(Our Realm)
Alethia sat at the cafeteria table, observing how their little group had expanded in recent weeks. Jen and David had started joining them for lunch, although they were cautious about their conversations around Zepher, Brolly, and Corie. As Alethia waited for everyone to arrive, she closed her eyes and listened to her music, hoping to find some relaxation.
Suddenly, someone sat behind her, and she could feel the comforting warmth of their presence against her back. Without thinking, she leaned back against them, finding solace in their energy, which eased her mind and alleviated the worries of the past few weeks.
Startled, Alethia opened her eyes when she felt a hand on her knee.
Looking up, she found Zepher gazing down at her. Removing her headphones, she realized that she had been lost in a dreamlike state. Confused, she looked back over his shoulder and saw Brolly sitting behind her. It was Brolly's back that she had been leaning against. "Oh, I must have dozed off. I apologize," she murmured, her face flushing.
Zepher shook his head and slid off the table. "You seemed like you were about to fall over. I just wanted to make sure you didn't hurt yourself."
Alethia couldn't help but blush even more. "Thank you," she whispered softly, as Zepher took a seat beside her. Resting her head against his shoulder, she stifled a yawn.
"Are you really that tired?" Zepher asked, concern evident in his voice.
She shrugged, closing her eyes again. "I must be. I haven't been getting much sleep lately."
"Well, I was hoping we could hang out tonight, maybe watch a movie?" Zepher suggested.
Smiling, Alethia nodded against his shoulder. "I would love that. Come over around supper time. We can order some pizza and snuggle up on the couch. Nana will be out of town again this weekend, helping Dorthey."
Zepher squeezed her knee. "Sounds wonderful."
Alethia thought she heard Brolly grumble under his breath, but before she could comment, Jen, David, and Corie arrived, taking their seats at the table. The group engaged in lively conversation, discussing their plans for the weekend.
Alethia glanced back at Brolly once more. She hadn't been that tired before he had sat down. There was something about his energy that soothed her. As their eyes met, Brolly forced a small smile before looking back down at his phone. Alethia wondered if everything was alright between Brolly and Corie. She made a mental note to ask Corie about it later.
The rest of the day passed quickly, with Alethia attending classes and spending time with her friends. As the final bell rang, she quickly messaged Chris about her plans with Zepher that night and began her journey home. She didn't stop to bid farewell to anyone, eager to relax before Zepher's visit.
Just as she was about to put on her headphones and choose a song for her walk, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Brolly standing there.
"Mind if I walk with you?"
Slipping her phone into her pocket and removing her headphones, Alethia replied, "I've never seen you walking home before."
"I usually drive, but I decided to walk today," Brolly explained.
"Oh, right. You're a couple of years older than us. I keep forgetting because you're always hanging out with us."
"I enjoy your company," Brolly said, meeting her gaze.
Feeling her cheeks grow warm, Alethia started walking again. "Well, we like hanging out with you too."
They walked in silence for a few minutes before Brolly spoke up again. "So, how long have you known Zepher?"
Taken aback by the question, Alethia paused for a moment, thinking. "Oh, umm, I've known Zepher since first grade. His family moved here in the middle of the school year, and he was quite nervous about starting a new school with unfamiliar faces. Corie and I took it upon ourselves to make him feel welcome, and we've been friends ever since." She resumed walking.
Brolly nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, well, he seems like a bit of a tool."
Surprised, Alethia exclaimed, "That's not very kind to say about someone you barely know."
Brolly shrugged. "Well, it's the truth."
Alethia sighed. "You've had an issue with him since the day you met him. Why?"
"Because he's not the right guy for you."
"How do you know who's the right guy for me? You don't even know me or Zepher. We've been friends for years, and you just show up and think you know what's best for me? Besides, we're in high school. It's not like I'm marrying him tomorrow."
Brolly stopped walking, his eyes intense. "Don't give me that, Alethia. You know who I am, just as I know who you are. You may not have all your memories back now, but trust me, when you do, you'll realize I'm right. Zepher is not the right man for you."
Taking a shaky breath and tensing up, Alethia asked, "Why are you here?"
"I'm here because of you."
Without another word, he turned and strode away, leaving her standing there, a mix of shock and confusion washing over her. He had come because of her, but what did that even mean?
As she returned home, she tried to push the conversation out of her mind, tossing her bag near the door and tidying up before Zepher's arrival. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept circling back to what Brolly had said. Once her memories returned, she would understand. In the other realm, she was meant to marry Zepher. They had known each other for ages, and it seemed like the perfect match. Yet, an unsettling feeling lingered, taunting her. She shook her head, reminding herself that Brolly was the God of Chaos, playing with her mind.
"Come in," she called out as a knock sounded on the door. Zepher entered, carrying a box of pizza and a six-pack of pop.
"Hey, beautiful," he greeted, placing the box on the counter and kissing her cheek.
"Hey, you've already taken care of supper. That's awesome; I'm starving," she said, grabbing the box and taking it to the living room, setting it on the coffee table. Handing Zepher the remote, she opened the box and grabbed a slice.
Zepher joined her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder as she searched for a movie to watch. Time slipped away, and soon they both grew tired. Resting her head against the couch arm, Alethia watched Zepher flipping through channels. It was late, and Zepher would spend the night at her place, as her grandmother didn't mind as long as he took the spare room.
Engrossed in the flickering images on the screen, Alethia gradually drifted off to sleep.
Suddenly, she found herself in a kitchen, feeling the comforting presence of someone's arm around her waist. She leaned back against him, and he reassured her that everything would work out.
Happiness washed over her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long while. Their lips met in a tender kiss before he had to leave for work. Reluctantly, they parted, his hand still holding hers until he had to let go.
The scene shifted, and Alethia found herself outside, surrounded by fire and chaos. Demons wreaked havoc, and screams pierced the air, causing her ears to ache. Death and destruction unfolded before her eyes, with the moon casting an eerie red glow upon the town.
A little girl's voice broke through the chaos, warning her. Alethia turned, only to witness a knife slicing her side, searing pain coursing through her. The little girl vanished, leaving Alethia with a deep sense of fear and anguish. As darkness beckoned, she closed her eyes, surrendering to its embrace.
Startled, Alethia awoke, clutching her side, back on the couch. Zepher sat nearby, a worried expression etched on his face. "Are you okay? What were you dreaming about?"
Glancing at the clock, she saw it was one in the morning. "I... I'm fine. Just a strange nightmare."
Zepher nodded, concern still lingering. "It must have been intense. You were crying. It had me worried."
Sitting up, she took his hand. "You were worried?"
A smile tugged at the corners of Zepher's lips as he cupped her chin, gazing into her eyes. "Very worried."
Blushing, she looked up at him, and their lips brushed in a gentle kiss. Her heart raced, but something felt off, almost forbidden. She tried to dismiss the feeling as her phone chimed, interrupting the moment. Who would be messaging her at such an early hour?
Picking up her phone, she read a message from Chris. "You just had a vision."
Confusion washed over her as she typed a reply, "How did you know?"
"I am your guide. It is my duty to know."
Sighing, she set the phone down, leaning back against the couch. Had she truly experienced a vision? And what did it signify?
