if I hold on tightly. But it didn't. I finally see my whole body, getting rid of the dark shadows dancing in my feet,

"You okay?" A girl's wispy voice spoke in my head. And I could have sworn it belongs to the person who pulled me out..

I blinked away the blackness. Trying to get used to the hazy smoke mystifying my eyes. But with a snap of a finger by someone in front of me, the world shifted. My body position changed. I remember standing, right now I'm lying in someone's lap. And it's softer than a pillow. Warmer, feathery sensations build up inside me.

Releasing my anxiety, my discomfortness, I can't understand the radiating fondness I felt for the owner of this lap. It's just…it feels so right to be here. The sun's warmth is kissing my cheek, the fresh touch of the breeze is blowing my messy hair apart, but its nothing compared to the hand brushing my back, lulling me to sleep.

Kind of strange actually… I'm inside of a dream, and someone is patting me back to slumber.

"You must be tired," the girl spoke in my head again.

A shadow swept over me and my mouth began to move.

"Yes, those demons just won't back down. But my men are tougher. They won't admit defeat until they become pile of bones. Honestly, if it wasn't for the Mark from you gods granting us immortality, we won't stand a chance."

Demons? Gods? Immortality? What am I talking about? The girl chuckled.

"I'm glad I could help."

I don't know why my eyes are closed at this point of time. Why it won't open even if I wanted to see her face. Why I'm saying strange words I can't make any sense what. Why I can't gain control to any parts of my limbs, just feel the sensations the girl brings to my body.

She ran a finger from my hair, and something cackles inside my skull. Like my aching nerves repaired itself. And then to my back, my chest tighten, a strange prickle dance in my ribs, then it trace itself to my shoulders, to my spine and down to my legs. I gasped and sat upright.

My eyes flutter open. I wasn't awake from the dream yet. She's still there, I hear her voice, chuckling at my reaction.

"Efta, stop doing your 'Life blessing' to me please. I'm not injured."

Efta? This girl is? My eyes are wide open..but I still can't see her face. A shadow is covering the upper of her lips. I observe her head as she cocked it to the side, a smile dancing on her mouth.

"I'm not healing you, I'm repairing the small tissues the Mark couldn't arrange properly when you were brought back alive."

I sighed. Sudden irritation crept in my chest. And I can't understand why. I'm saying things I don't recognize. I'm having a conversation with a mysterious girl I can't even see her face…

This is just like when I dreamt of that humanoid killing my Mom. My gut is screaming all this has happened before and I'm residing in someone else' body. Experiencing the sensations first hand. But that dream…

My Mom died. Then this dream…who will die this time?

I looked down at my hands, blood drips from my mouth and my palm catch it…until it becomes a pool of blood at the ground. I gasped.

The scenery shifted. I was lying on my back. Intense pain threatening to impale me is shredding my gut. Tall oak trees hovered overhead. I'm in a dense forest. And someone beside me is crying. Same delicate hands, trembling while it cupped my face.

Instead of asking 'Am I dying?' I said,

"Don't cry Efta. This is the way it should be."

I don't know why I still have the energy to smile. To chuckle at her cheeks damp with tears. Her face is still hazy. But she was still the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Her long midnight hair, her small thin lips, every small part of her being was carved deep in my mind.

"This is my limit I guess…" I coughed up blood. "You have to promise me Efta, don't try anything to break the seal bridging between realms just to bring me back. Protect the Mark of Twelve. Protect your people."

My ears are ringing. I can't hear her reply. But the way she bits her quivering lower lips tells me she doesn't agree with what I said.

My hand reached out for the satchel hanging in my rib, I slip my finger inside. Caught the soft rumple of petals and yank it out. I held it out to her lips. Let the petals absorb the tears casing the side of her mouth.

The petal got damage and crumpled in my hands, but by being near her, it repaired itself. Until it becomes the very blue rose I picked under the lush of full moon.

She held the stem with her delicate hands. Kiss the petals and it blooms even more. I smiled at the breathtaking scenery in front of me.

"Moon rose always suits you best." And in that brief moment her face came into full view. Crimson eyes that discerns anything that stands in her way, long midnight hair that defines her small delicate face. Everything around her came into life when she's near. Plants came back into life. Wounds will heal, broken limbs will mend, dead fields will strike back, alive. Injured soldiers will find strength on their veins… just by having her touch on their shoulders.

I wasn't wrong. She really is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And it's wrong of me to want her solely for myself. When in fact, she belongs to the world.

Something heavy and rough dropped in my head and I woke up with a start. A big fluffy blanket is flattening my face. I heard Dad's chuckle somewhere beside me.

"Wake up sunshine. Time to clean up."