The Dream Weavers Collection Part 2 by K.R. Gomlok (grave mercy txt) 📕

him so? tired?? His brain was numbing fast? He fought it for a moment longer, trying to hang on until things made sense, before giving in to the overwhelming desire for sleep. He fell.

Chapter 8

Anuro has developed a drug he calls Soporial. It seems this substance can be placed in victim?s bodies outside or inside the Dream World. Though the full effects of this drug are unknown, Its most common use is to make sure the afflicted will not have the ability to wake unless nullified by a Master Weaver. The effects of the drug are short lasting on their own but if an Upkeeper is present, the dose may last over a month.
However, in the early stages of infection, the Upkeeper does not have a solid hold on the victim. It is in this time that it is best to strike and return the victim to consciousness.

Excerpt from ?The Dream Weavers?
By Melina Isador

Zach looked around with guarded curiosity. He found himself within a great forest, reminiscent of the woods near Fostor where he had helped Karis escape her pursuers. It seemed a fair bit more peaceful but it still held that arcane air of divine emergence about it. The branches above spread into leafy wings, blocking out the sky, and all about him there was silence, save for a quiet wind blowing across the newly sprouted soft grass. And yet? everything was slightly blurred, as if the world had lost focus.
?The Dream of Karis Flytwind,? Hinter stated from a perch in the high branches of the tree closest to Zach, ?Unfortunately it is in a more simplistic state right now due to the situation. Are you ready to go Zach??
Hinter jumped down from the tree and stood beside him, looking deeper in to the woods. Zach glanced behind and could just glimpse the edge of the forest where the trees seemed to thin into nothingness. It then occurred to him that something was odd about the place. There was no sun about, or at least, no sign of it. Instead, the trees gave off a hushed luminous glow that gave enough light to see but still kept the essence of night about them.
Beside him, Hinter breathed in and reached out a hand towards the heart of the forest. Ever so slowly he exhaled, smiling slightly as he did so. Turning his hand palm up, he carefully lifted empty air as white steppingstones leading the way seemed to grow out of the grass. ?This way,? He told Zach, pressing on down the road. ?She?s in the middle of it.?
?Who?? Zach asked, taking a hesitant step down the path after him. He couldn?t focus? it was as if someone had removed his conscious ability to think. ?Who are we looking for??
Hinter looked back at him with a strange light in his eye. ?The Angel of Benchant.? He said at last before continuing on.
Zach stopped and glared at Hinter, ?Stop talking in riddles.?
Hinter shrugged and motioned with his hand for Zach to follow. Immediately, Zach began to move by his side through the forest. Or rather, the forest moved past him. Astonished, he stood gaping at his surroundings, trying to figure out why any of this made sense. The green leaves fell gracefully from their lofty perches and faded into snow as they settled to the ground. Small fountains fed rivers that spider webbed across the forest, nourishing the trees. Every once in a while, he would see a statue of an angel, looking away over her winged shoulder. Her cascading hair hid her face from him yet somehow? he felt he knew her. Yet, no matter how many times he saw her, she was never any nearer.
?We?re close now.? Hinter murmured casually, slowing his stride and seeming to sniff the air. ?You smell that? I guess Kallous survived our last encounter.?
?Wait a moment, who?s Kallous?? Zach asked, trying and failing to be on the same page as his companion. They had not made any progress to his perception in any direction. He was growing tired of these unanswered skips in logic. ?What vocation summons us here?? he continued on, voicing his thoughts. ?I only made your acquaintance five minutes prior and now you?re in my dream. Why??
?You?ve got a pretty interesting word choice for on the fly,? Hinter commented quietly, giving Zach a measuring look. ?Rue wasn?t kidding when she called you an odd one.?
?Don?t bring my cousin into this!? Zach commanded, trying to keep his voice lower. He had never been very threatening in confrontations, one of his many down falls? ?Just explain this whole matter of intrigue.?
?You grab Karis and I?ll handle Kallous, okay?? Hinter said, not bothering with Zach?s demands. ?Try not to let me down now. Oh, and one more thing,? He looked over his shoulder and gave Zach what looked to be a sympathetic smile, ?Once you get in there, She?s going to be your only way out.?
Before Zach could protest, Hinter had disappeared into the woods without a trace. Sighing in frustration, Zach took a hesitant step forward and stared into the dark sky which was now visible through a break in the trees. Was this a dream? It had to be a dream. Hinter had somehow knocked him out and now he was in a dream. Either that or Fostor had just gotten a lot weirder.
At any rate, there was nowhere to go but forward now. The trees had closed behind him and now the only way out was the corridor of branches before him. Taking a deep breath, he stepped onward, trying not to listen to the whispers that now haunted the luminous trees. He could distinguish many voices within them, voices of the past. Rusiu, saying she would not leave Karis despite the pursuit of the Agent bent on erasing her from the world. Samuel, saying the logical thing to do in the situation was irrelevant when compared to the right thing Even Chimera?s voice, broken in pain, asking for deliverance. But these were underscored by a dark, harsh voice that forced itself in, muttering one moment, laughing the next, taunting with a psychotic smirk playing through. It was this voice that he tried to escape. Yet even when he covered his ears it persisted.
?Zachery.? It said softly, underplayed in chaos, ?What are you looking for? There is no one here; No one human anyway. She has deviated from your race, she is a monster, she will seek your end. How can you trust one who has lost her humanity??
Zach squeezed his eyes shut. This was all a dream? there had to be a way out, he had to wake up soon?
?There?s no escape, you?ve already strayed into her trap.? It chuckled, ?Doom is before you.?
?No!? He shouted back. His voice warped into a vicious tone, tortured by the doubts of his heart. ?NO!?
"Zachery?" The soft voice startled him by its close range. ?So they really did bring you??
Zach fell back in shock, the dark voice had stopped talking. He was in a clearing of the forest, under the watch of the Angel statue that he had passed so many times on the way in. Scrambling to his feet, he looked up at the stone guardian, her hands folded in silent prayer, her gentle face looking down on him in mercy. ?Hello Zach.? The same soft voice said, coming from behind him, ?It?s been some time, hasn?t it??
Spinning around, he found himself face to face with a much older Karis Flytwind than he had last left her. Her blue eyes had turned a deeper shade and now were the hue of sapphire, their deep glow resonating as they stared back into him. It felt as if? perhaps she could read right into his soul.
?Wait a moment,? Zach said, stumbling back across the mossy ground in surprise. She had grown so much in his absence. She was a fine young woman now, ready for the world. ?How did you? grow up so fast?? he asked, trying to articulate his wonder.
Karis smiled, she seemed relieved but he had never been good at perceiving emotions clearly. ?You always did run on the other wavelength, didn?t you?? She asked, reaching out to take his hand. ?Even in the middle of danger you?re caught up in the personal matters. Come on, let?s get out of here and I?ll explain.?
?But?? Zach began to protest. He wanted to find out what was going on, he was tired of being in the dark? but at the same time he wanted to help Karis. And Karis needed to get out of here. He sighed in defeat and met her gaze. ?Okay, which way is out??
Not waiting for him to look bewildered, she grabbed his hand, gave him a reassuring smile, and leapt into the air. He felt weightless as he hung there for a second, watching the grass sway calmly in the breeze below him, before everything blurred. It took him a moment to comprehend that they were flying through the forest, no wind resistance greeting them. The trees were forming a corridor now, parting to let them pass. It felt oddly liberating to zoom just above the ground, not worrying about hitting the low branches or oddly spaced tree trunks. But only a few seconds later they came to a halt,
Even with no visible sign, Zachery could sense something stopping them from going further. There was a barrier? Reaching out his hand he found a smooth, clear, moist, surface blocking the way. But it wasn?t physical so much as it was? well, mental. As if he did not want to pass it for some unknown fear. Grimacing, he reached out again and was about to pound on it when his fist stopped less than a centimeter from impact.
?What is this hindrance?? He asked Karis, experimentally feeling around the barrier, trying to find a weak spot. ?Are we stuck??
?I?d remove it for you but the drug is inhibiting my abilities,? Karis told him apologetically. ?Just tell yourself this is your dream and break it. You?re in prime shape so it shouldn?t be able to stop you.?
Zach gave her a doubtful glance before facing the barrier. ?I?d like to know what I?m fighting against before I start fighting.? He muttered. ?Can?t you just tell me these things??
?I can explain everything once you?ve begun it,? Karis said, her voice wavering as she tried to keep calm. ?But it was her wish that you awaken on your own.?
?Who?s wish?? Zach demanded, glaring over at her. Why were they not telling him? He held her in