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Aletha was walking in a wide grass field filled with lilies and roses.

They are so pretty, prettier than anything I have seen before

Aletha cried out in happiness. Rainbows were everywhere, the glittering rivers were running down the field with blistering speed. Aletha hopped over the fields and played like a child that she hadn’t done in a long time.

“Aletha! We’re here”

When she turned around she saw her mother, Jeana standing on top of the hill. She looked at Aletha blissfully. And next to her was Jessica with a wide smile.

Aletha looked at them enthusiastically and ran towards them. She was almost striding along the plains like she was floating. She was so fast, it was unimaginable. But suddenly something pulled her from her shoulder. She turned around to see Jessica. But this Jessica had a sorrowful face, unlike the Jessica who was on the mountain top.

“I’m sorry Aletha, But you need to wake up.” 

Aletha looked at her friend with puzzlement. Soon, the beautiful garden field filled with flowers and rivers started to disappear. The two who were waiting for Aletha on the mountain top also vanished. The colors of the sky meshed into one another until they blended into a chaos of colors. 

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“Aletha, Aletha?”

She opened her eyes to see Jessica’s worried expression.

“I can’t believe this. You’re here with me. Actually here with me” said Jessica with a shivering voice.

“Huh?” 

Jessica wrapped her arms around Aletha’s neck and snuggled her head into her neck. 

“W-what is going on?” asked Aletha in a dazed manner.

She looked up to see a dark ceiling with a gigantic carving of an eye. It looked at her directly. It observed her silently.

Jessica finally pulled herself up. There were tears in her eyes. But she quickly wiped it with her fingers and said: 

“We’re in a world of dreams. The people I have met. They have called it Dreamscape”  

Aletha pulled herself up. She looked around to see walls with strange carvings. Dragons, dreadlords and various demons were painted across the walls.   

There were four stairs in this room. Two that led them downstairs, one upstairs and one stair that just existed and leads them somewhere but the ceiling was in the way.  

“W-what are we doing here?” asked Aletha.

“I don’t know. The only thing that you should know is that…”

Jessica gulped a saliva ball.

“What?” asked Aletha angrily.    

“I brought you here” muttered Jessica with guilt in her face.

“Wait? What do you mean? Did you do something” asked Aletha.

“Yes, actually. I did. Using my powers, I awakened your soul that was tied to this realm”.

Aletha shook her head. All that she was hearing felt like gibberish to her.

“What are you saying? What have you done, Jessica?” yelled Aletha and got up.

Jessica grabbed ahold of her hands and said with a quavering voice.

“Please, Aletha. Listen to me. I had to do it. If I didn’t, you would be in great danger. And, and, I was so lonely here. I was trapped in this world for a month”.

“What are you talking about?” yelled Aletha with anger.           

“Aletha, I’m sorry. I know it’s scary but please understand”

Jessica wrapped her arms around Aletha’s back and hugged her tightly. Even if Aletha was confused. Even if Jessica was responsible for her arrival in this world. Aletha couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her friend. Her shaking voice and desperate look. She couldn’t just ignore those. They looked at one another’s eyes with concern and slowly sat on the ground.

Guilt and sorrow could still be seen upon Jessica’s face but Aletha asked calmly:           

“How many people are in this Dreamscape world?”

“I don’t know. But as far as I know, the number seems to be rising” said Jessica with a worried voice.

“Okay, anything else?” 

“Yes, you should definitely know how to use your special abilities in this world. It's called soul nature. It's the most prominent naming people gave for the weird abilities each person possess in this world” said Jessica.

“Weird abilities?” repeated Aletha.

“Yeah, like this”

Jessica closed her eyes and immediately a sharp kitchen knife appeared in her hand.

“I just materialized this knife thanks to my imagination. It’s my special ability. I don’t know what would be yours, Aletha. You’ll just have to try and find out yourself. There are some people I saw who have similar abilities. But they vary” said Jessica.

“O-okay. This world really is strange, huh” said Aletha with a contemplative look.

They silently sat together. Aletha observed her friend with the corner of her eyes until running out of patience and spoke: 

“What should we do now, tho? Is it okay to stay here in this creepy place?“

“I don't know. But I think we should help you know your special ability in this situation. That is the most important thing” said Jessica enthusiastically.

“All right. How do I do it?” asked Aletha with curiousity.

“Mmmm, I don’t knooow. My ability is that I imagine something and whatever that I imagined happens. And I learned it by sheer luck” said Jessica proudly.

Aletha closed her eyes and tried to imagine a gun. She didn’t know how to use it. But hey, it might be of some use. She opened her eyes but nothing happened. Maybe it was a little too complex. She decided to go with something easier. A knife, just like what Jessica did. She tried her hardest but it did not happen.

“Nope. The imagination thing isn’t my thing apparently. Any other suggestions?” asked Aletha.            

“I don’t know. I only know that I got my abilities through imagination” mumbled Jessica. 

“Maybe if I..hmm”

Aletha jumped and screamed and raised her arm towards the sky. Jessica couldn’t help but laugh.